I just came across something new and refreshing, and I just had to blog about it right away. It's mystical, fascinating and glamorous - of course, it has to be all those things because it has to do with stars - yes, real stars that shine in our universe. Curious? Well, I'm talking about a virtual kid's website called ShiningStars.com.Russ Berrie US Gift Inc., the famous teddy bear and plush maker, has teamed up with the International Star Registry to come up with this whole idea. I must say, I think it's an innovative idea - I rather like the idea of having a star named after me, and I think most kids will like that too! Read the full story at New Virtual Kid's World at ShiningStars.com.
I have bought two shining stars plush toys in Vernon Hills, IL Hawthorne Mall. I am having hard time accessing the Shining Starcade for my kids to play the game. I am so disappointed because there was no telephone numbers we can contact and ask for an assistance. I wish they could email me back for mutiple emails I have sent them. SOS. It’s a mootpoint of buying these plush toys for the interactive play in the computer if there was no access in the web. Jean Hizon, parent Gurnee, IL
I just bought 2 as well and I am having trouble just accessing the website. It brings me to a page that says that site cannot be found. What is going on?
My daughter had a Shining Star bought for her christening present and like the others we are experiencing difficulties accessing the web. I’m not sure how much these cost but I’m certain it’s a lot of money for just a cuddly teddy!
I bought one of these cute adorable little animals, and i went to register it with the secret code it come with, and the site keeps telling me that code could not be found or is already in use! how is this possible, and of course there’s no way to contaCT ANY ONE about this problem!
I just bought a Shining Star for my daughter and when we entered the secret code, it keeps saying it is invalid or already in use. It was sealed in plastic so there is no way someone could have used it before. I emailed them, although I wonder if I will even get a response. My daughter is very disappointed.
I just experienced the same situation – brand new toy and invalid code. I emailed the company and have not gotten a response back yet.
Has anybody ever contacted the company?
I have to add my terrible dissapointment to the growing list of complaints against this SCAM.
My g/f purchased a ShiningStar animal based on the attached tag that reads: “Shining Stars” and “Official Product of INTERNATIONAL STAR REGISTRY”
I had purchased (and was a customer of) ISR back in 2005, and I have framed the very nice parchment that was provided to me for my payment of $49. That is what we expected to happen, not some cheesy web site where you print your own “parchment”?
So I decided to call ISR and request that I be sent the parchment that I received from ISR via the ShiningStar “Official” product offering.
I was informed that ISR has nothing at all to do with the Russ Berrie web site and that they did not have any access to the people that asked or paid for “Stars Named at Russ Berrie” !!!
I then mentioned that I had been a customer of ISR And that the tag on the product stated that it was “officially” an ISR offering, and the lady (a term used very loosely, I’m afraid!) informed me once again that ISR had no responsibility to assist me.
ISR is/was paid money to have their name on the Tags on the product.
I then asked Donna (customer! service rep for ISR) to please provide me with the $2.00 parchment printout. (A reasonable request, I thought!) and she proceeded back to step one (”ISR is not associated … “) etc.
So I try to make it clearer … I said I was going to contact the BBB, but that didn’t move her anywhere. (More on that later)
So I asked her if I could plaster her name (Donna) all over the restrooms of America, and not be held responsible. She asked me why I was saying something “personal” about her, and I told her it was because the company SHE works for TOOK some of my PERSONAL funds!
She again professed not being able to help me whatsoever, so I asked to speak with her supervisor. Well, she said “I am the supervisor!” (Pity this company if Donna is the level of Customer Service they provide to “customers”)
Surely this is not the end of this scam. I will not rest until ISR makes it right and I have an official ISR Parchment (Gold Deal included!) in my possession.
Consumer Affairs Commissioner Polonetsky Warns Consumers: “Buying A Star Won’t Make You One”
Commissioner Jules Polonetsky Warns Mother’s Day Gift-Givers About Turning Their Mothers Into Stars; Star-Naming Company Issued a Violation for Deceptive Advertising
For those sons and daughters looking to make their mothers “stars” this weekend, Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jules Polonetsky today said that paying to name stars after loved ones is simply throwing money into a black hole. The Commissioner said that companies that offer to “officially” name a star fail to tell consumers that they don’t have the authority to do it. The International Astronomical Union is the only recognized star-naming organization, and it does not sell names.
As a result of a Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) investigation, the agency has issued a violation against an Illinois star-naming company for engaging in a deceptive trade practice. The International Star Registry (ISR) faces maximum fines of $3,500 or more.
“Consumers whose gifts have them reaching for the stars must remember to keep their feet on the ground,” said Commissioner Polonetsky. “Star-naming companies fool consumers into thinking that they can `become’ a star by attaching their name to one, but in reality, the star names are nothing more than a listing in the company’s own book.”
“There are certain commercial and some nonprofit organizations that may offer a service to “register” a star in someone’s name, generally for a fee, but these are neither sanctioned by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) nor used by professional astronomers,” said Professor Helene Dickel, Chairperson of the IAU Task Group on Designations.
ISR charges $50-$100 for “new” star names which are listed in their own book entitled “Your Place in the Cosmos.” Consumers who buy star names also receive a certificate declaring the “official” name of the star. “Wishing upon their `own’ star can’t change the fact that consumers are getting nothing more than a piece of paper in a frame,” said Commissioner Polonetsky. “Other than a sidewalk in Hollywood, consumers who want their own star are better off saving their money by walking into Central Park, pointing to the sky and naming it themselves.”
A DCA investigation found that while the company’s advertisement implies that its star-naming registry is “official,” their salespeople admitted that “NASA and astronomers are always going to continue to use a series of telescopic coordinate numbers” when questioned by DCA undercover inspectors.
Chapter 5 of Title 20 of the New York City Administrative Code prohibits false or misleading representations of a product’s approval, status, or affiliation.
From the ISR Website FAQ … Easy to see why customer would be confused by the FALSE and MISLEADING ADVERTISING.
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FAQs about Naming a Star as a Birthday Gift from International Star Registry
1. How many Stars have you named?
Star Registry has named over one million charted stars after our clients loved ones. We have been in business for 24 years and are a BBBOnLine Participant, and a member of the Better Business Bureau.
2. Can I have my birthday gift framed?
Yes, your International Star Registry certificate can be framed. We offer three different kits and the option of an instant gift certificate.
3. Help I need a birthday gift now!
Did you wait until the last minute? We know the feeling and sometimes it is just hard to find “that something special.” Well, you are in luck, International Star Registry specializes in gifts for all occassions. We recently started offering Star Registry Gift Certificates. Each gift certificate includes everything they will need to name their place in the cosmos. So if you can’t decide on a star name, let the recipient choose the perfect name.
4. What is a good birthday gift idea for a child?
A Shining Stars Doll makes an excellent birthday gift for a child. International Star Registry has included everything you need to name your star.
5. I would prefer to order a birthday gift via the phone?
No problem, call toll us free at 1-800-282-3333 and one of our representitives will be happy to assist you.
I also purchased several of these shining star stuffed animal’s animals as gifts. Then I was told by one of them she couldn’t get the star registered. So I tried to assist her with this gift and got NOWHERE with anything pertaining to this company. They were purchased at a Hallmark Store at full price, and was informed this was a real deal because normally it costs alot more to register a star. So, just what is the deal? Is it just another way to scam us and our kids with false promises? Does anyone know
I just purchased a Shining Stars stuffed unicorn through a mail order company I have used for several years.
I got as far as the page for registering your username and password, etc. But when I clicked on the “next” button, nothing happened.
I did print off the information on the first page, as was suggested. But that same information was supposed to be e-mailed to me as well. Never received the e-mail, just have the information printed from my printer.
So I tried going in through the “log in” area by putting in my username and passoword and again nothing happened.
Since that didn’t work I tried to go in as a “new user”, which resulted in a message coming up saying that secret code was already in use?
My next attempt was trying to e-mail regarding my problem with the registration. All I got back was a screen with a big paragraph of some sort of error messages??
The last resort was searching through my browser for the International Star Registry in Illinois and found this blog.
Like the rest of you, I am very upset that the website is not working and there is no way to reach anyone for technical support.
Good thing the stuffed animal didn’t cost a lot and it will go with my collection of unicorns. But hope this company does something about rectifying the problem with either their website, or offering money back to anyone who wants a refund for the purchase of a “promise” of a star registered in their name(s).
I just received one for my unborn baby boy and I signed on to the site and named a star for him I was a little disappointed that it’s just a paper print out but I think the idea behind it is cute. I did have a problem logging in to the site through AOL you might want to try going through Internet explorer or Firefox. At the very bottom of the home page there is a customer service link but they are not always helpful.
My daughter just purchased a new shining star,the code was still in the sealed package. We go to register it it tells the code could not be found or already taken. How is this possible does everybody have the same code. I think well stick to the webkinz. This was such a rip off my daughter is very dissappointed and sad. These shining stars cost as much as a webkinz.
I am downright mad!!! Bought these animals for my great-grandchildren for Christmas and now am unable to register online……….it just won’t complete the registration…….is this a scam??? just to get you to buy the animals which otherwise wouldn’t be worth the price???
My Shining Stars toy did allow web registration, and assigned a “star” in my requested constellation.
It turns out that the coordinates for my “star” are NOWHERE CLOSE to an actual star, at least as mapped on sky-map.org, which displays stars as faint as 18th-19th magnitude (needing a professional telescope to see). A very helpful person, apparently at Intl Star Registry, is working on the problem, as it may be that ALL the coordinates from Shining Stars are in error, and are not the coordinates of actual stars. I encourage each of you to search the sky-map.org using the (very exact) coordinates provided by Shining Stars to see if you have “star” at all. No other sky map I’ve found online seems to be nearly as accurate a sky-map.org
hello i have several of these stuffed animals and on manny of them the secret code does nnoott work it says its already been used i love the idea of these toys but i dont appreciate being lied to threw false advertising ….i want to return them all straight to the company who do we need to contact to help??? diane
My boyfriend got me one for christmas, and when I tried to enter the code it said it was already taken or it could not be found, I was very cranky! I think it is a waste of money.
The shining stars website at shiningstars.com is difficult to access with Aol. It is easy to access using the internet explorer. If the code is entered wrong then the website will state that the code is in use or that it is invalid. Be sure that you try both zero and the letter O when that appears in your code. Kids can have a great time on the website not only naming their own star, but naming their critter and using their online critter to play games. Know that naming the star is only within the International Star Registry, but it is the thought that counts. It’s a special gift, and who wouldn’t want to feel like they have something so special named for them?
Seriously though, Did you do any research before you promoted this scam? The ISR has thrived off of the misconception that they provide a real naming service. It is shamefull that a public person such as yourself would write about this without any thought to accuracy