Attorney General Offers Shopping Tips For Halloween 'Pop Up' Store Customers

State officials are warning consumers to be careful about "pop up" Halloween stores around this time of year and inspect merchandise before purchasing it.

The stores often appear at vacant retail spaces on highways and in plazas throughout New Jersey — and often disappear soon after Halloween. The stores sell costumes, decorations, and other Halloween-themed merchandise.

“We want consumers to be aware that these 'pop-up' stores come and go in a flash, so shoppers need to be extra careful when making purchases,” said Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino. “Know what questions to ask to avoid getting shortchanged.”

A task force from the Division of Consumer Affairs recently inspected 23 Halloween stores statewide to ensure they complied with consumer protection laws regarding property pricing and refund policies. No violations were found, but Steve Lee, director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, urged caution Tuesday.

"When a consumer returns to a store to complain about a defective item and finds the merchant has packed up and left without a trace, there is not much hope of getting a refund," Lee said in a statement.

Porrino offered the following tips for consumers:

• Ask store personnel how long they plan to occupy the building. If they can’t give you a clear answer, consider that a major red flag that the store may not be on the up and up.
• Ask how you would be able to contact the store once it leaves, perhaps by website or an alternate address.
• Ask for specific details on returns. What types of merchandise will the store take back? Are unworn costumes returnable after Oct. 31? Will you get a full refund or store credit? How is store credit redeemable after the shop has closed for the season?
• Fully inspect and try on costumes before leaving the store. Halloween stores are busy places and mix ups occur. Don’t assume that the merchandise inside the box matches what’s on the label.
• Save all receipts and pay by credit card so you can dispute unsatisfactory purchases through the card’s issuer.
• Shop at stores that have a proven track record of returning to your town year after year.

Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed by a business, or suspect any other form of consumer abuse, can file an online complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846.

Photo by Dwight Burdette, used with permission under Creative Commons license