Build-A-Bear ‘Pay Your Age’ Day Returns With Changes

When you hear about the Build-A Bear 'Pay Your Age' promotion, you may recall that it was a complete disaster last year. Well, it's back... and disaster-proof.

If you're not familiar, the 'Pay Your Age' promotion was a one-day deal where in-store guests could pay their current age for any Make-Your-Own furry friend. This was in celebration of the launch of Build-A-Bear's "Count Your Candles" birthday experience that gave away a birthday party.

On the day of the promotion stores were PACKED. Why pay $50 for a bear when you could pay $5 for your 5-year-old? Stores everywhere were completely overwhelmed, lines were hours long, it was madness. Things were so chaotic that Build-A-Bear had to shut it down early in the day.

This year they've made some changes to avoid this fiasco by having a limited number of tickets. All you have to do is sign up for, or in to, your Bonus Club account and complete the new birthday profile to get entered. More than 200,000 guests around the world are expected to receive a Pay Your Age limited ticket. According to the website, guests that receive tickets will be able to "visit a Build-A-Bear Workshop during one of two redemption periods in the week of June 24 through June 28 and make one furry friend per child present, limit two furry friends per ticket."

You can find out all about the 'Pay Your Age' promotion here. The closest Build-A-Bear location to us here in eastern Iowa is at Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville. They are open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Mark your calendars!