« Where’s Samuel? | Main | Meet “Pandy” - One Well-Loved Bear »
“BUCKS for BEARS”
By Wendy | August 25, 2009
Introducing our own version of Cash for Clunkers! Get a $20 credit towards a new Bear purchase.
The government’s “Cash for Clunkers” program may be out of money, but there’s another way to turn something old and worn out into cash toward something brand new. Introducing our “Bucks for Bears” program! Just send us your old, worn out teddy bear and we’ll give you a $20 credit toward the purchase of an authentic, handcrafted Vermont Teddy Bear.
If you’re not getting the mileage you’d hoped out of your old teddy bear, we encourage you to trade it in for cash towards a Bear that will really go the distance. Vermont Teddy Bears are handmade right here in Vermont, USA and are unconditionally guaranteed for life, so you’ll have your new Bear forever.
If you’re local or want to make the trek to Shelburne, VT, you can bring your old teddy bear to us here at The Vermont Teddy Bear Factory and receive your $20 discount on the spot. The credit is good towards any 15″ Vermont Teddy Bear (a $49 minimum purchase) and your new Bear must be purchased the same day.
You also have the option of mailing your old bears directly to us. Just include your name and phone number when you mail us you bear, we’ll give you a call when we receive it, and will take your new Vermont Teddy Bear order right over the phone.
What will happen to your old bear? It will be given a permanent home here at our Shelburne factory, so other visitors can see them and you can even stop in for a visit.
We welcome teddy bears of all shapes and sizes, but be warned that the money allocated for this program may run out soon, so if you’re interested in taking advantage of the “Bucks for Bears” program, we recommend to you send us your old bear as soon as possible.
Want more info?
Just call a friendly Bear Counselor at 1-800-829-BEAR (2327) or email customerservice@vtbear.com.
Ready to send us your bear?
1. Put your old, worn out bear in a box or padded envelope.
2. Don’t forget to include your name and phone number.
3. Mail your bear to:
ATTN: “Bucks for Bears”
The Vermont Teddy Bear Company
6655 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT 05482
Topics: Bear Bear |
August 26th, 2009 at 7:28 am
Awesome idea, a great way to get more VTB in the world, I have been to the factory many times and brought friends. You have to see it to believe how much you guys at the VTB are dedicated to the bears and making people “smile”.
I own several and have given several as gifts. Now to see if I can actually “part” with an old friend is the problem . (smile)….
August 26th, 2009 at 7:33 am
Nice to hear about the visits, thanks Selma! Good luck on deciding which of your old friends to “upgrade”. Just think: Soon you could be driving around town enjoying that “new Teddy Bear” smell [;-)].
August 29th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
That’s a really good idea. I don’t know if I could part with any of my old bears though. I suppose I’ll just have to pay full price for my next VTB which by the way I will be ordering Tuesday when I get paid. I gotta say I really love Vermont Teddy Bears, although my poor white bear is more off white now. And he’s got a scar down his back where the seam needed to be resewn. But he’s a great bear, and I’m very attached to him. He goes everywhere with me.
August 29th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
One more thing. I just want to point out how great I think these bears are. I only have two, a 22 inch maple furred guy and my beloved white VTB but I plan to buy tons more in the future. Amazing quality, too. Despite all the handling my bear gets and the traveling he does with me he is still holding up well. The ripped seam was an accident, but was easily repaired. He’s a little dirty but he’s just as strong as he was when he was new. These bears really ARE made to last a lifetime. They’re well worth the money. I’ll be buying myself one a month from now on.
August 30th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Wow, thanks Steven! Without a doubt, your Bears are in good hands.
August 31st, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Thanks for your comments, Steve. Nate is right - sounds like you have two Bears who are in very good hands living with you. We LOVE that! As for your vanilla one that sounds like he is in need of a bath, don’t forget that Vermont Teddy Bears are machine washable. Just put him in a pillowcase, put a little mild detergent in the washer, and wash on the delicate cycle. Then put him out on a clothes line, let him “boogie in the breeze” for a bit, and he’ll be good as new! Whatever you do though, DON’T PUT HIM IN THE DRYER. Remember - he’s a Vermonter and can’t stand the heat.
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:33 pm
It’s great that they’re washable but I’m a bit paranoid about washing stuffed animals I’ve read. washing, even on gentle cycle wears even the sturdiest fabrics over time. And I’d be nervous the whole time he was in there. I think for the sake of my nerves, he’ll just have to stay a little dirty. He’s still beautiful no matter how dirty he is.
And the new VTB I ordered yesterday just came in a few minutes ago. He is a beauty. This one has honey fur. I love him. He’ll be just as spoiled as my other two. I plan to order one a month for awhile. I love these bears so much! Next month will be a fifteen inch bear with premium maple fur.
One more thing I want to say. I suffer from severe depression and anxiety. When I have anxiety attacks ( and I have really bad ones ) the only thing that helps is squeezing a bear. Since bears are so important to me, one of my many constant worries is that my bears will fall apart. With Vermont Teddy Bears I don’t worry about this due to the lifetime guarantee. I know these bears are made to last. By collecting Vermont Teddy Bears, and keeping them around I have managed to eliminate one of my major worries. As a result I am having less anxiety these days. Knowing these bears will be around forever is a great comfort to me. Your bears have really helped me in this respect and I wish to thank everyone at the Vermont Teddy Bear company for this.
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Amazing testimony Steven, thanks! As someone with a close family member who’s managed severe depression for years, I know how important it is to have something that can be soothing in one’s life. I’m so glad to hear that your Vermont Teddy Bears can be so helpful.
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:43 pm
You’re welcome. I meant every word. I’m loving my new VTB too. The faces are amazing! If both of my bears were the same color, I’d still be able to tell them apart due to their different faces. I love that! No two are alike! They’re all individuals.
Both my bears are sitting by my keyboard as I type this. They’re not just stuffed animals. They’re members of the family. I have to go into the hospital on the 17th of September, and both of these bears will be going with me. Last time I had to to this, I didn’t have anything to keep me company. It will be much more pleasant this time.
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Best of luck in the hospital, Steven. You’ll be in my thoughts. Please write back when you’re discharged and feeling better (though I have a feeling we’ll hear from ya before then. [:-)] )
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Thank you. The hospital stay is nothing serious. I have sleep apnea and I’m having a sleep study done so that I can get a new CPAP machine. I’ve had my current one for years and it’s starting to make funny noises. It’s probably about to go out.
The hardest part will be trying to sleep in a strange bed in a hospital room. Fortunately I have my bears this time. Last time I was totally alone and pretty nervous.
November 11th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
I am going to receive my first VTB on Christmas this year! I don’t think I can stand the wait!!!
November 12th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Awesome, Bridget! I hope you’ll write back when you have your Vermont Teddy Bear and let us know how he or she likes the new home.
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:30 am
Just found this blog..great idea! Although many of my old pals went the way of the thrift shop I still have Teddy. I don’t know if I could part with him. Although he is 52 years old he still has that one secret spot of fur that is soft and silky. His leg has stuffing coming out, his nappy head is balding, and his tongue never did “grow” back after being cut off by my tot scissors; a reaction to having had my teeth knocked out with a bar of soap after I stuck my tongue out at my Mom.
Teddy is mushed in the middle from years of hiding me from the bad dreams at night, and is floppy from being lugged and dragged to various swing sets and slides.
If I send Teddy to you can you guarantee him a home for life, a respectful home? Will a new bear protect me from nightmares and fears? Will he be a friend and understand sitting on a shelf until “one of those days” when nothing but a bear hug will do?
We have one VTB, a gift from my husband. He proudly sits with watchful eye in the office area. He sports the remains of my husbands’ rite to maturity ponytail. So he has his job to do. But if you have a bad dream catcher bear, one who might need to snuggle..and you can swear on a bears mother that Teddy will be safe, then perhaps……
November 24th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Hi Amy,
We enjoyed reading your story about “Teddy.” Sounds like he is one well-loved bear! Rest assured…if you do decide to send Teddy to us here in VT, he would be displayed with other bear friends and given a safe, comfortable, and forever place to “retire.” The bears we’ve received through this program proudly sit on a large bookshelf that’s displayed right on our tour route, so he’ll have lots of friends, will get lots of attention, and will be seen by thousands of people every year. And he’ll be right here should you decide to visit him too!
Although we’ll have the bears forever, the Bucks for Bears program will end on December 31, 2009, so you still have a little bit of time to decide.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Wendy & The Bear Crew
December 25th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Hi again! Merry Christmas everyone! I got my misfit bear and it is truly the most special thing I have EVER received in my life! I know I will never be able to find a bear that is one of a kind and handmade for me! WOW. Your company is beyond amazing! Thanks so much!
December 28th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Hey Bridget, thanks for writing back, and a belated Merry Christmas to you. I’m glad to hear that you’re enjoying your new Mistfit Bear. Does he or she have a name?