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  • Ask Papabear

Do Minors Need a Parent to Cosign for a Fursuit Commission?

5/24/2015

3 Comments

 
[Papabear notes: in this column Papabear made a goof about contract law (and it was a pretty stupid one, too *blush*, and I should have known better), which is pointed out by a nice reader in the comments below. This is a great example of how this column can work as a community and that I very much appreciate my readers' input because it makes "Ask Papabear" more helpful than if I just did this on my own. Thanks!]

Papabear,

I have been looking around for fursuit makers that allow a minor to have their parent cosign to get a fursuit, but can't find any. There are a few things saying minors cannot do commissions and a few others saying that it is just preference. I earned the money myself, though, so my parent wouldn't mind me spending it.

So my question is: Do you know of any good makers that wil do a partial suit for a minor or at least let the minors parent cosign?


Thanks!


Zazzy

* * *

Hi, Zazzy,

Commissioning a fursuit is not like going to a furcon, where you need to get an adult's permission or be accompanied by an adult if you are a minor. It's not like you are buying something naughty from Bad Dragon. It's just a fursuit. And if you have the money to pay for it, I'm sure most makers will take your money! 


The practice of cosigning is usually only done for loans in which the person applying for the loan has no collateral (or bad credit) and needs another person with collateral to secure the loan. When you buy a fursuit, however, it is cash or charge, not a loan, so cosigning really makes no sense.

Now, if the issue is you're not sure how to pay because you don't have a charge card or a bank account (you don't want to send cash through the mail!), then run your fuzzy butt over to your local post office and get a money order for your down payment. Money orders up to $500 are $1.25 at the and $1.65 for $501 to $1,000.

When commissioning a partial or full fursuit, Papabear recommend you get a written contract from the fursuit maker stating clearly what they agree to do for you and their refund policies. While this is a little unorthodox in the furry community (most makers just refer you to what is written on their websites, but I don't think that's enough, legally), I also recommend that you set a date for the fursuit to be completed (remembering that this might literally take years) and that you also make clear what happens if you are not happy with the completed product. Papabear has received a couple letters from unhappy furries who have been let down by fursuit makers. But the contract also protects the maker, stating that payment must be received at a certain time before the fursuit is delivered. Finally, get a receipt showing payment.


It's wise of you to get a partial, since you're only 14 and might do some more growing still, which might make a full suit a bit tight on you.


Happy Fursuiting!
Papabear
3 Comments
Anonymous Suit Maker
5/31/2015 06:18:45 pm

As someone who is a fursuit maker, I'd like to explain from our side why you may be having some trouble commissioning someone if you're under 18:

At least in the US, people under 18 cannot enter into legally binding contracts (unless emancipated I think, but it does not sound as though this is the case here), regardless of whether their parents approve. That means it would fall on the parents to legally enter the contract involved with commissioning and buying a suit on behalf their child, if they approved of it. Having your parent "give their permission" means very little here, legally speaking.

Suit making is a business, and even if no official written contract is signed, selling a suit (especially a custom commission) enters both parties into an informal written contract of sorts, with the buyer agreeing to meet the seller's terms. But because no one under 18 can legally be held to a contract, selling a suit to someone under 18 is very risky for the maker indeed.

Keep in mind, this is NOT because there is anything inherently "adult" or naughty about fursuits! It's because in the event a parent ends up objecting (even IF they gave "permission" beforehand) the maker has no legal standing to enforce the contract. And since fursuits are expensive, at hundreds to thousands of dollars each, being unable to enforce (ie get paid) would be a HUGE risk for the maker. So purely for legal reasons, most will decline to sell directly to a minor if asked.

There is something Zazzy could do to get around this problem: have a parent do ALL the communication with the maker for you, and make the payments in their name (ie with their credit card). They would not even need to tell the maker that the suit is for someone else (their kid), most probably won't even ask for any personal details beyond a character design and some basic measurements! This way, you (the minor) is never even officially involved in the process, which will probably make finding someone who will take your commission a lot easier.

I know it probably feels terribly uncool to do it this way, but what's more uncool, that or not getting the suit you want? ; ) Good luck!

Reply
Papabear
6/3/2015 04:05:35 pm

While a minor can buy something without a parent's permission (as long as it isn't drugs,booze, cigs, etc), you are absolutely right about contracts and people being 18 or older. Papabear messed up on that one. Thanks for pointing it out.

Reply
Luna_Wollf
8/9/2017 12:26:05 pm

Thank you, this helped alot! I'm only 13 but already have a (very simple) fursona. I have my grandpa buy most of my belongings and would love to get my custom made fursuit.

Reply



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