Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using Shopes.co.uk ("the Service", "our platform", "we", "us"), you ("the user", "you") accept and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and all applicable laws and regulations. These terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Shopes Limited.

If you do not agree with any part of these terms, you must not use our service.Your continued use of the platform constitutes acceptance of any updates to these terms.

2. Service Description

Shopes is a UK-based visual shopping discovery platform that connects users with products from various online marketplaces, with a primary focus on eBay integration. Our services include:

Important: We operate as an intermediary service and do not sell products directly. All transactions are conducted through third-party retailers (primarily eBay). We are not responsible for the fulfilment, quality, or delivery of products purchased through external platforms.

3. eBay Integration & Policies

3.1 eBay Policy Compliance

By using our service, you acknowledge and agree to comply with:

• eBay User Agreement: All eBay terms and conditions apply to transactions conducted through their platform
• eBay Privacy Policy: eBay's data handling practices govern information collected during transactions
• eBay Prohibited Items Policy: We do not display or facilitate access to prohibited items
• eBay Intellectual Property Policy: All product listings respect intellectual property rights

3.2 eBay Developers Program Compliance

As developers integrated with eBay APIs via the eBay Developers Program, we are required to:

• Subscribe to eBay marketplace account deletion/closure notifications and process them accordingly
• Maintain secure HTTPS endpoints to receive account deletion notifications from eBay
• Promptly remove user data associated with deleted eBay accounts from our systems
• Comply with all data retention and deletion requirements as specified by eBay Developer policies
• Adhere to eBay API usage policies and rate limiting requirements
• Maintain current developer program membership and compliance status

3.3 Third-Party Service Integration

Our platform integrates with additional third-party services to enhance functionality:

• Google Services: OCR (Optical Character Recognition) for image text extraction and AI services for product analysis
• GDPR-Compliant Hosting: All data is hosted on infrastructure that meets UK GDPR and data protection requirements
• Strict Compliance: All third-party services are used strictly in accordance with their terms of service and our legal obligations

4. UK Consumer Rights

4.1 Consumer Rights Act 2015

While we don't sell products directly, when you purchase through retailers via our platform, you retain all rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, including:

• Right to receive goods that are of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described
• Right to reject faulty goods within 30 days for a full refund
• Right to repair, replacement, or partial refund for goods that develop faults

4.2 Distance Selling Regulations

For online purchases made through our platform, you have:

• 14-day cooling-off period to cancel most purchases without giving a reason
• Right to clear information about the seller and product before purchase
• Right to confirmation of your order and delivery arrangements

5. User Accounts

To access certain features of our Service, you may create an account. Account creation is optional but enables personalised features and saved preferences.

5.1 Account Responsibilities

When creating an account, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
• Maintain and promptly update your account information
• Keep your password secure and confidential
• Accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorised use of your account

5.2 Account Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your account. However, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials.

6. Acceptable Use

You agree to use our Service responsibly and in accordance with these terms and all applicable laws.

6.1 Prohibited Activities

You agree not to:

• Violate any applicable UK or international laws or regulations
• Infringe upon intellectual property rights of any party
• Upload, transmit, or distribute malicious content or malware
• Use automated systems (bots, scrapers) to access the service without explicit permission
• Engage in any fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading practices
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to our systems or other users' accounts
• Interfere with or disrupt the service or servers connected to the service
• Use the service for any commercial purpose without our written consent

7. Data Protection & Privacy

7.1 Data Collection & Processing

We collect and process personal data only for legitimate purposes and with appropriate legal basis:

• Service Provision: To provide and improve our shopping discovery services
• Personalisation: To offer tailored product recommendations and search results
• Communication: To respond to inquiries and provide customer support
• Legal Compliance: To comply with eBay policies and UK legal requirements

7.2 Your Data Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

• Access your personal data and receive a copy
• Rectify inaccurate or incomplete data
• Erase your data ("right to be forgotten")
• Restrict processing of your data
• Data portability
• Object to processing based on legitimate interests

8. Third-Party Services

Our platform integrates with various third-party services to provide comprehensive shopping experiences.

8.1 eBay Integration

Our primary integration is with eBay's marketplace. When you interact with eBay listings through our platform:

• You are subject to eBay's terms of service and privacy policy
• Transactions are processed directly by eBay and the seller
• We are not responsible for transaction disputes or issues
• eBay's buyer protection policies apply to your purchases

8.2 Other Third-Party Services

We may integrate with other retailers and service providers. Each has their own terms and policies which govern your interactions with their services.

9. Intellectual Property

The Service and its original content, features, and functionality are owned by Shopes Limited and are protected by UK and international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property laws.

9.1 Our Content

Unless otherwise indicated, all content on our platform, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, images, and software, is the property of Shopes Limited or our licensors.

9.2 Third-Party Content

Product images, descriptions, and other content from eBay and other retailers remain the property of their respective owners. We display this content under appropriate licensing agreements.

10. Liability & Disclaimers

10.1 Service Disclaimers

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind. We disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to:

• Merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose
• Non-infringement of third-party rights
• Accuracy, completeness, or reliability of content
• Uninterrupted or error-free service operation

10.2 Limitation of Liability

Subject to UK consumer protection laws, our liability is limited to the maximum extent permitted by law. We shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages.

11. Termination

Either party may terminate this agreement at any time. We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service immediately, without prior notice, for conduct that violates these Terms.

11.1 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your right to use the Service ceases immediately
• We may delete your account and associated data
• Provisions regarding liability, indemnification, and dispute resolution survive termination

12. International Users

12.1 Cross-Border Considerations

International users should be aware of the following:

• Currency & Pricing: All prices displayed are in GBP (British Pounds) unless otherwise specified
• Shipping & Customs: International shipping costs, customs duties, and import taxes are the buyer's responsibility
• Consumer Rights: Your local consumer protection laws may provide additional rights beyond those outlined in these Terms
• Payment Methods: Available payment methods may vary by country and region
• Language: Our service is provided primarily in English

12.2 Regional Compliance

12.3 Service Limitations

Please note that certain features or services may not be available in all countries:

• Geographic Restrictions: Some eBay listings may not ship to certain countries
• Payment Processing: Payment methods may be limited based on your location
• Customer Support: Support hours are based on UK time zones (GMT/BST)
• Legal Compliance: Users are responsible for compliance with their local laws

13. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of our Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales, except where prohibited by mandatory local law.

13.1 International Dispute Resolution

For international users, we recognize that local consumer protection laws may provide additional dispute resolution options:

• EU Users: May use the European Commission's Online Dispute Resolution platform
• Other Jurisdictions: Local consumer protection agencies and ombudsman services may be available
• Mediation: We encourage direct contact and mediation before formal legal proceedings

14. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated through:

• Prominent notice on our website
• Email notification to registered users
• Updated "Last modified" date on this page

Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

15. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, data protection inquiries, or general support: