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02-23-2013 at 4:10 PM
kellmo
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BRU or BBB ??

I have never been to a buy buy baby. We always go to BRU. Is it similar to a babies r us? Which do you prefer and why?

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02-23-2013 at 4:34 PM
mama4est
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The way I describe it is by saying that BRU is like Wal-mart and BBB is like Target. :)

,

 
02-23-2013 at 4:38 PM
Bliss+Berr...
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I can only speak to the locations near me, but IMO BBB is 100x better.  BRU is always a wreck, not well stocked and I can't ever find a sales person to help if I need it.  BBB is amazing.  Clean, organized, tons of inventory and incredibly helpful staff.  

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02-23-2013 at 4:39 PM
mimi4347
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Our BRU didn't have great selection, was organized in a way that made it hard to find the things they did have, felt kind of dirty, and had just ok customer service (in starting a registry - we didn't buy, return, exchange, etc.). 

After going to BBB, there's no comparison - we deleted our BRU registry almost immediately. Customer service was amazing! They had almost everything (including cloth diapers!), it was clean and well organized, prices were at least as good on things I compared, esp. if you use 20% off coupons - and you can use Bed, Bath, & Beyond coupons there as well. As far as the actual store goes, BuyBuy Baby felt very similar to Bed, Bath, & Beyond - they even have the same kind of wall of gadgets and small items in the feeding section as the kitchen gadget wall! I believe the registry completion is the same at both places. 

The major drawback could be that there aren't as many locations, so if you want to register there, make sure there's a store close enough to most of your shower guests (not a problem for us, but could be for some). The website also isn't great, but I don't love BRU's website, either. For online shopping, I'm keeping a second registry at Amazon.

Caveat: FTM here and haven't had a shower yet, so I haven't dealt with any returns, etc. But Bed, Bath, & Beyond made all those things super easy with our wedding registry, and since it's the same parent company, I'm assuming it would be pretty much the same. 

02-23-2013 at 5:04 PM
amarissa85
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IMO BBB is an expensive version of BRU. The stroller that we want for our LO is priced at 399 at BBB compared to 299 at BRU and that is just one of the items we were looking at. I just can't justify spending the extra money like that when I can get it cheaper somewhere else. All of the BRU stores are not big selects for example the one in my hometown is very big with lots of things and the one here is very small and not quite so lavish, but if I can't find something I just go online and order it site to store pickup.
02-23-2013 at 5:20 PM
CelticWife
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To me, BRU is like Target. BBB is like Bed Bath and Beyond. There are some specialty areas in each, but the associates are not experts in any respect.

I like BRU. I like their rewards program, and they are convenient to get to. I have never had an issue with returns, but I have rarely had to return anything.

BBB is a nicer shopping experience, but things tend to be pricier.

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02-23-2013 at 5:21 PM
2beMommyOf...
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IMO....BBB is way better. It's more like a bed bath and beyond...owned by them actually. They have more brands of everything!
 
02-23-2013 at 5:42 PM
HowlChild
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From what I understand it's more expensive. I have never gone to a Buy Buy Baby....I'm not sure if they have one around me....The Baby R' Us near us is really nice and organized and has a great selection....I will admit the furniture it slightly over priced, but everything else seems reasonable. 

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02-23-2013 at 6:17 PM
wcsmmc
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I was completely turned off by BRU at first.  I went to BBB, which is significantly further from my house than BRU, and was amazed.  I loved how clean and organized it was.  I then went into the BRU that was half a block from BBB, and it was a whole different experience.  I think that location knows that they need to keep up with the Jones'.  Much cleaner and organized than the first BRU I went into.  I think there are good qualities in both stores.  I'm registering at both of them. 

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02-23-2013 at 6:22 PM
Bliss+Berr...
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I also wanted to add that if you register with BRU, pay mind to their sneaky, tacky add-ons.  Several people I know had specific dollar amount gift cards and buyer protection plans added to almost everything they registered for, without their knowledge.  

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02-23-2013 at 6:23 PM
Jkip0705
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DH and I just went to both tonight. We were not happy with BRU and it was unorganized and we couldn't find things we were looking for. We went to BBB and could not believe the difference. Everyone was so nice and helpful and I could find everything I was looking for. The prices ranged at times, but I liked BBB better.

 
02-23-2013 at 7:01 PM
kahlan82
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I have never been to BBB, we registered at BRU.  The one near our house was huge, clean, well organized and the staff was very helpful.  I liked the store but I really have nothing to compare it too.

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02-23-2013 at 7:59 PM
CarolineEm...
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BBB price matches and takes bru coupons. For us, BBB is better hands down even if pricier before price matching.

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02-23-2013 at 8:06 PM
mainerocks
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I am not a BRU fan, but I've never set foot in a BBB so I can't compare. I wish I had one closer to me!

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02-23-2013 at 8:17 PM
smilejenn
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I've never been to a Buy Buy Baby, but as a mom of two kids, I find Babies R Us to be overpriced. (as is Toys R Us) It's convenient for first times moms as a place to register with all baby products under one roof though.

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02-23-2013 at 10:14 PM
casey78
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Hands-down, I'd take BBB for the selection and shopping experience. They also have great in-store coupon options (will take BBB, BRU, bed bath and beyond -- even expired BBB). When shopping for registry, I noted that the things we wanted at BBB were consistently 20-30% more than at BRU - not bad if one has a coupon, but not good either. I checked out amazon and found prices to be 20-40% lower than at BBB. 

Fwiw, I ended up test-driving at BBB and moving almost everything to an amazon baby registry (which also offers 10% completion discount).  We will still keep a BBB registry for some in-store things. 


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02-24-2013 at 1:15 AM
ladybugpjb
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I prefer BBB, but have only been a few times and not done a lot of price comparisons. I know for sure that BRU is waaaay overpriced on many things. BRU tends to be less organized.

BBB has a wider variety of brands (more expensive brands). They have at least three times as many car seats and strollers as BRU, maybe more.

I find BRU's rewards program pretty worthless - it's great for when people are buying from your registry and you get rewards when they purchase from your registry, but I don't purchase enough there post-baby to get more than a $5 coupon every few months. The coupons are pretty limited on what you can use them for. Example: you can't use them on toys, diapers, formula, and most other things that you NEED. Also, I've received the coupons as little as 2 days before they expire - pretty ridiculous.

BBB sends 20% off coupons - they have some limits, but not as many as BRU's coupons.

I go to BRU more because it's closer, but the biggest thing that got me there was when they put their baby food pouches on sale, or when clearance clothes are an extra 40% off. I don't know about BBB's sales/specials.

In reality, though, I buy most basic baby stuff (diapers) at Target or the grocery store (food and formula), and clothes at Target, Carters, Old Navy, and other baby stores.


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02-24-2013 at 7:37 AM
babystoli
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From a "purchasing on the way to a shower" perspective, BBB blows BRU out of the water. You walk into BBB, an associate helps with finding the registry, and offers help with finding items. The registry and the store are logical. They even have free DIY gift wrap.

The last time I went to BRU... I could not find a single item on the registry. I know my friend had registered in store at a different location. The sales associates had no idea where anything was, and we're not helpful. I knew what colors the room was, so just bought items based off that.

I just wish there was a BBB near most of my family!

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02-24-2013 at 11:02 AM
ScarletOfl...
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smilejenn:
I've never been to a Buy Buy Baby, but as a mom of two kids, I find Babies R Us to be overpriced. (as is Toys R Us) It's convenient for first times moms as a place to register with all baby products under one roof though.

Agreed, there is nothing at BRU I can't get at Amazon. 


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02-24-2013 at 12:56 PM
rissa06
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We have both.   They are right across the street from each other and the bru is fairly new and actually so is the new bbb.

i like bbb, because I love the lay-out, easier to find things, I found the associates very knowledgable.  Additionally, I feel like bbb has a lot more of the organics, upper end items that you sometimes do not see at bru.  I hate that you can't use expired bed, bath and beyond coupons there.

bru, the rewards coupons are ok.  I like you can use the $5 towards diapers.  Hate that u have to log into the account for them now.   

02-24-2013 at 2:18 PM
baby Gs mo...
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We have to usw BRU, our BBB is over an hour away but i hear its better than bru.

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02-24-2013 at 2:20 PM
BelhurstBr...
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I find both to be overpriced and shop on Amazon. 


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02-24-2013 at 4:10 PM
trudibell
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I think (but could be wrong) that Buy Buy Baby is the baby form of Bed Bath and Beyond.  They had a much wider selection of baby stuff than Babies 'R Us, the store was much cleaner, and a personal shopper escorted us around the store explaining everything to us rather than just giving us a gun and a print-out.  If you are interested in cloth diapering, BBB had a much better selection than BRU, and a lot of the stuff was cheaper at BBB than at BRU (but the cheapest is Amazon!)
 
02-24-2013 at 4:13 PM
trudibell
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BelhurstBride:
I find both to be overpriced and shop on Amazon. 
 

Agreed! 

 
02-25-2013 at 9:26 AM
BabyBowers...
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mama4est:
The way I describe it is by saying that BRU is like Wal-mart and BBB is like Target. :)

Agree! I went to BBB for the first time about a month ago & fell in LOVE! It is so much nicer then BRU & seems like their things are reasonably priced. Unfortunately I am about 35-40 minutes from BBB & only have two people who would be coming from that direction to my shower so I won't be registering there. It is part of Bed, Bath & Beyond so if you go to one of their stores to purchase from Buy Buy it will be out of stock, but I heard they will ship free!! So I may try that option a few times :-) 


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02-25-2013 at 10:05 AM
Cangel24
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mama4est:
The way I describe it is by saying that BRU is like Wal-mart and BBB is like Target. :)

 

I couldn't have said it better myself! 


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02-25-2013 at 1:14 PM
shara3333
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No experience yet, but I heard BBB will price match anything (even if you just pull something up on your phone and show them the price on say amazon).  I also heard you can use Bed Beth and Beyond coupon at Buy Buy Baby (though not on top of a price match).

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02-25-2013 at 4:20 PM
huskerfrk0...
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BRU can have some good deals, plus coupons.  BBB is good with price matching and better prices IMO. Plus, at BBB I feel there are alot more sales people asking if you need help. Lateley my BRU is out of something I want and then there is no one around to ask if they have any more in back. That's just my take on them both.  Good luck to you.


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