Hot Topic

I really like this store, and I found exactly what I wanted to. & I also appreciate that they change their niche to appeal to more types of people, such as people who like Harry Potter, and other things. they used to be a store that sold primarily gothic looking clothing, but now they sell punkin skater clothing as well, which expanded their niche in a little bit.

The store is very dark. It’s hard to see the color of the merchandise.
The aisles and product layout was crowded.
I was also surprised by the amount of «real estate» devoted to toys. They seemed to have cut way back on the men’s section and replaced it with gimmicky toys.

There used to be a time when you go into Hot Topic and everything was laid out in front of you and it was presented nicely. The music wasn’t too blaring, the lights weren’t too low, and the prices weren’t sky high.
I went in this time to check the prices of plugs. HT and Spencers are the only two places I used to have luck in. Used to. The cheapest pair of 4 gauge plugs were solid white and kind of low grade «crap» looking. They were just your basic, run of the mill, solid plastic plugs. Nothing outstanding, and nothing shouted «zomg, buy me!» about them. The cost was $ 12.99 (plus tax) for a pair, and although the store was currently running a «Buy one at regular price, get second set for $ 1!», it wasn’t worth it. All the other pairs I looked at, as little decorated as some of them were, started at $ 16.99, before tax. Although, majority were in the $ 20+ range. Last time I bought a pair a Hot Topic, I was wearing 12 gauge and a six pack (three different curved barbells) cost me $ 12 with tax. I did look at the «higher» numbers, just to price shop, and of all the gauges, they were the same price range (current 12 and up for single pairs).
Where did the era go when you can buy cheap earrings? The salesboy told me that «This is the mall, you know. We’re not a specialty shop. We have to keep up with prices of things». This, coming from the guy who had to have what a least a 0g in his own lobes. If I wanted something flashy for cheap, Hot Topic wasn’t the place for me. Since when?!
For crying out loud, now the focus of the store is «skinny», «super skinny», and «skinny slouch» jeans. Honest to everything holy of what I used to know… I wouldn’t even be able to get my head through the jeans they sell now, let alone attempt to get a whole leg in. And yet, those jeans fly off the shelves and are worth every penny (of the $ 20+) to some people. Same goes for the tight International Male type shirts. Still gothic worthy, but tighter than a fresh botox injection.
No wonder why I don’t go to malls anymore, and when I have to buy my plugs, I go online for cheaper prices…