Thread: Coming to a sad realization...

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After about 5 years of haunting, I've come to a sad realization.




I can't shop at the big halloween stores anymore.

Here's what I mean. We have a few year round halloween stores (Halloween Club) that are in nearby cities, so a few weeks ago my girlfriend and I decided to drop by and see what they had in stock.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing....that I would use.

This realization has come to be, simply because I've out grown the props and other items sold at these big halloween emporiums.

Nothing they sell is spooky enough or unique enough. After all these years, I've seen all that they have to offer, and none of it is as cool as the stuff that us (more serious haunters) can and have made in the years past.

Anyone else in this boat with me?

Do you feel like you need to make everything yourself? Have you grown beyond the foam latex and rubber body parts? Do you find that making tombstones is easier than buying them...or at least more to your liking?

Who's with me?!

If you got the knack or the motivation home built is ALWAYS a better bang for the buck... and ALWAYS one of a kind.

I agree! Sadly, for haunters like me that lack the skills to build their own props, this is the best we can get! Although, I did buy supplies to make PVC Flickering Candles this year...wish me luck! I did buy some homemade items from Craigs List a few weeks ago, and they put a lot of the store bought items to shame!

Dminor,
I was just at the Halloween store in Sherman Oaks on Riverside Dr. It SUCKED! Even the tombstones where cheesy. I find that there is more creativity with the home builder. Their stuff is unique. If everyone bought the same props what would be the point, all the haunts would look the same. I also love that there are so many different themes (cemetery, pirates, clowns, mad science lab, etc). Halloween club and the others are all about gore. (boring) Halloween Town in Burbank has some really cool stuff but their pricey.

I was never one for store bought stuff, unless I was gonna use it as a basis for something else I was making. For me, it's about the creativity. If someone says "wow, that's cool", saying "thanks, I bought it myself" just doesn't work for me.

I agree! Usually everything either looks cheesy or not creative at all. Last year I made almost all of my decorations and I was much happier with everything.

I buy most but I try find a way to improve it or give it more character to it. Me and my wife, we bought lots of dollarama and turn life size props under 10$.






All theses were done with stuff from Dollarama, all done under 10$ each.

I know many of you creat so many cool props, but many of us don;t have the tools or knowledge or money to build professional lookin g props.

I'm with you all the way. I'm not a haunter..but I do decorate my home and collect items. Problem is the chains sell basically low quality junk. And the pros sell great stuff..but way out of my price range. I know what I like and would love to make some stuff....but the other issue I have is "Lack of skill" I couldn't draw a straight line if my life depended upon it.

My observation is that the overall creativity of offerings have dropped off substantially over the past few years. Spirit used to actually come out with some nice foam/latex props, masks, etc.. Now it seems it's just a mass of body parts, costumes and their animatronic line. The zombie babies were neat, but there hasn't been anything really exciting in a few years. I'll buy a latex prop with a nice sculpt, or a good mask from time to time but I haven't bought much from any Halloween store in quite some time. I make all of my own tombstones now. Have dabbled into electronics and animatronics and have a couple nice props I made myself. I can't afford the pro level props, and most of the stuff seasonal retailers offer is pretty flimsy. I agree that for many of us, home made is the way to go, but I also remember how stores like this sparked my interest in "haunting" and gave me some good foundation props to get started. I also really like just walking around in them when they open up around Labor Day. Give me a good fix!

I agree on some aspects of the "Halloween Stores" haveing alot of cookie cutter props being made to turn a quick buck. In their defence though, there are some people who (through lack of skills or more money than skills) these stores provide a great service. I can get a 8x4 foot sheet of insulation and pop out 12 good size tombstones no problem. My cost is $11 for the foam and the paints are another $10 tops. About $1.75 a stone that looks the way I want it to. But for some who dont have the time, and have the dollar to spend $5 a premade stone is a deal.

The only reason I go to "The Halloween Store" is to get ideas for my haunt or find supplys for my builds. Bag of 12 plastic eyballs for $2 is a great buy but what do you do with it? If your a haunter you get a grapevine wreath at Michales. drill holes in the back of the eyes for lights, hot glue the eyes on the wreath and hang it on your front door.

These stores DO serve a pupose. You may just have to reevaluate what that is.

Good Luck, Marc V.