Some tips on making Halloween shopping a treat

The second-largest seasonal shopping time of the year is upon us.

According to a survey by the National Retail Federation, Halloween retail spending will be around $7.4 billion this year. The average shopper is expected to spend $77.52, thanks in part to the fact that the day of frights falls on a Friday this year.

Here are some tips shoppers should know to keep their experiences from becoming a fright.

Haunting the aisles

The stores that we haunt throughout the year have been full of Halloween treasures for a month at least. Additionally, pop-up Halloween stores are sprinkled throughout our towns.

More and more, shoppers also turn to the Internet for their costumes and decorations. The choices are varied and wise consumers may use all three in their effort to horrify their homes and “spookify” their trick-or-treaters.

Shoppers continue to report problems with late or never-arriving costume orders, inferior or malfunctioning decorations, and difficulties surrounding the issue of refunds and returns. Here are some tips from the BBB concerning pop-up Halloween stores:

▪ Check out a company’s BBB business review before doing business with them. Ideally, buy from those that have been in business long enough to have a track record. Be aware that some will change their name from year to year as they try to conceal a problematic past.

▪ Ask how long they will remain in their location after Halloween. Some employees may not know. Ask the manager.

▪ Check out their online website in case you need to contact them in the future.

▪ Ask about their return policy and be sure to save all receipts. If an item isn’t returnable, be sure it is precisely what you want.

▪ As always, pay by credit card, if you can. A later problem can be disputed through the card’s issuer.

Online goblin purchases

Here is advice for online shoppers:

▪ Time is of the essence, of course, as the big day approaches. Be sure delivery can be made in time for the product’s use. It’s probably already too late to hope to be able to return an item and have it replaced before Halloween.

▪ Again, look up their BBB record. Do a browser search for the name of the company along with the word “reviews.” If it’s an eBay purchase, read any negative feedback.

▪ Use services like PayPal, which keep your credit card number from the seller. If the seller is reputable, credit card purchases may be desirable.

▪ Print and save e-mail notifications of transactions.

▪ Take the time to familiarize yourself with the company’s return policy.

Trick-or-treat safety

There are many precautions to be taken to assure your children’s safety as they collect goodies door-to-door. Among them are:

▪ Choose bright, easy-to-see costumes. That may mean adding reflective tape. Be sure the costume is fire-resistant.

▪ Masks can block a child’s vision. Opt for makeup if possible.

▪ Check that each child has a flashlight and be sure someone with them has a cellphone.

▪ Advise children to stay away from lit jack-o-lanterns. They are fire hazards.

▪ Tell them to stay in familiar neighborhoods, avoid homes with no lights on, and never go into strangers’ homes or vehicles.

▪ No eating of the candy until they are home and you have checked their treats.

Things that go bump in the night can be spooky fun when they are intended. Unexpected bumps can lead to unhappy shopping and trick-or-treating experiences.

This story was originally published October 10, 2014 at 4:01 PM with the headline "Some tips on making Halloween shopping a treat."