BBB® Offers Spooktacular Tips for Halloween

Southfield, MI, October 22, 2018 –Shopping for Halloween should be fun—not terrifying. With so many costume and decoration ideas, it’s hard to choose what to buy, and where to buy it from.

According to the National Retail Federation, Halloween spending for 2018 is expected to reach $9 billion, with consumers planning to spend an average of $86.79 each.

According to the survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, among Halloween celebrants, 70 percent plan to pass out candy, 50 percent will decorate their home or yard, 48 percent will wear costumes, 30 percent will take their children trick-or-treating and 18 percent will dress their pets in costumes.

“Halloween is such an enjoyable time of year for children and their families, but it can get pricey,” said Melanie Duquesnel, BBB® President & CEO. “There are several smart ways you can save money without forfeiting the fun.”

Better Business Bureau® Serving Eastern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula recommends the following tips to avoid getting spooked this Halloween:   

Rent a costume

Some people don’t like the idea of spending a lot of money on a costume that will only be worn once, which is why they look to renting. While renting a costume leaves more room in your budget, know that the costume you may be getting may not be in great shape. If you opt for renting a costume this year, check out the condition of the costume first. Make sure you try it on and note any defects with the owner. Read over the rental agreement carefully and make sure you make note of the rental period.

Always check the return policy  

Whether you are shopping in a store or online, always make sure you are clear on the store’s return policy before you buy. Find out how long you must keep your receipt, or what happens if you should lose your receipt. This will help you avoid any mishaps like unwanted items being non-refundable. Remember: Buying a bunch of stuff with the intent of simply returning it after October 31st is considered fraud. 

Shop smart online

• When shopping from an online website, the first step is to make sure the URL starts with “https” and includes a lock symbol. The S in “https” stands for secure.
• Look up the website’s privacy policy and contact information. If it is not clearly listed, or they only have an email as the point of contact, take that as a big red flag and shop elsewhere.
• Also, be sure to use your credit card instead of your debit card, as credit cards not only provide additional protection, but it’s also easier to dispute a fraudulent charge.

For more tips for shopping online, click here.

Seasonal stores

If you decide to shop from a seasonal store, ask if they will be open after the holiday, how long they plan to stay open, and if they will accept returns after Halloween is over. If they plan to close shop November 1st, or refuse returns after, either consider shopping elsewhere, or take more time to be sure that item is exactly what you want before making the purchase. 

More tips for seasonal “pop-up” stores:

• See if they have a website in case you must contact them later.
• Save every receipt.
• Use a credit card so you can dispute problems with the card’s issuer.
• Make sure you are clear on what items are FINAL SALE.

Attending a special event or visiting a haunted house

Before you purchase tickets do some quick research and make sure that there are no complaints about the company hosting the event.

• Check out the company at bbb.org. Read what previous customers have to say and see how the business responds to complaints.
• Check BBB Scam Tracker and see if other consumers have filed a report about the event host.
• Search the business online adding the word “Complaint”, “Reviews” or “Scam” after their name for different search results.
• For more tips on buying tickets, click here. 

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About Better Business Bureau Serving Detroit & Eastern Michigan
Better Business Bureau Serving Detroit & Eastern Michigan is a non-profit organization with the purpose of promoting trust in the marketplace by assisting in the protection of consumers and businesses from fraud and unethical business practices. In addition to its recognized dispute resolution services, the BBB maintains online business reviews on the customer service history of more than 90,000 local businesses and provides consumer education materials on numerous topics. The BBB provides its services free to the public and its service territory stretches across Eastern Michigan from Ann Arbor through Metropolitan Detroit, Lansing, Flint, upward to Alpena, and covers the entire Upper Peninsula of the state.

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