Monday, December 2nd
2024 Cosplay Store Reviews
Sim Cosplay
- Prices range from $50 to $300
- 213 Genshin Impact cosplay options
- Easy website navigation with sorting options
- High-quality costume images
- Active on social media with customer photos
- 24-hour dispatch for ready-to-ship items
Sim Cosplay was started by a group of cosplay enthusiasts in 2014 to sell cosplays online in the US, Australia, the UK, and Japan. Ten years later, they have a strong design team focused on high-quality costumes inspired by anime, movies, and games. Their experienced designers and manufacturers help fans become characters like Captain America or Spider-Man. Be sure to check out their social media, where they share customer photos and even discounts.
Use the search bar if you don't see what you need
Sim Cosplay offers a variety of categories like New Arrival, Movie/Dramas, Game, Ladies, Genshin Impact, Kids, Ready To Ship, Promotions, and Cosplay Show. Even if you don't see a fandom listed in one of these categories, like Arcane, it doesn't mean they don't have it. Use the search bar to find what you're looking for, and try a couple of different terms before giving up. (When we searched "Vi Arcane” we got no results, but searching just "Arcane” brought up a few Vi cosplays.)
Lots of Genshin Impact cosplays
In the Movie section alone, there are over 1,000 costumes to choose from, and if you're a fan of Genshin Impact, you'll find plenty in its category with 213 options available. Shopping on the website is straightforward because you can sort the costumes by most viewed, name, or low-to-high price, making it easier to find what you want.
No custom sizing
When we checked out Sim Cosplay, it looked like they had stopped offering custom sizing. Some reviewers on Trustpilot speculated that this change might be due to the bulk of complaints being about custom sizes not fitting perfectly, despite having paid extra. This means you'll need to rely on their size chart and measure yourself carefully to pick the right size. Usually, you can find sizes ranging from XS to XXL. Just a heads-up, most costumes don't allow for gender swapping, so you'll have to stick to what's available.
Follow Sim Cosplay on TikTok
The images on Sim Cosplay's website are generally high quality and give you multiple views of the costumes and how they look on a model. To gauge the usual quality of their costumes, you can visit their TikTok account, where they post videos exploring the different components of their cosplay outfits. While they don't have many videos up, it might still give you a sense of what to expect. Their Instagram account is pretty active, and you can see posts featuring cosplayers like you in Sim Cosplay's costumes. Additionally, some product listings include customer photos in the reviews, which can also help you make a decision.
Most cosplays under $300
Be sure to double-check what comes with your cosplay before you click "buy”. For example, a Jinx cosplay listed as a "full set with boots and wig" for $89.99 didn't actually include her boots and braided blue wig. With all accessories, it cost $164.98. Generally, most cosplays, when fully accessorized, range from about $50 to $260.
PayPal only
Like many Chinese cosplay companies, Sim Cosplay only accepts PayPal as a payment option. This can be a good thing because PayPal allows you to dispute charges if something goes wrong. When you choose PayPal, you'll be directed to their website to complete your payment.
Shipping said to take between 24 hours and 20 days
Shipping at Sim Cosplay is handled through partnerships with international logistics companies like UPS, DHL, and FedEx. When estimating your delivery date, you'll need to take into account both tailoring/processing and shipping. For basic shipping (excluding tailoring/processing), expect 10-15 days; standard shipping takes 5-10 days, and rush shipping is 3-5 days. Since the costumes are handmade, the processing time varies: standard cosplay costumes need 7-10 days, custom sizes take 10-20 days (though, like we said, those don't seem to be offered now), while props and wigs require 5-10 days. Ready-to-ship items are quick, taking only 10-24 hours. If you buy multiple items, the longest processing time applies. Once shipped, you can track your order online.
$40 shipping
The more items you add to your cart, the higher your shipping costs will be. For one cosplay with all the accessories, standard shipping was $36.99 and rush shipping was $56.98. That's not too bad, all things considered. Although at checkout it might say standard shipping only takes 5-10 days, we'd still urge you to order well in advance if you need your cosplay for an event like a convention, because the costumes are shipped from China and delays can happen.
Refunds
The return and refund policy has a lot of caveats. If you need to return or exchange items like accessories, props, wigs, and standard-size costumes, they must be unused and in good condition, but you'll pay for return shipping. You have 30 days after delivery to make returns or exchanges. They claim to offer full refunds or replacements for damaged or incorrect items, but not for customer-caused damage. If you cancel your order within 7 days, you'll get a full refund. After that, there's a 30% fee, and you can't cancel once it's shipped.
Reviews are polarized
Sim Cosplay has a 4-star rating average on Trustpilot. However, a closer look reveals that this score comes from a polarized mix of reviews: 50% of them are 5 stars and 39% are 1 star. The five-star reviews are from customers who loved their cosplay outfits right out of the box and didn't have any problems with fit or material, and didn't need to contact customer service for anything. However, if the costume doesn't meet your expectations for fit or quality and you want a refund, you could be out of luck: any time there was a review from a customer who had to get customer service involved, it was a bad experience. So, while their policy says they offer replacements or refunds in some scenarios, they don't often seem to follow through on their promises.
A decent place to shop for cosplays
Overall, Sim Cosplay offers decent cosplay options with reasonable prices and competitive shipping, and their website is easy to navigate. However, their selection is smaller compared to some other stores (we didn't find much for anime), and their customer service might not always follow through with their policies. So, while you can find a good cosplay costume here, it's wise to be cautious.
More Cosplay Store Reviews
The 10 Best Cosplay Stores
Where Can You Find the Best Cosplay Costume Stores?
If you've ever wanted to step into the shoes of your favorite superhero or anime character, cosplay costume stores can make those dreams a reality. These shops are for everyone - from convention-goers and trick-or-treaters to social media stars who've turned cosplay into a full-time gig. Yep, you heard that right - some TikTokers are actually making a living by donning spot-on costumes and entertaining millions of followers. (Pro tip: your lighting is just as important as the accuracy of your costume.)
These stores solve a bunch of problems for cosplay fans. Instead of spending weeks trying to craft that intricate armor set from scratch, you can order a ready-made version that looks like it jumped right out of the screen. It's a real time-saver, and let's face it, not all of us have the skills to DIY everything.
Cosplay Store FAQ
Continued from above...
Now, not all cosplay shops are cut from the same cloth. Some focus on specific genres - think Superhero Central with more Spider-Man suits than you can shoot a web at. Others offer a bit of everything, from anime to video games to Disney princesses and beyond. You'll find budget-friendly options for those watching their wallet, as well as high-end replicas for the serious collectors or pros.
The level of customization can vary widely too. Some stores stick to standard sizes, while others will tailor-make your costume to fit like a glove. And the attention to detail? It can range from "pretty good" to "is that the actual movie prop?"
When you're shopping online for your next cosplay masterpiece, keep these things in mind:
- Quality and accuracy. Check out the product photos and customer reviews. You want to make sure your Mandalorian armor actually looks like beskar, not painted cardboard. Real talk: a well-made, accurate costume can be the difference between "wow, can I take a picture with you?" and "uh, what are you supposed to be?"
- Sizing and customization. Look for stores that offer custom sizing or alterations. Nobody wants a wardrobe malfunction mid-convention. A perfectly-fitting costume not only looks better but is way more likely to hold up during those long days of posing and mingling.
- Shipping and returns. Make sure that awesome costume will arrive before your big event, and check what happens if it's not quite what you expected. Cosplay events wait for no one, and you don't want to be stuck with a dud costume.
- Customer service. A responsive support team can be a lifesaver when you're trying to figure out if that bodysuit will fit your unique shape. Good customer service can make or break your shopping experience, especially when you're investing in a pricey costume.
- Price vs. Value. Remember, the cheapest option isn't always the best deal in the long run. A higher-quality costume might cost more upfront, but it'll last longer and look better in those Instagram shots.
Top Consumer Reviews has checked out and ranked the best cosplay costume stores out there. We've looked at everything from product quality to customer service to help you find your perfect cosplay match. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned nerd, we hope our reviews help you find the ideal store to bring your favorite characters to life - and who knows, maybe even launch your own cosplay career!
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