• HotTopic

HotTopic

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Overview

HotTopic has a rating of 2.51 stars from 218 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about HotTopic most frequently mention customer service, credit card, and free shipping problems. HotTopic ranks 54th among General Apparel sites.

  • Service
    45
  • Value
    41
  • Shipping
    37
  • Returns
    29
  • Quality
    36
Positive reviews (last 12 months): 30%
Positive
3
Neutral
0
Negative
7
17
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What reviewers want you to know

Positive highlights

No positive highlights yet

Critical highlights

  • I attempted to call the customer service number, and got cut off the first 7 times I tried.
How would you rate HotTopic?
Top Positive Review

“Great company!”

Sylvia K.
3/8/23

Great company and awesome products! Always find what I'm looking for plus more. Love the tshirts and funko pops!

Top Critical Review

“Bad price for small things. Not worth my 9$.”

aoife d.
12/20/23

Bought the spirited away sprite soots hairties, there is 2 in one pack for 9.90$, not even a day later, one hairtie already broke even though i did not stretch it. The charm was loose on it as well, will not purchase them again, and not worth 9.90 in my opinion, i live in harrisburg, and i go to the park city mall, they have a hot topic there.

Reviews (218)

Rating

Timeframe

Other

Reviews that mention popular keywords

customer service (58)
Thumbnail of user aoifed7
1 review
0 helpful votes
December 20th, 2023

Bought the spirited away sprite soots hairties, there is 2 in one pack for 9.90$, not even a day later, one hairtie already broke even though i did not stretch it. The charm was loose on it as well, will not purchase them again, and not worth 9.90 in my opinion, i live in harrisburg, and i go to the park city mall, they have a hot topic there.

Tip for consumers:
not worth the money.

Products used:
hair acessory

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user sheena.c.knight
1 review
0 helpful votes
December 5th, 2023

I ordered a pair of Velvet Boots as a Christmas present, but I received a Doctor Who button up shirt instead. When I called customer service they gave me a refund, but could not provide the boots as they were now out of stock. They ruined the most perfect present and now I can't find another pair of boots like it. I was able to keep the shirt though so that's a plus...it is 2 sizes too big so it's perfect.

Tip for consumers:
Next time just get the order right

Products used:
A single shirt from the purchase

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user adriannev4
1 review
0 helpful votes
January 18th, 2024

I order my anime shirt from hot topic because they're nice quality. My last purchases however my t shirts looked like the graphic designs were xeroxed on there. They look cheap. Not only that ONE OF THE DESIGNS IS OFF CENTER. For that I could have ordered from a no name person off Amazon and got it for a lot cheaper

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user megane270
1 review
0 helpful votes
July 4th, 2022

Hot Topic has great items that usually have good quality, however, the shipping prices are absolutely outrageous if you live outside of the USA. Two T-Shirts will cost you $30 to ship to Canada. That's almost $40 Canadian for two shirts. To add insult to injury, Back-Order, Pre-Order, or sometimes even items already in stock won't even ship outside the USA. Hot Topic is a great store, but I really detest how international shoppers are treated.

Products used:
Clothing

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user evelyn.greene6759
1 review
1 helpful vote
April 16th, 2023

I have tried to buy clothes off their website a couple times, and I gave up and closed out both times. The first time, I was baited with free shipping and discounts that turned out to not work in my location. I accept that free shipping doesn't apply everywhere, but why even offer it then? Mind you but shipping was expensive too. I live in a major Canadian city with multiple hot topic stores yet shipping costs $30ish bucks?The second time I tried shopping online with them, they had a buy 2 get 1 free promo. Problem was that it didn't apply to all the clothes, and that some of the dresses that it did apply to were not available to me...because reasons? I'd click on something, they'd have it in my size, and somehow it was unavailable for both shipping and in store pick up. I gave up trying to find a third dress that could complete the buy 2 get 1 promo. Like why even put that on your website if it's not really an offer that actually works?

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user nikkim319
1 review
0 helpful votes
March 1st, 2023

I love these stores. Most of them I have never had a problem with. The website and the app are AWFUL! I try to place orders and it never let's my submit my order. The app crashes and wont let me add to my cart or even look at my cart. I have made orders, when it worked before, and the items were sent out, got the confirmation email, and then all of a sudden got a refundz and no email as to why it was refunded, even though it had already been processed and shipped. I give 2 stars only because i like the stores, even though they really need to start carrying more of the bigger sizes.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user skb8
2 reviews
10 helpful votes
August 4th, 2021

I placed an order for just over $15 on line and did not pick up the item. They told me the electronic prepayment would be refunded. I happened to check my statement and saw they refunded only $2.26. It took a phone call and six email exchanges before there was any resolution, and I am not particularly content with it. Although they accepted an electronic payment and made the partial refund electronically, they will refund the rest only with a check which I might receive in a month. Had I not checked my statement and taken the time to call and wait on hold while one of their staff looked into it and had the subsequent email exchanges, they would not have made the full refund. The inconvenience of a check, particularly when they otherwise made electronic transactions, is a reflection on customer service. They tried to keep my money and then made it difficult to get it back. Hot Topic is not worth the time and aggravation.

Products used:
None. Cancelled order.

Service
Value
Returns
Thumbnail of user nikkim137
1 review
2 helpful votes
August 29th, 2020

I ordered a Archie comics Sabrina printed shirt and it was delivered today, only it was a blank black Gildan t-shirt. Really confused of it was coming from a print on demand company that Hot Topic works with, and maybe they forgot to print the graphic? After reading these reviews about them "losing it in the mail", going to try and return it to a store tomorrow.

Thumbnail of user flooft
1 review
3 helpful votes
December 4th, 2020

Their online process is a pain. Customer service isn't helpful in the slightest. Couldn't buy any items after my orders got cancelled multiple times without notifying me.

Service
Value
Shipping
Thumbnail of user alvahg6
1 review
3 helpful votes
September 11th, 2016

I have terrible social anxiety, and the Hot Topic I went to is fairly small and cramped, which caused my anxiety to start up. I had an anxiety attack and was shaking, I couldn't stand or walk, my vision was blurry and I couldn't breathe. My friend hugged me to help me calm down, and just held me. Nothing inappropriate. A worker walks up and starts yelling at us that we have to leave because it's PDA and unacceptable. My friend calmly tried to explain that I was having an anxiety attack and needed to calm down. The worker continued to yell at me, and made it much worse. My friend wound up having to carry me outside, and I still had a lot of trouble calming down. I'm terrified of going back just because of that one worker.

Thumbnail of user makkenaha
1 review
1 helpful vote
November 10th, 2020

I was calling customer service to see if they would help me change my address but they didn't help me.

Thumbnail of user kcw1
1 review
0 helpful votes
January 24th, 2015

I went to try and exchange an item that was too big for me but it was a sale item. I talked to the manager at the hot topic at Westminster mall and he tried to help by calling another store to see if they had another size. After he found a store that did, I had to drive to another city to exchange my item. Their policy is to not take back any sale items but the manager that called said it was ok and that he woe vouch for me. However, after driving for a half hour in traffic to exchange my item, the people at the Lakewood mall said that they wouldn't let me. I understand not taking back returning sale items, but they should really change their policy for exchanges. I have to tell people to not get me anything from hot topic since their sizes are different for every brand and no one can get my size right. :(

Thumbnail of user nicka58
1 review
1 helpful vote
October 22nd, 2016

Hot Topic store, Ridgedale Shopping centre, Minneapolis.
Purchased a Tee for my daughter, size Small, for cash.
Did not keep receipt. The size turned out to be wrong, not surprising as the size means nothing in those tees. Went back to the shop on October 23rd, 2016 to ask if they can swap Small size for Medium size. The tee mind you is still unworn, with original tag on it, with Hot Topic written on it. The shop girl refused on the ground that computer will take it.
Avoid this shop with low quality merchandise and idiotic staff.

Thumbnail of user myhuet
1 review
4 helpful votes
December 20th, 2018

Despite what the website may tell you, items that you add to your cart may not be in stock. They send the confirmation e-mail and everything. They only notify you that the items are not in stock days later. The site even states that there are (*amount*) available. Doesn't make it a very good site to purchase gifts, but if what you ordered basically just came out and isn't on sale, chances are you're fine. However, if you wanna order something on sale, there's a high chance that what you want will no longer be available. Had 2 items cancelled, and finally a third one went through. Customer service is also hit or miss. The first agent I got was fantastic, but the second one was barely understandable.

Thumbnail of user stephanyt
21 reviews
18 helpful votes
September 16th, 2016

Hot topic seems like the type of place where I would be able to purchase superman items, however, they are so biased on Batman and that bothers me. I understand that maybe batman merchandise may sell faster, but there are still people who don't like batman and have a different preference. Just saying. This is probably my most immature sounding review, but it is the truth.

Thumbnail of user janetc120
19 reviews
57 helpful votes
December 11th, 2017

My children love the trendy items in Hot Topic. However, I find that the prices are unreasonable. If you're willing to pay an absurd amount for merchandise with a trendy character on it, you will love this place.

Thumbnail of user pattid9
18 reviews
44 helpful votes
November 23rd, 2017

If you don't like tv or music or goth stuff this place isnt for you. Not for old people just young stupid kids

29 ratings were submitted through the Sitejabber Browser Extension or converted from reviews due to lack of content.

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About the business

Hot Topic specializes in music and pop culture inspired fashion including body jewelry, accessories, Rock T-Shirts, Skinny Jeans, Band T-shirts, Music T-shirts, Novelty T-Shirts and more - Hot Topic

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