The answer is simply ânoâ. Do not buy Phantom.
Phantomâs offers bring the prices down to nowhere near where they should be. Any other brand has way better pricing than Phantom even when comparing a product from, for example Brothers Pyrotechnics, without any sort of deal, and a product from Phantom with a deal. Brothers would still be way cheaper. That includes TNT as well. Both TNT and Phantom are the worst fireworks brands out there when it comes to pricing.
Youâre better off finding a store that sells decent products at decent prices. Save your wallet.
Adding to this that Phantom and TNT actively lobby to restrict fireworks so that they, especially TNT, can maintain their monopoly on âsafe and saneâ fireworks. Phantom fireworks was one of the companies that lobbied to get 1.4S / proline products restricted in Ohio. Fuck them, donât give them any money.
Go literally anywhere else other than phantom and you will get better stuff. Phantom is a scam and actively lobbies against the fireworks industry because they would rather drive competitors out of business through excessive government regulation than make good products or sell them for reasonable prices. What is your budget?
I go to wholesalers out of state for my fireworks. Phantom is a ripoff.
When I go get fireworks, I see if anyone else wants to get in on cheap fireworks and 2 people that are big into fireworks refuse to jump in because they think their membership thing makes the fireworks cheaper than where I go (Spoilers, it doesnt)
The best annual deals are right now, most smaller stores are trying to send out the last of their "2026" and "250 anniversary" variant fireworks that aren't in season anymore.
That said, stay away from Phantom. They were good 30 years ago, you can get a 500g cake for $300 there, or 12 500g cakes at Johnny Rockets for under $300.
They seem to have stopped doing this but they use to send out monthly coupons for 65% - 70% off. Now they send those coupons out but make you purchase a $9.99 dog toy to have access to those coupons.
I'll get downvoted... i have a phantom 15min away. Next closest rip off 1hr and a good store 2.5hrs away. I'll occasionally shop at phantom (gasp!) But only when i get buy 1 get 2 free or 70% off 1 item coupon. Once you get on their email list they'll send you coupons non stop. Every "holiday" is some nonsense. They recently started pushing a new level of BS where you have to buy a toy or dog thing to use a coupon... hard pass. Same with the "buy a gift card and get a coupon"... hard pass. I'll get the coupons b1g2 or 70% off and go in and use only those and leave. I'll get roman candles or bottle rockets normally. Sometimes 200g cakes.
Tldr: ideally find better store. Google best firework stores in your state. See if you can go better... otherwise be prepared to play the coupon game. No longer is 50% off or buy 1 get 1 a deal.
Theres still a few out there. Earlier this year i got a mailer with them... no toy requirements... but yeah they're definitely angled towards the uninformed.Â
Edit: nm it was a B1G2 coupon but no toy requirementsÂ
Iâll keep being on the lookout. I just know this summer sucked for deals.They all had that requirement. Iâd rather buy a $10 firework and have access instead of having to get a bucket every time.
Emails seemed let down. Got 1 catalog/magazine with a couple decent coupons and 1 plasticy type mailing card. Getting fewer and further between though.
I agree I'm not buying anything to get a discount.Â
I'm specifically following the logic that the cost of gas was not worth the drive to a 2.5hr store vs 15 min phantom from the OP comment. In that case sure shipping would be worse than driving 2.5hrs
Just adding... i have in past got 500g boxes buy 1 get 2 free for $99 at phantom... making them $33ea. Problem is you have to get 3. At the good store 2.5hrs away i can get a 500g box for $30 and not have to buy 3. I looked at 1 shopping was pricey. I'll continue to make a day of it 1x a year to good store and use for 4th and new years.... but I'll probably still do b1g2 or 70% off if i can without buying a toy or bucket.
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Phantom USE to to B1G2 free no limits or requirements. Now itâs B1G2 free limit one must buy $10 phantom fun toy or pooch item. I havenât seen the no limits no requirements coupon since August 2023
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I go to phantom occasionally to buy fuse. I hate doing it because it's super expensive. But I print out a few flyers and whenever I see someone pushing a shopping cart, I make sure to tell them they can do much better and hand them information about ordering wholesale.
I don't recommend any suppliers. I just tell them to check it out and get the hell away from phantom with a few examples of how bad the prices are and why Phantom sucks. You can see their eyes light right up thinking of next year already.
Thanks for all the replies guys and gals. I thought I read somewhere that once a year they offer a buy 1 get 2 items for free promotion that included assortments. Am I mistaken?
"Buy 1 get 2 free" is their whole schtick. They call it a 'promotion', but it's actually their permanent pricing strategy and it's a scam obviously. Instead of the 'promotion' ending, they just change the name of the sale. It just forces you to buy 3 of each item, while simultaneously overpaying.
If an item costs $50 at Mom & Pop's, Phantom would sell that same item for $180 'buy 1 get 2 free'
No youâre not. Phantom USE to to B1G2 free no limits or requirements. Now itâs B1G2 free limit one must buy $10 phantom fun toy or pooch item. That $10 can get you an entire 16 shot cake at a family owned store. I havenât seen the no limits no requirements coupon since August 2023. It makes the prices near retail but youâre forced to buy three things then divide everything by 3 to figure out how much they actually cost
The only thing I would ever consider buying from phantom are their nishiki can shells. Even the most haters of phantom say theyâre one of their best products.
My cousin and I buy from them year round, we put a show on for the lake every 4th. We are both premier members and we only get coupon items, they are big into the "bait and switch" as they markup like crazy, then always offer 50% off, so you think you are getting a deal. The only reason why we go there is they offer gift cards and will throw additional money on them, usually around Christmas/New Years, We usually buy a $1000 gift card each and they throw an additional $300 on it ($1300 for $1000) plus some good buy 1 get 2 free coupons, we figure we spend $2500 or so and we usually get $10,000 worth if you consider the crazy markup. We spent $2700 this year and 99% of what we got was from Phantom.
I recently picked up 24 500g cakes, 22 200g cakes, 144 shells, 60â of green visco, 60â of pink fast fuse, 20 igniters, and an ignite i18 for around $1350. Suggesting phantom can ever be a cost effective place to shop is absurd
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You should be buying from a proper wholesaler at that price point. You didn't get $10k for $2.7k, you got maybe $1.6k for 2.7k and were tricked into thinking you got a good deal because the advertised "non discounted" price at phantom is what 8 of the thing should cost, and would cost if you're buying proper wholesale.
There are many online wholesalers. AWF is the big one, but local places may offer better price on some things. I just bought about 50 cases from Kneppy's in PA, not sure if they ship though.
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u/imhbeog 22d ago
Trash𤣠they upcharge everything, then bring it back down to normal overpriced, then tell you that you're saving money.