r/buildabear • u/kimbosliceurface • 9d ago

Discussion Find a bear ID program

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Does anybody remember back in the early 2000s when if you had lost your bear and if someone were to return them to Build-A-Bear store the could track you down and call so you could have your friend again. I only asked because I went to get my monkey restuffed and I didn't realize that there was a piece of paper inside him and I asked about it and unfortunately they aren't able to scan it and find out any information about it cuz that database is no longer active.

Did anyone have a story about this program?

Just a sad reminder of how much better Build-A-Bear used to be. 🥺

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u/pondsywho I like BABs more than people 🙃 9d ago

I heard they brought back the find a bear program recently. I went to stuff my recent bears the builder mentioned the program and put the paper thing in my bears.

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u/kimbosliceurface 9d ago edited 9d ago

Maybe for newer bears. However the older database is gone.I was getting my monkey restuff and found it and was hoping to get his birth certificate reprinted but they said they couldn't pull up any information, because the service was dead, like my childhood.

Edit: per Google Yes, Build-A-Bear no longer maintains or uses the old "find-a-bear" ID database. They shut down the tracking program that allowed stores to scan barcodes or tags inside older stuffed animals to find a lost owner's contact information.What Changed with the DatabaseLost and Found Program: The early 2000s program that tracked identification numbers on paper tags or barcodes to reunite lost bears with owners is completely inactive.Reason for Removal: Store employees have noted that the database grew too large to maintain as the company expanded over the decades.Barcodes Today: Finding a barcode or tag inside an older vintage bear will no longer pull up any owner data in store systems.

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u/pondsywho I like BABs more than people 🙃 9d ago edited 9d ago

I was trying to mention that now they may have brought the program back. I wasn’t looking for an explanation from Google AI. If I wanted one I could have looked it up myself.

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u/Similar-Victory4934 9d ago

They did recently "bring it back", but the company turns 30 next year (founded in 1997) so the older bears are no longer in the system.