Hot Topic Online Shop Review

The Case

I'm a big fan of Hot Topic. To be totally honest, this chain of stores strikes me as a little cliche - in a punk, misunderstood, on the fringe, teen hot spot kind of way - but I can't help hitting Hot Topic whenever I get the chance.

I've got a Hot Topic location about 20 minutes from me, but due to a stocking mishap, I had to use the online store recently for a particular purchase. I was a little apprehensive, but from start to finish, the experience was easy and hassle-free!

The Good

Hot Topic is just fun. Everything you'll find is entertainment-related and created for fans. If you've got a burning desire to display some iconic pop culture paraphernalia, then this is the place to find it. Where else can you get a Transformers sweatshirt, a Harry Potter messenger bag, a couple of musical group promo tees, some Star Wars bumper stickers, and a smattering of classic movie posters all in the same spot? That's what you'll find at Hot Topic, along with a whole lot of other quirky merchandise.

And the online store has all of that, too. Plus, it's efficient. I picked my products, I paid, I waited four days, and I had my box of goodies on the doorstep. Nice. But wait - it gets even better. When I tried on my new sweatshirt, I realized it didn't fit correctly. Not wanting to shell out the bucks for return shipping, I took it to the store near my house. They didn't have it in stock, but the manager offered to order it through the store so that I wouldn't have to hassle with anything on my end. A week later, I got a call from her that the sweatshirt was in. I drove over and was out of there in two minutes, the correct-sized shirt tucked safely under my arm. It cost me nothing.

Needless to say, I'm 100% happy with every aspect of Hot Topic, both online and off!

The Bad

Not everything in Hot Topic is appropriate for all ages, nor will everything in Hot Topic appeal to all ages. Unfortunately, I would guess that most people over 30 or so wouldn't find much to interest them. However, I have one particular buddy who's 32, and he swears by the place. Go figure.

And, okay, so the merchandise isn't cheap. But you know, what is these days? $18 for a t-shirt is high, but not as high as some other places. For the fun, original clothing choices that Hot Topic has, I'd pay their price any day.

The Verdict

Five stars! For the lover of pop culture and entertainment, Hot Topic is a buyer's paradise!

www.hottopic.com