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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I order a
costume from you?
A: Click on any
"ORDER"
button under an item description to request your costume from us. Our
talented staff will help you plan your order, and assist you with determining
your correct size, payment instructions, and give you an estimated time for
construction.
Q: Can you create a
costume from my drawing/photo/favorite show?
A: Yes! We specialize in
recreating costumes from references provided by our customers. We can also
research projects for you, to provide you with special items you might request.
Customer Provided Sketch
Prototype
Final Product
Q: How do I know
what size to order?
A: We provide you with a basic
measuring chart so that we have all the necessary information, if we need any
further measurements not on these pages we will ask you.
When measuring, have someone
help you as measuring yourself can prove inaccurate, and please be honest with
your sizing as well. We try to produce your costume for you so that you are
comfortable in it and cannot be responsible if measurements provided aren't
accurate. If you have questions about measurements, please feel free
to ask. We are friendly and only want to provide you with the best service
possible.
Items returned for additional
resizing at our discretion due to incorrect measurements are subject to a
tailoring fee and return shipping fees.
To assist you with sizing here
are some measurement charts:
Men's Measurement Chart
Women's Measurement Chart
Don't have a
tape measure?
Download one
here! -
Requires
Adobe Acrobat Reader
, a free download.
Q: How do I pay for
my order?
A: For our protection and
yours, we prefer PayPal
for all of our payment transactions.
PayPal is a secure way to pay for your
purchases while protecting your personal information from identity theft.
PayPal lets
you pay for purchases with your credit card, debit card, or any bank account.
All prices are in
U.S.
currency and customers are responsible for all shipping charges. We provide
shipping to the USA and other countries via United States Postal Service,
UPS, Global Express, and other methods and we will provide translation into
your currency if you require it.
Click on the PayPal logo to
set up your own private PayPal account!
For your convenience, we also
accept Certified Checks and Money Orders upon our approval.
Q: Can I pay for my
order in installments?
A: Orders that total over
$1000 may be paid in installments. Payment in full is expected before the
order is placed on our schedule for construction, that is, no work is begun on
an order until it is completely paid for.
Q: How long will my
costume take?
A: When you place your order we
you may request an estimate of how far in
advance we are booked. If you are ordering a wedding gown or a
more intensively detailed costume, or an item that requires custom sculpting,
it may take longer.
If
you need your costume by a specific date it is important to order as soon as
possible so that it will be completed in time for your event!
Q:
Why does my order
take this long to produce?
A:
Your costume is custom made to your specifications and measurements, and most pieces must be
drafted specially for you. Also if there are
special pieces that need to be sculpted and cast they may also take more time to
create.
Every costume is hand crafted
for each individual customer. We carry very few "stock" items. Every part
of the process is very time and labor intensive, and in the case of recreating a
movie or character outfit a great deal of research and preparation is involved.
We obtain the best fabrics at
the best value for your costume, and sometimes hand beading, sculpting, or dyeing is a part
of the process. We have dedicated most of our lives to our craft and provide a
professional service and know that we give our customers value for their money.
Q:
My order got through, but I why don't I get a
response to e-mails I send?
A: Your order goes through a
special page which sends your order information (and only your order
information) to our e-mail account. If you are using an e-mail service
which inserts links or ads for any other website, product, or service, those
e-mails may be labeled Spam by our service provider's Spam filter. If you
don't receive a response after a day or two, please try again, and check to make certain that you are sending it to the
correct address for our business account. All e-mails should be addressed to
shadow_dale_creations@yahoo.com. E-mails addressed to any other
address will not reach us.
Additionally, keep in mind
that a certain percentage of e-mails simply never reach their intended
destination. Blame the internet, not us.
Never assume we've received
your e-mail if you haven't received a response!
Q: Why don't I get "updates" as to how
my order is coming along?
A: Due to the sheer number of
customers we serve, it is impossible to constantly update every customer on
every aspect of their order's construction. If you need to know something
about your order before it ships, please e-mail us.
Q:
I've changed my
mind about the style and fabric after I've given you my order, can I change/cancel it?
A: By this point we've already
ordered your fabric and created a pattern for your costume, so the answer is no. If you want another garment you may order it, but we will not
be able to change the costume
after we've already begun to prepare what you've ordered. Please consider
your selections carefully, and contact us regarding possible changes as soon
after placing the order as possible if you would like to make changes to the
design.
Q:
I don't want to
purchase a costume from you, but can you tell me what to do to make my own?
A: As much as we love sharing
the art of costuming, we don't have the time to teach people how to make
costumes, as it takes time away from our paying customers, and is unfair to us
and them. Inquire at your local bookstore for books on sewing and crafts
for beginners, to help you learn this fascinating art.
Q:
Do you sell your
patterns?
A: No, we do not. Our
patterns represent an investment of many man hours of research and design on our
part, and are not for sale. There are many commercial patterns available
at your local fabric store that may suit your needs if you prefer to create your
own costume.
Q:
Can you tell me
where to buy fabric or supplies to make my costume?
A: No, we do not share
information about our suppliers. There are many sources available on
the web that may suit your needs if you prefer to create your own costume.
Q:
How do I choose
a fabric?
A: We will give you pricing on
different fabrics for your garments and have the best resources at our disposal
for providing you with quality fabric selections. When you choose a color
and fabric type we will find a variety for you to choose from unless you have
something specific in mind.
Q: Are your costumes machine
washable?
A: Some material used may be machine washable
however, since these are custom items we do not suggest or advocate machine
washing any item we create. The reason for this is that these are expensive
materials usually including delicate trims which may be damaged in a machine and
the look of your garment may be altered if it is washed by conventional methods.
We consider each piece to be a special creation and would suggest dry cleaning
for those items you wish to have cleaned. Please let us know if you would
prefer your item to be machine washable before ordering.
Q:
Can I return my
costume for a refund?
A: All sales are final.
We do not offer refunds, as all of our items are custom made and represent a
considerable investment of time and materials on our part. If we
have made an error with regard to size, color, etc., please let us know and we
will do our best to resolve the problem.
We are also aware of customers
who wear an item once and then try to return it for a refund, in used and often
damaged condition. We can easily tell the difference between a new item
from our shop and a "worn" item. We ship all items insured, and any
damages that may occur during shipping are covered. Damages to an item
after a customer receives the item are the responsibility of the
customer, and may be repaired at our discretion, subject to a repair charge, and
return shipping charges.
Please consider your choices carefully before placing an order.
Q:
Can I get free costumes from you in exchange for a credit
in my fan film?
A: No.
As much as we appreciate assisting aspiring filmmakers with their productions,
the mention of our business in the credits does not offset our production costs.
Q:
I am ordering from another country. Can
you label the item as a "gift" on the customs form to save on import tariffs?
A: No. We will not
intentionally mislabel an item as a gift or reduce the sale value or falsify
customs documents in any way. The customer is responsible for all duties
and charges required by customs on an item they are importing from us. NO
EXCEPTIONS.
Q: I can't decide right now, what if I
wait until the last minute?
A: We receive orders every day. If you wait to
order we may not be able to fill your order within the time frame originally
quoted. We are unable to hold a spot for you unless your order placed and paid
for. Order early if you intend to have your costume for a specific event.
Additionally, we are often heavily booked
before holidays and conventions, and may not be able to take orders for many of
our more popular items at these times. When in doubt, order earlier.
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