FINAL EDIT: RESOLVED.
As promised, a picture of the wearer in suit, with no fitting issues. Thank you to everyone who offered legitimate advice!
I had received a message from a fursuiter attending FurFright that she is in fact there and in suit, so I emailed the buyer one last time to see if they could verify (They previously had not responded to my other emails). Suddenly an hour later I receive this reply- "The problem was not in the belly, in fact, she has room to spare in the belly. It was more along the top. Per your advice she wore it out for an hour or two last night when we got to furfright. Unfortunately, since we didnt get the suit until 14 hours before we were leaving for furfright, she didnt have time to even consider adding new head feathers and such." Well, apparently they're not happy that I paid the overnight shipping because their last payment was late, but as you can see the suit fits her now, and they plan to keep it. So this also shows I was wrong in assuming it was the weight issue- apparently it was only height (and she's a single inch taller then myself) and after wearing it it fits. By the way, the same duct tape dummy used for this suit was the same I used for my perfectly fitted ram suit you can see in the Fursuits live journal. Again thank you to everyone who helped me with the topic at hand. You really helped out both parties!! Hello everyone! You all remember me from posting asking about shipping a costume prior to payment, and I took your a dive and waited. Thank you so much, because they quickly found a way to pay in time!!
Now I have a problem, and I'm really not sure what to do about this-
They finished paying, and desperately wanted the suit, so I paid OUT OF POCKET to overnight it to them. The following day I don't even get a thank you. This morning, I get this email-
"we have a problem. The measurements you gave were not accurate. Irime is 5' 8" and she is compressed getting into the suit to the point that the zipper won't stay up. The shape of the head, while able to go around her 22" head puts her eyeballs halfway between the eyes and beak. There is no way someone 6 ft. 190lbs could fit in it. I'm an inch shorter than irime and 181lbs and there's no way I can fit. No way the head would fit 26 inches. I tried my 24" head and couldn't put it on.
In essence the suit is pretty much useless. Irime is in love with the suit but is in tears because it won't fit.
I would like to discuss shipping the suit back to you for refund less your shipping costs, as it is not as described in the auction.
We appreciate all your patience in getting her here. If we had been able to try her on beforehand we would have been able to avoid the problem.
Thank you for your understanding."
First of all, I posted the exact measurements of my body on the auction. I wish I still had the link to the auction after it closed. So that's impossible It coiled have been due to "improper measurements"
I also have a picture of my 5' 11" brother in it, who weighs 175, and it fits him just fine. (I can supply pictures if needed)
The suit always had the issue with the zipper, the original artist put a really thick, cheap plastic coat zipper on it, and I needed to put a safety pin up top to keep it closed, no problem.
The vision was a standing problem I had with the suit, and it was a public issue, though you can see through it as long as you pull the nose down, so I'm not sure what they're talking about.
I was not previously notified that the buyer was 190lbs, else I would have offered for one of my family members to try it on for them to make sure it'd fit around.
My problem is now- what do I do? I informed them of my measurements, the transaction was completed, and I shipped the item. The money then went to college tuition, and now they want me to refund them 1,200$, which I can not do in any way quickly.
I sent them an email letting them know how to adjust the zipper and the vision, but I'm afraid they're going to try and force a full refund. What should I do?
EDIT: Here is proof a man 5' 11" and 175 can fit in the suit, for those who have asked
EDIT!!! I have witnesses and pictures to come, proving she can fit in the suit, and is wearing it at fur fright. So I would like to thank the people who actually took the time to help me think of a proper alternative for them. To everyone else, you'll have your proof soon enough.
As promised, a picture of the wearer in suit, with no fitting issues. Thank you to everyone who offered legitimate advice!
I had received a message from a fursuiter attending FurFright that she is in fact there and in suit, so I emailed the buyer one last time to see if they could verify (They previously had not responded to my other emails). Suddenly an hour later I receive this reply- "The problem was not in the belly, in fact, she has room to spare in the belly. It was more along the top. Per your advice she wore it out for an hour or two last night when we got to furfright. Unfortunately, since we didnt get the suit until 14 hours before we were leaving for furfright, she didnt have time to even consider adding new head feathers and such." Well, apparently they're not happy that I paid the overnight shipping because their last payment was late, but as you can see the suit fits her now, and they plan to keep it. So this also shows I was wrong in assuming it was the weight issue- apparently it was only height (and she's a single inch taller then myself) and after wearing it it fits. By the way, the same duct tape dummy used for this suit was the same I used for my perfectly fitted ram suit you can see in the Fursuits live journal. Again thank you to everyone who helped me with the topic at hand. You really helped out both parties!! Hello everyone! You all remember me from posting asking about shipping a costume prior to payment, and I took your a dive and waited. Thank you so much, because they quickly found a way to pay in time!!Now I have a problem, and I'm really not sure what to do about this-
They finished paying, and desperately wanted the suit, so I paid OUT OF POCKET to overnight it to them. The following day I don't even get a thank you. This morning, I get this email-
"we have a problem. The measurements you gave were not accurate. Irime is 5' 8" and she is compressed getting into the suit to the point that the zipper won't stay up. The shape of the head, while able to go around her 22" head puts her eyeballs halfway between the eyes and beak. There is no way someone 6 ft. 190lbs could fit in it. I'm an inch shorter than irime and 181lbs and there's no way I can fit. No way the head would fit 26 inches. I tried my 24" head and couldn't put it on.
In essence the suit is pretty much useless. Irime is in love with the suit but is in tears because it won't fit.
I would like to discuss shipping the suit back to you for refund less your shipping costs, as it is not as described in the auction.
We appreciate all your patience in getting her here. If we had been able to try her on beforehand we would have been able to avoid the problem.
Thank you for your understanding."
First of all, I posted the exact measurements of my body on the auction. I wish I still had the link to the auction after it closed. So that's impossible It coiled have been due to "improper measurements"
I also have a picture of my 5' 11" brother in it, who weighs 175, and it fits him just fine. (I can supply pictures if needed)
The suit always had the issue with the zipper, the original artist put a really thick, cheap plastic coat zipper on it, and I needed to put a safety pin up top to keep it closed, no problem.
The vision was a standing problem I had with the suit, and it was a public issue, though you can see through it as long as you pull the nose down, so I'm not sure what they're talking about.
I was not previously notified that the buyer was 190lbs, else I would have offered for one of my family members to try it on for them to make sure it'd fit around.
My problem is now- what do I do? I informed them of my measurements, the transaction was completed, and I shipped the item. The money then went to college tuition, and now they want me to refund them 1,200$, which I can not do in any way quickly.
I sent them an email letting them know how to adjust the zipper and the vision, but I'm afraid they're going to try and force a full refund. What should I do?
EDIT: Here is proof a man 5' 11" and 175 can fit in the suit, for those who have asked
http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb353/LaurenBites/chrisinsuitprofile.jpg
http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb353/LaurenBites/chrisinsuitfrontview.jpg
http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb353/LaurenBites/Chrisinsuitback.jpg
Also, I am 5' 7" and 135, as stated to the customer. I was even heavier at the time I commissioned this suit. I also have the picture of the duct tape dummy used by Growly, if anyone wants pictures of that, or myself to confirm my height.
Thank you to everyone who gave an unbiased opinion, you were all very helpful! I will offer to edit the white of her belly for her, and if that doesn't work out, I will just help the customer step by step through auctioning it off again. Cheers!
Also, I am 5' 7" and 135, as stated to the customer. I was even heavier at the time I commissioned this suit. I also have the picture of the duct tape dummy used by Growly, if anyone wants pictures of that, or myself to confirm my height.
Thank you to everyone who gave an unbiased opinion, you were all very helpful! I will offer to edit the white of her belly for her, and if that doesn't work out, I will just help the customer step by step through auctioning it off again. Cheers!
EDIT!!! I have witnesses and pictures to come, proving she can fit in the suit, and is wearing it at fur fright. So I would like to thank the people who actually took the time to help me think of a proper alternative for them. To everyone else, you'll have your proof soon enough.
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..why
I wish I had a facepalm icon but this one will do.
If you do give them a refund, I sure as hell hope you don't pay the return shipping fee.
If your measurements were accurate and you INCLUDED all the information about the quirks of the zipper and vision then they honestly cannot expect a refund. It's simply not your problem if they have made an error.
Most likely, it seems to be that its not that their suit doesn't fit, but they seem to be experiencing buyer's remorse.
I honestly wouldn't give them a refund. Most I would give them is 50%.
And have them send half the suit back? I dunno, I can't see how it's possible to give a refund for premade stuff unless the auction was misleading in some way - and even so, you'd have to get the suit back.
This is not intended as having a go at you OR at the buyer, just a general note to anyone selling fursuits: MULTIPLE measurements (waist, hips, bust, inside leg, shoulders, arm length, height and weight, possible more if relevant) or at the very least a good description of the body type it was built for are essential.
I would tell them that it is not on you to offer a refund, due to the fact that you gave enough information in the auction for them to make an educated decision on whether or not to make the purchase. I would also tell them that it is not a total loss, as they should be able to contact the person who originally made the suit and see if they would be willing to make some alterations to fit. Or, if that person no longer does the suits, find a comparable-quality studio to alter it.
It'd be nice if you kept the add though, to show proof you mentioned the zipper problem and the vision problem.
As I see it, you're within your rights to say the sale is final and just try to give advice on the zipper issue. If you want to go the extra mile you could offer to get it back and put it up for auction again, and give them the auction money (up to $1200, if you somehow get more I think you should keep it) minus shipping costs.
/warn them this will probably be less than they paid for it/
Or give them advice on how to auction it themselves.
I hope it doesn't come down to the auction idea, but that's a very valid idea, and will be sure to utilize it if they give me any further problems.
Right now I see it as a finished transaction, but have offered to expand the stomach marking for her. I've gone above and beyond for these people, and I'm really just trying to keep a good reputation for myself on this... Lesson thoroughly learned
Every time you buy a pre-made suit you're taking a risk it won't fit. I know suits that have been adjusted heavily to fit someone, including increasing the length of limbs, area around the neck, even head adjustments. It's a risk the buyer took in buying it, and one you should not have to pay for. You documented the size in the auction, it's the way it is.
Offering to do some adjustments is the right thing to do, and if you they don't take you up on it...I fail to see how they can justify their purchase knowing it might not fit properly.
They did, so the burden is on them. They should resell it to get the money back.
in regard to the sizing issues... I can't say how accurate it is of course, but it's still pertinant to the issue.
"So more months pass and I thought this is finally over. I was browsing Furbuy the other day and saw the suit up for auction on Furbuy once more.
I noticed the measurements she was listing were way off, and she's claiming the suit cost $400 more than it originally cost, presumably to artificially raise its value.
That auction can be found here: http://www.furbuy.com/auctions/1024604.html
I know Furbuy deletes auctions after so long, so I've also screencapped it for when it goes poof.
Now keep in mind this customer was a few inches taller than me, about 5'4", no larger than 5'6". She said the suit was fairly tight in the vertical direction when she first got it, so it really looks strange that in the auction she states the tallest person that can wear it is six feet tall. That's a huge difference. Now it may be she's done her own alterations to the costume, but if that's true then she needs to take new photos- she's still using the photos I took during my original photoshoot. I am five feet even, so if the costume looks pretty good on me, not too much bagginess, then you can imagine how it would be for a six foot tall person to try and wrestle it on.
It also seems like a bit much for a 190 lb individual to wear it, but I'm not as good at imagining different body weights in costumes as I am heights, so I'm not sure. I just know that as a 125 lb individual, the costume looked pretty good on me. Again, it is entirely possible she made her own alterations to the costume, but if so, she needed to have said so and taken new photos.
...
Then I saw her FA journals about the suit and saw she originally claimed the suit would fit someone "No taller then 5' 8"". That's a difference of four inches... that might not seem like a lot, but when you're dealing with a form-fitting costume, that is kind of a lot. I'm not convinced she's representing the suit accurately, it seems like she's desperate to sell it."
Maybe ask them to take pictures of how it doesn't fit. This will give you a good idea if in fact they are the size they say they are. She wouldn't be the first girl in history to not know/forget how much she really weights or how wide her hips are. With a few extra bits of fur I'm quite positive they could modify it themselves.
Check the return policies of where you sold it and if they might be inclined to be spiteful and issue a chargeback.
I don't think you are required to refund them, agreeing with everyone else here. However, I think both parties share a little of the blame for it not fitting. They should have asked and/or you should have given measurements. I think a good middle ground is perhaps help finding someone local to them that can help modify the suit to fit or help them re-sell it themselves. Maybe there was a second highest bidder?
Either way, yea. No refunds.
Either way, thank you so much for the advice! I really appreciate it!