Welcome to Shaatika. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Shaatika mobile application and website at shaatika.in (collectively, the "Service"), operated by Shaatika ("we," "our," or "us"). By accessing or using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use the Service.

1. About the Service

Shaatika is a marketplace platform that connects independent saree shopkeepers ("Sellers") with buyers ("Buyers"). We provide the technology platform and facilitate transactions, but we do not own, produce, or stock the sarees listed on the platform. Shaatika acts as an intermediary between Buyers and Sellers.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age to use the Service. By using the Service, you represent and warrant that you are at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement. If you are using the Service on behalf of a business entity, you represent that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms.

3. Account Registration

• You must register an account to place orders or sell on the platform. Registration requires a valid Indian phone number for OTP verification.
• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account and for all activities that occur under your account.
• You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to update such information to keep it accurate.
• We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that provide false or misleading information.

4. Buyer Terms

4.1 Browsing and Purchasing

You may browse saree listings without an account. To make a purchase, you must be registered and logged in. All prices displayed are in Indian Rupees (INR) and include applicable taxes unless stated otherwise.

4.2 Orders and Payments

• When you place an order, you are making an offer to purchase the saree from the Seller at the listed price.
• The Seller may accept or decline your order. An order is confirmed only when the Seller accepts it and payment is successfully processed.
• Payments are processed securely through Razorpay. By making a payment, you agree to Razorpay's terms of service.
• Payment methods available may include UPI, credit/debit cards, net banking, and other methods as we may add from time to time.

4.3 Delivery

Estimated delivery times are provided as guidance and are not guaranteed. Delivery timelines depend on the Seller's processing time and the delivery partner's availability. For orders within Hyderabad, same-day or next-day delivery may be available through our local delivery partners. Outstation orders are shipped via standard courier services.

Risk of loss for products passes to the Buyer upon delivery to the shipping carrier. Shaatika is not liable for delays, damage, or loss caused by delivery partners, though we will assist in resolving delivery-related disputes. Delivery fees, if applicable, are displayed at checkout before payment.

4.4 Returns and Refunds

• Our return and refund policy will be published separately and displayed at the time of purchase.
• Returns may be accepted for valid reasons such as receiving a damaged product, a product significantly different from the listing, or a wrong product.
• Refunds, when applicable, will be processed to the original payment method within 7–10 business days after the return is approved.
• We reserve the right to refuse returns that do not meet our return policy criteria.

5. Seller Terms

5.1 Seller Registration and Verification

• To sell on Shaatika, you must complete the seller onboarding process, including providing identity verification documents (Aadhaar or PAN) and bank account details for payouts.
• We verify all sellers before granting them "Verified Seller" status. We reserve the right to approve or reject seller applications at our discretion.
• You must provide accurate information about your shop, products, and identity. Misrepresentation may result in immediate suspension.

5.2 Listings and Catalog

• You are responsible for the accuracy of your saree listings, including descriptions, photos, videos, pricing, fabric details, and availability.
• All photos and videos you upload must be of sarees you actually own and have the right to sell. You must not list counterfeit, stolen, or misrepresented products.
• We reserve the right to remove listings that violate these Terms or that we believe are misleading, inappropriate, or of poor quality.

5.3 Orders and Fulfillment

• When a Buyer places an order for your saree, you must accept or decline the order promptly (within 24 hours).
• If you accept an order, you must pack and ship the saree within the timeframe indicated on the platform.
• Repeated order cancellations or failure to fulfill accepted orders may result in penalties, including account suspension.

5.4 Commission and Payouts

• Shaatika charges a commission of 5% on each completed transaction. This commission is deducted from the sale amount before payout.
• Additionally, payment gateway fees (approximately 2%) are deducted by Razorpay from the transaction amount.
• Seller payouts are processed via Razorpay Route to your linked bank account or UPI ID, typically within T+3 business days of order delivery confirmation.
• We reserve the right to hold payouts in case of disputes, chargebacks, or suspected fraud until the matter is resolved.

6. Prohibited Activities

You agree not to:

• Use the Service for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable law or regulation.
• List or sell counterfeit, stolen, defective, or misrepresented products.
• Upload content that is fraudulent, misleading, defamatory, obscene, or infringes on the intellectual property rights of others.
• Manipulate pricing, reviews, or listings to deceive other users.
• Attempt to circumvent the platform to avoid paying commissions (e.g., diverting transactions outside the platform after initial discovery).
• Interfere with the proper functioning of the Service, including through hacking, data scraping, or transmitting malware.
• Create multiple accounts for fraudulent purposes.
• Harass, abuse, or threaten other users, sellers, or Shaatika staff.

7. Intellectual Property

• The Shaatika name, logo, brand elements, app design, and website content are the intellectual property of Shaatika and are protected by applicable laws.
• Sellers retain ownership of the photos, videos, and descriptions they upload. By uploading content, Sellers grant Shaatika a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute such content on the platform and in marketing materials related to the Service.
• You may not copy, reproduce, modify, or distribute any part of the Service without our prior written permission.

8. Limitation of Liability

Shaatika is a marketplace platform and does not manufacture, own, or inspect the products listed by Sellers. Therefore:

• We do not guarantee the quality, safety, authenticity, or legality of products listed on the platform.
• We are not liable for any disputes between Buyers and Sellers regarding product quality, delivery delays, or other transactional issues, although we will make reasonable efforts to mediate disputes.
• To the maximum extent permitted by law, Shaatika's total liability for any claim arising out of or related to the Service shall not exceed the amount of commissions earned by Shaatika from transactions involving the claimant in the 3 months preceding the claim.

9. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or other harmful components. Your use of the Service is at your sole risk.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold Shaatika, its founders, employees, and affiliates harmless from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising out of your use of the Service, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any rights of a third party.

11. Account Termination

• You may delete your account at any time by following the instructions on our Account Deletion page.
• We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, for violations of these Terms, fraudulent activity, or any other reason we deem appropriate.
• Upon termination, your right to use the Service ceases immediately. Any pending orders will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

12. Communication Consent

By creating an account, you expressly consent to receive the following communications from Shaatika:

• Transactional SMS: OTP verification codes, order confirmations, shipping updates, and delivery notifications. These are essential for the Service and cannot be opted out of while you have an active account with pending orders.
• Push Notifications: Order status updates, new arrivals, and promotional announcements. You can manage push notification preferences through your device settings at any time.
• Email: Account-related communications, policy updates, and occasional promotional content. You can unsubscribe from promotional emails at any time.

13. Taxes & Compliance

• All prices displayed on the platform are inclusive of applicable GST unless stated otherwise.
• Sellers are responsible for their own tax compliance, including GST registration and filing, as applicable to their business.
• Shaatika will provide Sellers with transaction summaries and commission invoices to assist with their tax filing obligations.
• Buyers may receive tax invoices for their purchases as generated by the Seller or the platform.

14. Governing Law and Disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of India. Any disputes arising from these Terms or the use of the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Before initiating legal proceedings, the parties agree to attempt to resolve disputes through good-faith negotiation and mediation.

15. Force Majeure

Shaatika shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under these Terms due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, pandemics, government actions or orders, internet or telecommunications failures, power outages, strikes, or civil unrest. In such cases, our obligations will be suspended for the duration of the force majeure event.

16. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated Terms on the Service, updating the "Last updated" date, and sending a notification through the app. Your continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree with the updated Terms, you should stop using the Service and delete your account.

17. General Provisions

• Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Shaatika regarding the use of the Service and supersede any prior agreements or understandings.
• No Waiver: The failure of Shaatika to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision. Any waiver must be in writing and signed by Shaatika.
• Assignment: You may not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent. Shaatika may assign its rights and obligations to a successor entity in the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.
• Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

18. Grievance Redressal

In accordance with the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, if you have any complaints or grievances regarding the Service, you may contact our Grievance Officer:

Grievance Officer: Tejas
Email: tejas@shaatika.in
Location: Hyderabad, Telangana, India

We will acknowledge your complaint within 48 hours and endeavour to resolve it within 30 days of receipt.

19. Contact Us

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

Shaatika
Email: support@shaatika.in
Location: Hyderabad, Telangana, India