Build-A-Bear Workshop: A Hands-On Gift and Toy Experience in Edison, NJ

Build-A-Bear Workshop

Overview

About

Location

Reviews

Overview

+1 732-744-1811
www.buildabear.com
55 Parsonage Rd Space 1270B, Edison, NJ 08837, USA
Hours

Monday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Tuesday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Wednesday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Thursday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Friday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Saturday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Sunday 12:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Build-A-Bear Workshop Introduce

Build-A-Bear Workshop, located at 55 Parsonage Rd Space 1270B, Edison, NJ 08837, offers a unique, interactive experience where customers create their own personalized stuffed animals. While it functions as a gift shop, it also provides a hands-on activity, making it a "Toy Store Near Me" option for families seeking a memorable outing.

The core concept of Build-A-Bear Workshop involves customers selecting a stuffed animal, filling it with stuffing, adding sounds and scents, and dressing it in various outfits and accessories. This allows for a highly personalized gift or toy. However, recent customer reviews highlight significant concerns regarding the store's sales practices and customer service.

Customer reviews have expressed the following concerns:

Misleading Offers: Customers have reported deceptive pricing and unclear promotional conditions, leading to unexpected costs.
Forced Email Collection: The store reportedly requires customers to provide their email addresses to apply promotions, which is not disclosed upfront.
Unethical Cross-Selling: Concerns have been raised about staff directly engaging with children to encourage additional purchases without proper parental consent.
Long Wait Times: Customers have experienced extremely long wait times, particularly during busy periods, attributed to understaffing.
Poor Customer Service: Some customers have reported rude or unhelpful staff, particularly management, and feel that customer service is lacking.
Product Quality Issues: Some customers have experienced issues with the quality of certain accessories.

Despite these negative experiences, the workshop does offer a unique and engaging activity for children. The ability to personalize a stuffed animal can be a memorable experience. However, potential customers should be aware of the reported sales tactics and potential for long wait times, particularly during peak hours.

It is recommended that potential customers carefully review any promotional offers and clarify pricing before making purchases. If you have concerns about the reported sales tactics, it may be advisable to contact the store management or Build-A-Bear Workshop customer service directly.

Contact Build-A-Bear Workshop at (732) 744-1811 or +1 732-744-1811 for further information.

Location

Reviews

Feb 01, 2025

Misleading Offers & Unethical Sales Tactics Date of experience - 01st Feb, 2025 I had a disappointing experience with this store due to their misleading promotions and unethical sales practices. 1. Deceptive Pricing – They advertised an ongoing “Buy for 14” offer, but the actual conditions were unclear and misleading. The final price turned out to be higher than expected. 2. Forced Email Collection – They *force* customers to share their personal email ID to apply promotions, which is not disclosed upfront. If you refuse, they make the discount inapplicable. This feels like a clear strategy to collect personal information rather than a genuine offer. 3. Unethical Cross-Selling to Kids – The most concerning part was their approach to selling accessories to children without parental consent. They directly engaged with my child, encouraging additional purchases, which put us in an uncomfortable position at checkout. We ended up paying much more than intended. These tactics are unacceptable and create a poor shopping experience. Transparency and ethical selling should be a priority, but sadly, that wasn’t the case here. I wouldn't recommend shopping here unless they change these practices.
Feb 15, 2025

I took my 3 young children here on Valentines day bc they were off from school and biggest mistake ever. I could tell it was a little busy when I came in but didnt think much of it and it was expected being a holiday. We almost walked out after waiting a half over and only moving once in the line. It was ridiculous. I watched others walk out and who could blame them. It looked as if there were only 3 employees. There was 1 just standing at the dr to greet, 1 who may have been a mgr and at the reg and only 1 doing all the stuffing and helping the kids pick out/record voices. Why would you not have the greeter or the person at the reg when not ringing ppl up help the line go faster and smoother by helping the kids do the bears voice instead of waiting for them to get all the way to the front and hold the line up bc its being done by the same employee who is stuffing stitching and pretty much all the work??!!! Worst experience ever! Definitely waited over 40mins with young children and Im surprised I didnt walk out myself. Then after the kids picked out the animals clothing/accessories i grabbed a pair of sunglasses for my son and as soon as I opened them they fell apart, no big deal grabbed another pair and when I went to check out and waited for someone to come check us out, I think she was the mgr since she told 1 of the girls when to take break, I handed them to her and let her know the 1 pair was broken and didnt want to leave them out and she didnt say a word and her reaction made me feel as tho she wanted to blame my kids even tho my kids were nowhere near them but that was the feeling I got when I gave them to here. She was not friendly at all and seemed disappointed i didnt want to pay extra for a backpack or box that i dont need or want and my kids could care less about. I spent almost $200 there and over an hr you should be giving the lousy boxes out lol. I refused the gc that was pay half for later use bc honestly the experience was so horrible I would never come back or at least not this location! She was rude and i dont even remember her even saying thank you. I get it was busy for them but it didnt have to be a bad experience and they could have made it go way smoother rather than having ppl walk out/not wanting to come back. The girl who did ALL the work was very friendly and should get a raise bc she literally did it all which is why they lost customers and the wait was ridiculous bc no one helped her that I could see. I do want to give credit to her. Too bad the mgr or person in charge couldnt be as nice/friendly since theyre working in a kids store!
Nov 21, 2024

Came here with my kids and had the most unpleasant associate. She was going through the motions but was rude, short, and awkward throughout the entire process (especially when trying to upsell the scents and sounds) When the bears were done she walked away in the back (I believe she mumbled that it was to do inventory) while we stood and waited for several minutes to pay. Finally another worker finished with her customer and tried to get me to buy a gift card for half price. I nicely told her that due to the first woman’s behavior, I would not be spending any more money in that store. It was my daughter’s birthday and we walked out with 3 bears— I was fully prepared to purchase more and instead left disappointed in the experience. I will say the 2nd worker seemed very pleasant but the attitude of the first one was way too much. I would NOT recommend this location.
Aug 09, 2023

Darn, for not coming up with this brilliant business model myself! That said, Build-a-Bear is everything it promises to be: a fun experience for children and for anyone who might enjoy the comfort of a personalized stuffed animal. Have taken my children here, as well as purchased gifts from here/online for both children and adults. The 3, 4, 5, and 8 y/o children I've brought to "BAB" have all enjoyed the process of creating a new stuffed creature immensely. For example, on our last visit, our 2 children chose 1 tye-dyed frog and 1 tan rabbit. Other items from the vast choices include Chase the German Shepherd (from Paw Patrol t.v. show), a honey bee, classic teddy bears, an axolotl, Star Wars characters, Harry Potter characters, and SO much more. *pictured* The trademarked characters all have corresponding clothing and accessories to match. Kids loved so many of the stuffie options that it will be easy to pick birthday gifts this year. After choosing their stuffies, a BAB employee then encouraged our children to press the stuffing pedal as she stuffed the empty toys with batting from a large decorative stuffing cylinder in the store. She then asked both children to hug their stuffies to see if they were full enough. Kids then made a wish on a (free) small plush heart that went into their individual babies. *cylinder & hearts pictured* Other options besides the free heart: heart with recordable sound/voice, heart with pre-set sound. Stuffies are sewn closed, so replacement easiest if brought back to store. Once closed, our children chose some items from a 'bear-rage' (I mean, barrage!) of clothing, accessories, furniture, and even vehicles. Such items include sunglasses, pajamas, Light Sabers (Star Wars accessory, with light & sound, complete with loop so stuffie can hold it), and a bear-sized futon. The last stops are to create a birth certificate for one's toy, and then to pose for photos with the new friends (your own camera). The online app is easy to search through. Often deals online and coupons available via the BAB Club. Online customer service chat is always helpful. Overall, I highly recommend this experience for children. Removed 1 star for the expense of this merchandise (seems excessive, in my opinion).
Nov 27, 2024

TRIED & TESTED! THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS ARE UNDENIABLY TRUE. The lady employee is so sarcastic, off and awkward. I thought we had an isolated case and maybe this lady employee was tired or having a bad day… but reading all these negative reviews validated our negative experience with her.

Related Categories

Toy News

Popular Water Park

kohls newburgh ny

150 Old Little Britain Rd, Newburgh, NY 12550, USA

attic mice 2

3300 Lehigh St, Allentown, PA 18103, USA

target in orange ct

25 Boston Post Rd, Orange, CT 06477, USA

gamezone hillsdale nj

106 Broadway, Hillsdale, NJ 07642, USA

Feb 01, 2025

Misleading Offers & Unethical Sales Tactics Date of experience - 01st Feb, 2025 I had a disappointing experience with this store due to their misleading promotions and unethical sales practices. 1. Deceptive Pricing – They advertised an ongoing “Buy for 14” offer, but the actual conditions were unclear and misleading. The final price turned out to be higher than expected. 2. Forced Email Collection – They *force* customers to share their personal email ID to apply promotions, which is not disclosed upfront. If you refuse, they make the discount inapplicable. This feels like a clear strategy to collect personal information rather than a genuine offer. 3. Unethical Cross-Selling to Kids – The most concerning part was their approach to selling accessories to children without parental consent. They directly engaged with my child, encouraging additional purchases, which put us in an uncomfortable position at checkout. We ended up paying much more than intended. These tactics are unacceptable and create a poor shopping experience. Transparency and ethical selling should be a priority, but sadly, that wasn’t the case here. I wouldn't recommend shopping here unless they change these practices.

Feb 15, 2025

I took my 3 young children here on Valentines day bc they were off from school and biggest mistake ever. I could tell it was a little busy when I came in but didnt think much of it and it was expected being a holiday. We almost walked out after waiting a half over and only moving once in the line. It was ridiculous. I watched others walk out and who could blame them. It looked as if there were only 3 employees. There was 1 just standing at the dr to greet, 1 who may have been a mgr and at the reg and only 1 doing all the stuffing and helping the kids pick out/record voices. Why would you not have the greeter or the person at the reg when not ringing ppl up help the line go faster and smoother by helping the kids do the bears voice instead of waiting for them to get all the way to the front and hold the line up bc its being done by the same employee who is stuffing stitching and pretty much all the work??!!! Worst experience ever! Definitely waited over 40mins with young children and Im surprised I didnt walk out myself. Then after the kids picked out the animals clothing/accessories i grabbed a pair of sunglasses for my son and as soon as I opened them they fell apart, no big deal grabbed another pair and when I went to check out and waited for someone to come check us out, I think she was the mgr since she told 1 of the girls when to take break, I handed them to her and let her know the 1 pair was broken and didnt want to leave them out and she didnt say a word and her reaction made me feel as tho she wanted to blame my kids even tho my kids were nowhere near them but that was the feeling I got when I gave them to here. She was not friendly at all and seemed disappointed i didnt want to pay extra for a backpack or box that i dont need or want and my kids could care less about. I spent almost $200 there and over an hr you should be giving the lousy boxes out lol. I refused the gc that was pay half for later use bc honestly the experience was so horrible I would never come back or at least not this location! She was rude and i dont even remember her even saying thank you. I get it was busy for them but it didnt have to be a bad experience and they could have made it go way smoother rather than having ppl walk out/not wanting to come back. The girl who did ALL the work was very friendly and should get a raise bc she literally did it all which is why they lost customers and the wait was ridiculous bc no one helped her that I could see. I do want to give credit to her. Too bad the mgr or person in charge couldnt be as nice/friendly since theyre working in a kids store!

Nov 21, 2024

Came here with my kids and had the most unpleasant associate. She was going through the motions but was rude, short, and awkward throughout the entire process (especially when trying to upsell the scents and sounds) When the bears were done she walked away in the back (I believe she mumbled that it was to do inventory) while we stood and waited for several minutes to pay. Finally another worker finished with her customer and tried to get me to buy a gift card for half price. I nicely told her that due to the first woman’s behavior, I would not be spending any more money in that store. It was my daughter’s birthday and we walked out with 3 bears— I was fully prepared to purchase more and instead left disappointed in the experience. I will say the 2nd worker seemed very pleasant but the attitude of the first one was way too much. I would NOT recommend this location.

Aug 09, 2023

Darn, for not coming up with this brilliant business model myself! That said, Build-a-Bear is everything it promises to be: a fun experience for children and for anyone who might enjoy the comfort of a personalized stuffed animal. Have taken my children here, as well as purchased gifts from here/online for both children and adults. The 3, 4, 5, and 8 y/o children I've brought to "BAB" have all enjoyed the process of creating a new stuffed creature immensely. For example, on our last visit, our 2 children chose 1 tye-dyed frog and 1 tan rabbit. Other items from the vast choices include Chase the German Shepherd (from Paw Patrol t.v. show), a honey bee, classic teddy bears, an axolotl, Star Wars characters, Harry Potter characters, and SO much more. *pictured* The trademarked characters all have corresponding clothing and accessories to match. Kids loved so many of the stuffie options that it will be easy to pick birthday gifts this year. After choosing their stuffies, a BAB employee then encouraged our children to press the stuffing pedal as she stuffed the empty toys with batting from a large decorative stuffing cylinder in the store. She then asked both children to hug their stuffies to see if they were full enough. Kids then made a wish on a (free) small plush heart that went into their individual babies. *cylinder & hearts pictured* Other options besides the free heart: heart with recordable sound/voice, heart with pre-set sound. Stuffies are sewn closed, so replacement easiest if brought back to store. Once closed, our children chose some items from a 'bear-rage' (I mean, barrage!) of clothing, accessories, furniture, and even vehicles. Such items include sunglasses, pajamas, Light Sabers (Star Wars accessory, with light & sound, complete with loop so stuffie can hold it), and a bear-sized futon. The last stops are to create a birth certificate for one's toy, and then to pose for photos with the new friends (your own camera). The online app is easy to search through. Often deals online and coupons available via the BAB Club. Online customer service chat is always helpful. Overall, I highly recommend this experience for children. Removed 1 star for the expense of this merchandise (seems excessive, in my opinion).

Nov 27, 2024

TRIED & TESTED! THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS ARE UNDENIABLY TRUE. The lady employee is so sarcastic, off and awkward. I thought we had an isolated case and maybe this lady employee was tired or having a bad day… but reading all these negative reviews validated our negative experience with her.