I have gotten many an email asking about the safety of buying costumes from resale websites such as Fineahban and Carnival Junction. As I have told those persons I personally have never purchased a costume from any of those websites, for the most part I have never heard any negative reviews apart from sellers jacking up prices.And while there is no guarantee that the advertisers of costumes for sale are indeed honest enough to follow through with the sale after receiving your money here are some tips to ensure that you have some sort of recourse in case the deal goes sour:
*If possible do the costume sale/purchase at the mas camp.This was actually the avenue I took when I had to sell a costume; the buyer of the costume met me at the mas camp and the sale/purchase was done with an employee bearing witness. I was also able to transfer the costume to the buyer by doing a letter on the spot.
*Always get a receipt. Once you had over money to someone have proof that this was done, you can purchase a recepit book in any stationary store.
*Have all communication done via email and CC (carbon copy) the emails to the mas camp so there is a third party aware of the sale and what was promised.
*Get a written letter (or email with scanned letter and signature of the seller) informing the mas camp that the costume was sold to you and asking that the costume be transfered. Also get copies of the seller's ID and a letter authorizing you to collect the costume if the transfer deadline has passed.
*Beware of persons asking for money but are unwilling to provide you with any documented proof that they are selling you the costume. Both the transfer of money and relevant documents should be done simultaneously.
*Only pay what was paid on the costume; do not pay the entire costume amount if only a deposit was made.
*In the case of fraudulent practices please alert the owners of the websites Fineahban and Carnival Junction so the necessary action can be taken to remove the sellers.
Remember the person selling has an item they want to get rid of, the longer they hold on to it the more of a liability it becomes. As the buyer YOU have the upper hand so do not be anxious in rushing into a sale or think that you need to pay more than it is worth.
I am sure in the coming weeks you will see more costumes coming up for sale on these websites, so be careful in making your purchase and good luck in getting the costume you want!
5 comments:
This advice is all well and good, but we all know it's going to go straight out the window the moment someone sees a TRIBE costume for sale and it's the middle of January!
Sigh!
How could it be "all well and good BUT"
The fact that the costume will be out for sale and you are the first to see it.. follow that advice that is given.. Steups...
Thanks for the Help Saucee....
The 'BUT' comes in because there are people who feel that playing in TRIBE is as important as breathing, and will pay double what the costume actually cost, just to get a costume.
You imagine if someone decide to sell their Loulan FL for $10k, that somebody wouldn't pay it? Steups! Like you don't see the ads "TRIBE costume wanted. Any section!" That is not the advert of someone who is in control and who knows they have the power. This puts the seller back in control because they can see how desperate the potential buyer is. And especially as TRIBE costumes (and the 'hot' sections more specifically) are scarce on the re-sale market, the seller can call their price, more often than not. Simple supply and demand.
And TRIBE is the only band this will be happening for this year, because they are one of two bands who sold out, but also because they sold out so quickly and so many people were disappointed and may have taken costumes in other bands as a consolation.
This hysteria needs to be taken out of mas, yes.
As someone who purchased a costume from re-sale before, I can back-up EVERYTHING Saucy advised. PLEASE get the documents, documents, and more documents.
I had a copy of the seller's ID, registration/purchase receipt, and a letter of transfer to me. At collection time I had my ID to show the camp and my balance to pay. The transaction went seamlessly, no questions asked.
I would also use PayPal as a way of paying. I believe they have some sort of protections for buyers.
I have never bought a costume off resale but I did see a Tribe costume last year for a friend from NY. Quickest trasaction I ever did. As soon as I posted, I swear I had like 20 responses and I got up to 50 after that.
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