Anovos

[Prime Directive]

I've bought 2 costumes from Anovos so far.
TNG Burgundy ("Command") Tunic
and "First Contact" Black&Grey Jacket, Cuffs, and Undershirt (turtleneck) combo.
I had to exchange the First Contact outfit from an XL to a L. However I didn't get the undershirt/turtleneck. First time I told them this, they said they don't sell it separately, I need to buy the shirt/vest/cuff set for another $200 or so......this time I asked again and they said sorry sold out. Seems like a lot of drama just for a $20 turtleneck, no?

Anyone else have issues like this with Anovos? I get they're at the top of the Trek Costume Food Chain, but because of this they've seemed to develop a carefree attitude about customer service and satisfaction. I think since they're the only real game in town they must assume "the customer is always wrong".

So now I have a $300+ jacket & cuff set that is unusable. All because they're too lazy or unwilling to send me a $20 turtleneck.

Ps...does anyone have a burgundy command uniform undershirt/turtleneck they don't need/want anymore? =/

 

[cultcross]

Anovos in my experience do great products, and given the level of original r&d that goes into them they're fairly priced, but with terrible customer service.
If you order something in stock and shipping now, it's usually trouble free. But that's a big if, because most of their lines are sold on a pre order basis followed by a wait of many months dragging into years, and sometimes things listed as in stock have actually sold out.
The most frustrating part is the constant announcing of new lines when back orders on previous lines seem to drag on and on.
They survive because their products are really really good quality, the most screen accurate official products ever. But don't be in a rush....

 

[jamestyler]

^ Seconding that.

I know four people currently waiting. One of them just celebrated his one year anniversary of ordering an in stock item and has fumed over new lines becoming priority while he's left with no replies or updates.

I don't agree with the fair pricing. Some of the items, maybe. But when it comes to stuff like the 'Khan shirt' - a plain black top with a quickie logo - and the rank pins which you can get custom ordered with the same magnets for much less - it takes the piss a bit.

I've seen some hit and miss stuff - and the prototype pictures that they sell it all on tend to have mistakes, which is a minor quibble as they mostly get fixed, but for the prices.... why not show the finished stuff done right? :/ But while they're good... the service should be much, much better - but sadly the more contracts they get, the less they pay attention to the people putting money in their pockets :/

 

[cultcross]

I've had a chance this weekend to see some Anovos products up close (although not as many wearing them as I expected, probably still waiting for delivery ) and the quality is just leaps and bounds ahead of anything else on the mainstream market. You can spot the people in Anovos stuff a mile off. Unless you get custom stuff done by those niche cosplay places, you won't find better replicas.

 

[jamestyler]

They are good (aside form one or two that I've seen that were obviously rushed/early works). Though I honestly think they stand out for quality simply because they have good equipment to work with and a LOT of places are just.... well, shite, to be perfectly blunt :/

I think thats why Anovos is retaining a marketplace - not just because they are good quality and licensed - but because the affordable alternatives (Rubies & CosplaySky to show I don't single just one company out in my moaning ) don't even look like they're trying.

 

[cultcross]

Oh I completely agree. Most official tie in costuming is beyond awful. Anovos simply were the first to come up with the amazing idea that fans known for their obsession with detail and accuracy might spend money on costumes that weren't ill-fitting silk screened pyjamas.

 

[Balok's Decoy]

You can spot the people in Anovos stuff a mile off.

That is 100% true. When I was at Mission New York last month, you could see who had Anovos and who had whatever it is they sell on the StarTrek.com shop. My girlfriend is a fiber artist, so she just made me a TOS tunic. But there are some things she can't do herself, like rank braids. I ordered rank braids from Anovos a couple days ago because they were running a "not at Comic Con sale" and said they had them "in stock and ready to ship." Judging by the comments here, I'll remind myself I'm not alone if I don't get those braids before Halloween.

 

[jamestyler]

Oh I completely agree. Most official tie in costuming is beyond awful. Anovos simply were the first to come up with the amazing idea that fans known for their obsession with detail and accuracy might spend money on costumes that weren't ill-fitting silk screened pyjamas.

Ha! I have (and still occasionally) buy the 2009 styles from Rubies, but they need a few modifications :/ Fortunately it's cheaper buying that and fixing it than it is to get the fabric made.

Detail and accuracy is good - though I have noticed a snobbery of sorts become more common with Anovos buyers I meet. I had one guy try and talk down to me because his Anovos uniform had more accurate fabric than the one I was wearing and another Anovos regular write a scathnig review because I used "the wrong zip"

I've always found these types - or to be accurate, they've found me - but it's got a lot more insulting of late. It's not Anovos directly, but it becoming a status symbol doesn't help make me like the company

That is 100% true. When I was at Mission New York last month, you could see who had Anovos and who had whatever it is they sell on the StarTrek.com shop. My girlfriend is a fiber artist, so she just made me a TOS tunic. But there are some things she can't do herself, like rank braids. I ordered rank braids from Anovos a couple days ago because they were running a "not at Comic Con sale" and said they had them "in stock and ready to ship." Judging by the comments here, I'll remind myself I'm not alone if I don't get those braids before Halloween.

The braids are a pretty common item, so they should arrive in good time. If there's any issue though, Katarra8 on Etsy has good ones for the price.... and this reminds me I need to make an order as I promised the wife I'd promote her

 

[Balok's Decoy]

Ha! I have (and still occasionally) buy the 2009 styles from Rubies, but they need a few modifications :/ Fortunately it's cheaper buying that and fixing it than it is to get the fabric made.

Detail and accuracy is good - though I have noticed a snobbery of sorts become more common with Anovos buyers I meet. I had one guy try and talk down to me because his Anovos uniform had more accurate fabric than the one I was wearing and another Anovos regular write a scathnig review because I used "the wrong zip"

I've always found these types - or to be accurate, they've found me - but it's got a lot more insulting of late. It's not Anovos directly, but it becoming a status symbol doesn't help make me like the company



The braids are a pretty common item, so they should arrive in good time. If there's any issue though, Katarra8 on Etsy has good ones for the price.... and this reminds me I need to make an order as I promised the wife I'd promote her

I agree that a lot of people can be snobby about costume quality, and I hope none of my comments came off that way. Frankly I just like to see people get excited about the convention and cosplay, regardless of quality.

 

[jamestyler]

I agree that a lot of people can be snobby about costume quality, and I hope none of my comments came off that way. Frankly I just like to see people get excited about the convention and cosplay, regardless of quality.

Not at all! I'm pretty much the same in terms of enjoying myself more than anything. And mostly.... I like to make stuff, and take a weird form of pride about finding ways to make it look good without spending too much.

You actually made me google fibre artist as thats a term I've never heard before!

On the Anovos front - though I'm not a fan (of the service, at least) I was almost tempted by the new survival jacket. But the cheap part of me couldn't justify the cost, nor the postage, without them at least coming with matching trousers!

 

[cultcross]

The difficulty of completing the costume put me off too, I love the piece but, in the geekiest way possible, darling I have nothing to wear with it!

Same with the Picard jacket variant they did. Great piece, but where do you get the blue turtleneck undershirt? Without it, the jacket is fairly useless.

 

[cultcross]

I agree that a lot of people can be snobby about costume quality, and I hope none of my comments came off that way. Frankly I just like to see people get excited about the convention and cosplay, regardless of quality.

Couldn't agree more. Cosplay is about fun, and the level of detail and accuracy that you a) want to aspire to and b) can afford shouldn't be more than a personal thing. The last thing science fiction conventions need is a fashion police!

The thing that really gets my back up is snobbery about bought costumes. Fine if you're proud of something you made from scratch, but Christ, if you just bought it from a different website you basically boil down to "ha ha I'm richer than you".

 

[jamestyler]

The difficulty of completing the costume put me off too, I love the piece but, in the geekiest way possible, darling I have nothing to wear with it!

Same with the Picard jacket variant they did. Great piece, but where do you get the blue turtleneck undershirt? Without it, the jacket is fairly useless.

.....I've not even noticed that (or I did and forgot - I forget a lot ). And that might explain why I've seen two people wear it in the past year with unmatching under shirts at conventions.

Couldn't agree more. Cosplay is about fun, and the level of detail and accuracy that you a) want to aspire to and b) can afford shouldn't be more than a personal thing. The last thing science fiction conventions need is a fashion police!

Couldn't agree more! Most of my con-shenanigans are generic, non specific events - so they attract more than just the sci fi element. I'd noticed a few of the unpleasant types before, but the last one I attended (last month) had a ridiculous amount of ego and arrogance; including people being openly berated at the event for their costumes not being 'good enough'.

I'm not entirely sure when the transition from dressing up for a laugh became such serious business :/ That said, I do feel a small amount of pride when someone asks where I bought my costume and I have to inform them that I made it the day before

The thing that really gets my back up is snobbery about bought costumes. Fine if you're proud of something you made from scratch, but Christ, if you just bought it from a different website you basically boil down to "ha ha I'm richer than you".

Yeah :/ Thankfully I've seen a lot of the opposite end of the scale pop up lately in rebellion. To me, being a Trek fan is expensive enough. The price of models, collectables, books etc is already sky high.

It's beginning to feel a little too exploitative - if you have a spare $750 to spare on a green shirt, spend the mountain of cash! But if you can get close enough from somewhere cheaper, it's not worth spending a months rent on a product that's going to spend 90% of it's lifespan in a drawer.

 

[publiusr]

I haven't won publiusr's clearing house--so no products for me. No moolah.