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Frank Bee Costume Center Review

Tuesday, March 19th

2024 Halloween Costume Store Reviews

Frank Bee Costume Center Review 1.5 Star Rating

Frank Bee Costume Center

1.5 Star Rating
  • "A+" rated by the BBB
  • In business since 1957

Frank Bee got its start as a five-and-dime shop in the Bronx back in 1957. They've still got a retail store in that location that visitors describe as "eclectic" . That lines up with what you'll see when you visit the Frank Bee Costume Center online - festooned with animated Christmas lights year-round.

Completely outdated website

You're not going to be "wowed" by the shopping experience on the Frank Bee website. The URL isn't secure (which was an update that should have been implemented years ago), and it's obvious that it's an old Yahoo store that's never been moved into the new millennium. At least it's not hard to find what you're looking for: the categories at the top of the site include New Stuff, Adults, Kids & Teens, Wigs, Masks, Make Up, Accessories, Mascots, and Plus Sizes. You can also use the collections listed on the left side to jump to popular groupings like Sexy Costumes, Star Trek, and Disney. We were a little baffled - and scared? - by the "Prisoner Child" recommendation.

No one wants these Halloween costumes now

It gets worse. When we went to the New Stuff section, thinking we might see Halloween costumes from the Netflix series everyone is binge watching, we found that the inventory held "the latest & newest released costumes for Halloween 2014... only at Frank Bee Costume Center" . Annoying Orange and The Flash aren't at the top of anyone's must-have dress-up list anymore, but - yay - you can buy them here. The Kids & Teens section gives the same outdated impression; no one is watching "Yo Gabba Gabba!" anymore, and the Marvel movie characters they featured are about five films behind (if not more).

No free shipping

Shipping costs depend on what you order. You can either put items in your cart and see how it shakes out during checkout, or you can go to the Shipping page and click the link to get a ballpark estimate from UPS. You won't get any customer-friendly "free shipping with a minimum order" here.

Best Halloween Costumes

No returns, period

Frank Bee Costume Center has the worst return policy of any retailer we've seen: all sales are final. Your costume doesn't fit? Too bad. It doesn't look anything like what was on the website? Out of luck. That's just one more sign that this business isn't keeping up with the times; most of today's shoppers expect to be able to return their Halloween costumes, especially if they're in new, unopened and unused condition.

No reviews - because no customers?

Frank Bee has an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, and the retailer only received one complaint there in the three years leading up to this review. However, we wonder if that's because no one is actually doing business with this store anymore. One report (from more than five years ago) said that they placed an order only to get a phone call several days later, informing them that Frank Bee didn't have what was shown in the online store and that they "can't update their website" . What?! That makes sense, though, considering that the site copyright was 2012 the last time we checked.

Shop anywhere else for your Halloween costume

It's hard to come up with a reason why you'd bother looking for a Halloween costume here, unless you think it's fun to shop for "trending" outfits that are really more retro or you've got some loyalty to the flagship store in the Bronx. Frank Bee Costume Center gets our lowest ranking.

Where Can You Find the Best Selection of Halloween Costumes?

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?

The Best Halloween Costume Stores Compare Halloween Costume Stores Compare Halloween Costume Store Reviews What are the best Halloween Costume Stores Best Halloween Costume Store Reviews

Halloween Costume Store FAQ

Although Halloween originated hundreds of years ago, the way we know it today started in the early 1900s. People wore dark, scary costumes intended to ward off evil spirits, but those outfits gave way to more pop culture styles in the 1920s and 1930s.
While the modern-day celebrations of Halloween are definitely more prevalent in the United States, people in many other countries have picked up the tradition as well. Who doesn't love the idea of getting dressed up in fun costumes and eating candy?
Some aspects of Halloween still tend to be more for the younger set, like trick-or-treating. But grown-ups don't want to miss the fun: you'll often find costume contests in the workplace, or teenagers on your doorstep asking for candy right next to their younger siblings. Halloween costumes are for everyone!
Lucky for you, there are a number of online Halloween costume retailers who have you covered any time of year. You might not find the biggest selection, and some of the "hottest trends" may be last year's top picks, but you'll still have plenty to choose from.
That's easy: selection, price, and availability. You may have noticed that the pickings in retail stores are pretty slim by the second week of October, so you could be out of luck if you procrastinated getting your child's favorite character costume - unless you shop online. Many online Halloween costume shops offer low-price guarantees and carry thousands of options in a huge range of sizes.
Yes! While you might often come away from retail stores disappointed that there's nothing you like that fits, you won't have that experience when you shop online for a Halloween costume. Some of the best retailers make sure to carry costumes in lots of sizes: tall, short, petite, plus size, and so on. Halloween should be enjoyed by every body (pun intended).
That depends on the retailer. Most stores give you at least 30 days to return your costume, as long as it's in the original packaging with all tags attached. (In other words, no wearing it to trick-or-treat and then sending it back!) If you're not sure the costume you're buying is going to be a good fit, make sure to check the return policy before you place your order.
They can be - but they don't have to be. You can find plenty of fun options for under $20 - or go crazy and buy a Halloween costume that costs $200 or more! (You can even get cute stuff for your dog. ) Don't forget to factor in the accessories, too: will you need makeup, a wig, shoes or props to complete your look? Most Halloween costume stores have all of that as well.
Compare the Best Reviews

Continued from above...

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:

  • Ease of navigating the site. Some stores make it quick and fun to find exactly what you're looking for, or to get ideas if you're feeling uninspired. Others make you click and click and click just to see what they have. Look for filters that let you sort by your budget, size, or desired theme.
  • Selection. Even the most user-friendly online store isn't much good if it only carries a handful of Halloween costumes. How many will you have to choose from? More importantly, are they actually in stock?
  • Return policy. Yeah, so maybe you thought you'd fit perfectly into that Elvis costume, but it's a little tight in some places and loose in others. Will the store let you return it? Be sure to read the details about how long you have to send it back and if the package has to be unopened or just in new, resalable condition.
  • Customer satisfaction. Has the store been rated by the Better Business Bureau? Have shoppers had a good experience getting their Halloween costumes delivered on time? Was the return process hassle-free or hard to deal with? Are the costumes well-made or flimsy?

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!

Compare Halloween Costume Stores

Select any 2 Halloween Costume Stores to compare them head to head

best-halloween-costumes
  • Halloween Costumes
  • Party City
  • Halloween Express
  • Costumes
  • Costume Kingdom
  • Spirit Halloween
  • Buy Costumes
  • The Halloween Spot
  • Costume Supercenter
  • Find Costume
  • Trendy Halloween
  • Frank Bee Costume Center
Halloween Costumes vs Party City Halloween Costumes vs Halloween Express Halloween Costumes vs Costumes Halloween Costumes vs Costume Kingdom Halloween Costumes vs Spirit Halloween Halloween Costumes vs Buy Costumes Halloween Costumes vs The Halloween Spot Halloween Costumes vs Costume Supercenter Halloween Costumes vs Find Costume Halloween Costumes vs Trendy Halloween Halloween Costumes vs Frank Bee Costume Center Party City vs Halloween Express Party City vs Costumes Party City vs Costume Kingdom Party City vs Spirit Halloween Party City vs Buy Costumes Party City vs The Halloween Spot Party City vs Costume Supercenter Party City vs Find Costume Party City vs Trendy Halloween Party City vs Frank Bee Costume Center Halloween Express vs Costumes Halloween Express vs Costume Kingdom Halloween Express vs Spirit Halloween Halloween Express vs Buy Costumes Halloween Express vs The Halloween Spot Halloween Express vs Costume Supercenter Halloween Express vs Find Costume Halloween Express vs Trendy Halloween Halloween Express vs Frank Bee Costume Center Costumes vs Costume Kingdom Costumes vs Spirit Halloween Costumes vs Buy Costumes Costumes vs The Halloween Spot Costumes vs Costume Supercenter Costumes vs Find Costume Costumes vs Trendy Halloween Costumes vs Frank Bee Costume Center Costume Kingdom vs Spirit Halloween Costume Kingdom vs Buy Costumes Costume Kingdom vs The Halloween Spot Costume Kingdom vs Costume Supercenter Costume Kingdom vs Find Costume Costume Kingdom vs Trendy Halloween Costume Kingdom vs Frank Bee Costume Center Spirit Halloween vs Buy Costumes Spirit Halloween vs The Halloween Spot Spirit Halloween vs Costume Supercenter Spirit Halloween vs Find Costume Spirit Halloween vs Trendy Halloween Spirit Halloween vs Frank Bee Costume Center Buy Costumes vs The Halloween Spot Buy Costumes vs Costume Supercenter Buy Costumes vs Find Costume Buy Costumes vs Trendy Halloween Buy Costumes vs Frank Bee Costume Center The Halloween Spot vs Costume Supercenter The Halloween Spot vs Find Costume The Halloween Spot vs Trendy Halloween The Halloween Spot vs Frank Bee Costume Center Costume Supercenter vs Find Costume Costume Supercenter vs Trendy Halloween Costume Supercenter vs Frank Bee Costume Center Find Costume vs Trendy Halloween Find Costume vs Frank Bee Costume Center Trendy Halloween vs Frank Bee Costume Center
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