Frequently Asked Questions

ABOUT THE BEARS

For what ages are Bummer Bears appropriate?

Our Bummer Bears are safe for children age 3 years and up, and of course, adults of any age!

Are Bummer Bears soft?

YES, YES, YES!! They are extremely huggable and soft. Imagine squeezing a bear stuffed with cotton balls -- Bummer Bears are THAT type of soft.

What size are the Bummer Bears?

They are approximately 16" tall (from head to toe, well actually “head to paw”) and 12" tall when sitting. Every Bummer Bear can sit up without any assistance because they have small bean-like weights hidden in the derriere and in the ends of their paws.

Can I include a personal greeting with my Bummer Bear?

Absolutely! We hope that you will choose to include a personal greeting to the recipient of your Bummer Bear selection. During the checkout process you will have the opportunity to write a personal message to the recipient. Your greeting will be included with the bear.

What are Bummer Bears made of?

We were very selective about the quality of our Bummer Bears -- our bears had to be soft and huggable with a nice brown coat, and we wanted each of them to have a face that could cheer up any child or adult who was having a "Bummer" time. Every Bummer Bear has soft poly filling in their body and arms to make them a pleasure to hug and hold.

What is the Mended Heart® Bear's details made of?

The zippers on the Mended Heart^® Bear are made especially for our bears out of a durable plastic that makes them softer to the touch (or to the hug). The mended hearts are created from red, felt-fabric with special stitching.

SHIPPING

Do you really have FREE shipping in the U.S.?

Yes. The price of the bear includes FREE ground shipping to addresses in the U.S. We use USPS Priority Mail, which typically reaches its destination in 2-3 business days.  We offer free shipping because we think everyone would prefer NOT to be surprised or frustrated during checkout because of crazy shipping prices. We’ve removed that stress by including free shipping with every bear order.

Can I wash my Bummer Bear?

If your Bummer Bear gets dirty or messy, we recommend spot-cleaning his fur. He loves to go on a swing or clothes line to air dry! ;) 

Can you ship the Bummer Bears outside the U.S.?

Yes, we can accept orders for Bummer Bears for shipment outside the U.S., HOWEVER (said with great emphasis!), the extra customs/import fees can be significant when they occur (and it doesn't seem to be consistent). Because we can't predict how much those import/custom fees will be and we don't want to have unhappy customers, we will reach out to any international customer who places an order to ensure that they understand that they may incur additional fees upon delivery of their bear.  

Can you ship a Bummer Bear to the U.K., Canada or other International locations?

Yes. We do ship our Bummer Bears abroad but the extra shipping cost can be quite expensive because it is international shipping. We only charge you what the shipping company charges us, but it can be a doozy! Then on top of the shipping charges are often taxes and duties/import fees imposed by the receiving country. These are typically paid at the time of delivery. (For example, VAT for the UK is approx. 20% of the purchase price.) Because these fees vary by location, you may want to reach out to your local postal service and found out the typical fees you may incur. We ensure that we find the best shipping rate for you at that time. 

After I place an order, how long does it take for the recipient to receive his/her bear?

Our standard FREE SHIPPING in the U.S. is via USPS Priority Mail, which should be received by the recipient in 2-3 business days after leaving our "bear-house". If you select express shipping (1-Day, for an extra $30 charge) your bear will be shipped the following business day and will arrive at the recipient's door one day later for most addresses in the U.S. 

Will I receive a confirmation of my order?

Yes. You will receive an email confirmation with details of your order. 

Will I be able to confirm that my Bummer Bear was delivered to the recipient?

Yes, you will receive the tracking information after your bear has been shipped so that you can track the bear's progress or see delivery confirmation date/time information. 

Does the receipt that gets included with a bear mention the price paid for the bear?

No, we figure that a Bummer Bear is going to be a gift and so we exclude any mention of the price on the gift invoice that is included with the bear.

ODDS AND ENDS

Can I call you with questions?

Sure! Call us at (515) 446-8318. We might be out on a "bearrand" when you call, so if you get our voicemail, please just leave us your name and contact number and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Where are you located?

The Bummer Bear headquarters are in Iowa, and our "bear den" is now located there as well. That means that the bears live and ship from Iowa.

Do you sell the bears in bulk or at a wholesale price for larger orders?

We do have wholesale prices for bulk orders or on-going orders (for hospital gift shops or heart support groups, for example). Please check out our Bulk Orders page here on the website, or contact us and we'd be happy to provide you with more information. 

If I give you my email address can I be assured that you won't sell it or give it away?

The bears' and I hate spam and junk mail as much as you do so we will never sell or give away your email address to anyone else.

Is my online purchase secure?

For your security, orders on our site are encrypted with SSL technology on both the client and server end. Your information sent via the Internet can be trusted to arrive privately and unaltered, to our server only. In order for SSL security to work, you must use an SSL-enabled browser. Please note that email and our "Contact Us" form is not encrypted, and is not considered a secure means so please do NOT use that as a method of transmitting credit card numbers to us.

Do you collect sales tax?

Yes, we collect sales tax for all bears purchased by customers in Iowa (since we have a physical presence in that state).

What are the payment options for purchasing a Bummer Bear?

We accept PayPal, Mastercard, Visa, Discover and American Express. We cannot accept jars of honey as payment at this time, no matter what the Bears' tell you. 

ANSWERS TO NEVER ASKED QUESTIONS

Which Bummer Bear is the Den Mother’s personal favorite?

Den Mother's aren't supposed to have "favorite" children (or bears) but... I'd have to say either the Mended Heart^® Bear or the Cubcussion Bear (no longer made). The Mended Heart^® Bear because it was the first Bummer Bear, and the Cubcussion Bear because it always makes me smile as we finish wrapping his head up like a mummy.

Who is in the Bummer Bear suit?

That's Jenny Robbins, the founder of Bummer Bears and the Mended Heart Bear! The bear suit doesn’t get out a lot -- it's very hot inside the suit!