General Terms and Conditions – Bookish Things & Stories

Article 1 – Definitions

In these General Terms and Conditions, the following definitions apply:

  • Seller: Bookish Things & Stories, located in Enschede, the Netherlands.
  • Customer: Any natural person or legal entity entering into an agreement with Bookish Things & Stories.
  • Consumer: A customer acting for purposes outside their trade, business, or profession.
  • Products: All handmade book accessories and other products offered by Bookish Things & Stories.

Article 2 – Applicability

  1. These General Terms and Conditions apply to all offers, orders, and agreements concluded through the Bookish Things & Stories webshop.
  2. By placing an order, the Customer agrees to these Terms and Conditions.
  3. Any deviations from these Terms and Conditions are only valid if agreed upon in writing.

Article 3 – Products

  1. Many of our products are handmade. As a result, slight variations in colour, finish, size, pattern, or materials may occur.
  2. Such minor variations are considered normal and do not constitute a defect or grounds for a refund, replacement, or cancellation.

Article 4 – Formation of the Agreement

  1. An agreement is concluded once the Customer has placed an order and the payment has been successfully received.
  2. Bookish Things & Stories reserves the right to refuse or cancel an order in cases of obvious errors, suspected fraud, incorrect pricing, or incomplete customer information.

Article 5 – Prices and Payment

  1. All prices are displayed in Euros (€).
  2. Consumers must pay immediately using one of the payment methods available in the webshop, including PayPal.
  3. Business customers will receive an invoice payable within 14 days, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
  4. Late payments by business customers may result in statutory interest and collection costs.

Article 6 – Shipping and Delivery

  1. Orders will be shipped as soon as reasonably possible.
  2. Delivery times are estimates and are not guaranteed.
  3. Delays caused by postal services or circumstances beyond our control do not entitle the Customer to compensation or cancellation.
  4. The Customer is responsible for providing a complete and correct shipping address. Additional shipping costs resulting from incorrect address details may be charged to the Customer.

Article 7 – Right of Withdrawal (Consumers)

  1. Consumers have the legal right to withdraw from the purchase within 14 days after receiving their order, unless a legal exception applies.
  2. Returned products must be unused, complete, and, where reasonably possible, in their original packaging.
  3. Return shipping costs are the responsibility of the Customer unless applicable law provides otherwise.
  4. The refund will be processed only after the returned products have been received and inspected.

Article 8 – Returns and Exchanges

  1. All items included with the original order must be returned when requesting a refund or exchange.
  2. This includes accessories, packaging, promotional items, and any free gifts supplied with the order.
  3. If any items are missing, damaged due to improper handling, or intentionally kept by the Customer, Bookish Things & Stories reserves the right to reduce the refund accordingly or refuse the return.
  4. Products showing signs of use beyond what is necessary to inspect the item may be subject to a reduction in the refund, as permitted by law.

Article 9 – Use and Wear

  1. Products are intended for normal personal use.
  2. Normal wear and tear, fading, scratches, damage caused by improper use, accidents, or prolonged use are not covered by warranty.
  3. Products that have been used for an extended period cannot be returned or refunded simply because they show signs of normal use.

Article 10 – Warranty

  1. Bookish Things & Stories guarantees that the products conform to the agreement and comply with applicable legal requirements.
  2. Any defects or shipping damage should be reported as soon as possible, preferably within seven (7) days of delivery, including clear photographs.
  3. The warranty does not apply to damage resulting from misuse, negligence, modifications, repairs carried out by the Customer, or normal wear and tear.

Article 11 – Complaints

  1. Complaints should be submitted via the contact details provided by Bookish Things & Stories.
  2. Every complaint will be handled within a reasonable timeframe.
  3. Customers must provide Bookish Things & Stories with a reasonable opportunity to resolve the issue before seeking any further remedy.

Article 12 – Liability

  1. The liability of Bookish Things & Stories is limited to the amount paid for the relevant product.
  2. Bookish Things & Stories shall not be liable for indirect, consequential, incidental, or special damages, including loss of profit or business interruption.
  3. Nothing in these Terms excludes liability where such exclusion is prohibited by applicable law.

Article 13 – Force Majeure

  1. Bookish Things & Stories shall not be liable for delays or failure to perform its obligations due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control.
  2. Force majeure includes, but is not limited to, illness, transport disruptions, natural disasters, fire, government measures, strikes, pandemics, war, supplier failures, or other unforeseen events.

Article 14 – Intellectual Property

  1. All designs, product concepts, photographs, texts, logos, illustrations, branding, and other content created by Bookish Things & Stories remain the exclusive intellectual property of Bookish Things & Stories.
  2. No part of this content may be copied, reproduced, distributed, published, or used commercially without prior written permission.

Article 15 – Privacy

  1. Personal data is processed in accordance with applicable privacy legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
  2. Customer information is used solely for processing orders, customer service, legal obligations, and business administration.
  3. Personal data will never be sold to third parties.

Article 16 – Retention of Title

  1. Ownership of products remains with Bookish Things & Stories until full payment has been received.
  2. In the case of business customers, Bookish Things & Stories reserves the right to reclaim products if payment has not been made in full.

Article 17 – Collection Costs

  1. Business customers who fail to pay on time shall be responsible for all reasonable judicial and extrajudicial collection costs.
  2. Collection costs for consumers shall be charged only in accordance with applicable Dutch law.

Article 18 – Governing Law and Jurisdiction

  1. These Terms and Conditions and all agreements between the Customer and Bookish Things & Stories are governed exclusively by the laws of the Netherlands.
  2. Any disputes shall be submitted to the competent Dutch court, unless mandatory law requires otherwise.

Article 19 – Severability

If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be replaced with one that most closely reflects its original intent.

 

Article 20 – Personalised and Made-to-Order Products

  1. Products that are personalised, customised, or made specifically to the Customer's specifications cannot be cancelled, returned, exchanged, or refunded once production has started.
  2. This includes, but is not limited to, products featuring custom text, colours, designs, or other personalised elements.
  3. This provision does not affect the Customer's statutory rights where a personalised product is faulty or does not conform to the agreement.

Article 21 – Product Colours and Images

  1. Bookish Things & Stories makes every reasonable effort to display product colours and images as accurately as possible.
  2. However, colours may vary depending on the Customer's screen settings, monitor, mobile device, browser, and lighting conditions.
  3. Minor differences between the product photographs and the actual product shall not be considered defects and do not constitute grounds for a return, exchange, or refund.

Article 22 – Incorrect Shipping Information

  1. The Customer is responsible for providing a complete and accurate shipping address.
  2. If an order cannot be delivered due to incorrect or incomplete address information provided by the Customer, any additional shipping, handling, or return costs shall be borne by the Customer.
  3. Bookish Things & Stories is not responsible for delays or failed deliveries resulting from incorrect address information.

Article 23 – Uncollected Parcels

  1. If a parcel is returned to Bookish Things & Stories because it was not collected from a pickup point or was refused by the Customer, the Customer remains responsible for the original shipping costs and any return shipping charges.
  2. If the Customer wishes the order to be shipped again, additional shipping costs must be paid before the parcel is resent.
  3. If the Customer requests a refund instead of reshipment, the refund will be issued for the products only. Shipping costs and any costs incurred due to the returned parcel may be deducted from the refund where permitted by law.

Article 24 – Shipping Liability

  1. Once an order has been handed over to the selected postal or courier service, Bookish Things & Stories is no longer responsible for delays caused by the carrier.
  2. Bookish Things & Stories will assist the Customer in filing an investigation or claim with the shipping carrier where appropriate.
  3. Nothing in this Article limits the Customer's statutory rights under applicable consumer protection laws.

Article 25 – Promotions, Discounts and Gift Cards

  1. Promotional offers, discount codes, and sales are valid only during the stated promotional period and cannot be applied retrospectively.
  2. Unless otherwise stated, only one discount code or promotional offer may be used per order.
  3. Gift cards cannot be exchanged for cash and may not be resold.
  4. If an order purchased using a discount code or during a promotional sale is returned, the refund will be limited to the amount actually paid by the Customer.
  5. Products purchased during a sale or promotional event will be refunded at the discounted purchase price only. The original non-discounted retail price will not be refunded.
  6. If returning part of an order means that the Customer no longer qualifies for a promotion or discount, Bookish Things & Stories reserves the right to recalculate the order total and adjust the refund accordingly.

Article 26 – Handmade Products and Craftsmanship

  1. Many of the products sold by Bookish Things & Stories are handmade or finished by hand. As a result, every item is unique and may vary slightly from product photographs or previous orders.
  2. Minor variations in colour, pattern, texture, stitching, engraving, placement, finish, size, or other handcrafted details are a natural characteristic of handmade products and are not considered defects.
  3. Natural materials may contain unique markings, grain patterns, fibres, or other characteristics that contribute to the individuality of each product. These natural variations do not affect the quality or functionality of the product.
  4. Small imperfections that do not affect the intended use, durability, or overall quality of the product are considered part of the handmade nature of the item and do not entitle the Customer to a refund, replacement, or compensation.
  5. Product photographs are provided for illustrative purposes. While Bookish Things & Stories makes every effort to represent products accurately, each handmade item may differ slightly from the images shown.
  6. Customers acknowledge that they are purchasing handcrafted products and accept the natural variations that accompany handmade craftsmanship.

Article 27 – Copyright and Commercial Use

  1. All products, designs, artwork, illustrations, patterns, photographs, logos, product names, descriptions, and other creative content produced by Bookish Things & Stories are protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights.
  2. Customers may not copy, reproduce, scan, trace, modify, manufacture, distribute, sell, or commercially exploit any design or product created by Bookish Things & Stories without prior written permission.
  3. Purchasing a product does not transfer any intellectual property rights to the Customer.
  4. Bookish Things & Stories reserves the right to take legal action against any unauthorised commercial use, copying, or reproduction of its products or designs.