I understand people's complaints about SH's and other stores' shipping costs, especially when other places like GR for example have pretty decent rates. I do think with UPS changing their rate structure at the end of the year to include dimensional calculations as well (so no big boxes with light foam stuff in it going for cheap), this shipping inequality we see and take advantage of will disappear. Hard pressed to find ways to ship economically if not using a major carrier like a UPS or FedEx. I've seen the USPS rates go up dramatically over the last few years as well and if they weren't regulated sure it would have gone up faster. BTW SH uses FedEx I'm pretty sure and they added dimensional shipping calculations a while back. Think FedEx was the first to adopt it. I'm sure all stores that use them have had potential customers balk at the shipping costs. Here's what SH's website says regarding shipping: "Our shipping costs are determined by the carrier based on the dimensional shipping weight of the package used to ship the order. Some items may even include an additional shipping fee because they are considered an oversized product." So if you don't like SH's shipping charges, it's coming to UPS soon like it or not. This is going to affect everybody and probably prevent a lot of people from buying and ordering things and I think hurt the economy overall. Seeing this coming down the road, I'm glad I have been adding to my halloween haunt themes each year and not starting out.
I've had good customer service from my local SHs and have tried to make it in every year for in-store special discounts they've run locally, taken advantage of their 20% off coupon each year, and for sure their day-after-halloween blow out sales have netted me the biggest bang for my buck. As for cheapest "crap", well a lot of it is Tekky Toys and other mfgrs for the props, the same you will see sold elsewhere unless its an exclusive for them that year. And the costumes and accessories are all pretty much standard items sold to all of the halloween shops. Most people don't build their own props, have the money to spend on semi-commercial ones, and I think a lot of families keep this stuff for a few years and either donate it or do a yard sale so are just fine with what they offer. I know I'm in that boat, although I do hold onto my halloween stuff and try my best to find storage for it but alot of people just don't have room for it.
Personally I can't wait until my local stores open each year. Since I have stores close to me it would be silly to pay any additional shipping (which I 'm sure gets factored into the cost of the props on the floor anyway since they need to get it to the store). I hate that stuff in general even outside of halloween mdse has gotten more expensive for less (size, quality, availability) but don't see the need to boycott a store over it.
So where are you shopping if you're not going to SH any more?
FedEx, that explains a lot. I hate them too and try to avoid them like the plague. Personally I can put up with a lot from most companies. I get it, they need to make a buck and they are geared toward the people who would rather spend the money than try to make it themselves. But at the same time I'm watching them take advantage of those people by cutting corners and jacking up prices. Is the product unique to the store? No. Is everyone charging about the same for most of this crap? Yeah, pretty much. But it's been the way they have gone about it in the past year that has turned me off to them and their parent company, Spencer's.
I haven't bought much in the past year from anyone. I have been mad at the jacked up prices and overall poor quality of most the items I have seen all over. The only times I've purchased anything was at "deeply" discounted prices or on sale/with coupon if I really liked it. I've rarely purchased anything at full price unless it was something I needed or really wanted. I bought some things at my local dollar store, Lowe's, HomeGoods, Kohls, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, and few other places I can't think of. Last year we only had a Spirit store near us (year before we had both Spirit and Halloween City), but it didn't open until October and had a very limited selection despite the fact that the location was large and the area was affluent (people would have shelled out good money for a lot of the stuff).
This year I'm not sure what my game plan is for shopping. I'll see what everyone has, but I've been moving more towards trying to make my own props. I'm really sad that quality has taken a nosedive overall as I remember some very nice and affordable items back when I before I could actually do any of this and I said one day. But when the day finally came, the selection was poor and the quality was questionable. I was able to buy a few things, but every year I find less and less. I know I'm not imagining things either, because I have friends and co-workers that have donated their old props to me and I've gotten some very nice things that are a much better quality from "back in the day".
I still follow Spirit on Facebook and I'm hoping they will improve, but for now I'm not buying from them. It sucks because I know they are a sponsor of this forum.
(sorry for any spelling/grammar errors, I've been working a lot of early shifts and not getting enough sleep)
