Please read this page before submitting a quote or commission form!
Restrictions
Certain restrictions apply to my policies. I do not do business with anyone under 18. To prevent fraud, new buyers will be required to provide a form of photo identification with a name and birth date to confirm identity. This ID must match the name you provide on your commission form, as well as your method of payment. If the identity doesn't match, then you will be denied a commission. Some exceptions can be made if you are in the process of changing your name (Gender reassignment, marriage, etc) but you will be required to provide proof of a legal name change request being processed.
Stylistic Limitations
Please note that only 'toony' styles are available for fursuits. Please take time to look through the gallery to get a better idea of what The Grotto can provide for you. If I do not offer what you're looking for, I will be more than happy to refer you to another artist who may fit your needs. Please remember that my prices and quotes are NOT the same as other artists!
Payments
To secure a slot in the production line, a material cost down payment MUST be made as soon as an agreement is reached. Quotes alone will not get you a slot for production. The down payment will put you on the production list, and cover the material costs. If you have the funds, you may pay for your whole project all at once. If not, payment plans can be calculated. It's recommended that you pay within 2-4 separate payments once your project has been reached in the queue. Extended payment plans are available, $50 weekly for heads, $100 weekly for partials, and $250 weekly for full suits. Smaller projects like tails or props must be paid for in full at the time of purchase. Keep in mind that I will not send your project to you until it has been fully paid for.
Payment Methods
Paypal will no longer be an option for customers in the US/Canada. Payments will need to be made either through Square (No account required, it handles credit/bank cards. You can find more info on Square's security and encryption process here https://squareup.com/help/us/en/topic/321 ) or a mailed personal check. Personal checks are greatly preferred since this is the safest and most reliable way to pay. It's recommended that you send them in a secure envelope with tracking information to prevent theft. For international customers, Paypal is still an option.
Work in Progress Images
After materials are purchased and all pre-production requirements have been met, I will do my best to provide weekly progress pictures once started to show the work being completed. Please do not contact The Grotto for progress. Only if two weeks or more have passed since starting without word from me, you may send an email to grotto.fursuit@gmail.com to inquire about the status of your item. All contact will be made through email ONLY, please do not ask about the progress of your project in places like Twitter, Tumblr, or FurAffinity, as these are used more for quick and casual interactions.
Deadlines
Typically I do not work with deadlines that are within three months of ordering. Your project will be done when it's done. Exceptions can be made for small projects, but this is strictly on a case-by-case basis. If you want your project to be moved to the top of the queue to get it completed faster, a rush fee of at least 40% of your total will be added. If a rush fee cannot be negotiated, then your project will be finished by the original completion time. If multiple customers are asking for a rush project to be completed on the same deadline date, then I will need to limit how many to a first-come-first-serve basis. Typically an individual fursuit is completed within 3-4 weeks once I've reached the project in my queue. Every project is done one at a time to ensure that each suit gets individual attention. More complicated projects like intricate markings or working with materials/features I have little experience with will make the project work time longer. Please remember that most everything The Grotto makes is hand made by only one person. No molds are used for foam bases, and hand sewing is still used for many areas of a suit, especially the head.
Shipping
All shipping is done through the United States Postal Service. If you would rather have your order shipped through another shipping service such as FedEx or UPS, please let me know. Tracking numbers will be provided once your package has been sent. Please note that shipping prices often change. Expedited and overnight shipping can be extremely expensive. If you need your order within a timely manner, please plan ahead and let me know. If you are outside of the USA, shipping your order could end up costing more than the order itself, so please keep this in mind. International shipping can also take up to a month to arrive, depending on the distance and your local customs department. Another thing to note for international customers, you will need to provide me with your phone number as well. I will not be responsible for potential customs fees once your order enters your country, you will need to pay for that yourself, so be prepared. I cannot ship to P.O. boxes or military bases. If you have a PO box or are located on a military base, arrangements should be made to have your suit shipped to a safe location elsewhere (Local friends, family etc.) If you are local to the Orlando area, an in-person delivery can be made. This includes locations such as Clermont, Kissimmee, Titusville, Sanford, etc. I will not deliver to your home for safety reasons! Please have a safe public space in mind if you would like to arrange an in-person delivery. (A local park is usually the best option!)
IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT SHIPPING
I will take photos of the condition of the package at the post office and provide them for you if needed. If your package arrives in a severely damaged condition, DO NOT ACCEPT/OPEN THE PACKAGE. Please contact your local post office and show them photos to negotiate insurance policies, they will walk you through the procedure. For suits completed around the holiday season, I MIGHT hold your suit until after Christmas rush unless you want to get it sooner. Around the holidays can be a dangerous time to ship a fursuit due to the massive increase of packages being sent all around the world. The chances of your suit getting lost, stolen or damaged are greatly increased around that time of year.
Cancellations
If at any time a customer needs to cancel their order, they may do so through email contact. I hold the right to cancel an order at any time. If I need to cancel, a full refund excluding the down payment will be issued.
Refunds
If a customer has cancelled an order, only payments after the initial down payment are qualified for refunding. This is NOT negotiable. I cannot offer refunds after the project has been shipped unless damage has occurred during shipping, but I can only insure packages up to $600.
Warranty
All fursuits come with a 30 day warranty. If any major damages occur, or if there is a fitting problem within 30 days of receiving your order, you can return it for a one time free repair. (Shipping must be paid by customer to deliver item to The Grotto. Small damages such as a popped seam do not count as a free repair. If you need help making small repairs, you can send me an email so we can discuss it) If you are to make any alterations to any part of your suit, you are voiding your warranty, and I am not responsible for damages cased by alterations not made by myself. While my fursuits are not intended for this purpose, I understand that some may seek to use them for sexual acts. I will not make repairs or alterations to any fursuit that has been used in that way, you'll need to find someone else. Under no circumstance may any products be sent back for cleaning only. A material guide and cleaning/care sheet is included in every order, and it is the customer's responsibility to keep their product clean. (Side note: I haven't tested my suit head durability in a washing machine, so at this time I suggest against this cleaning method. Full care sheets can be made available to future customers by email request) After the 30 day mark after receiving the product, the warranty will expire, and any repairs thereafter must be paid for. Please also keep in mind that while these creations are sturdy enough to be worn, the lifespan of your purchase depends on how well you take care of it.
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Please keep in mind that breaking any of these rules will most likely result in your commission being cancelled, and depending on the severity, you could be blacklisted.
Certain restrictions apply to my policies. I do not do business with anyone under 18. To prevent fraud, new buyers will be required to provide a form of photo identification with a name and birth date to confirm identity. This ID must match the name you provide on your commission form, as well as your method of payment. If the identity doesn't match, then you will be denied a commission. Some exceptions can be made if you are in the process of changing your name (Gender reassignment, marriage, etc) but you will be required to provide proof of a legal name change request being processed.
Stylistic Limitations
Please note that only 'toony' styles are available for fursuits. Please take time to look through the gallery to get a better idea of what The Grotto can provide for you. If I do not offer what you're looking for, I will be more than happy to refer you to another artist who may fit your needs. Please remember that my prices and quotes are NOT the same as other artists!
Payments
To secure a slot in the production line, a material cost down payment MUST be made as soon as an agreement is reached. Quotes alone will not get you a slot for production. The down payment will put you on the production list, and cover the material costs. If you have the funds, you may pay for your whole project all at once. If not, payment plans can be calculated. It's recommended that you pay within 2-4 separate payments once your project has been reached in the queue. Extended payment plans are available, $50 weekly for heads, $100 weekly for partials, and $250 weekly for full suits. Smaller projects like tails or props must be paid for in full at the time of purchase. Keep in mind that I will not send your project to you until it has been fully paid for.
Payment Methods
Paypal will no longer be an option for customers in the US/Canada. Payments will need to be made either through Square (No account required, it handles credit/bank cards. You can find more info on Square's security and encryption process here https://squareup.com/help/us/en/topic/321 ) or a mailed personal check. Personal checks are greatly preferred since this is the safest and most reliable way to pay. It's recommended that you send them in a secure envelope with tracking information to prevent theft. For international customers, Paypal is still an option.
Work in Progress Images
After materials are purchased and all pre-production requirements have been met, I will do my best to provide weekly progress pictures once started to show the work being completed. Please do not contact The Grotto for progress. Only if two weeks or more have passed since starting without word from me, you may send an email to grotto.fursuit@gmail.com to inquire about the status of your item. All contact will be made through email ONLY, please do not ask about the progress of your project in places like Twitter, Tumblr, or FurAffinity, as these are used more for quick and casual interactions.
Deadlines
Typically I do not work with deadlines that are within three months of ordering. Your project will be done when it's done. Exceptions can be made for small projects, but this is strictly on a case-by-case basis. If you want your project to be moved to the top of the queue to get it completed faster, a rush fee of at least 40% of your total will be added. If a rush fee cannot be negotiated, then your project will be finished by the original completion time. If multiple customers are asking for a rush project to be completed on the same deadline date, then I will need to limit how many to a first-come-first-serve basis. Typically an individual fursuit is completed within 3-4 weeks once I've reached the project in my queue. Every project is done one at a time to ensure that each suit gets individual attention. More complicated projects like intricate markings or working with materials/features I have little experience with will make the project work time longer. Please remember that most everything The Grotto makes is hand made by only one person. No molds are used for foam bases, and hand sewing is still used for many areas of a suit, especially the head.
Shipping
All shipping is done through the United States Postal Service. If you would rather have your order shipped through another shipping service such as FedEx or UPS, please let me know. Tracking numbers will be provided once your package has been sent. Please note that shipping prices often change. Expedited and overnight shipping can be extremely expensive. If you need your order within a timely manner, please plan ahead and let me know. If you are outside of the USA, shipping your order could end up costing more than the order itself, so please keep this in mind. International shipping can also take up to a month to arrive, depending on the distance and your local customs department. Another thing to note for international customers, you will need to provide me with your phone number as well. I will not be responsible for potential customs fees once your order enters your country, you will need to pay for that yourself, so be prepared. I cannot ship to P.O. boxes or military bases. If you have a PO box or are located on a military base, arrangements should be made to have your suit shipped to a safe location elsewhere (Local friends, family etc.) If you are local to the Orlando area, an in-person delivery can be made. This includes locations such as Clermont, Kissimmee, Titusville, Sanford, etc. I will not deliver to your home for safety reasons! Please have a safe public space in mind if you would like to arrange an in-person delivery. (A local park is usually the best option!)
IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT SHIPPING
I will take photos of the condition of the package at the post office and provide them for you if needed. If your package arrives in a severely damaged condition, DO NOT ACCEPT/OPEN THE PACKAGE. Please contact your local post office and show them photos to negotiate insurance policies, they will walk you through the procedure. For suits completed around the holiday season, I MIGHT hold your suit until after Christmas rush unless you want to get it sooner. Around the holidays can be a dangerous time to ship a fursuit due to the massive increase of packages being sent all around the world. The chances of your suit getting lost, stolen or damaged are greatly increased around that time of year.
Cancellations
If at any time a customer needs to cancel their order, they may do so through email contact. I hold the right to cancel an order at any time. If I need to cancel, a full refund excluding the down payment will be issued.
Refunds
If a customer has cancelled an order, only payments after the initial down payment are qualified for refunding. This is NOT negotiable. I cannot offer refunds after the project has been shipped unless damage has occurred during shipping, but I can only insure packages up to $600.
Warranty
All fursuits come with a 30 day warranty. If any major damages occur, or if there is a fitting problem within 30 days of receiving your order, you can return it for a one time free repair. (Shipping must be paid by customer to deliver item to The Grotto. Small damages such as a popped seam do not count as a free repair. If you need help making small repairs, you can send me an email so we can discuss it) If you are to make any alterations to any part of your suit, you are voiding your warranty, and I am not responsible for damages cased by alterations not made by myself. While my fursuits are not intended for this purpose, I understand that some may seek to use them for sexual acts. I will not make repairs or alterations to any fursuit that has been used in that way, you'll need to find someone else. Under no circumstance may any products be sent back for cleaning only. A material guide and cleaning/care sheet is included in every order, and it is the customer's responsibility to keep their product clean. (Side note: I haven't tested my suit head durability in a washing machine, so at this time I suggest against this cleaning method. Full care sheets can be made available to future customers by email request) After the 30 day mark after receiving the product, the warranty will expire, and any repairs thereafter must be paid for. Please also keep in mind that while these creations are sturdy enough to be worn, the lifespan of your purchase depends on how well you take care of it.
---
Please keep in mind that breaking any of these rules will most likely result in your commission being cancelled, and depending on the severity, you could be blacklisted.