The most frequent question. 

First, it depends on what shipment option you chose.

Second, except for soft packers, the FTM Cock Sock, FTM Cock Strap, FTM Cock Sock no band, FTM Cock Strap no band, FTM Pouch, FTM STUD, FTM U-Tube are CUSTOM made items that do not exist in their finished form until a request for any of these items are paid for. They take time to make.

Example: One FTM Cock sock takes an average of 15 minutes for The Gear Guy to make from prep to finished sewing then time to cut out respective label with care instructions, packaging and printing of shipping labels. Then the time it takes to arrive.

Think about the time it will take to make items for the the guy who wanted 12 FTM Cock Socks with the 2+2 PMOC special! Common occurrence

All waistband sizes up to 6X were carefully researched by the Gear Guy and are based on popular brands of men's underwear.

Each size waistband from extra small to 6 extra large, has been measured from those popular brands styles then averaged because each brand varies slightly in length, albeit very slightly.

Those are the markings on the measuring table that the Gear Guy uses when he cuts each length of elastic by hand. In fact, the lengths he cuts are a little generous in length instead of smaller.

Yes and No.

First, lets' be clear - all these items are worn close to the genitalia. Asking to send something back that you wore next to your junk is just gross.

Second, if the item has a waistband, it is your responsibility to submit a size that is based on the size men's underwear you wear. Never guess. You cannot be physically seen to be measured so don't ask The Gear Guy to know what size you are.

The answer is Yes if it can be determined that the fault was ours, not yours and that you never wore them. Then an item or items can be sent back for a replacement to be made. If you don't want a replacement and all conditions have been met, a refund will be issued less shipping.

The answer is No if the item has been worn even just once!

What the signs are

Red flags - What happens to an item when it's been worn or used:

• Elastic will change in texture and shape

• Pouches will be stretched out both in the body and the backside lip

• The shaft opening will have increased in diameter.

  • The opening made in the FTM Cock Sock©  & FTM Pouch©  are easily stretched to accommodate any packer. When sent the sewn in shaft opening is only as wide as a penny or slightly larger. The shaft of any packer is much wider.

  • The opening made in the FTM Cock Strap©  is easily stretched to accommodate any packer. When sent the shaft opening a slit is 1.5" long (approx 4 cm) and either has no width or a width of 1/8 of an inch - it has two bar tacking stitches on each end of the slit to prevent the opening from expanding vertically. The shaft of any packer is much wider and will stretch out the opening.

• Regarding the FTM STUD©  or FTM U-Tube©  - Urine is acidic by nature. It will score or discolor the plastic in the receptacle and will have an iron smell (like a multi-vitamin) or your unique funk that you often can't smell because you are used to it. Rest assured, the Gear Guy has a nose like a blood hound - freakishly sensitive to smells.

No and to keep prices low, there never will be one.

Yes.

The Gear Guy is open to ideas but many changes and upgrades have already been made to items throughout the years and just about any improvement that could be thought of has been implemented by him.

If it's on a recently introduced item, go for it or a way to help a packing devise work better with the FTM STUD, bring it on! If you have a great fabric in mind that might work well for it's sweat wicking properties, tell him and offer send him samples! Hell, if you want a specific fabric used for your items and have it on hand or are willing to buy it and send it, he'll be happy to keep it on hand and use it for your items whenever you re-order - every single time!

But, to be honest, most people who have suggestions, TELL The Gear Guy how to improve something, not suggest; they go about it the wrong way.

In these cases, it's usually done so with an insulting or derogatory undertone, not respectful or suggested tactfully. It's more of an "I know what is better, you don't" and not be able to back it up.

Asking if one may suggest something is the best way. Unsolicited advice is often not received well by anyone, especially if it's attacking something about them or something they do.

Examples of the wrong way:

• Most people who think they know how to make something created by The Gear Guy, better, don't often know what they are talking about. Most have never used a sewing machine, have no idea what a buttonhole stitch is and why or where it's used or even what a #3 zig-zag stitch  is and why it's better to use on one part of a pouch and not another part, which a #4 zig-zag stitch would work best on or why.

• Saying that a fabric used is inadequate.. Rest assured, much thought as well as trial and error, have gone into what type of fabric works best for what application. Some fabrics simply do not work well or at all because they may fray, have no stretch or fall apart in the dryer (certain lycra's) as they age. 

Most all improvements that the Gear Guy didn't think of himself, were suggested by respectful input from people who have used many of the items offered for years.

Think about it; if these items sucked, why would they be around for so long? Transguys talk, within email groups, support groups in their cities, personal websites...if The FTM Cock Sock©, FTM Cock Strap©, ect...were substandard, you'd hear about it. And there wouldn't be guys coming back year after year after year!

Last, the others who have come and gone over the last few years, ripped off the FTM Gear you see on this site, changing the designs just enough to not get sued. They had no original ideas of their own because The Gear Guy thought of them first! Then protected the designs.

Examples

The Packy Pocket? A blatant rip off of the FTM Cock Sock - they have never once answered any emails.

A semi-popular sex toy company, that caters to FTM's, sells a plagiarized FTM Cock Strap© design! Interesting, huh? FYI: A buyer for that company contacted the gear guy in 2006 asking for a sample of the FTM Cock Strap© to supposedly become a distributor. A sample was sent to them then miraculously, a slightly changed version of the FTM Cock Strap© shows up on their site and he never heard from them again. Do they make it themselves? Did they show the design to someone they know then commission them to start making a ripped off design? Who can say but they were clever enough to change his design just enough to skirt the law. If they hadn't gotten a black FTM Cock Strap as a sample then suspicion would not be as profound.

One former gear user tried to strong arm the gear guy into making him a partner several years back.

Rest assured that when the next site pops up and starts selling FTM packing items, and there will be more, they got their idea from the FTM Packing Gear site!

The Quality ORIGINAL FTM packing gear you and others have been enjoying or soon will be, have been around a long time, not just months or a couple of years.  And the designs featured here were NOT plagiarized from another person's design.

Mexico - not so much worst, meaning Transmen there, it's just their customs people steal so much from incoming packages, people rarely get what they order from the states or anywhere, for that matter. Seems that if the customs worker logging in the package thinks it's valuable or something he or she likes, they just open the package and take it home, keeping it or selling it.

Personal note from the Gear Guy: I would love to send one of my favorite cigars to my friend in Mexico but can't; it would be stolen and he'd never get it. He told me he rarely gets anything he orders and ha stopped even trying.