Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Halloween 2020 will look unlike any other we have seen before. Safety will be even more important during this year’s celebration. Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises shoppers to rely on trusted merchants and check out any unfamiliar websites before buying.
The National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates that COVID-19 concerns will only take a small bite out of what consumers will spend for the holiday. NRF estimates that consumer spending on Halloween will reach $8.05 billion, down slightly from $8.78 billion last year. Those who plan to celebrate will spend an average of $92.12.
BBB received 127 complaints last year, and received 35 complaints so far in 2020, about masquerade costume businesses, which include Halloween stores and websites. Many complaints involve orders that never arrived or were missing items.
A St. Louis woman told BBB she placed an order online for two costumes last year. She said she only received half of her order and had difficulty getting a refund for the portion of the order she didn’t receive.
“Getting a great price on a costume is nice, but you should examine merchandise and its seller before you purchase it,” said Michelle L. Corey, BBB St. Louis president and CEO. “If you’re buying online, it pays to check a website’s reputation before you place your order. Consider shipping schedules if you need an item by a specific date. If you’re buying from a temporary store, ask about return policies before making a purchase.”
BBB offers these tips to help you avoid being haunted after Halloween is over:
- Location. If you’re interested in trying a new or unfamiliar online merchant, ask the company for its physical location (address and phone number) so you can check its BBB Business Profile at bbb.org.
- Customer satisfaction policy. Determine the company’s refund and return policies before you buy. If online companies can’t offer concrete commitments on how they will handle any potential problems you may have with their products or services, reconsider doing business with them.
- Leave nothing to chance. 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 that goods and services be delivered within 30 days, unless a different delivery period is specifically stated by the merchant.
- Guard your personal information. Only provide your credit card number 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. If you’re buying from a seasonal store, ask whether it will be open after the holiday and whether it will 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.
For assistance, go to bbb.org or call 888-996-3887.
