Halloween has become one of the most popular holidays in the United States, with billions spent every year on Halloween décor, candy, costumes and more.
The National Retail Federation estimates 157 million Americans will spend $6.9 billion on Halloween, and the average American will spend $74.
While most stores that sell Halloween items are reputable, there are always a few pop-up stores and websites that horrify their customers with substandard business practices. Better Business Bureau receives dozens of complaints about costume stores and websites every year. Complaints range from deliveries that were late or never arrived to poor quality and difficulty obtaining refunds.
Some consumers said costumes ripped as they were being tried on or removed from a package. In several cases, store employees told customers they could not return items because they had been used, were broken during the unpacking process or were returned past a posted store deadline. Other retailers failed to mention there were no returns.
Some customers found stores closed when they returned to report a problem. In other cases, customer service numbers had been disconnected when customers tried to contact the store or website.
Better Business Bureau has some tips that can help Halloween shoppers avoid being spooked by unscrupulous retailers:
• Before buying from an unfamiliar website, ask the company for its physical location (address and phone number) so you can check its BBB Business Review at bbb.org.
• Read the company's refund and return policies before you buy. If a store or website doesn't disclose how it will handle any potential problems you may have with their products or services, reconsider doing business with them.
• Be sure you have a thorough understanding of everything involved before placing an order. Be clear on the price and any shipping and handling charges. Know the terms of any product or service guarantees. Find out how long it will be before you receive your order. Federal law requires goods and services be delivered within 30 days, unless a different delivery period is specifically stated by the merchant.
• Keep your identity and personal information safe by only using your credit card online in a secure environment. On pages where you enter a credit card number or PayPal account login, look for the prefix "https://" in the URL box listing the website's address to be sure that the site you are using is secure.
• Ask how long a store will operate. Will it be open after the holiday? Will it accept returns when the season is over? If not, consider buying elsewhere or taking more time to be sure the item is exactly what you want before making the purchase.
• Consider paying by credit card, in case you have a problem and wish to dispute the charge.
Before you do business with a charity or company, you can check its BBB Business Review or BBB Charity Review at bbb.org or by calling 573-886-8965.
Chris Thetford is vice president of marketing and communications for Better Business Bureau in St. Louis.