Don't bother waiting for major holiday sales. Grab the Costco gift card packs first; it's basically an instant 20% discount on anything, even clearance. Also, join their free Bonus Club for the Pay Your Age birthday bear. If you order online, buy them unstuffed. Bringing them into the store to stuff is completely free.

Their system locks orders instantly, so there’s zero cancel button once you submit. Don't bother emailing support either; they take days to reply. You have to call right away or you’re out of luck. If it already ships, just take it to a local store for a refund to avoid return shipping fees.

Yeah, the 10% military discount is strictly in-store; their site still doesn’t sync with ID.me. Just show your ID at the mall counter. If you’re buying online, grab discounted gift cards from Costco or Sam’s first. That knocks off 20%, which beats the military rate anyway. You can stack Bonus Club points, too.

Make sure you register for their free Bonus Club online beforehand, otherwise you can’t redeem it. It’s strictly in-store during their birthday month, no online option. Your kid has to be there. They don't check IDs, but outfits and sounds are regular price. That’s where they get you.