Boo! Don’t get tricked by retailers this Halloween

Better Business Bureau

BBB offers sweet advice for avoiding shady Halloween stores or websites

This weekend, the Halloween holiday is expected to be celebrated by more than 170 million Americans, according to the National Retail Federation. Total spending for Halloween candy, costumes, decorations and more is estimated to reach $8.4 billion, an all-time high in the history of the NRF’s annual survey.

Seasonal costume stores and pop-up shops open across the U.S. leading up to Halloween on October 31. Nearly half of all shoppers will visit discount stores to buy their Halloween-related items this year. And, searching for the perfect Halloween costume will lead many people to use online sources for inspiration, such as Pinterest, which has seen a 133 percent growth since 2012. Before you purchase your spooktacular costume, however, Better Business Bureau serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin advises shoppers to research unfamiliar businesses or websites with BBB.

In 2015, BBB received over 270 complaints nationwide against storefront and online costume and Halloween supply businesses. Complaints from online shoppers alleged orders were not delivered and reported difficulties obtaining refunds for cancelled orders. Complaints regarding in-store purchases involved unclear return and exchange policies, damaged products and missing pieces.

BBB offers this advice when shopping for your spooky costume and supplies:

Do your research. If you're interested in trying a new or unfamiliar online merchant, check the company’s BBB Business Profile at bbb.org. This will give insight into the company’s history, how they handle complaints and customer reviews.
Anticipate the charges. Be sure you have a thorough understanding of everything involved before placing an order, including any shipping and handling charges.
Purchase safely and securely. Only provide your credit card number online in a secure environment. Check that the website’s URL contains an “s” in https://, which indicates that the site is secure.
Ask about post-holiday policies. Since Halloween is a seasonal holiday, ask whether the physical store will be open after the holiday and whether or not they offer refunds for returned merchandise. Many seasonal stores, both online and offline, have no-refund policies but may except exchanges within a certain time frame.
Look for clear shipping and delivery information. If ordering online, be specific about when you can expect to receive your order.


Boo! Don’t get tricked by retailers this Halloween Better Business Bureau BBB offers sweet advice for avoiding shady Halloween stores or websites This weekend, the Halloween holiday is expected to be celebrated by more than 170 million Americans, according to the National Retail Federation. Total spending for Halloween candy, costumes, decorations and more is estimated to reach $8.4 billion, an all-time high in the history of the NRF’s annual survey. Seasonal costume stores and pop-up shops open across the U.S. leading up to Halloween on October 31. Nearly half of all shoppers will visit discount stores to buy their Halloween-related items this year. And, searching for the perfect Halloween costume will lead many people to use online sources for inspiration, such as Pinterest, which has seen a 133 percent growth since 2012. Before you purchase your spooktacular costume, however, Better Business Bureau serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin advises shoppers to research unfamiliar businesses or websites with BBB. In 2015, BBB received over 270 complaints nationwide against storefront and online costume and Halloween supply businesses. Complaints from online shoppers alleged orders were not delivered and reported difficulties obtaining refunds for cancelled orders. Complaints regarding in-store purchases involved unclear return and exchange policies, damaged products and missing pieces. BBB offers this advice when shopping for your spooky costume and supplies: Do your research. If you're interested in trying a new or unfamiliar online merchant, check the company’s BBB Business Profile at bbb.org. This will give insight into the company’s history, how they handle complaints and customer reviews. Anticipate the charges. Be sure you have a thorough understanding of everything involved before placing an order, including any shipping and handling charges. Purchase safely and securely. Only provide your credit card number online in a secure environment. Check that the website’s URL contains an “s” in https://, which indicates that the site is secure. Ask about post-holiday policies. Since Halloween is a seasonal holiday, ask whether the physical store will be open after the holiday and whether or not they offer refunds for returned merchandise. Many seasonal stores, both online and offline, have no-refund policies but may except exchanges within a certain time frame. Look for clear shipping and delivery information. If ordering online, be specific about when you can expect to receive your order.
2016 Alice Business Today - October 2016