From working long hours to styling displays, those who work at Halloween pop-up stores know what it really takes to have a successful scary season. Here's what it's like to work at a Halloween store during the peak season, according to former employees.
While INSIDER cannot independently verify these stories and individual experiences, they are certainly interesting.
You never know what your hours are.
"... Unfortunately, the schedule expectations were absolutely insane. Shifts could last anywhere from four to 12 hours and your hours varied from four to 48 hours, weekly.
"Even worse? The manager reserved the 'right' to change shifts without warning. You were expected to constantly check the scheduling app because at any time, including with less than an hour's notice, the manager could shorten, lengthen, push back, push forward, remove, or add a shift on your schedule."— Quora userBeck Mageau
Customers aren't always the most respectful.
"[There was a lot of] theft by employees and customers ... [I encountered] the worst retail customers I've ever experienced. I don't know what it is, but people have no respect for these pop-up stores.
"You'd take away packages of wigs from someone and explain why they aren't supposed to take them out, and 10 minutes later you'd find them hiding in a corner doing the exact same s---. And I'm not talking about kids, I'm talking about adults.
"Or, you find someone in an aisle trying to dress their child. You ask them to go to the changing room and tell them where it is, then as soon as you're one aisle away, you hear them telling their kid to shut up and put [the costume] on because they'll be done quick. When you go back again you find four to five costumes on the floor mashed together with broken accessories. These are ADULTS.
"You also have very little loyalty because no one really cares about a job they won't have in a couple of months. I worked there for so long because I love Halloween, and it was a fun job … "– Reddit user TessDevin
For some, working one season is enough.
"I worked for a [Halloween store] years ago. Setting up was so much fun. Theft is a big problem so you may be put in one section and asked not to leave that area — not even to bring someone to another area. Opening costumes on the floor is also a HUGE no-no. I didn't understand why at first, but at the end of the season, you wouldn't believe how many costumes were missing random accessories. All in all, a pretty good experience, but I wouldn't do it again."— Halloween Forum user mikieofthedead
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