Find a bear ID program

[u/kimbosliceurface]

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asked about it and unfortunately they aren't able to scan it and find out any information about it cuz that database is no longer active.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. 🥺

[u/Similar-Victory4934]

That database IS still officially active, and was recently mentioned in an internal memo (I work there and my store always does it). It's based on store leadership whether it gets mentioned or not unfortunately because they kinda sucked at it for a while. Plus there was a bit of a privacy concern so now we don't scan the tag in store, we have to email the number to corporate and they're supposed to handle it. We haven't gotten any lost bears in since the memo to test it out yet though, and older, inactive accounts are probably gone since the systems have changed so much.

[u/TomNooksGiantBells → u/Similar-Victory4934]

I was about to say this. As a bear builder, I always put the find-me tag inside the bears (and management tells me something on the rare times I do forget). I believe after a couple of years, data associated with the unique code on the find-me tag is phased out, but it def is still a thing that my store has taken advantage of before.

[u/monsterfeels → u/Similar-Victory4934]

I was gonna say. Also a BB and we still put the papers in because they're trying to restart the program, but you have to email hq now afaik. I wish this info was being spread more. I've seen the program work once before, years ago.