Complaint Review: Spirit Halloween Store - Egg Harbor Twp., 08234 New Jersey

This was my first year working with Spirit and it didnt last that long !! First of all im a full time student and set out the hours I could work in the first place. There was never a set schedule and when I was told to work I was made to feel like crap because i couldnt work when they wanted me to . Second the management is a joke !! One of the managers at the store i worked with was strung out on a regular basis and not to mention that her boyfriend who worked under her was also stung out as well . I witnessed the boyfriend making a drug deal on the company phone while he was supposed to be working. When reported it was brushed under the rug. I have never gotten paid for the hours i worked . When i tried to dispute the hours I was again treated like crap and no one did anything to help me . I saved the company money by moving a bunch or supplies to another store and was told I would be compensated for the use of my truck only to get a 20 $ bill which only covered what I had already paid out in gas to move the supplies. When setting up the store i was asked several times to stay till midnight or later to help when I had alread stated that I couldnt be there that late as I had homework to be done . Lastly while moving supplies off a truck I hurt my back and had to get injections to reduce the inflamation in my back so I could walk I was treated like crap again when i reported it and I was never compensated anything for lost time or for the expense i incurred due to be ing hurt .I would not reccomment anyone to work for this company and yes it is true that employees and manager talk badly about consumers no only behind their backs but also right in front of them . Still to this day I call and try to get my money but i dont expect it to ever happen !! The time I lost will never be able to be gotten back and definately wasnt worth not being with my family. I would steer away from spending a dime at Spirit or any other business associated with them !!

Hello! I was a Store Manager for Spirit last year, and hope to return this year. I can understand both sides, but lets start with the original post. Unless I missed something, there were absolutely no "children's" shoes in my store that cost 55.00, and as a matter of fact 60% of my show inventory was under 49.99. Only the specialty shoes like Princess Leia's costume heels were that expensive. Also, these are costume shoes and costumes. I had so many people try and return costumes after wearing them to 5-6 parties at 4-8 hours a piece. If your daughter only wore the shoes for an hour and the heel snapped like that, then the Store Manager could have offered you an exchange, depending on the way you approached his/her. I had guests rip costumes out of my hands, spit at me, threaten to stab me, and I even had a father that had his two small children with him, completely destroy one of my displays because after I made an exception, and exchanged an item for him, he was still pissed I wouldn't give him the original receipt back. Most store managers, despite what customers may think, do not want to "rip them off." I personally know that I loved making my customers day by being able to make an exception, but sometimes my hands were tied, and if that happened I always told my customers to dial into the corporate customer service because sometimes they could help. Now as to the post from the previous employee who was with the company for four years and does not want to return. I can't believe your Store Manager was that messed up. I am sorry if you had to go through that stuff and maybe you should try to go to a different store, but come on now. Not all store managers play the "lets save the damaged items" game. Last year at the end of the season I damaged out more than 15 animatronics, numerous costumes every week, and foggers galore. I understand that your DM, and Store Manager might not have been doing their job to your satisfaction, and that is complete bull about your hours. That should be brought up with the payroll department for sure, but I also know that when 4 out of the 5 employees at my store quit they had nasty things to say about me, including some very rude rumors because they felt I wasn't doing my job. My job is to keep everything in Spirit World spinning while making sure every customer leaves happy and nothing walks out of the store unpaid for. Your job as an employee is to help accomplish these goals and I think a lot of the time employee's forget that after they go home, most store managers are still in the store creating schedules, conducting interviews, rearranging inventory, or dealing with complaints from the DM. These may seem like simple tasks, but really are stress levels climb continuously throughout the season. In Short to all Spirit guests, and employees. Try and remember that Halloween is suppose to be a time of imagination and wonder. Kids learn how to stretch their creative skills, and the next time that you feel that, as a guest, you are being treated unfair, or thats it is Bull**** that a manager wont bend a rule, ask yourself if you would or could at your job, or if your an employee who is pissed that you seem to be doing more work than anyone, really take a look around at what is being done around you. I was told by my DM when he hired me that Spirit could be like a family if I allowed myself to think in that mentality. I am proud to have worked for spirit and hope to continue to do so for many more years! Happy Halloween!!!

I too have worked for Spirit, this year was my first year and I was Assistant Manager; and I would return next year. I think it's really easy for a consumer to throw a hissy fit when they don't get their way and usually with no reason. Actually, I saw quite a few 2 year old tantrums from grown adults; hate it break it you but you look like a moron when you do it and everyone including customers and employees make jokes at your expense after you leave. Sorry to hear about your daughters boots, I can't say I haven't felt the same way about something but you said a key thing.... your daughter was wearing them when they broke... I own many pairs of Spirit shoes, have worn them dancing, even sprinted for a bus in them... NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. Think about it, your daughter was wearing them, the store manager has no clue for how long or what she was doing... After you leave the store and physically wear them around, that makes them non-returnable regardless of the purchase date or return cut off; but prior to the 17th a manager can make an exception if they choose to do so, they do not have to. If there was wear marks or even slight scuffing they are non returnable even at a place like Fred Meyer. What really gets me is these parents who throw fits in a store in front of their kids... set an example... GROW UP mom and dad. You definitely don't get your point across calling me names, salivating on my counter or acting like an aggressive beast. Plain and simple folks, your receipt tells you how long you have to return something and so do the signs posted all over the store... if you neglect to read them, that's on you. NOT US. At my store we told every customer the return policy and cut off date as we were checking them out, guess what? We still had jerks we told (we knew they were told by initials on the receipt) come in after the 17th and cuss us out. People need to quit trying to blame the company for their neglect on their purchase. I would like to explain, Spirit had to place a cut off on the exchanges... the reason is people throw Halloween parties for a week or so before the actual day, we had to cut it off somewhere because we get TONS of people wearing stuff to parties ECT and then they try to bring it in worn, and get a new costume. I hate to say it but had you tried to return the boots prior to the 17th you probably would've been fine, before the 17th it is at the stores discretion, after the 17th... we don't make the rules, we just abide by them. Long story short, read the policies... if you don't... no one to blame but yourself, so go take a look at yourself in the mirror and YELL at the right person.

WELL, I AM A CURRENT EMPLOYEE OF THIS COMPANY & A MATTER OF FACT, I AM AN ASSISTANT MANAGER W/ SPIRIT HALLOWEEN...ALSO I MIGHT ADD THAT I HAVE BEEN W/ THE COMPANY FOR MY 4th & "FINAL" YEAR W/ THESE PEOPLE! I WANT TO GET A LOT OFF OF MY CHEST & AS A MATTER OF FACT, HOW CAN THIS COMPANY GET AWAY WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY SOME OF US EMPLOYEES FOR OUR HOURS THAT WE HAVE PUT IN...GIVING US THE EXCUSE THAT "THE COMPANY HAS RUN OUT OF HOURS?" (AFTER THE FACT THAT WE ALREADY COMPLETED THE REQUIRED HOURS) WHAT?? YES!!! I AM OWED EXTRA HOURS,AS SO ARE OTHERS (SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN, 16 YEARS OLD etc.) THAT WERE NOT PAID TO ME & A FEW OTHERS AS WELL.IN MY STORE, IT IS RUN BY FAMILY...DISTRICT MANAGER IS THE FATHER IN LAW OF THE STORE MANAGER WHOSE GIRLFRIEND IS AN EMPLOYEE...MIGHT I ADD THAT SHE IS JUST AN ORDINARY SALES GIRL WHO YOU CAN SAY "TRIES" TO TAKE LEAD & DEMAND OTHERS, EVEN MYSELF, TO DO ALL THE WORK IN THE STORE., WHILE SHE SITS AROUND TO DO NOTHING. THERE IS DRUG USE IN THE STORE BY THE MANAGER, WHO HAS US EMPLOYEES CLOCK HIM IN , EVEN WHEN HE'S NOT THERE. THEY BRING THEIR 5 MONTH OLD BABY IN WHILE ANOTHER EMPLOYEE(THEIR FRIEND) "BABYSITS" ON COMPANY TIME IN THE BACK ROOM, (MIND YOU, HE'S ON THE CLOCK) WHILE HE SMOKES W/ THE STORE MANAGER, & IMAGINE ALL OF THIS, HE IS GETTING PAID BY THE COMPANY...WHAT A JOKE? BUT WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE ME...WHO DO I TURN TO? WHEN I FEEL AS IF I GET NO WHERE GOING TO MY DISTRICT MANAGER,(THE FATHER) THERE IS DAMAGED ITEMS I PULL OFF THE FLOOR & GIVE TO THE MANAGER WHO ONLY GOES BEHIND MY BACK TO PUT THE ITEMS BACK ON THE FLOOR? THEY LAUGH WHEN THE CUSTOMER COMES BACK TO TRY TO RETURN IT FOR THEIR MONEY BACK & ONLY TO REFUSE THE RETURN...GIVING THE CUSTOMER THE OPTION TO "RE-SHOP" THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY ONLY TO BUY MORE JUNK. YES! JUNK THAT HAS BEEN RE-SHIPPED BACK TO OUR STORE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEARS(INCLUDING LOTS OF DAMAGED ITEMS & COSTUMES WHICH ARE HALF MISSING)...KNOWING IT IS DAMAGED, THEY PUSH THE ITEM ON THE CUSTOMERS. I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT CORPORATE BUT EVEN MYSELF PEOPLE, ASSISTANT MANAGER, THEIR OWN EMPLOYEE...I FEEL AS IF I MYSELF HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED! MORE?? I HAVE PLENTY! WHEN I SAW THIS SITE, I FELT BAD TO READ ABOUT THIS CRAP THAT CONTINUALLY KEEPS ON HAPPENING!!! I CAN BACK UP ANYBODY'S STORY WHEN IT COMES TO SPIRIT HALLOWEEN! SPIRIT IS AN UNFAIR COMPANY! FOR ITS CUSTOMERS & EMPLOYEES AS WELL! OH, THE BIG MAN, STORE MANAGER, GETS A BONUS @ THE END OF THE SEASON...THERE IS A CATCH THOUGH, THE MORE DAMAGES HE HAS TO MARK OFF, ETC...THE LESS HIS BONUS WILL BE. WOW! BUMMER! SO WHAT ARE THE PLANS REGARDING HIS BONUS CHECK??? WELL GUESS WHAT I CAN TELL YOU...THERE ARE VERY FEW DAMAGES GOING TO BE WRITTEN OFF BY HIM BECAUSE AS HIS GIRL STATES "HIS BONUS WILL BE LOWER" SO THEY WON'T BE WRITING OFF TO MANY OF THE DAMAGED ITEMS. THE DAMAGED MERCHANDISE WILL BE PUT BACK IN W/ THE ITEMS TO GO OUT FOR SALE NEXT YEAR. GOOD LUCK IF YOU PLAN ON SHOPPING W/ SPIRIT...YOU WILL NEED IT. ONE THING I MIGHT ADD, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY JOB, HELPING CUSTOMERS PUT TOGETHER THAT PERFECT COSTUME FOR THIS FUN HOLIDAY. BUT W/ THE NEGLECT FROM THIS COMPANY I FEEL, I CAN VOUCH I WILL NEVER GO BACK, NOR WILL I EVER STEP FOOT IN THEIR DOORS! I HAVE A CLUE FOR EVERYONE THOUGH...SPIRITS POLICY...(AS HOW IT WAS TOLD TO ME) IF YOU REALLY PUT UP A FIGHT IN OUR STORES ABOUT A CASH REFUND...DEMAND YOUR MONEY BACK BECAUSE WE CAN GIVE IT BACK!!! ;-) YOU JUST NEED TO GET NASTY SOMETIMES TO REALLY GET WANT YOU WANT! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE & ON BEHALF OF THE YORK STORE HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA, I AM SORRY!

That is why you, as a parent, should not have made such a huge fuss in front of your kids, causing the store to basically kick you out, refusing to sell you anything. What ever happened to MAKING your children's costumes? Isn't that all the fun of Halloween costumes? Now it appears to come down to purchasing poorly made "expensive boots" and then causing a ruckus in front of your kids to prove your point. What a shame indeed...