I. Membership and Verification

1. Vendor Eligibility
   All boutique shop owners must reside in the United States or U.S. territories. Vendors are required to provide accurate personal and business information during registration.

2. Verification Requirement
   Before a shop becomes active, vendors must complete the verification process located under the “Get Verified” tab in the dashboard. This helps maintain platform integrity and consumer trust.

II. Product Listings

1. Item Standards
   Only fashion-related items (clothing, shoes, and accessories) in new or like-new condition may be listed. Descriptions must be accurate, complete, and include clear, original photographs of the actual product. Items must be cleaned as per items instructions prior to selling and delivery of item(s)

2. Item Approval
   New members’ listings are reviewed by the Thrift Boutiques team prior to going live. Items that do not meet quality or policy standards may be rejected. 

3. Prohibited Items
   The sale of counterfeit, illegal, misrepresented, or unauthorized items is strictly prohibited. Items must comply with all applicable federal and state laws.

4. High-End and Branded Items
   Products bearing luxury or designer brand names must include proof of authenticity. Unauthorized replicas and use of brand names in promotional materials without affiliation are not permitted.

III. Selling Protocols

1. Transparency and Accuracy
   Sellers must disclose all product details, including flaws, sizing, or special conditions. All items must be properly categorized and tagged.

2. Original Content
   Use of copyrighted or watermarked images from other retail sites is prohibited. Sellers must use their own images for every listing.

3. Listing Integrity
   Improperly tagged items or those listed in incorrect categories may be removed. Continued violations may result in shop suspension or removal.

4. Shipping and Handling
   Vendors are solely responsible for packaging and shipping their sold items in a timely and professional manner. Shipping costs and timelines are determined by the vendor.

IV. Payment and Fees

1. Commission-Free Sales
   Vendors keep 100% of their sales. Thrift Boutiques does not charge posting fees or commission.

2. Third-Party Payment Gateway
   All transactions are processed through Stripe Express, an external payment service. Payment processing fees and related expenses are managed by Stripe and are separate from Thrift Boutiques.

3. Fee Allocation
   Boutique owners decide whether to absorb or pass on transaction and shipping fees to customers.

V. Returns, Refunds, and Disputes

1. All Sales Are Final
   Unless otherwise stated by the vendor, purchases are non-refundable and non-returnable. Customers are responsible for reading item descriptions prior to purchase.

2. Dispute Resolution
   Vendors and customers are encouraged to resolve disputes directly. If unresolved, Thrift Boutiques offers mediation and reserves the right to enforce its policies accordingly.

3. Reporting Issues
   Concerns regarding fraud or policy violations may be reported through the platform. Reports are reviewed promptly and appropriate action will be taken.

VI. Branding and Intellectual Property

1. Platform Branding
   The Thrift Boutiques name, TB Designs, and associated logos are trademarked and may not be used without written permission.

2. Fashion Brand Use
   Sellers are not allowed to falsely affiliate or advertise third-party brand names. Use of brand names is permitted only in listing titles, item descriptions, and appropriate brand category tags for accurately labeled items.

VII. Promotions and Marketing

1. Shop Promotion Tools
   Vendors may create and manage their own sales, discounts, and coupon codes through the dashboard.

2. Social Media Integration
   Sellers are encouraged to share shop and product links directly from their storefront to promote traffic and customer engagement.

3. Community Engagement
   Featured and annual members gain access to “Fashion Talks,” a live vendor forum discussing current trends, selling strategies, and networking opportunities.

VIII. Website Use and Platform Maintenance

1. Platform Availability
   Thrift Boutiques strives to maintain 99.9% uptime. Scheduled maintenance will be announced in advance. Unexpected outages will be addressed and communicated promptly.

2. Content Usage
   All platform content, including vendor listings and images, is protected under intellectual property law. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

3. Termination of Service
   Thrift Boutiques reserves the right to suspend or terminate any account that violates these terms, local laws, or disrupts platform operations.

IX. Legal and Liability

1. Seller Responsibility
   Vendors are fully liable for all claims, damages, and legal responsibilities related to the products they sell.

2. Indemnification
   By using this platform, vendors agree to indemnify and hold Thrift Boutiques harmless from any claims, losses, or liabilities arising from their activity on the platform.

3. Jurisdiction
   All disputes or legal actions will be governed by the laws of the state in which Thrift Boutiques operates.

X. Policy Updates

Thrift Boutiques reserves the right to update or modify these terms and policies at any time. Vendors will be notified of significant changes via email or platform announcements. Continued use of the platform signifies agreement to the revised terms.

For any questions, concerns, or feedback, please contact our support team support@thriftboutiques.com. 

Thank you for being part of the Thrift Boutiques community.