Party City

If I could give 0 stars I would. First, staff there is ALWAYS (without exception) unfriendly and acts like you’re annoying them by making them ring up your items. But I ignored it and kept shopping there for the past few years. Until today. Today was the final straw. I bought over $ 150 of Halloween merchandise there. Including a $ 35 wig that looked nothing like the picture. Kept trying to take it back but the line was always too long. Finally went today and the assistant manager (not overly friendly) said it had been too long, even though I had my receipt. Wouldn’t even engage in the conversation when I said but it wasn’t worn because it looks nothing like the picture. I won’t be back and I’ll discourage everyone I know to stay away.

Worst return policy. Employees have no idea what’s going on and management doesn’t back up incorrect information spewed by employees. After being screwed over twice, I will not shop here again.

Holiday return policy is not clearly communicated and POOR customer service. I purchased Halloween costumes for my children online and took the new, unused costumes to this store to return. We followed their demands on how to handle the unwanted merchandise (no returns after 10÷21÷15 and store exchange immediately with no store credit). I complained to the store manager, Viktor, that the
return policy is not visible on the first page of the return policy webpage that reads «For your convenience, you may return your online purchase to any of our Party City store locations. We will gladly accept returns and exchanges within 30 days of purchase with Shipping Receipt or Store Receipt» — no mention of an exception to this policy for Halloween items at the top of the return policy webpage. On my order confirmation email and packing slip received with the costumes, there is no return policy listed. Viktor was condescending, treated me like an idiot, implied that I failed to read the return policy on my emailed order confirmation, unbelievably rude, questioned my integrity and intent, and never apologized. He clearly did not want to represent his company or listen to my complaint. His tone and manner were infuriating. I have recommended Party City to my own customers and mom friends for Halloween costumes but no longer, and you’ve lost me as a customer. Party City needs to make its return policy clear because your customers *want* to follow their rules but cannot when the return policy is not clearly communicated. You will have much happier employees and customers if you just clarify the Halloween return policy by moving it to the top of the return policy webpage and place it on the packing slip. BEWARE of Party City and this store unless you never want to return an item.

Return policies designed to screw you over. I came in with a morphsuit mask and they said you cant return anything morphsuit related but there’s no imformation disseminated about that in the first place. Then they continued making up obscure rules when I wasn’t having it. Horrible customer service. Mean, disgruntled, and unknowledgable employees. Pathetic store. I wish I could give zero stars.

Not pet friendly!!! I mean, I could understand if my dog was not well behaved, but she is a certified therapy dog, but when we’re not volunteering, she never has her service vest on. Owners should really rethink there policy. They missed out on nearly a $ 1000 order for party supplies.

I have had so many bad experiences with this store, I avoid going there at all costs. I like to throw nice birthday parties for my children, and spend plenty of money. This year, I planned ahead and ordered supplies from Amazon leaving enough time for shipping. Then I went to South Congress to buy a piñata (see? Avoiding Party City!!) However we could not find a unicorn piñata, so we bit the bullet and went to Party City.
They had a row of nice unicorn pinatas clearly marked 19.99. We hunted down an employee to get it down and went to check out, but it rang up 24.99. I told the employee I was expecting a lower price, he went to look and confirmed it was labeled as I said on the aisle. He tried to ring up the lower price but wasn’t able to. So he got a manager, who also went and looked. He moved the price sign and told me he could not honor it. I did not buy it.
This is just the latest in a string of appalling ways I have been treated at this store. They are continually willing to alienate a customer over just a few dollars. NO other business I shop at would do this. Even the grocery store will honor a mis-​marked price.

Usually party city is my go to place, my one stop shop… but this location is significantly smaller than other locations I’ve been to. They were entirely out of paper bags I needed in a particular color. I find it hard to see how an entire section can be sold out? They must not do inventory well. They also showed online an item was available in store so when I scoured the store looking for it, I finally asked employee and he said well the system says we have them but I looked everywhere and couldn’t find them. Sorry. Disappointing. Also, the entire back isle of the store was full of boxes which made it difficult to browse for the items I needed. Needless to say, I will be venturing out to another location.

Went here for Halloween costumes. Seriously worst environment ever! The lady running the costume area was nasty. She kept telling my kids to stop touching things. Really?! Then when we left I had to show them the inside of my purse – is that even legal? I would only go back if I had a gun to my head.

I would rate this store as poor over all. I called to ask a question and the person was literally whispering. I let her know several times I was unable to hear here, but that didn’t seem to be of any concern.
When arriving at the store — it is pretty messy and chaotic. Definitely more attention could be paid to keeping things neat and orderly to provide a better customer experience.
Lastly — the real kicker — after buying $ 50 worth of items, I was stilled asked to pay $ 0.25 for a plain paper bag! I know Austin has the bag ban, but I have never had a retailer change me for the plain brown bag before! To me that just screams that they do not value their customers or their business. Nickle and diming is not an attractive quality. I will never go back!

I’ve shopped here a handful of times and only because it’s a convenient place to get all your party needs at one stop. I almost always find the teenage employees that work there are rude and they act like you are inconveniencing them. This is especially true in the balloon section. I purchased balloons there yesterday and the kid that inflated them was almost hostile. That said, the selection is good (although overpriced) so I will continue to shop there until I find a better alternative.

So I’m leaving this review because I’m frustrated with the quality of service that my girlfriend received from the upper management here.
First off, we totally understand the need for a no-​return policy after the 23^rd for costumes, it keeps people from renting a costume for 1 night or party and returning it. Makes sense, respect that. But our return was for a costume for our dog.
So she bought this costume for our dog (a yorkshire terrier) at 7pm last night, wisely buying a small though the chart at the store says she should have gotten him a medium. His legs are a little short for his body. Anyway, she gets home, puts it on him and what do you know, the costume is still too big for him. No problem, except the store doesn’t have an extra small.
So this morning she calls in asking if there was any way we could get a refund ($ 14) for just the dog costume (we spent over $ 100 for costumes on the kids) if they didn’t have anything smaller and the manager was just flat out rude to her. She simply recited the return policy without listening to anything she had to say or taking the situation into consideration.
When told that we wont be shopping there again, she simply replied «Okay.» Really? That’s all you have to say as the district manager? Anyway, after a few phone calls and a 30 min discussion with a team lead, we came out of it confident that we will never be shopping at this store location again. After reading all the other reviews, I advised my girlfriend to just let it go because clearly the store owner and the rest of his upper management don’t give 2 shakes worth of a care as to whether customers return or not.
My advice, shop on amazon, go to walmart, go to target, go to another, better reviewed Party City in town. Just avoid this location. Other than the team lead we spoke to, the rest of the management is just terrible and unhelpful.

Their return policy is ridiculous. They will not refund your purchase without the credit card that was used at time of purchase. I’ve left several messages on Anissa Patel’s voicemail since ¹⁰⁄₂₀ and have not heard from her. Contacted the Corporate office and they were no help! The worst customer service EVER!

Great place, clean and very friendly staff. I was looking for small pieces to work on a halloween project and once I explained what I was trying to do, the sales guy walked me all over the store. He was just as excited about my project as I was! It was so much fun. Highly recommend shopping here.

World Market lets me bring my dog in if it’s too hot to have him in the car but the staff at Party City was rude about it, even though I just needed to grab one thing. I’ll grab it elsewhere then!

Understaffed. My balloon order was not ready and they were out of the balloons I ordered. They could have just told me the truth over the phone and not made me drive all the way out here.

Ridiculous return policies. When we were buying party supplies for my 7 year old daughter’s birthday party, our daughter’s grandmother made it clear that she lived in Florida and was returning home the next day but wanted to buy more than enough My Little Pony party supplies if we could return the unopened plates, napkins, etc. So she bought $ 140 of My Little Pony themed party supplies.
Guess what? They now are refusing to allow a return on the unopened items with the receipt unless she flys back here to Austin from Florida and returns the items in person with her credit card. We have the receipt amd credit card number, but they won’t do the return for the $ 30 worth of unopened items in perfect condition.
The manager on duty told me «SORRY, IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAR OUR CASHIER TOLD YOU. OUR POLICY DOES NOT ALLOW US TO ACCEPT YOUR RETURN OF UNOPENED ITEMS FROM LAST WEEK. DO YOU WANT STORE CREDIT FOR HALLOWEEN SUPPLIES?» No, we don’t.
What a lousy way to treat customers. Obviously, we would not have bought more than we needed without Party City telling us that we could return the unused /​unopened items.
I recommend that you don’t believe anything said by any employee at Party City.
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UPDATE: I read the other reviews and there appears to be a common theme of unhappy customers.
As stated by another former customer, they lost me as a customer for life for about $ 35.

I have been going here for years (only because it is the only party store in my area) and i agree that the customer service here is generally non-​existent! It is kind of shocking at times, this am i went in to pick up a balloon order with receipt in my hand and 2 employees (Eric & Jule) literally would not even acknowledge my presence standing there alone right in front of them. RUDE seems to be the accepted culture in this place! Please somebody open some competition!!!

Not once have I had a pleasant experience at this Party City location. Staff is unhelpful, often rude, and are not knowledgable on their inventory. It is poor professionalism and truly annoys me when staff carry on personal conversations during check-​out. Twice now when I’ve had balloon orders to pick up they have not had them done and I have had to wait while they complete my order. Why did I make the order a week ahead only to come in and stand and wait while they do it? And it always seems that they have dozens of employees roaming around yet only a couple working the register when there is a huge line for check-​out. Staff comes off lazy and make it apparent they do not wish to be there. I feel that I am done with this place and will not be returning.

This review is from 1:30 pm on October 31^st.
My 8-​year-​old daughter wants to be an angel for Halloween. I bought her some wings & a halo from Target. Turns out I bought dog costume accessories. Oops. So I ran to Party City this afternoon expecting to encounter absolute chaos. It was the exact opposite. I asked the greeter where I could find angel accessories and with no hesitation she told me «Halfway down aisle 2. If you hit the AK-​47s you’ve gone too far.» AWESOME. The store was really well stocked and organized. The check-​out line went really fast and everyone was in a great mood. I’m seriously impressed with Party City right now. Kudos especially to the greeter lady. She knows her shtuff.

The shopping went well. The surprise came when i was back to return one item out of the long list we bought.
The following information was written down, even when the refund went back on the card.
1) Driver’s license number
2) Phone number
3) E-​mail address (asked abruptly. who wants your crappy specials after all)
Really, Party city turning into the Gestapo? Or is it the new dollar store economy?