Legal notice

Legal Policies for Temple1st

 

TERMS OF SERVICE

Effective Date: March 10, 2022
Last Updated: March 10, 2022
Contact: temple1st@outlook.com

1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to Temple1st ("we," "us," or "our"). By accessing or purchasing from our website, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). Please read them carefully before placing an order. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, please do not use our website or services .

These Terms govern your use of our online store, where we offer Tibetan singing bowls, hand-painted Thangkas, Zen objects, incense tools, and selected ritual objects rooted in Eastern craftsmanship.

2. About Us

Temple1st is a curated collection of handcrafted objects rooted in Eastern philosophy and material authenticity.

Business Information:

  • Email: temple1st@outlook.com
  • Response Time: Within 72 hours
  • Shipping Origin: All items are shipped directly from Asia

3. Eligibility

By placing an order, you confirm that:

  • You are at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction)
  • You have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts
  • All information you provide is accurate, complete, and current
  • You are purchasing for personal use, not for commercial resale without prior written consent 

4. Our Products: Handcrafted and Authentic

All items sold by Temple1st are handmade by traditional artisans using authentic materials and time-honored techniques.

4.1 Handmade Policy

Our products fall into two categories :

  • Makers (Artisans): Items physically created by the artisan themselves, entirely by hand or with traditional tools and small-scale equipment.
  • Designers & Curators: Items designed by us in collaboration with artisan workshops, where we maintain creative control and disclose all production partners.

What This Means For You:

  • Each piece is unique—no two items are exactly identical
  • Natural variations in color, texture, pattern, and size are inherent to handcrafted objects
  • These variations are not defects; they are proof of authenticity 
  • Subtle differences may exist between product photos and the actual item received

4.2 Product Descriptions and Availability

We strive to display accurate product details, including descriptions, images, materials, dimensions, and pricing. However :

  • Colors may appear differently depending on your screen settings
  • Natural stone variations, wood grain patterns, and hand-painted details mean each piece is one-of-a-kind
  • Availability depends on our artisans' production schedules and may change without notice
  • We reserve the right to limit quantities or cancel orders if items become unavailable

5. Orders and Acceptance

5.1 Placing an Order

To place an order, you must complete all required information and proceed through our checkout process. You agree to provide valid, current, and accurate information at all times .

5.2 Order Confirmation

After placing an order, you will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your order. This is not an acceptance of your order. A contract between us is formed only when:

  1. We send you an order confirmation email specifically stating your order has been accepted
  2. Full payment has been successfully processed 

5.3 Order Cancellation and Refusal

We reserve the right to refuse or cancel any order at our sole discretion, including but not limited to :

  • Orders that fail fraud prevention checks
  • Orders suspected of being placed in bad faith or for resale purposes
  • Orders where payment information cannot be verified
  • Orders containing items that have become unavailable
  • Orders containing pricing or descriptive errors

If your order is canceled after payment has been processed, we will issue a full refund to your original payment method.

6. Pricing and Payment

6.1 Prices

  • All prices are listed in USD ($) unless otherwise specified
  • Prices include the cost of the item but do not include shipping, customs duties, or import taxes 
  • We reserve the right to adjust prices at any time, but changes will not affect already confirmed orders

6.2 Payment Methods

We accept:

  • Major credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express)
  • PayPal

Payment is processed through secure third-party payment gateways. We do not store your payment information on our servers.

6.3 Taxes and Duties

  • For shipments within China: Applicable taxes are included in the price where required
  • For international shipments: You are the "importer of record" and responsible for all customs duties, import taxes, and handling fees charged by your local authorities upon arrival 
  • These fees are beyond our control and vary by country
  • We cannot predict what charges may apply in your jurisdiction
  • If you refuse to pay customs fees and the package is returned, return shipping costs will be deducted from your refund

7. Shipping and Delivery

7.1 Processing Time

  • Orders are typically processed within 3-7 business days after payment confirmation
  • Handcrafted items may require additional preparation time—this will be noted on the product page

7.2 Shipping Carriers and Times

We ship via international carriers (DHL, FedEx, EMS) depending on destination and package characteristics.

Estimated delivery times after shipment :

  • Asia: 5-10 business days
  • North America: 7-14 business days
  • Europe: 7-14 business days
  • Australia/New Zealand: 10-20 business days
  • Other regions: Varies by location

These are estimates only. We are not responsible for delays caused by carriers, customs processing, or other factors beyond our control .

7.3 Tracking

A tracking number will be provided via email once your order ships.

7.4 Shipping Address

You are responsible for providing an accurate shipping address. If a package is returned due to an incorrect address provided by you, you will be responsible for the cost of reshipping.

7.5 Lost or Damaged Shipments

  • If your package is lost in transit, please contact us immediately. We will work with the carrier to resolve the issue.
  • If your package arrives visibly damaged, please document the damage (photos of the outer packaging and the item) and contact us within 48 hours of delivery.

8. Returns, Refunds, and Exchanges

8.1 Return Policy

Most products offer a 30-day return policy, and the buyer is responsible for the return shipping costs. Special products (thangkas) or custom-made products cannot be returned or exchanged for any other reason except when the product is damaged.

By purchasing from Temple1st , you acknowledge and accept that:

  • Each piece is individually handmade and one-of-a-kind
  • Natural variations are inherent to the materials and craftsmanship
  • These characteristics are part of the object's authenticity and value

8.2 Exceptions

The only exceptions to our no-returns policy are:

  1. Items that arrive damaged (documentation required within 48 hours of delivery)
  2. Items significantly different from what was ordered (e.g., wrong item entirely)
  3. Consumer protection laws in your country that grant mandatory withdrawal rights

If you believe your situation qualifies under one of these exceptions, please contact us within 3 days of delivery.

8.3 EU Consumer Withdrawal Rights

For customers in the European Union, you have a statutory right to withdraw from your purchase within 7 days of receiving the item, without giving any reason . However:

  • The item must be returned in its original, unused condition with all packaging intact
  • Return shipping costs are your responsibility
  • If the item is returned in condition that prevents resale (e.g., worn, altered, damaged), we may deduct an amount from the refund

Important: Given the handcrafted nature of our items, we encourage you to read all product descriptions carefully before purchasing.

8.4 Refund Process (When Applicable)

If a refund is approved:

  • Refunds will be processed to your original payment method
  • Please allow 5-10 business days for the refund to appear in your account, depending on your financial institution
  • Original shipping costs are non-refundable unless the return is due to our error
  • Customs duties and import taxes cannot be refunded by us—you must contact your local customs authority

9. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law :

  • Temple1st is not liable for damages resulting from misuse of products, shipping delays, carrier errors, customs delays, or issues with third-party suppliers
  • We are not responsible for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your purchase or use of our products
  • Our total liability shall not exceed the purchase price paid for the product in question

Some jurisdictions do not allow limitations of liability, so the above limitations may not apply to you.

10. Intellectual Property

All content on our website—including text, graphics, logos, images, product photography, and the name "Temple1st "—is our property or the property of our content suppliers and is protected by international copyright laws.

You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or commercially exploit any content from our site without our express written permission.

11. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of China, without regard to its conflict of law principles .

For EU customers, this does not deprive you of the protection afforded to you by mandatory consumer protection provisions in your country of residence.

12. Dispute Resolution

If a dispute arises between us, we encourage you to first contact us directly at temple1st@outlook.com. We are committed to resolving issues amicably.

If we cannot resolve the dispute informally, you agree that:

  • For consumers, you may bring proceedings in your local courts where mandatory consumer protection laws provide
  • For all other disputes, the courts of China shall have exclusive jurisdiction

13. Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to update or modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of our Site after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms .

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us:

📧 Email: temple1st@outlook.com
📱 WhatsApp/WeChat: +86 19389905108
🕒 Response Time: Within 48 hours