Moved the blog to my store

Thanks to the awesome shop software I use now that includes a blog, I am retiring this version in favor of it. See the new blog at http://www.cosplaycostumecloset.com/articles-headlines

Order Tracking is Back!

Not sure how it disappeared but I discovered the “Order Tracking” box was missing from the Account Page of the stores! It’s back now and working properly. I added a “Track Your Order” link in the footer too – just click on it or “Account” to view the tracking box in the top left column of the store.

Just enter the email address you used for your order and your order id number. This will redirect you to view your latest order (even if you didn’t register with us for an account). If your order has shipped, you will see a link for the tracking number in he history section at the bottom. Just click it to view the tracking and delivery information via UPS, Fedex, USPS or DHL. Easy!

If you did register, you can also view this information from your Order History.

Relaunching our YouTube Costume Channel

Okay, so while I love watching videos on YouTube, I have always found them hard to figure out when it comes to setting up our channel.

I’m taking another stab at it and starting to set up some playlists you might like, starting with InCharacter Costume’s amazing Costume Confidential line of premium costumes. These 12 styles for 2012 have scrumptious fabrics and great details with styles that are elegant and not too sexy, like the beautiful Queen of Hearts costume featured here.

Check them all out on YouTube with more videos coming soon. Of course they are all available for purchase at CosplayCostumeCloset.com

New costumes coming soon

Most costume manufacturers actually start stocking their new designs in August, so watch for all the new styles to be going up on the store over the next few weeks as well as styles that were out of stock coming back in.

I’ve been adding shoes and accessories to it along with my other stores, but have pretty much waited until now for the new costume styles since I didn’t see any reason to add them with “Out of Stock – ETA August” on everything

Amazing costumes and accessories made from pull tabs!

Came across this amazingly cool site and had to share! Take a look at what this artist can create with can pull tabs! And the beer can googles are cool too!

She has a ton more of amazing pieces on her blog, The Art of Can Tabistry so check it out!! Most are steampunk oriented and simply amaze me.

Updating shipping information for each product

Since the current cart software lets me specify more delivery and shipping options than I could before, I’ve been tweaking and refining this information to try to make it as clear as possible and standardizing it for all my stores.

When you look at the product page for an item on one of my online shops, you will see the product title with a photo of that item on the left and information about that product to the right of the photo. After a brief description of that item, you will see the “Brand”, “Product Code”, and “Ships In” information just above the price.

This “Ships In” line gives you the standard handling time it takes for that specific product to leave the warehouse heading to your delivery address and these times are further described on the Shipping tab below the product photo with even more detail given on the Delivery Information page. Note this is the usual handling time – there are times when shipping might be delayed including invalid or unclear shipping address, holidays, peak seasons, warehouse inventory, natural disasters in the warehouse area, or other delays beyond our control, but this gives you a time valid 99% of the time.

This is the time to be packaged and leave the warehouse and NOT a delivery time. Total delivery time includes the packaging/handling plus transit time. Expected transit time is given on the Delivery Information page but averages 2-9 days within the US. Again, delays beyond our control can happen and delivery is out of our control once your package is shipped and in the hands of the USPS, UPS, Fedex or other delivery service – especially for international delivery.

The delivery confirmation or tracking number is now provided via email and/or your order history page for every shipment so please use it to for more detailed delivery times once your order has shipped.

SSL not reporting correctly? Your security

I’m getting some reports that our SSL certificate is not reading correctly on all stores in all browsers. *sigh*

Just to clarify, yes, I have an SSL certificate installed and yes, information is encrypted. It’s actually encrypted twice – once by my cart software using a random encryption key and once by the SSL certificate. Furthermore, my cart software only stores your name, address, phone, email and order information in the store database – encrypted so it cannot be read by any one but me. All credit cards are processed but never stored utilizing Paypal’s Website Payment Pro service if you pay on the site, or via their own servers if you select “Paypal” as the payment method and then select “Pay using a credit card” instead of using or setting up a Paypal account. I’m also working on getting Google Checkout (or Wallet as they call it now) set up again and plan to add Amazon Checkout in the near future allowing you to checkout via their secure servers).  Any way you pay on my stores, I never see or have access to your credit card information.

Browser SSL verifications have always had problems reporting security status for pages that include dynamic content like Twitter and Facebook as it considers those services un-secure (even though they don’t send data out!) and I believe that’s the main issue. But I am working with my web hosts as well trying to figure out what the problem is with it registering properly on all my stores. If in doubt, you can buy any of my products via Labeshops.com which seems to be showing “Partially encrypted” (due to Facebook/Twitter) on most browsers at least or call in an order at 407-574-5327.

My apologies for the confusion.