BBB Chief Exective Jim WinsettQ Last year I had a friend who lost his deposit on renting a Halloween costume. Does the BBB have advice to keep from getting tricked when buying Halloween treats?
A Looking to buy or rent a fun Halloween costume this season? You are not alone.
According to the National Retail Federation, a record 170 million Americans will spend close to $8 billion on candy, pumpkins, decorations and costumes – both for them and for their pets. Canadians will spend even more … about $75 per person (most of it on costumes). It is a holiday we love, and retailers respond to that with specialty stores that set up shop in October and are gone the minute Halloween is over.
When shopping at seasonal, temporary Halloween stores, and especially last-minute, it is important to exercise caution. Better Business Bureau is advising shoppers to know the red flags and read the fine print to avoid fly-by-night costume vendors. Even if the store has a returns policy, you should go in with the assumption that whatever you buy is yours to keep, no matter what.
Here are some BBB tips to make sure your Halloween is “spooktacular” fun: