It’s been a while since I’ve focused on this popular pop culture merch chain, so it’s time to update my overview on Hot Topic!
Overview
Hot Topic was founded in 1998 and was originally known for selling music-related accessories before branching into shirts and apparel. While they still carry band tees and such, they’ve widened their stock to include a variety of pop culture hits including TV shows, video games, and more. There are over 600 store locations, most in malls, and there are outlet stores scattered across the country. Customers can also shop online for additional products. Hot Topic owns the BoxLunch chain of stores and HerUniverse, and Hot Topic’s parent company owns the former Hot Topic subsidiary Torrid.
Merchandise Selection
Hot Topic’s biggest categories are clothing and accessories. A wide range of current hits, cult classics, and retro flashbacks are represented in the store’s apparel offerings for guys and gals – and, on occasion, kids. Beyond that, their website has home items like small kitchen electrics and bedding, toys, books, and more. In-store, the selection beyond apparel will vary, but blind box items and Funko POP figures are common. Some products are exclusive to the chain (or chains).
A selection of used Hot Topic clothing is available through Hot Topic Replay, a partnership with ThredUp.
Anime & Related Media
Anime merchandise has become one of Hot Topic’s cornerstones. There is a quick link to anime items on their Pop Culture tab, and select series are highlighted as quick links.
Hot Topic has also teamed up with Crunchyroll before for some cross-promotions, like during their Ani-May anime month.
But anime fans can find a slew of merchandise across all of Hot Topic’s product categories, from everyday tees to swimwear to costumes to tumblers to board games and so much more. Of course, current and/or eternally popular titles have a larger selection, like Dragon Ball, Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia, and Sailor Moon. But Hot Topic also has items from older series or shows that aren’t peaking at the moment, like Ouran High School Host Club or Aho Girl. Hot Topic allows users to filter products by franchise, so this makes it easy to find items by fandom.
Beyond anime, franchises like Pokémon and Hello Kitty are heavily featured, and Hot Topic also has stocked trend items featuring Japanese text, kawaii culture, Vocaloid, and more.
Some manga volumes can be found at Hot Topic, but fans will need to look elsewhere for anime releases.
Pricing
Hot Topic’s pricing is generally on the high side, but this is balanced by the fact they are almost always having sales. 20% off sitewide (with exclusions) seems to be the minimum, but they raise this to 30% often. Beyond that, they offer promos like buy one tee, get a second for 50%.
Products can go on sale or clearance for a higher amount off, but these discounts often fluctuate. Hot Topic will often mark an item down, and then raise it back up and require using a coupon to get the price back around the previous low.
This is often done to avoid heavy discounts with Hot Cash. For a period of time, every $30 spent at Hot Topic earns a $15 off $30 discount code to be used during a specified week or two.
Hot Topic sends out email discounts regularly, including free Hot Cash codes sometimes.
Stores and online do not always feature the same sales. For instance, one could be offering buy two, get a third free on shirts while the other is buy one get one 50% off. In addition, sales can be different between Hot Topic stores.
Military members and eligible family members can show their ID in-stores to get an additional 10% off, or call 800-892-8674 for online (international +1626-603-3182).
Price Matching
Hot Topic stores will pricematch their website. Online will match select stores including Amazon, Walmart, and GameStop. Typical exclusions like no clearance and can’t be combined with other discounts apply.
Shipping & Payments
Hot Topic accepts most major credit cards and their store-branded Guest List credit card. PayPal is also accepted, although there may be restrictions on using PayPal with preorders.
Standard shipping is $6.99 no matter your order size. The chain usually has a free shipping offer for the continental US, although the threshold for free shipping rises and falls. Currently, it’s free shipping on orders $75+. Alaska and Hawaii may face additional fees. Hot Topic will ship to military bases and most countries. Certain items will have a surcharge tacked on, including preorder items shipped to home.
Customers can choose to pick up items in store, whether they be already in-stock or requires delivery to the store. Shipping preorders to store will avoid the $2.99 surcharge.
Hot Topic Rewards
Hot Topic Rewards is the chain’s free loyalty program. Shoppers can earn $5 certificates upon reaching 100 points ($100). Points stay banked as long as a purchase is made at least once every 12 months. Points can be earned faster if you spend $100+ or $300+ in a year to reach Gold or Platinum status versus the basic Silver tier. Hot Topic Rewards members get at least a free $5 certificate on their birthday and anniversary. Points and certificates can be earned and redeemed in-store and online.
Services
Hot Topic has teamed up with ThredUp to earn Hot Topic credit when eligible clothing items are sent in and sold within 30 days of being listed.
Returns & Exchanges
Items cannot be exchanged, only returned. Products marked as Final Sale are ineligible for returns. Other items can be returned by mail at cost to you or for free to local Hot Topic. Most items can be returned in full with a receipt within 30 days, although collectible figures, bags, and mini backpacks must be returned within 7 days. In addition, Hot Topic has other restrictions like makeup and .com Halloween items being final sale and POP figures not returnable if there is a chase variant version. Items without a receipt will get a gift card for the current selling price.
Final Thoughts
Hot Topic have some great items and awesome discounts if you swing by at the right time, whether in-store or online. For instance, I love it when I walk by and see the buy one, get two free clearance sale. I’ve scored some cheap mini backpacks, blankets, and more this way. I also tend to order online during Hot Cash events. While in-store makes it seem like this is a strict event, often requiring a receipt with the coupon, online, the rules are, shall I say, a little more lax. If there’s something you have your eye on and can wait until the last day of a Hot Cash event, just browse social media for a while.
Even if you only check out Hot Topic a couple times a year, it’s worth it to sign up for emails and the Rewards program. You may get lucky and get a high-value mystery coupon, but at the very least, you can get 2 free $5 rewards a year.
Otherwise, if you are looking for a cool anime-related item that’s not some kind of rare or high-end figure or such, definitely check out Hot Topic. They are always having offering new stuff, but it can be frustrating when some actually new items are buried under older product even when searching by new arrivals. Out-of-stock items can also clog up search results and be disappointing for would-be buyers. Plus, with their rather stringent return policies, you do have to be careful when ordering, which is especially hard to do with Hot Topic’s clothing sizes often varying so widely.
However, at least everything at Hot Topic is officially licensed. There are not third-party sellers with their knock-offs to bury the genuine stuff. The chain also features designs not found at the less-specialized chains like Walmart or Rue21. But the nicer stuff can disappear quickly and with little warning, and if you want to get the best deals, you are going to have to regularly check the store.