FAQ: The Helpful Place

FAQ : The Helpful Place

What is the procedure of commission requests?
Payments and Payment opinions
Shipping Options
Con Friendly VS NON-Con Friendly
Measurements
Can we hang out?

Q: What is the procedure of commission requests?

Those interested would send an e-mail to either GothX (props) or Baskat (costumes).
We try to check our e-mail daily, so we try respond within a day. Especially if its for items we have already produced while newer requested items may take longer because we have to figure out a method of creation and then costs. Of course if things get really busy, it could be a week before we respond....sorry >^-^;<
If we are at a con... we wouldn't be able to respond for a few days but we would put an advisory notice on the homepage.
We try to give as many options as possible to help you to get the best product you can get.
Once items are decided upon, we'll put together an order for your approval
...then we hope we get paid >^-^<
The order is worked on and shipped to meet the schedule set forth in the order
Tracking number would be e-mailed when items are shipped
...then we would hope we could get a picture of you with your wonderful new prop and possibly a happy quote.... we like pictures, pictures are pweeeeetty! >^-^<

Q: Payment and Payment Opinions

Payment:

We prefer to be paid in full so that both parties can have one less thing to worry about.
We understand that some may feel safer with 50% down/ 50% later which we understand. In this particular case, we would take 50% at the time of the approved order (rounded up to the next $5 increment; Ex. if the total was $145 then half would technically be $72.50 but with it rounded up the down payment would be $75. This way neither party has to worry with cents and the payment shares are easier to remember amounts). The second payment would be due at the time the items are ready to be shipped. We would give a day or 2 notice so that you have time to send the payment where as we would then ship the items in question.

Payment Options:

Paypal, Preferred
Money Order (Includes services like Western Union)
Check (we will not start the order until the check has been cleared)
Cash; BUT we do not advise this method of payment through the mail because of the lack of security and tracking (checks are best through the mail because of a bank's ability to track, void, and possibly refund the amount). IF the order was taken in person than cash would be perfectly acceptable.

Q: Shipping Opinions

A:
Domestic Shipping (United States):

Shipping tends to start at $20 ($25 for Canada) for small props and may vary depending on the customer's address.
Medium and large props' shipping costs are estimated per commission.

For Example: Alucard Hat's needs a min of 18in square box to be shipped. Even thought it's light, the size of the box causes the shipping price to be higher than a smaller box of the same weight.

We are located in Malden, MA 02148 for anyone who is curious
We tend to use UPS. We have had great experience with this service and we would want the same for our customers. Shipping includes a tracking number that is e-mailed when items are shipped. PLUS, with UPS standard ground service, the customer should receive their order within 2-3 business days when on the East Coast.
We do NOT use USPS unless it is for international shipping because it greatly brings the shipping costs down. Unfortunately, their tracking number system does not give anywhere near the detail or as many alerts and options as UPS.

International Shipping Notice:

We use the US Postal Service for international shipping UNLESS items are being shipped to Canada by which we still use UPS.
Shipping internationally tends to start at $50.
Customers are responsible for any import taxes that may occur from shipping internationally; please remember this when we give a shipping price (our shipping pricing DOES NOT include import tax fees).

International Import Laws and Prevention of Shipments/ Orders:

Some countries do NOT allow the import/ shipment of replica guns MEANING we can not ship the items. Yes we could take the order and make the replica gun(s) BUT we would be UNABLE to ship the item(s).
It is the duty of the customer to double check their country's laws on what is and what is NOT allowed to be shipped. There is a HIGH chance that we will NOT know about each countries' import laws. Because of this, destruction of packages are NOT our responsibility!

For Example: Australia does NOT allow imports/ shipments of replica guns as well as airsoft guns because they are ILLEGAL in the country... but strangely you can get real guns easily (go figure!) RESULTING in our inability to ship such items like Alucard Replica guns to Australia (and other countries with similar laws). If we did not know this beforehand, commissioned item(s), like Alucard's replica guns, would have been shipped, x-rayed/ inspected and most likely destroyed without either side knowing what is happening. We do NOT want such things happening, making both sides angry and wasting the customer's money and our time/ materials.

Q: Con Friendly VS NON-Con Friendly

Con Friendly :

This means that there are NO sharp edges on our props.
For Gun replicas, we WILL place an orange tip on the ends/barrel to let everyone see that it is a toy and NOT a real gun. (The Federal Government requires these orange tips for safety and we do not want to get ourselves or any of our customers in trouble with law enforcement..... can you believe they actually have the specific R, B, G ratios to make the right shade of orange AND a chart to determine how much of a gun's tip/barrel needs to be orange in proportion to its size !?)
We try to design the prop to be as light as possible while still being sturdy and durable for ease of carrying. Who wants to carry around a 50lb prop all day when it could be made much lighter.

NOT Con Friendly :

This greatly depends on the conveniton you are attending. Some cons have size limitations (Ex. Otakon has an 8ft limit for length as well as some other limitations). Some cons have moving part limits (Ex. Anime Boston technically prohibits props with any moving parts for safety).
In most any convention, they prohibit the use of live steel, working airsoft guns, metal objects, etc.

We try to accomodate the rules for a general convention setting. This is why our props are made with plastics and wood to better accomodate the rules of convention's weapon policies. PLEASE, read your convention's weapons' policy before and/or while discussing your order with us. We would hate for someone to request, order, and recieve a commission that turns out to be illegal at their convention and not be able to use the prop.

Q: Measurements

A: Depending on the cosplay request, I will need measurements from the following list.

Please refer to our Measurement Sheet (PDF) to help you fill out what might be needed. (Made to be a helpful check-list)

Upper Body Measurements

** Height ** : (probably best to have someone help) Stand tall and barefoot. Measure from the ground to the top of your head.
Neck/ Collar : Measure a shirt with a collar that fits you well. Lay the collar flat, and measure from the center of the collar button to the far end of the button hole (basically just measure around the collar to get its perimeter). Alternative: measure around the base of your neck.
Shoulders/ Overarm: Measure around your chest including the fullest part of your arms at the highest point of your shoulder blades, keeping the tape parallel to the floor.
Arms: Bend your elbow 90 degrees and place your hand on your hip. Hold the tape at the center back of your neck. Measure across your shoulder to your elbow, and down to your wrist. (This helps with your sleeve length
Chest/ Bust:

Men: With your arms relaxed at your sides, measure around your chest at the armpits, over the highest part of your chest and shoulder blades, keeping the tape parallel to the floor.
Women: (probably best to have a friend help) With arms relaxed at your sides, measure the fullest part of your bust, keeping the tape parallel to the floor.

Lower Body Measurements

Waist: Measure around your waist, in your underwear, at the point where your trousers would normally ride. Keep one finger between the tape and your body.
Hips: Stand with your heels together, and measure around the fullest part of your hips, keeping the tape parallel to the floor.
Inseam: Select a pair of your best-fitting pants of a similar material. Measure from the crotch intersection to the bottom. The number of inches, to the nearest half-inch, is the inseam length.
Rise: Measure the distance from your front waist to your back waist by going between your legs and over your crotch.
Legs: Measure the distance from your waist to the ground

Head Measurements (Used for Hats, Hoods, etc.)

General: Measurement the diameter of your head to that it goes across the middle of your forehead and the middle of the back of your head.
Hood Specific: Measure the distance from the base of your neck (loosely but not will alot of slack) to the top of your forehead.

Q: Can we hang out?

We have no problem meeting customers at conventions we are attending (We attend Anime Boston and Otakon)

GothX: "But I might scare customers away.... "
Baskat: "But that happens naturally.... they will just think you are weird.... I hope >^-^<" ....maybe its a good thing that people won't recognize you out of your costume lol

Laughing Reaper

Props to Die for!