My dear Pirates,
 
You have perhaps noticed the declining number of VP listings throughout the summer. This has been due to several factors, such as increasing eBay fees, seller un-friendly policy changes and the growing number of amateur and bootleg DIY sellers who have devalued quality, professional reconstructions.
 
While my eBay listings will continue to be extremely limited you can visit VP on Etsy and place custom orders at www.victoriouspirate.com. Send in any oversized tee (or pick from many available for order) and choose from many style, sizing and trim options to create your very own unique piece.
 
Thanks to all of my loyal customers who have supported me throughout the past 6 years!
 
<3 Suzanne

Be featured in the VP photo gallery! Send in your pics to gallery@victoriouspirate.com

Scroll down just a bit for the informative FAQ!
 

Victorious Pirate is high quality DIY - meaning I sew the crap out of everything so it will last for years. In addition to the ready-made offerings available in VP's eBay store you can also design your own items by choosing a style and picking or sending a tee to be reworked. You can visit VP online for a complete sizing chart, photo gallery and additional info at www.victoriouspirate.com.
 
Like many DIY sellers I grew up before there were tanks and babydoll tees on merch tables - and at just 5' tall I was always way too small to wear my boyfriends' band tees. Several years of trial and error and many ruined tees later I finally perfected the craft of tee reconstruction and started creating custom pieces for friends and local bands. I started selling part time on eBay in 2003, the same year victoriouspirate.com was born. Two years later I launched full time on eBay under the ID victoriouspirate. Here I am!:
 

 
 
When I'm done sewing, answering emails, printing invoices, ordering tees or going to the post office I head over to my studio to rehearse with my band Ruby Bullet. It's myself and a drummer and we nearly kill each other every night. If you are a fan of goth rock, prog metal, crazy time signatures, female vocals or guitarists who play bass with their feet you might want to check it out:
 

PS: I love you.
 
Now here's the FAQ!
 

1. Just how do you make these awesome, awesome hoodies and tops?
2. Are your hoodie just for girls?
3. What kind of quality can I expect in your items?
4. Will this hoodies feel like a sweater/sweatshirt?
5. Can you print the same graphic on a tee shirt/sweatshirt/tote bag/doggie sweater?
6. How do I care for my new top?
7. What about custom listings(when available)?
8. When do you list new items?
9. Will you end an item early for me?
10. How will I know if this will fit me?
11. Do you do alterations?
12. Can you recreate an item in a different size?
13. Do you take custom orders?
14. How do you ship your items?
15. What is your shipping discount?
16. What if my package doesn't arrive or arrives damaged?
17. I just won an item as a gift - could I have it shipped directly to my girlfriend/cousin/grandma?
18. How often do you ship? How do I know when to expect my hoodie?
19. Do you accept returns or exchanges?
20. How long do I have to send payment?
21. What payment types do you accept?
22. What if I went out of town or forgot to send payment or had a problem with my credit card or decided not to pay after all?
23. What if something legitimate came up and I just can't send payment within 7 days?
24. What if I won an item and now I don't want it?
25. What is your feedback policy?
26. Do you have a website?
27. Do you have a Myspace page?
28. What if I read this entire thing and still have a question?
 
 

1. Just how do you make these awesome, awesome hoodies and tops?
 
Each piece is reconstructed from an authentic, licensed tee shirt. I slice them apart and alter the shape. Sleeves, hoods and trim are made out of cotton jersey (tee shirt material). It all gets stitched back together with a serger and top stitched for extra strength. Click here for a mini-pictoral of the process.
 
 
2. Are your items just for girls?
 
Yes. Pre-made hoodies and tops are slim-fitting and contoured just like a babydoll tee. Guy's/unisex hoodies can be custom ordered.
 
 
3. What kind of quality can I expect in your items?
 
The super bestest, of course! I use 100% cotton jersey, industrial YKK zippers, heavy duty thread and licensed tee shirts (never bootlegs) to make my items. Every piece is professionally constructed so you can be confident your piece will last for years. Check out my 100% positive feedback for some rave reviews!
 
 
4. Will this hoodie feel like a sweater/sweatshirt?
 
No. The body of these hoodies are made from tee shirts. The sleeves and hood are made from cotton jersey, the same material from which tee shirts are made.
 
 
5. Can you put the same graphic on a tee shirt/sweatshirt/tote bag/doggie sweater?
 
I don't print any designs. I use tee shirts that have been printed by a licensed manufacturer.
 
 
6. How do I care for my new top?
 
You can wash and dry them like any cotton tee shirt. For best results wash in cold water with like colors and dry on low or tumble to prevent fading and preserve graphics. Always check item description for complete details.
 
 
7. What about custom listings (when available)?
 
Custom listings are made to order items sold at a fixed price. Choose girl's size Small, Medium or Large.
 
These hoodies generally take 7-10 working days from the receipt of payment AND size request to complete, although due to the nature of custom work it can take up to 2 weeks.
 
Important note: I can't start your order until I know what size to make. To avoid a potentially lengthy delay you should include your size choice with your payment.
 
 
8. When do you list new items?
 
Usually on Mondays and Thursdays. Click here to add VP as a favorite seller so you can receive email notifications when I put up new stuff.
 
 
9. Will you end an auction early for me?
 
Nope. Sorry!
 
 
10. How will I know if this will fit me?
 
Check the item description for detailed measurements of the item being auctioned. You can also click here for a size chart.
 
The bust measurement is the fullest part of the chest (not your bra size). Length is taken from the top of the shoulder seam to the bottom hem. Sleeve length is taken from the top of the shoulder sleeve to the end of the cuff.
 
All of our ready-made pieces are constructed with a slim-fitting hourglass cut to accentuate your curves, much like a babydoll tee! Guy's/unisex sizing is available on custom, made-to-order pieces only. Our guy's/unisex cut is straight from chest to hem like a standard tee shirt and they are a slimmer fit than most hoodies.
 
Again, please check out our sizing chart for detailed measurements BEFORE you place your order.
 
 
11. Do you do alterations?
 
Nope. It's a huge pain and almost as time consuming as making one from scratch. Consider ordering a piece custom made in the correct size.
 
 
12. Can you recreate an item in a different size?
 
Most items can be made in other sizes than what is listed. Read on for custom order info.
 
 
13. Do you take custom orders?
 
Yes! Pick a style and either send in a tee or choose from 100's of shirts that I can provide. I can even set it up a private auction. Visit victoriouspirate.com to see styles, pricing and additional info.
 
Custom orders are at set pricing, although in the interest of keeping auctions fair I have an exception. If your order is the exact size and style of a piece that ends at auction for an amount higher than the set pricing that final value dictates the cost of your order. This is in effect for 14 days after the end of the auction.
 
Example: a NIN 'Downward Spiral' hoodie, size Large ends at auction yesterday for $500. You may order a NIN 'Downward Spiral' hoodie in a Small at normal pricing. You may order a NIN 'With Teeth' hoodie in a Large at normal pricing. A NIN 'Downward Spiral' hoodie, size Large will cost you $500.
 
 
14. How do you ship your items?
 
Domestic: Smaller packages are sentFirst Class which usually takes 2-5 days. Any packages heavier than 13 oz. are automatically sent Priority (2-3 days). All packages are sent with Delivery Confirmation. Insurance is optional and encouraged.
 
International shipments are sent First Class which takes about 5-10 days to arrive. If you need a tracking number you will have to spring for expensive Express shipping.
 
 
15. What is your shipping discount?
 
Domestic: Go ahead and win every item we have up for auction and pay only the highest shipping charge! Again, there is NO additional shipping charge beyond the first item!
 
International: I ship each additional item for $1.
 
Items must ship together and end within a week to get this awesome deal so please notify me if you are bidding on items with different end dates.
 
 
16. What if my package doesn't arrive or arrives damaged?
 
I have no control over a package once it leaves my hands. I cannot and will not guarantee or accept responsibility for lost/stolen/damaged packages. Insurance is encouraged for domestic customers - just add it to your payment total. Domestic customers may contact me for a tracking number.
 
I ship to the address that you provide with your PayPal payment so please make sure it is correct and/or updated. If you supply an incorrect address and your package is returned you will be responsible for additional shipping costs.
 
If you'd like your item sent to a different address than is on your payment you must send a separate email to let me know. If you don't send a note I will ship it to the address provided with your payment.
 
Please note that international packages sometimes are held in customs which will delay their arrival.
 
 
17. I just won an item as a gift - could I have it shipped directly to my girlfriend/cousin/grandma?
 
VP items are the best gifts in the world. Just send me a separate email to let me know where and to whom you would like it sent. I can even include a little gift card!
 
 
18. How often do you ship? How do I know when to expect my hoodie?
 
I ship twice a week, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays. I will send a confirmation to your email address as soon as you package is on the way!
 
 
19. Do you accept returns or exchanges?
 
Nope - so please read the entire description carefully and check the detailed measurements before you even think about bidding.
 
Again, please read the entire description carefully and check the detailed measurements before you even think about bidding.
 
 
20. How long do I have to send payment?
 
Payment is expected within 7 days of the end of the auction.
 
 
21. What payment types do you accept?
 
All bidders may send payment through Paypal, where you can use a credit card or bank account even if you don't have a Paypal account. International bidders must send payment through Paypal.
 
I also accept money orders from US and Canadian bidders (must be Canadian Postal money order made out in US$).
 
Please notify me at the end of the auction if you'll be sending a money order. Please DO NOT make your check or money order out to Victorious Pirate - it should be made out to Suzanne Sterne. If you make it out to Victorious Pirate I will send it back. Items will ship once your money order has cleared. For non-postal money orders that could take up to 14 days.
 
 
22. What if I went out of town or forgot to send payment or had a problem with my credit card or decided not to pay after all?
 
When payment is not received within 7 days I file an Unpaid Item Report through eBay. I do this even if you have previously emailed me that your money order is on the way. This insures that if the item is not paid for I can recoup the fees associated with the sale of the item.
 
If you contact me to make arrangements and follow up with a payment (you have about a week after the dispute is opened) I'll close the dispute and no harm will come to you. If you are a deadbeat and don't email or send payment I will leave negative feedback, give you an Unpaid Item strike (which can prevent you from bidding on other items) and block you from bidding on any of our items in the future. Plus you'll get heaps of bad karma.
 
 
23. What if something legitimate came up and I just can't send payment within 7 days?
 
I understand that situations arise. I will be very nice and flexible IF you contact me to make payment arrangements AND follow through on the agreement.
 
 
24. What if I won an item and now I don't want it?
 
You're stuck with it. If you even suspect that you won't want or can't pay for an item DO NOT PLACE A BID. I will not take it back, nor will I exchange it. Your bid is a binding contract to purchase the item. Make sure you have read the entire item description so there are no surprises later.
 
 
25. What is your feedback policy?
 
When you leave feedback for me I'll leave it for you. This is a low-maintenance way of making sure you're happy with your piece.
 
 
26. Do you have a website?
 
Yes - victoriouspirate.com.
 
 
27. Do you have a Myspace page?
 
VP is on Myspace.
 
 
28. What if I read this entire thing and still have a question?
 
Just contact me! You can email me directly at vp@victoriouspirate.com. I'm happy to help with any issue you may have ;)