Terms and Conditions

1.1 Operational Scope: Garnets operates as a multi-tenant digital marketplace intermediary providing technology infrastructure, payment processing pipelines, escrow settlement services, and vendor syndication tools. We do not act as the outright seller of goods listed by third-party purveyors unless explicitly specified in the product listing metadata.

1.2 Binding Acceptance: Accessing any route within the `garnets.com` domain, creating a buyer profile, or executing an authentication handshake via our identity provider constitutes absolute acceptance of these Terms. If you do not agree to every clause, you must immediately cease all use of our infrastructure.

1.3 Regulatory Modifications: Garnets reserves the sole and unilateral right to amend, update, or revise these terms at any time to reflect statutory shifts, cryptographic protocol improvements, or logistical enhancements. Continued utilization of our services following the publication of revised terms constitutes legally binding ratification.

2.1 Rigorous KYC & AML Compliance: All prospective vendors must complete comprehensive Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) verification before obtaining write access to the `/vendor/*` workspace. Vendors warrant that all documentation, business licenses, and tax identification numbers submitted during onboarding are authentic and active.

2.2 Gemological Authenticity Warranties: Purveyors listing loose gemstones, precious metals, or artisan jewelry guarantee that all items are 100% genuine and correspond precisely to listed physical attributes (including carat weight, clarity, cut grade, and mineral origin). Treatments, heat enhancements, or lab-created origins must be prominently disclosed in the primary listing specification.

2.3 Kimberly Process & Ethical Sourcing: Vendors strictly covenant that all rough and polished diamonds or precious garnets listed on the platform comply with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) and applicable international conflict-mineral regulations. Violation of ethical sourcing mandates will result in immediate tenant revocation and permanent asset freezing.

3.1 Contract of Sale: When a buyer initiates a checkout workflow and submits payment, a binding contract of sale is formed directly between the buyer and the specific merchant purveyor identified on the line item. Garnets acts as the authorized payment collection agent and dispute moderator.

3.2 Right of Inspection: Buyers are entitled to a strict 14-day inspection period commencing from the verified carrier delivery timestamp. If a gemstone or artisanal piece fails to conform to certified gemological reports or listing specifications, the buyer may initiate an escrow freeze and request a verified return authorization.

3.3 Customs, Duties & Import Taxes: For international cross-border transactions, the buyer acknowledges full responsibility for all municipal import duties, value-added taxes (VAT/GST), and customs clearance fees levied by the destination jurisdiction unless expressly marked as DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) at checkout.

4.1 Cryptographic Escrow Pipeline: To ensure absolute transaction security, all gross buyer payments processed via credit cards, bank wire transfers, or M-Pesa mobile money are held in an insulated, interest-free banking escrow account managed by Garnets Trust Services.

4.2 Vendor Settlement Release:Capital is released from escrow to the vendor's designated settlement account only upon the satisfaction of two sequential conditions: (a) confirmed carrier delivery tracking via integrated logistics webhooks, and (b) expiration of the 14-day buyer inspection window without an active dispute lodging.

4.3 Chargeback & Dispute Arbitration: In the event of a contested transaction or chargeback filing, Garnets assumes primary arbitration authority. Both vendor and buyer agree to submit all gemological certifications, unboxing video logs, and carrier proof-of-delivery signatures within 72 hours of dispute notice. The arbitral determination rendered by Garnets Legal Concierge is final and binding on all parties.

5.1 Platform IP Ownership: All underlying software architecture, design systems, visual tokens, proprietary algorithms, and databases comprising the Garnets storefront and vendor workspace remain the exclusive intellectual property of Garnets Global Marketplace Technologies Ltd.

5.2 Merchant License Grant: By uploading product photography, brand logos, and gemological descriptions, vendors grant Garnets a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to display, syndicate, and market such assets across our global storefronts and promotional channels.

5.3 Random Authenticity Audits:Garnets reserves the right to conduct unannounced, independent physical gemological audits on inventory listed by any vendor. If an audited gemstone is found to be synthetic, treated without disclosure, or misrepresented in carat weight, the vendor's account will be permanently terminated and liquidated to compensate affected buyers.

6.1 Disclaimer of Warranties:The Garnets infrastructure is provided strictly on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis without implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. We do not guarantee uninterrupted platform uptime or absolute immunity from network transmission delays.

6.2 Liability Cap: Under no legal theory, tort, or contractual claim shall Garnets, its directors, or affiliates be liable for any indirect, punitive, incidental, or consequential damages arising from lost profits or carrier delays. Our total cumulative liability in any dispute shall not exceed the net platform transaction commissions retained by Garnets on the contested order.

6.3 Governing Law & Jurisdiction: This Agreement shall be governed, construed, and enforced in accordance with international commercial arbitration standards and the laws of our primary commercial incorporation jurisdiction, without giving effect to conflict of law principles. Any irreconcilable legal action shall be adjudicated exclusively by binding arbitration.