Our reviewers evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.
Friday, March 24th
Buy Costumes carries over 10,000 unique costumes for Halloween, Christmas, or any other occasion you have for dressing up as something different. They've been in business for over 20 years and are based out of Wisconsin.
Basic shopping experience
You can start your Halloween costume shopping by clicking on the categories at the top of the Buy Costumes site: Character, Baby, Girls, Boys, Womens, Mens, Accessories, Decor, Holidays, or Sale. Or, scroll down the page and see some popular themes like DC Comics, Video Games, TV & Movies, and so on.
Need a laugh?
Our favorite category to shop here - literally for grins and giggles - is Funny. You, your family and friends, or even your pets can have everyone on your trick-or-treat route cracking up with the Halloween costumes in this section. We particularly liked the Acme Dynamite Pet Accessory for $7.99, Pumpkin Suit & Tie for $119.99, and the Evil Clown w/Victim Inflatable for $86.99.
Prices are all over the place
Buy Costumes' prices can be affordable or higher than average, depending on which one you choose. Inflatables in particular were more costly here than on other Halloween stores we looked at. Want to save a bit? When we were browsing the Buy Costumes store most recently, we got a pop-up discount of 15% if we were willing to join their email list. That savings could help you cover the shipping fees, which start at $7.99 for economy delivery within 2-10 business days.
Narrow return window and 12% restocking fee
Buy Costumes isn't very generous with their return policy. You've only got 15 days from your original order date - not the day it was delivered - to postmark your return back to them. Your refund will have a 12% restocking fee deducted from it. As with most Halloween costume stores, your items need to be new, unused, and in their original packaging to be eligible for returns. Plus, some items (pet costumes, artificial hair of any kind, cosmetics, socks and stockings, and so on) must be unopened if you want a refund.
Still in business
We were a little confused when we first looked up Buy Costumes' reputation with the Better Business Bureau: it showed the retailer as not being in business. Fortunately, a quick call to the number on the site let us know that the store is under a new parent company (Rubies DTC LLC), which has a flawless "A+" and accreditation from the BBB. It was also nice to see that we reached a US-based customer service rep right away.
Performance is inconsistent
Beyond the BBB, customer sentiment towards Buy Costumes is mixed: out of more than 1,300 ratings, nearly 800 gave this Halloween costume store a perfect five stars. We found glowing praise for how quickly orders arrived, the quality of the costumes, and the attentiveness of the customer service team. Oddly enough, the 25% of shoppers giving Buy Costumes a dismal one-star rating complained about the exact opposite: orders arriving late or not at all, poor-quality outfits or incorrect items that needed to be exchanged, and trouble getting a response from support.
Could be worth trying
You can expect to have a reasonably good shopping experience if you get your Halloween outfit from Buy Costumes. Just be sure to pay close attention to the contents of your order, in case you need to request an exchange or refund, and try to make your purchase well in advance of when you need it.
There's something in Halloween for everyone, from the kids who can't wait to get their hands on piles of free candy, to grown-ups who get to feel like a kid again by dressing up like their favorite superhero or celebrity. Of course, at the heart of any Halloween celebration is the perfect costume. If you're tired of dragging out the same tired clown, witch, or devil attire every year and you're ready for something new, it's time to get shopping!
But wait - what if it's not even fall yet? Or what if you're trying to dress up your kids for their end-of-the-year theme days at school? No need to panic: even though they're called "Halloween" costumes, you can shop for almost any imaginable attire with any number of online retailers who keep the proverbial doors open year-round. That's especially true now that conventions, cosplay, and other dress-up occasions have become so popular - why should that kind of fun be limited to the month of October, right?
One of the best things about shopping for your Halloween costume online is the selection. Have you been to a retail store a few weeks before the holiday and seen how picked-over it gets? Good luck finding anything that fits or matches, let alone a costume that everyone will be talking about.
Yes, you're always going to find the most options in stock if you shop sooner rather than later, but some online stores can hook you up with a killer costume - literally, if you're into dressing up like a slasher movie - and get it delivered even just a few days before Halloween.
With so many Halloween costume stores out there, and so many themes to choose from, it's normal to feel a little overwhelmed when deciding where to shop. Want to make it a little easier? Keep these factors in mind:
To help you get your spooky on, TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked today's most popular online retailers of Halloween costumes. We're sure this information will make it fun and fast to get the perfect outfit before the big party or trick-or-treat!
Select any 2 Halloween Costume Stores to compare them head to head