Emily Kalberer
Contributing Writer
Frazetta’s Costumes is not scaring away customers with their new $10 admission fee!
10 days ago, Frazetta’s Costumes implemented an admission fee for entering their store without making a purchase.
Owner Bill Frazetta has noticed a mostly positive outcome since putting the policy in effect.
“People respect me more, and my store is immaculate at the end of the day. There’s a few less customers coming in, but it’s pretty close. We’re still slammed on the weekends.”
The policy comes after disrespect and disregard from customers started to become almost too much to handle.
“I’ve been in the business for 43 years, and I’ve come to terms with thinking
about locking the door and retiring because of the theft and destruction. You go into other stores, and you see them locking their products behind glass, and I’m left with no choice, either lock the door and retire, or charge a fee.”
about locking the door and retiring because of the theft and destruction. You go into other stores, and you see them locking their products behind glass, and I’m left with no choice, either lock the door and retire, or charge a fee.”
The $10 fee, which is charged at the door, is applied to any purchase, and Frazetta says there’s something for everyone to enjoy in his store. “There are plenty of things in my store for everyone to find something. If you come in looking for one thing, and we don’t have it, you wind up
finding something else.”
The decision has been met with some apprehension from customers. “I never knew they dealt with so many issues like that, but I feel like charging people to enter the store will slow their business down a bit. It’s not like it’s an amusement park or museum so it definitely feels unheard of to charge people who just want to look around or don’t want to or can’t buy
anything.” ESU education major Emily Gonzalez said.
Community member and Frazetta’s Costumes frequenter, Katie McCambley said, “I understand kids going in and messing stuff up and stealing things without their parents watching them. But I feel like there’s a better way to battle theft and destruction than charging people the fee. I feel like limiting the amount of people who can go into the store at one time would work better, that
way they’re not losing the business and the employees can keep an eye on the customers that are in there. The store overall has great items, but it just isn’t worth the extra hassle to me.”
Despite differing reactions, Frazetta feels he did what’s best for his business. “I’ve thought about this for two years. The people that don’t mind paying the $10 are the people that care, and the ones that want the experience of Halloween, and they want the experience of coming to my store. The focus is really the people who are serious and want something special. What we have here is not something you can get in a pop up.”
The fee is usually charged to only one person out of a party, and is refunded to their purchase. Customers are charged at the door and given a stamped receipt that takes $10 off of their bill at the end of their visit.
Frazetta said there were many times that he has spoken to someone in the
doorway to see if the store had what they were looking for or not, so people are not being charged unnecessarily. “I’m just trying to keep the riff-raff out and it’s working.”
doorway to see if the store had what they were looking for or not, so people are not being charged unnecessarily. “I’m just trying to keep the riff-raff out and it’s working.”
College students are eligible for 10% off of their purchase at Frazetta’s Costumes, and are encouraged to visit.
Frazetta’s Costumes and Horror Showroom is located at 186 S Courtland St, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301, and is open from 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 12 through 6 p.m. on Sunday.