TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. About RetroVases

Welcome to RetroVases.

These Terms and Conditions apply to the use of our website and to purchases made through our online store.

RetroVases is established in the Netherlands and sells curated vintage and pre-owned ceramics, glass, lighting, decorative objects and other collectible items.

Our webshop is powered by Shopify. Shopify provides the technical ecommerce platform, but all sales agreements are concluded directly between the customer and RetroVases.

By placing an order with us, you agree to these Terms and Conditions, together with our Privacy Policy, Shipping Policy and Return & Refund Policy.

Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes any mandatory rights you have under applicable consumer law.

2. Our products

Most products offered by RetroVases are vintage, pre-owned and unique.

Because of their age and previous use, vintage items may show normal signs of age, wear, manufacturing irregularities, patina or other characteristics consistent with their age and history.

We make every reasonable effort to describe each product accurately and to disclose relevant damage, repairs, chips, cracks, restoration, wear or other condition issues known to us.

Photographs form part of the product description.

Colors may appear slightly different depending on your screen, device or display settings.

Normal age-related characteristics and condition issues that were clearly disclosed before purchase are not considered defects or non-conformities.

Where dimensions are provided, small differences may occur because measurements are taken manually.

Because most of our products are unique, only one example is usually available.

3. Product information and prices

We provide the material information necessary for customers to make an informed purchasing decision, including where applicable the product's maker, material, dimensions, approximate age or production period, condition and price.

Prices shown to consumers include applicable VAT where required by law, unless clearly stated otherwise.

Shipping charges and any other additional charges are shown separately before the customer completes the order.

For shipments outside the European Union, import duties, local taxes, customs charges or handling fees may apply unless we expressly state that these charges are prepaid.

The customer is responsible for such charges where they are not included in the order price.

We reserve the right to correct obvious pricing, typographical or product-information errors. If an error affects an order already placed, we will contact the customer before proceeding whenever required by law.

4. Orders and formation of the contract

Products displayed in our online store constitute an invitation to place an order.

By submitting an order, the customer makes an offer to purchase the selected product or products.

After an order has been placed, the customer will receive an electronic order confirmation.

The sales agreement is concluded when we accept the order.

We reserve the right to refuse or cancel an order where there is a legitimate reason to do so, for example if:

• the product is unexpectedly unavailable;
• an obvious pricing or technical error has occurred;
• payment has not been successfully completed;
• fraud or unauthorized payment is suspected;
• delivery to the requested destination is not reasonably possible.

If we cancel an order after payment has been received, all amounts paid for that cancelled order will be refunded.

Because most of our items are unique, availability may occasionally change before our systems are fully updated.

5. Payment

Payment must be made using one of the payment methods offered during checkout.

The customer must provide accurate and complete billing and payment information.

Payments may be processed by Shopify Payments, PayPal or other payment service providers offered through our checkout.

Payment information may therefore also be processed according to the privacy and security policies of the relevant payment provider.

6. Shipping and delivery

We ship from the Netherlands to the destinations shown during checkout.

Available shipping methods, delivery charges and estimated delivery times are displayed before the customer completes the order.

Delivery times are estimates unless we have expressly agreed a fixed delivery date.

Unless another delivery period has been agreed, goods will be delivered without undue delay and no later than 30 days after the sales agreement has been concluded. EU rules require delivery within 30 days unless another period has been agreed.

Delays may occur because of customs clearance, carrier disruption, weather, public holidays or circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

If delivery is delayed, your statutory rights remain unaffected.

Risk during transport

For consumer orders, RetroVases bears the risk of loss or damage during delivery until the goods have been physically received by the customer or by a third party designated by the customer.

If the customer independently arranges a carrier that was not offered by RetroVases, different statutory rules may apply. EU consumer rules place transport risk on the seller where the seller arranges the carrier.

7. Right of withdrawal and 30-day return policy

Consumers purchasing online have a statutory right to withdraw from the purchase within 14 days after receiving the goods, without giving a reason.

RetroVases voluntarily extends this return period to 30 days after receipt of the order, subject to our Return & Refund Policy.

Customers wishing to return an item must notify us within this 30-day period.

After exercising the statutory right of withdrawal, EU consumers have 14 days to return the goods.

Unless the item is damaged, defective, not as described or the wrong item was supplied, return shipping costs are always paid by the customer.

For a full cancellation of an order, the original standard delivery charge will be refunded where required by law. If the customer selected a more expensive delivery method, we are only required to refund the cost of the standard delivery method.

We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the returned goods or until the customer provides proof that the goods have been sent back, whichever occurs first. These rules are consistent with ACM guidance on withdrawal, return shipping and refunds.

Our full return terms are set out in our Return & Refund Policy.

8. Handling returned vintage items

Returned products must be handled with reasonable care.

Customers may inspect an item only to the extent reasonably necessary to establish its nature, characteristics and functioning.

If a customer handles or uses a product beyond what is reasonably necessary and this causes a reduction in value, we may deduct an appropriate amount for that loss in value where permitted by law.

Because many RetroVases products are fragile and unique, customers are strongly advised to use secure packaging and tracked and insured return shipping.

9. Damaged, incorrect or non-conforming products

Customers should inspect the order after delivery and contact us as soon as reasonably possible if an item:

• arrived damaged;
• is defective;
• differs materially from its description;
• is not the product ordered.

For shipping damage, we may ask for photographs of:

• the damaged item;
• the shipping box;
• internal packaging materials;
• the shipping label;
• visible damage to the parcel.

Customers should retain all packaging until the matter has been resolved.

If an item is legally non-conforming, the customer's statutory remedies apply.

Necessary return or remedy-related costs for damaged, defective or non-conforming goods will not be charged to the consumer where applicable consumer law requires us to bear them.

10. Legal guarantee and conformity

All consumer purchases are covered by mandatory statutory conformity rights.

A product must possess the qualities that a consumer may reasonably expect, taking into account all relevant circumstances, including:

• the product's age;
• whether it is new or second-hand;
• the purchase price;
• the description;
• photographs;
• disclosed condition;
• normal characteristics of comparable vintage goods;
• any information specifically agreed before purchase.

If a product does not conform to the sales agreement, the consumer may be entitled to an appropriate legal remedy, such as repair, replacement, price reduction or termination and refund, depending on the circumstances and what is reasonably possible.

Because many RetroVases products are unique vintage objects, replacement with an identical item will often be impossible. Where replacement is not reasonably possible, another appropriate statutory remedy may apply.

Statutory remedies are provided without charge where required by law.

Second-hand goods sold by a professional trader remain covered by statutory consumer protection.

Nothing in these Terms restricts these statutory rights.

11. Unique vintage goods

The customer acknowledges that many products are decades old and may differ from modern mass-produced goods.

Minor manufacturing irregularities may include variations in glaze, bubbles in glass, kiln marks, tool marks, uneven surfaces, minor color differences or other production characteristics.

Such characteristics are not considered defects when they are normal for the production method, age or type of product and have been described or are reasonably to be expected.

Any significant known condition issue will be disclosed in the listing where reasonably identifiable.

12. Lighting and electrical vintage products

Vintage lighting and electrical items may have been manufactured according to standards applicable at the time of production.

Customers should check whether electrical vintage products are suitable for the electrical system and applicable requirements in the country where they will be used.

Where appropriate, we recommend inspection or installation by a qualified electrician before use.

Nothing in this section excludes or limits any statutory consumer rights or legal obligations that cannot lawfully be excluded.

13. Cancellations before dispatch

If you wish to cancel an order before it has been shipped, please contact us as soon as possible.

We will make reasonable efforts to stop dispatch.

This does not affect a consumer's statutory right of withdrawal.

14. Intellectual property

Unless otherwise stated, website content created by RetroVases, including original product photographs, descriptions, text, logos, graphics and design elements, is owned by or licensed to RetroVases and is protected by applicable intellectual-property laws.

Content may not be copied, reproduced, republished or commercially exploited without permission, except where legally permitted.

Third-party product names, designer names and trademarks remain the property of their respective owners and are used only for identification and descriptive purposes.

15. Reviews and user content

If you voluntarily submit a review, photograph or other content to RetroVases, you confirm that you have the right to submit that content.

We may display legitimately obtained customer reviews in our webshop and marketing materials, subject to applicable privacy, consumer-protection and intellectual-property laws.

Reviews imported from previous sales platforms may be identified as historic or platform-originating reviews where appropriate.

We do not knowingly publish fabricated reviews or materially alter the meaning of customer reviews.

16. Third-party services and links

Our website may contain links to or integrations with third-party services, including payment providers, shipping providers, review services and social-media platforms.

We are not responsible for the content or independent operation of third-party websites.

Use of those services may also be governed by the third party's own terms and privacy policies.

17. Shopify

RetroVases is powered by Shopify, which provides the ecommerce platform that enables us to offer our products and services online.

Purchases made through our store are transactions directly between the customer and RetroVases.

Shopify is not the seller of RetroVases products.

18. Privacy

Personal information is processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data-protection law, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Shopify and other service providers may process personal information where necessary to provide ecommerce, payment, shipping, analytics or other services.

Please see our Privacy Policy for further information.

19. Errors and availability

Despite our efforts, our website may occasionally contain typographical errors, technical errors, incorrect prices or inaccurate availability information.

We may correct such errors.

If an error materially affects an order already placed, we will inform the customer and comply with applicable consumer law when resolving the situation.

20. Liability

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where such exclusion or limitation is prohibited by law.

In particular, nothing in these Terms limits mandatory consumer rights relating to:

• conformity of goods;
• product safety;
• fraud;
• intentional misconduct;
• gross negligence where liability cannot lawfully be excluded;
• death or personal injury where liability cannot lawfully be excluded;
• other statutory rights that cannot be waived.

To the extent permitted by law, RetroVases is not liable for indirect or consequential losses that were not reasonably foreseeable when the sales agreement was concluded.

21. Complaints

If you have a complaint, please contact us so that we have the opportunity to resolve the matter.

Email: info@retrovases.com
Telephone: +31 6 30030596
Postal address: Steeg 66, 5975 NP Sevenum, The Netherlands

We aim to respond to complaints within a reasonable period.

Any mandatory statutory rights concerning complaints or dispute resolution remain unaffected.

22. Governing law and consumer jurisdiction

These Terms and contracts concluded with RetroVases are governed by Dutch law.

If you are a consumer residing in another EU or EEA country, this choice of law does not deprive you of mandatory consumer protection that applies to you under applicable law.

Nothing in these Terms limits a consumer's right to bring proceedings before a competent court available under applicable consumer and jurisdiction rules.

23. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time, for example following changes in our services or applicable law.

The version applicable to an order is the version that was available when the order was placed, unless mandatory law requires otherwise.

Changes will not retroactively reduce statutory rights already acquired under an existing consumer contract.

24. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect to the extent permitted by law.

25. Contact and business information

Questions about these Terms can be sent to:

V.O.F. Retro Vases
Trading name: RetroVases
Steeg 66
5975 NP Sevenum
The Netherlands

Return address:
Steeg 66
5975 NP Sevenum
The Netherlands

Email: info@retrovases.com
Telephone: +31 6 30030596
Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK): 65163249
VAT number: NL856003839B01