'Tis the Season to Ignore Your Loyal Customers..

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For as long as I can remember, I have been a fan of Build a Bear Workshops. Bad day? Kids been good, but have a tendency to become bored? Nothing a trip to Build a Bear doesn't fix for about $30 a pop.  And so every other month I take the kids to go pick out an animal, have it stuffed, and if the budget is right, get a small outfit with the pet.

They love their stuffed animals from build a bear.


Build a Bear has a program called "stuff for stuff". Basically  for every dollar you spend, you earn points, that during certain parts of the year, Build a Bear sends you a redemption certificate to earn free items.

Only November came and went, and I never received mine.  No sweat, it was probably an oversight, right? I checked my spam folder, to no avail.  I went on their social media (face book) page to inquire if other patrons received theirs.  And, of course, they did. And two weeks prior to my inquiring at that.

I was asked to call their customer service line (an 800 number) after sitting on hold for 30-45 minutes two days in a row, I decided it was a lost cause.  I inquired twice by email - that was over a week ago - no word what so ever from the folks over at Build a Bear.

I kindly asked for assistance on their facebook page once again, no reply, no word..silence..

I hear crickets chirping...

I know it's the holidays, folks are busy...

It happens..but, when I have tried multiple avenues to reach out and no one seems interested in helping me, or it becomes a back and forth passing game with customers service, I feel slighted.

Why?  Oh, only because during the earning period I have purchased 10 bears at full price, and just 2 weeks ago I purchased 3 more as gifts for my niece and nephew along with my cousin's little girl.

No coupons, just purchased them because they were cute.

And, because I had the mind set, well, at least I will earn my stuff for stuff points :) Right?

Not happening..

Want to know something else? I had a similar situation with Gymboree, want to know what they did? they wrote me back on facebook, they wrote me back via email AND they returned my phone call the same day and corrected the situation in minutes. NOW THAT is model customers service.

Build a Bear? I am sorry I can not say the same for you. :(

And I'd love to continue to shop at your establishments, as my children are fond of your products, however, I just can't get past the fact there is no way what so ever to get a hold of anyone on your end to pass along or issue me the stuff for stuff points I rightfully earned.

It would be nice to hear from some one, preferably before the stuff for stuff points would expire, but it appears I would be running in circles.

Instead? Well, instead I have chosen to take it to the blog. I love to give rave reviews, and believe I've only written one bad review in my life during the 3 years I've had my blog. But, the truth is the truth, and customer service is everything to me as a mother of 2 who loves to support business' in a tight economy.

But, I think I will pass the almighty dollar onto local establishments that pride themselves in customers service.

I will be skipping on Build a Bear this year for the holidays.