Hundreds show up for Build-A-Bear 'Pay Your Age Day' event at Tucson Mall

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - Hundreds of people showed up at the Tucson Mall early Thursday, July 12 for a one-day sale at the Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Some were able to score their prized stuffed animals while many more were turned away from the company's "Pay Your Age Day."

And it wasn't just in Tucson, the same thing played out at shopping centers across the country.

Build-A-Bear had planned on letting customers pay their age for a furry friend. A 5-year-old customer would be asked to pay $5 while a 10-year-old would be charged $10.

Tucson News Now viewers said some people were lined hours before the store was set to open at 10 a.m.

By 9 a.m. Arizona time, the Build-A-Bear national office announced it could not take any more customers due to long lines and safety concerns.

A customer said most, but not all, of the people in line before the announcement were able to get their bear but anyone who showed up afterward was turned away and given a $15 coupon.

"Even those in line were not guaranteed a bear," Beatriz Romero said on Facebook. "We were in line 45 minutes before the shop opened, and the line was cut off two families ahead of us. They gave us a voucher."

A few of our Facebook fans said they were amazed anyone would fight a large crowd for a stuffed animal.

"I'd rather pay full price than put my kid through that," said Ingrid Rose. "My kids never knew the difference between their Build-A-Bears and their Walmart ones anyway."

"How cheap can people be?," asked Ruth Jokic. "Is it worth waiting wasted time? Cheap people, wow."

Tucson News Now's Michael Colaianni went to the mall and said he saw at least 500 people waiting in line at 10:45 a.m.

He attempted to talk to customers in line about their experiences but was kicked out of the mall by a security guard.