Terms of Service

Welcome to Makers Nest! These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the Makers Nest platform at makersnest.ca (the "Platform"), operated by Makers Nest Inc. ("we", "us", "our").

By using our Platform, you agree to these Terms. If you don't agree, please don't use our services.

1. Who Can Use Makers Nest

To use Makers Nest, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in your province)
• Be a resident of Canada (for sellers)
• Provide accurate and complete registration information
• Maintain the security of your account credentials

You're responsible for all activity that occurs under your account.

2. What Can Be Sold

Makers Nest is a marketplace for handmade goods only. To sell on our Platform:

Allowed Items

• Items you personally make or significantly hand-alter
• Items made by your immediate team/employees under your direction
• Vintage items (20+ years old) that you personally source
• Craft supplies for other makers

Prohibited Items

• Mass-produced or factory-made goods
• Dropshipped items
• Resold retail goods (unless vintage)
• Weapons, drugs, or illegal items
• Counterfeit or trademark-infringing goods
• Items that violate intellectual property rights
• Adult/explicit content
• Live animals
• Recalled or hazardous products

3. Seller Obligations

As a seller on Makers Nest, you agree to:

• Accurately describe your items, including materials and dimensions
• Use your own photos (not stock images or others' photos)
• Fulfill orders within stated processing times
• Communicate promptly with buyers
• Honor your listed prices and policies
• Collect and remit applicable taxes
• Maintain valid payment information
• Complete maker verification and maintain your verified status

Porch Pickup Responsibilities

When offering porch pickup:

• Provide accurate pickup location and hours
• Ensure items are ready at the scheduled time
• Package items safely for transport
• You are responsible for the item until the buyer confirms receipt via QR code scan

4. Buyer Obligations

As a buyer on Makers Nest, you agree to:

• Provide accurate payment and contact information
• Pay for items you commit to purchasing
• Pick up porch pickup orders within the agreed window
• Communicate honestly with sellers
• Not abuse the dispute or review systems

5. Fees and Payments

Seller Fees

Current fee structure (subject to change with notice):

• Listing fees: Free (up to plan limits)
• Commission: 0% on porch pickup (all tiers), 5-9% on shipped orders depending on your plan
• Payment processing: 2.9% + $0.50 per transaction

See our Pricing page for current rates.

Payment Processing

• Payments are processed through Stripe
• Funds are held until buyer confirms receipt (porch pickup) or delivery is confirmed (shipping)
• Standard payout is within 7 days of confirmation
• We reserve the right to hold funds in cases of disputes or suspected fraud

6. Disputes and Refunds

Buyer-Seller Disputes

We encourage buyers and sellers to resolve issues directly first. If that fails:

1. Buyer opens a dispute within 14 days of delivery/pickup
2. Seller has 3 days to respond
3. If unresolved, Makers Nest will review and make a binding decision

Refund Policy

• Items not as described: Full refund (seller covers return shipping if applicable)
• Items damaged in transit: Full refund from seller
• Buyer's remorse: At seller's discretion per their shop policies
• Custom orders: Non-refundable once production begins (unless defective)
• No-show for porch pickup: After 48 hours, seller keeps payment

7. Intellectual Property

You retain ownership of your content (photos, descriptions, etc.) but grant us a license to use it to operate and promote the Platform.

You may not use Makers Nest trademarks without permission. We respect intellectual property and will respond to valid DMCA notices.

8. Account Suspension and Termination

We may suspend or terminate accounts that:

• Violate these Terms
• Sell prohibited items
• Fail maker verification or are found misrepresenting handmade status
• Engage in fraud or abuse
• Receive excessive buyer complaints
• Violate applicable laws

We'll provide notice when possible, but reserve the right to act immediately in serious cases.

9. Limitation of Liability

Makers Nest is a platform connecting buyers and sellers. We are not party to transactions and do not guarantee:

• Quality, safety, or legality of items
• Truth or accuracy of listings
• Ability of sellers to sell or buyers to pay
• That sellers will complete transactions

To the maximum extent permitted by law, our liability is limited to the fees you've paid us in the past 12 months.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Makers Nest from claims arising from your use of the Platform, your content, your transactions, or your violation of these Terms.

11. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be communicated via email or Platform notification at least 30 days before taking effect. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

12. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of British Columbia, Canada. Any disputes will be resolved in the courts of British Columbia.

13. Contact

Questions about these Terms? Contact us:

• Email: [email protected]
• General Support: [email protected]