Extremely disappointing experience - poor customer service…read more On June 29, 2025, my son and I visited Krazy Kaplan's at the 179th St. location in Hammond, Indiana. What started as an enjoyable visit turned into a frustrating and uncomfortable experience that left us both stunned. After spending about an hour carefully picking out our items, we went to the front counter. Two young employees were there, both distracted by their phones and visibly annoyed when we politely asked if they were open. One of them, a young blonde girl, began reading off prices to the other--incorrectly identifying two items from a clearly marked "5 for $20" deal as 2 for $14.95. I tried to clarify that those items were clearly marked as part of the promotion, even offering to show her the signage. She responded with a rude attitude, saying, "I stock the shelves." When I insisted, she became visibly agitated, face turning red, and snapped, "Do you want them or not?" before tossing the items aside. My son and I were completely taken aback. My son calmly said we will just pick out two different items, but noted that this wasn't the way to treat customers. I then approached another employee on the sales floor, who was kind, professional, and helpful. He, along with two other staff members who happened to be restocking the section where we found the 5 for $20 items, confirmed that those items were indeed part of the promotion. However, when I returned to the counter with the helpful employee, another man--possibly a manager--interrupted me as I was attempting to explain the earlier poor service. Rather than listening, he told me to "calm down," even though I was speaking calmly and not raising my voice. He then told us we could leave the store. This wasn't about a few extra dollars--it was about how the female associate treated customers in their store. The way the male employee responded to the situation was unprofessional and completely inappropriate. At that point, we chose to take our business elsewhere. It's unfortunate because the store seemed to have decent deals, but customer service is everything, and this location fell far short. To make matters worse, don't expect a follow-up: the stores contact us on their website doesn't work, phone calls go unanswered, and voicemails are not returned. Bottom line: If you care about respectful, courteous service, I suggest avoiding this location. Hopefully, management takes this seriously, because customers deserve better.

MASTER EXPLODER…read more Roman candle supply running low? Veer off I-94 and restock at this timeworn fireworks outlet. Through the mystical powers of German persuasion, I was able to convince my wife that it was worth stopping at Krazy Kaplans on our way home from a wedding in the Hoosier state. "But we don't need fireworks now", she said, unaware that it's my duty as an American male/husband/head of house to have celebratory explosives on hand at. all. times. Krazy Kaplans has bright yellow billboards sprinkled along the interstate that proudly advertise 6 different locations in northwest Indiana: three in Hammond, and one each in Dyer, Whiting, and LaPorte. The location we visited appears to get the most foot traffic and at nearly 25,000 square feet I'd venture a guess it's one of the larger stores. For a place that's clearly visible from the highway, it's kind of a hassle to get to. You'll need to turn on the southbound exit for Cline Ave, then wraparound 179th St (a frontage road in bullsh*t condition). Drive past the strip club and a few shady motels, dodge untold potholes and eventually you'll spot the yellow and blue flags. Walking in, you're greeted by a distinctly musty odor and/or a college kid behind the counter. The warehouse has impossibly tall ceilings, long dormant aisles, huge, uncovered bins filled with a mélange of sparklers & smoke bombs. Black Cats, M-80's, M-100's, M-1000's....is there such thing as an M-1,000,000, an M-1M?!? Who am I kidding, that's just a stick of dynamite. We saw some big-ticket items like the massive rolls of firecrackers (ones you'd find at Chinese New Year that explode for hours) as well as some MEGApacks for $1,700. I suppose if you're buying on behalf of a village or a really rich friend, that's not a bad idea, though I have to imagine most customers stick to stuff priced in the fifties. Almost every shelf was marked as 'buy one get one' with select items being 3-for-1 and a few dinky things (bottle rockets, poppers) marked at 6-for-1. We picked up a couple large party packs (2 for $60), multi-shot mortars (3 for $30) and half a dozen roman candles (6 for $3). A pretty decent haul for just under $100 should last us until 2023. * TL;DR * Nothing says 'MURRICA like blowing up stuff Made in China. Easy to spot but challenging to actually drive to, Krazy Kaplans in Hammond is conveniently near the Illinois border. The place could use a major cleaning -- we walked out covered in a thin layer of gunpowder grime -- and I seriously doubt they sanitized the shopping carts, or anything in here for that matter. To call the inside of the outlet store "filthy" wouldn't be a stretch. Some folks think Krazy Kaplans is a ripoff, others think their stuff is a steal. It's best to shop during the off season (i.e. outside of the 8 weeks leading up to July 4th) for maximum discounts and special offers like the ridiculous "buy one, get six free" promo. I'd recommend stocking up once every 3-5 years and call it a day. As for reliability of their boomers, if my next review is for an ambulance ride, then you'll know the answer is 'not great'.