Movie Memorabilia Specialists - The Monster Company

Frequently Asked Questions and Help on using the site.

We understand that our customers have questions from time to time about the items for sale / purchase or about the website itself. Hopefully we have answered a few of the most common ones that are asked below. If we have not answered your question then please feel free to contact us.

Where does The Monster Company obtain its movie stocks / merchandise from?

The memorabilia items shown are from an existing collection or have been purchased from distributors, dealers, retail outlets or from private collectors.

How often are new items added to the website?

New merchandise items are entered on a monthly basis in the New Items section and after a short period of time, are then allocated to their relevant category.

Are all your products / items on the website?

We would love to have an up to date Monster Company website with all the items on at all times. Unfortunately (fortunately), we have vast amounts of stock and it is physically impossible to list / picture every product and upload these to the site. Along with this, items constantly come in and are being sold straight out the door of our Monster Store and on occassion do not even get an opportunity to get onto the website. We would suggest to let us know your interests / your stock wants list, and we will endeavour to let you know if these come in and are availble as we do with customers. The Monster Company tries to provide an interesting cross section of items that we feel represent the breadth and depth of stocks. We offer a free electronic list (e-list of stock) which we are able to send via email. Printed lists are available upon request and for a fee of £5 to cover printing and postage costs, this is refunded on any subsequent order thereof over £30.

How do I find the item I am looking for?

Enter key a word (product description, movie, company name etc) of the item you are looking for in the Search facility found within the navigation bar in the top left of the screen of each page.

Alternatively you may want to search using the categories and the sub categories provided in the products section.

If the item you are looking for eludes you then please do not hesitate to contact us using the enquiry form, email david@themonstercompany.co.uk or by giving us a telephone call, on 0115 846 9790 (mail order hotline) or 0115 950 5055 at our Store.

How do I buy an item from the website?

Click on the ‘add to basket’ button next to the product, you have an option to carry on shopping or if you wish can click onto the ‘basket’ button found in the navigation bar at the top of the page to view all your items. Postage / shipping is calculated at this point.

When you have finished shopping, go to your basket and click onto "go to checkout". You will then be prompted to fill in your customer information, which will be transferred to us.

How do I buy an item from the website offline?

If you are without online payment capability and would like to pay with with an alternative means (e.g. postal orders, personal cheque, or to provide card details offline), then give us a call 0115 846 9790 or international dialling ++ 44 115 846 9790, email or send a letter and we can effectively deal with your order from there.

How much is shipping?

Prices for shipping are supplied with the product details and are dependent on total weight of any such order and where it is being sent to in the world. For shipping rates to parts of the world that are not quoted for (do not appear on the drop down list of countries), then please contact us and we will be happy to supply you with this information. On multiple orders, you will automatically qualify for a progressively better postal rate which will be given along with other shipping options and services available. If however you feel the shipping charge to be incorrect / too expensive, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will double check this value / seek the optimum shipping service for you and respond back. We constantly aim to uphold and to supply a very fair postage and packaging rate.

Is the item you are sending insured?

Yes indeed, all items are insured to the value you (the customer) choose at the point of sale. The shipping types vary and insurance values should equate to or be above, the value of your order. Liability for loss / damage is limited to the amount chosen by the customer at the shopping basket (time of purchase) from the drop down shipping options. All parcels are packaged safely and securely to a very high standard.

How can I pay?

Payment for all items can be made using credit / debit cards held on a secure site with Secure Hosting (www.securehosting.com) or telephoning us directly and are then processed locally. All payments by cheque, bank (wire) transfer or postal orders, must be made by contacting us in the first instance by phone or at The Monster Company. Paypal payments are accepted to a maximum product value including the shipping of £40 (forty pounds). If transactions are unable to processed, we will notify you of this via email or telephone. If you wish to continue with this order, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Are there any payment plans available?

Yes indeed we have plans and are flexible to work them in with your payment schedule. Please contact us to learn about the full details of our payment plans.

Is my personal information kept secure and private?

Yes it is, we hold your private details with the utmost discretion and courtesy and under NO circumstances are they shared with third parties. All credit / debit card details are held securely and safley by Secure Hosting (www.securehosting.com) and then processed and destroyed locally (unless notified otherwise by you the customer) by The Monster Company straight after any such transaction.

Can you locate merchandise items from my favourite films, characters, movie stars and Television Series?

If we do not have the item that you are looking for in stock then please feel free to use our requests form or to use our contact telephone numbers. We will try and endeavour to find it for you using our database and network of contacts within the market.

Do you buy single memorabilia items / collections?

The Monster Company is continually interested in acquiring film merchandise from the smallest of items to entire collections / warehouse stocks. Please contact us if you think that you may have pieces for our consideration and we can discuss your requirements.

How do I know if the production made / screen used props are authentic?

Each item is researched prior to listing on The Monster Company website, to the point where we are 100% confident to supply it, complete with a lifetime money back guarantee with a Certificate of Authenticity (C.O.A.). We are members of the Movie Props Association, an independent body which regulates and oversee's the providers of proprietary collectables.

Are production made / screen used props or costumes always "one of a kind"?

Usually multiples are made of all principle / background props and costumes. This depends on the film and can be for a variety of production and continuity reasons. Props can be made in a variety of different variations. It may be a "hero" or "beauty" prop for close up shots, or lightweight / alternative medium for stunt and safety work. Some props might have functionality to them; perhaps they move or light up. Different versions may be produced to formulate each separate task required of it. There is always risk of wear / damage whilst filming, which is another reason to produce multiple numbers.

What is the Movie Props Association?

The Movie Props Association (M.P.A.) is a group of dealers / collectors of original props and wardrobe items used in the production of Films and T.V. shows. These members adhere to certain values / standards in the items that are sold and the manner we deal with our customers. MPA members are always monitored to ensure that they continue to operate within the policies and goals of the M.P.A. Their website can be found on the links page of The Monster Company site or go to www.moviepropsassociation.org .

What are those policies and goals?

1. M.P.A. members are here to help, and if you are looking for an item that an MPA member does not have, or if you have any other question about props or wardrobe pieces, they will try to help. If the member knows someone who has the item you are looking for they do their utmost to inform you. If the member does not know the answer to any questions, they will do their best to put you in touch with someone who will. Collecting should always be fun and M.P.A. members should always be able to help.

2. The M.P.A. has zero tolerance for people who misrepresent items as being the "real thing" / “original” when they are merely replicas. This type of practice is not only fraudulent and immoral but only harms the prop market. Without some degree of trust the whole hobby is tarnished.

3. The M.P.A. do not condone the trade of stolen props since this is also detrimental to collecting. Nobody wants to buy something only to have a studio reclaim it as stolen property.

4. If the M.P.A. knows of any dealers or collectors who have misled people in any way the M.P.A. will ensure that to warn others since we all have to protect the interest of the hobby.

Simply put the M.P.A. believes in always dealing within an ethical manner. If someone wants to buy a prop or costume from their favourite film, or used by their favourite guest star, they want to feel confident that the item really is as described. Buying from an MPA member is all about knowing that the item is backed up by a guarantee that the item is genuine.

Guarantees / certificates of authenticity (C.O.A.) by an M.P.A. member.

All sales are final so please be sure that you (the customer) is satisfied about any and all queries before any such sale. If however at any point during the life-time of the prop / wardrobe item it is questioned upon its authenticity, the dealer / seller will use resources, knowledge and help of the M.P.A. to help investigate the item. If it is proven by an independent expert (e.g. a reputable auction house such as Christies, Sotheby's, Butterfields etc) that the item "was not made for the production of a movie / T.V. series" then the dealer / seller will offer a refund or an exchange of the full transacted amount. This is the sole remedy of any such claim. If however it is proven to be authentic then the customer is liable for all charges relating to any such investigation (The dealer / seller is not responsible for any charges involving any such investigation).

If you (the customer) have a query relating to a production made / screen used prop purchased from The Monster Company, please do not hesitate to contact us in the first instance and we will effectively deal with the enquiry.