1. Section Scope & Legal Intent
2. Mandatory Standards & Operating Requirements
All participants subject to this policy must strictly adhere to the following mandatory standards:
- Return shipping costs are allocated based on cause: if return is due to seller error or defect (INAD), the seller pays 100% of return shipping.
- If return is due to buyer remorse or change of mind, the buyer bears the return shipping cost and may be subject to a maximum 15% restocking fee.
- Merchants have 48 hours upon physical receipt of the returned parcel to complete technical inspection and confirm refund release.
3. Explicit Prohibitions & Violation Triggers
The following actions constitute direct non-compliance and trigger automatic intervention by the Warning and Violation System:
- Charging buyers return shipping or restocking fees when the delivered item was defective, damaged, or counterfeit.
- Imposing exorbitant restocking fees exceeding the platform maximum 15% ceiling.
- Failing to confirm or dispute returned parcels within 48 hours of warehouse delivery.
4. Warning & Violation System Enforcement Matrix
Each violation under this section is mapped directly to the automated warning and sanction ladder:
| Violation Code | Offense Description | Detection Method | Severity Tier | Cure Window | Mandatory Sanction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VIOL-384-01 |
Deducting restocking fee from buyer refund on verified defective or INAD return. | Refund Reconciliation Audit | Tier 3 (High) | 24 Hours | Immediate full reimbursement of deducted fee, 1 Strike Point. |
VIOL-384-02 |
Seller failing to inspect returned parcel within 48h carrier receipt window. | Return Tracking Delivery Telemetry | Tier 1 (Notice) | None | Automated full refund released to buyer from seller escrow balance. |
VIOL-384-03 |
Assessing restocking fee higher than platform 15% statutory cap. | Refund Ledger Validator | Tier 2 (Moderate) | 24 Hours | Excess deduction reversed, administrative warning issued. |
5. Platform Safe Harbor & Limitation of Liability
Platform Intermediary Status: ePaisay provides the technological marketplace venue connecting independent counterparties. ePaisay is not a vendor, retailer, agent, or guarantor of any product, service, or transaction governed herein.
Total Disclaimer of Warranties: The platform disclaims all warranties of merchantability, fitness for particular purpose, and non-infringement to the fullest extent permissible by applicable law.
Limitation of Damages: In no event shall ePaisay, its officers, directors, or employees be liable for incidental, indirect, punitive, or consequential damages. Aggregate liability is strictly capped at the lesser of $100 USD or platform fees paid in the preceding three months.
Participant Indemnification: The participant agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless ePaisay against any third-party claims, regulatory penalties, legal fees, or damages arising out of violations of this Section.