1. Booking & Payment

1.1. By completing a booking through our website, you ("the Hirer") enter into a binding hire agreement with The Mascoteers ("we", "us", "our").

1.2. Booking Fee. The amount listed for each costume is a non-refundable booking fee. This fee covers costume preparation, professional cleaning, quality inspection, and the reservation of the costume for your nominated dates, blocking it from being available to other customers. This fee is charged at the time of booking.

1.3. Security Bond. A separate security bond will be placed as a temporary authorisation hold on your payment card approximately 3 days prior to your nominated pickup date. Your card details are securely stored at the time of booking for this purpose and may also be used for approved additional order charges, bond-related retries, and any additional amounts properly payable under these terms. The bond is not a charge, it is an authorisation hold only. The hold will be automatically released once the costume is returned to us in the same condition it was provided. If the costume is returned damaged, incomplete, excessively soiled, not returned at all, or returned late in a way that causes us additional loss, we may capture part or all of the bond and may recover any additional amount properly payable under these terms.

1.3.1. If the bond hold cannot be placed, for example due to insufficient funds or an expired card, we will notify you. The booking may be cancelled if the bond cannot be secured prior to pickup.

1.3.2. Extended Hire Periods. For hire periods longer than 7 days, the security bond hold may need to be re-authorised during the hire period due to bank authorisation limits. This means the original hold may be released and a new hold of the same amount placed on your card. You will not be double-charged. Please ensure your card remains active and has sufficient available funds for the duration of the hire.

1.4. Pricing. Our pricing is dynamic and may vary based on costume availability, demand, preparation requirements, and seasonal factors. The price displayed at the time of booking is the price you pay. All prices are in Australian Dollars (AUD). The Mascoteers is not registered for GST, so no GST is charged.

1.5. Extended Hire. The base booking covers your nominated pickup and return dates. Where the hire period extends beyond a standard week, additional weekly fees of $100 per costume per week apply. No additional bond is required for extended hire periods.

2. Cancellations, Swaps & Refunds

2.1. No refunds on booking fees. As each booking involves costume preparation, cleaning, and the reservation of the costume for your exclusive use, the booking fee is non-refundable once confirmed.

2.2. Cancellation. If you cancel your booking, the booking fee is retained and the security bond hold is released. Due to the nature of costume preparation and the opportunity cost of holding inventory, we are unable to offer refunds on confirmed bookings.

2.3. Character Swaps and Changes. You may request a costume change, subject to availability and approval. The following rules apply:

• The replacement character must be available for your nominated dates.
• If the replacement character is of greater value, you must pay the difference plus any applicable 5% administration fee.
• If the replacement character is of equal or lesser value, no refund is provided. Approved changes may still attract a 5% administration fee.
• If you are only adding extra characters onto the same order and not otherwise changing the booking, we may allow that addition without the 5% administration fee.
• Requests must be made at least 7 days prior to the pickup date unless we approve otherwise.

2.4. Bond Release. Upon safe return of the costume in the same condition, your security bond hold will be released. Please allow up to 7 business days for the hold to clear with your bank, depending on your financial institution.

3. Pickup & Return

3.1. Costumes must be collected from and returned to your nominated pickup and return locations at the times specified in your booking.

3.2. The pickup and return dates and times you select at booking are firm commitments. Late returns may incur additional fees, including direct losses we actually incur because the costume is not available for the next booking or because emergency operational work is required to recover or replace the costume.

3.3. Inspection. We may provide location reference photos and pre-pickup condition photos through your customer order page. We strongly recommend photographing the costume upon collection and again before return. These photos may be used in any bond dispute.

3.4. If the costume is not collected at the agreed time without prior notice, we reserve the right to treat the booking as cancelled, with the booking fee retained and the bond released.

4. Costume Care & Use

4.1. The Hirer is responsible for the care and safe use of the costume for the duration of the hire period.

Wearing Recommendations

• Indoors with air conditioning: No longer than 30 minutes of continuous wear.
• Outdoors or without air conditioning: 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off, 20 minutes on. Do not exceed this rotation without adequate cooling breaks.
• Always have drinking water readily accessible for the wearer.
• We strongly recommend having a designated handler present at all times while the costume is being worn, someone who can assist the wearer, manage interactions with children, and monitor the wearer's comfort.
• Establish a signal between the wearer and handler, such as a tap on the shoulder, to communicate if the wearer needs a break or assistance.
• Designate a safe room nearby where the wearer can remove the costume head, cool down, and hydrate privately.
• Any listed height guidance, fit suggestions, or build recommendations are estimates only. Best fit is usually around the middle of the stated range, but individual body shape, shoulder width, and build can still affect comfort. It is the Hirer's responsibility to choose a suitable wearer, and we are not responsible if the costume does not fit or is uncomfortable for your chosen wearer.

Prohibited Use

• Do not wear the costume outdoors in rain, on wet grass, in mud, sand, or near bodies of water.
• Do not consume food or drink while wearing the costume.
• Do not allow the costume to come into contact with paint, glitter, fake blood, or any substance that may stain or damage the material.
• Do not modify, alter, pin, staple, glue, or attach anything to the costume.
• Do not machine wash or dry clean the costume. If spot cleaning is needed, use a damp cloth only.
• Store the costume in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and pets when not in use.

5. Bond & Damage

5.1. The security bond may be captured in full or in part if the costume is returned with:

• Stains, odours, or soiling beyond what is reasonably expected from normal indoor use.
• Tears, rips, broken zippers, detached components, or structural damage.
• Missing pieces, including heads, gloves, shoes, padding, or accessories.
• Evidence of prohibited use, including water damage, mud, or paint.

5.2. If damage, non-return, theft, or late return causes loss beyond the bond amount, the Hirer is liable for our additional direct losses. These may include the reasonable cost of repair, the replacement cost of the mascot or missing components, and direct booked-income loss we actually incur because the mascot is unavailable for specific existing bookings.

5.2.1. Where practical, we will provide an itemised assessment identifying the relevant loss components, such as replacement cost and affected bookings. We may charge the saved card for additional amounts properly payable under these terms after making that assessment.

5.2.2. The bond is security only and does not cap the Hirer's liability. If the bond is insufficient to cover our additional direct losses, the Hirer remains liable for the balance.

5.3. Normal wear consistent with the recommended usage guidelines is expected and will not result in bond deductions.

6. Assumption of Risk & Liability

6.1. The Hirer acknowledges that mascot costumes restrict visibility, mobility, and ventilation. The wearer assumes all risk associated with wearing the costume, including heat-related illness, restricted vision, trips, falls, and physical discomfort.

6.2. The Mascoteers accepts no liability for any injury, illness, loss, or damage suffered by the wearer, the Hirer, event attendees, or any third party arising from the use of the costume. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
• Falls, collisions, or physical injury due to restricted movement or vision.
• Allergic reactions to costume materials.
• Injury to children or event guests interacting with the costumed wearer.
• Property damage caused while wearing the costume.

6.3. The Hirer is responsible for ensuring the costume is used safely and in accordance with the care guidelines set out in Section 4. We recommend that the wearer is a responsible adult, is physically fit and well, and is supervised at all times.

6.4. It is the Hirer's responsibility to ensure adequate supervision of children at any event where the costume is being worn. The costumed wearer is not a childcare provider.

6.5. The Hirer agrees to indemnify The Mascoteers against any claims, demands, or liability arising from the use of the costume during the hire period.

7. General

7.1. These terms are governed by the laws of Queensland, Australia. Any disputes will be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Queensland.

7.2. Nothing in these terms excludes or limits any consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law that cannot be excluded or limited by law.

7.3. We reserve the right to update these terms from time to time. The terms in effect at the time of your booking apply to your hire agreement.

7.4. By completing a booking, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.

8. Character Identity & Intellectual Property

8.1. Original Characters. All mascot costumes available through The Mascoteers are original entertainment characters created independently. They may be thematically inspired by popular genres, cultural archetypes, or broadly recognised aesthetics. They are not official, licensed, or authorised products of any third-party brand, studio, entertainment company, or intellectual property holder.

8.2. No Affiliation. The Mascoteers makes no claim to any third-party intellectual property. Any perceived visual or thematic similarity to trademarked, copyrighted, or otherwise protected characters is incidental. The use of descriptive or thematic category names on our website (e.g. "animals", "rescue pups", "space heroes") is for customer navigation purposes only and does not imply any affiliation, sponsorship, licence, or endorsement by any rights holder.

8.3. Your Responsibility — Intended Use. The Hirer is solely responsible for ensuring their intended use of any hired costume complies with all applicable laws, including intellectual property laws. The Mascoteers accepts no liability for any intellectual property claims, cease-and-desist notices, infringement proceedings, regulatory action, or any loss suffered by the Hirer or any third party arising from the Hirer's use of the costume. This includes, without limitation:

• Use at commercial events, promotional activities, or brand activations.
• Use at ticketed events, public performances, or events open to the general public.
• Any use where a third party's intellectual property may be alleged to be referenced, implied, or infringed.
• Use in social media content, advertising, photography, or video production for commercial purposes.

8.4. Indemnification. By completing a booking, the Hirer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless The Mascoteers, its officers, and employees against any and all claims, demands, actions, proceedings, losses, damages, costs, and expenses (including legal costs on a full indemnity basis) arising from or in connection with any allegation of intellectual property infringement related to the Hirer's use of the costume.

8.5. Consumer Guarantees. Nothing in this section excludes or limits any guarantee under the Australian Consumer Law that cannot be excluded or limited by agreement.