Build-A-Bear clearly learned their lesson after a disastrous event last year, when authorities had to step in for their "Pay Your Age" event. The iconic store offered people the chance to pay their age to build a bear, so if your child is five, you only had to pay $5. What the store didn't expect, though, was that people are willing to do whatever it takes to get a good deal. The lines were so long, local authorities had to step in as crowd control.
"Please be aware: Based on the unprecedented response to our Pay Your Age Day event in our early opening stores, we are experiencing significantly longer than expected lines and large crowds," Build-A-Bear said in a statement last year. "Local authorities are requiring us to limit the lines and crowds due to safety concerns. We understand this is disappointing, we are working to address the situation, and we will be reaching out to our valued Guests soon."
Literally thousands of people were turned away (with their kids) at Build-A-Bears all over the country. This year, the company has made the decision to change things up, and turned the "Pay Your Age" event into a contest, rather than a free for all.
Enter by June 16 for a chance to RECEIVE A TICKET to PAY YOUR AGE for a new furry friend or win a birthday party experience!To kick off the second year of our successful Count Your Candles birthday program, we are offering an opportunity to enter a new sweepstakes for the chance to win a birthday party experience and have the chance to participate in a limited ticket offer event to Pay Your Age for a new furry friend at most retail locations in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom, in stores, select days from June 24-28.
More than 200,000 Guests around the world are expected to receive a Pay Your Age limited ticket. With their ticket, Guests 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. Additionally, ten Guests will win the Count Your Candles Sweepstakes grand prize of a birthday party experience to use any time in the next twelve months valued up to $250.
I can definitely understand why Build-A-Bear decided to limit their offer, especially after what happened last year, but I think they could have restructured it a little better. To go from "anyone can get in" to "you have a chance" is a bit of a cop out in my opinion.
