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'I Wasn't Waiting For This': One-Day Sale Causes Chaos At Build-A-Bear Workshops Across Nation

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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A special promotion left Build-A-Bear Workshops overstuffed with customers on Thursday. A one-day sale caused chaos at stores in our area and across the nation.

Long lines stretched outside the Oxford Valley Mall in Bucks County and the Christiana Mall in Delaware.

"I wasn't waiting for this," said one person.

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Inside, crowds clogged the corridors of the Cherry Hill Mall in Camden County and teddy bear lovers swarmed the Willow Grove Park Mall in Montgomery County.

"It was so worth the wait," one child said.

The one-day special promotion allowed children to pay their age at Build-A-Bear workshops across the country. That meant a 3-year-old would pay just $3 for stuffed animals that can cost 10 times that much.

"I think it is great, gives a lot of families the opportunity to buy that couldn't afford it normally,"

However, just a few hours into the sale, stores were already too stuffed. By midday, the crowds were so big the company pulled the plug.

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Build-A-Bear said in a statement that stores had closed their lines and were offering vouchers to disappointed customers, adding "we could not have predicted this unprecedented reaction."

Amie Biviano made it into the Syracuse store but had moments of regret.

"It's been a little tough waiting to move and the lines aren't moving very fast," said Biviano.

Jeff Logan said it wasn't worth the wait.

"It's insanity," he said. "Bring your kids out at 100 degrees, pack them in for a stupid stuffed bear."

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Plenty of people disagreed and even if it was a bear of a day, the early birds made it through with happy kids.

Build-A-Bear called the response to its sale overwhelming and unprecedented in its 21-year history.

 

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