FYE — Local services in Maplewood

In all honesty, I liked the look of the store, the selection was good and the atmosphere gives a different light-hearted vibe than Hot Topic or Spencer's. I ended up buying a Transponder Snail teapot set and a DoodleBob mug during a day trip on November 23rd, 2024, and a Marin Kitagawa noodle stopper earlier in the year via an online purchase, which was delivered swiftly and intact. They legit have good merchandise here that you might not find at most pop culture stores.

That being said, either shop there with cash or be extremely careful when shopping here. Do not give them personal information if you want to avoid the Backstage VIP Pass. The Backstage VIP Pass is practically a scam and pretty predatory to both the customers and the employees(I've heard reviews across the internet regarding a "loss of hours" depending on whether the employees push it or not). It's hoisted up as a "free*" loyalty program which makes it sound like Hot Topic's Hot Cash or GameStop's PowerUp rewards(both programs have absolutely free options and can give discounts based on money spent). Notice how I put the "free" in quotes with an asterisk, though. It's only free FOR ONE MONTH. After that, they charge you $11.99 per month for a 10% discount and additional benefits according to whatever is described on their website or pamphlet.

I don't think I've been signed up for any magazine subscriptions, as I didn't see any charges to my checking account, but this might be another headache people will have to deal with if they don't plan on using the program frequently.

I was able to cancel my subscription, but I only felt completely certain I was safe from being charged after contacting my debit card's bank to dispute the transaction, setting up a "Permanent Stop Payment" and contacting the Better Business Bureau with a complaint here. Customer Service actually DID follow through with cancelling it, but they didn't inspire confidence that they were being truthful in the slightest when they tried haggling with me to stay subscribed and made it sound like I had to recite a confirmation number to truly cancel it by phone...while not providing the number unless I asked(it is provided by e-mail). What bothered me most is that I was signed up for it without them properly communicating what the rewards program entailed. I didn't even have a username associated with the membership.

I was able to get back the money I was charged and don't require anything further from FYE. I only ask that the company consider adopting a truly free rewards program along the lines of Barnes & Noble, Hot Topic or GameStop as a default option. The Backstage VIP Pass is predatory and absolutely ruined my opinion of FYE. I don't plan to shop here again due to how they prey on customers' ignorance of the "free"...

Don't sign up for the membership. Sure enough, the membership costs a monthly fee, which I wasn't told about until AFTER the sign up. The guy made it sound like a normal free "points" program, like any other store. I figured I could swallow that though; it's a cool store and all, so maybe it wouldn't be that bad. This morning, I got an email saying that as part of the FYE subscription, I was signed up for People's magazines. After looking through the email, I found that if I didn't cancel the magazine subscription in a couple months, I'd be charged over 100 bucks. Just ridiculous. I talked to People's customer service and got them to cancel it, but not before they tried to give me 13 free magazines for only two dollars! What a bargain, especially because I never even wanted your useless magazines anyway. I've never regretted signing up for a store's program before, but now I do. I had loved this store so much that I'd been planning on telling my friends about it. Now? I'm warning everyone I know away. This should never have happened.

EDIT: Read the reviews for this place on the BBB. Sure enough, people there mention being signed up for the membership without even being told about it, which is even worse than what happened to me. Disgusting practice and I very much agree with one of the previous reviewers: This company should...

Cool store but everything is way overpriced, especially the snacks. When i went to chanck out the cashier was talking about this membership thing and said it was FREE and NOT a credit card or point system and that you get 10% off each month so I said ok. Only AFTER doing all the information he told me it was a free like 1-2 month TRIAL and that id have to pay like $11/month. I was so mad but didnt say anything, i went to my car and unsubscibed and thought that was the end of it. But today i got an email from a place called Mags.com saying I had signed up for a subscription and it was $50 per magazine to rolling stomes. Now i vaguely remember the worker at FYE mentioning getting a magazine with the membershio but i did not think i had to pay for it. This whole membershop thing is a SCAM do not do it. I better not becharged for anhing else from another company becaue...