Terms of service
Terms & Conditions
Effective Date: 1st September 2025
Last Updated: 1st September 2025
Welcome to Chai Society ("we", "us", "our"). These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern your use of our website [Chai Society], your purchase of products from us, and any related services we provide.
By accessing our website or placing an order, you agree to these Terms. Please read them carefully before proceeding.
1. Company Details and Contact Information
Trading Name: Chai Society Legal Form: Sole Proprietorship
Email: info@chaisociety.co.za
2. Acceptance of Terms
By browsing, using our website, or placing an order, you confirm that:
·You have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms.
·You are at least 18 years of age or have legal capacity to enter into contracts.
·You are purchasing for personal use and not for unauthorised resale.
·We may amend these Terms from time to time, and the updated version will apply from the date of publication on our website.
3. Product Descriptions and Availability
·We make every effort to ensure that product descriptions, images, and prices are accurate;
however, variations in colour, packaging, or appearance may occur due to natural ingredients or supplier changes.
·All products are subject to availability. If an item is out of stock after you place an order, we will notify you and offer a refund, replacement, or store credit.
·We reserve the right to limit quantities and discontinue products without notice.
4. Pricing and Payment
·All prices are listed in South African Rand (ZAR) and include VAT where applicable.
·Payment is processed securely via Payfast. We do not store your card details.
·Orders will only be processed once payment has been received and cleared.
·We reserve the right to correct pricing errors at any time.
5. Delivery Policy
·We use The Courier Guy for deliveries within South Africa.
·Estimated delivery timeframes are 2–5 working days from dispatch (excluding weekends and public holidays).
·Delivery costs are calculated at checkout and depend on your location.
·Tracking information will be provided once your order is dispatched.
·Delays may occur due to factors outside our control, including courier delays, strikes, or adverse weather.
6. Returns and Refunds
Our Returns and Refund Policy is aligned with the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) and the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (ECTA).
·Online purchases may be cancelled within 7 (seven) calendar days of receiving the goods, provided they are unopened, unused, and in their original packaging. You will be responsible for all courier and related costs in returning such goods to us.
·For perishable goods such as tea, edible items, and other food products, we do not accept returns once the packaging has been opened, for health and hygiene reasons.
·We may, at our discretion, accept returns of non-defective goods that are unopened and in a resalable condition, but this is not an automatic entitlement.
·Defective perishable goods may be returned within the earlier of the product’s expiry/best-before date or the reasonable period allowed under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA). If found to be defective, we will repair, replace, or refund the product, unless the defect resulted from misuse, neglect, or failure to follow storage instructions.
7. Intellectual Property
·All content on our website, including text, graphics, logos, product images, and designs, is the property of Chai Society or its licensors and is protected by South African copyright and trademark laws.
·You may not copy, reproduce, modify, distribute, or use any content without our prior written consent.
8. Limitation of Liability
To the extent permitted by law:
·Chai Society will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of our website or purchase of our products.
·Our liability for defective goods is limited to replacement, repair, or refund as set out in our Returns Policy.
·While we select reputable third-party service providers (including Payfast for payment processing,
The Courier Guy for deliveries, and Shopify for hosting), we do not control their operations and are not responsible for any delay, error, loss, or damage caused by their acts or omissions.
This includes, but is not limited to, payment delays or failures, delivery delays or losses, and service outages.
·Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where such exclusion or limitation is not permitted by South African law, including under the Consumer Protection Act.
9. Indemnity
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Chai Society, its owner, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including legal fees) arising out of or in connection with:
·Your breach of these Terms.
·Your misuse of our products.
·Any violation of applicable laws by you.
10. Force Majeure
We will not be held liable or responsible for any failure to perform, or delay in performance, of any of our obligations caused by events outside our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, strikes, civil commotion, pandemics, natural disasters, and interruptions to courier or payment services.
11. Warranty Disclaimer
Except as required under the Consumer Protection Act, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, regarding our products, including but not limited to their merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or durability.
12. Age Restrictions
You must be at least 18 years old to place an order on our website. If you are under 18, you may only do so with the involvement and consent of a parent or guardian.
13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any disputes will first be referred to mediation or arbitration in South Africa before court proceedings, unless urgent relief is required.
You agree that the Magistrates’ Court of Pretoria, South Africa, will have jurisdiction to hear any matter arising from or in connection with these Terms, and you consent to this jurisdiction, even if the claim would otherwise exceed the monetary jurisdiction of the Magistrates’ Court.
14. Consumer Protection Act Compliance
All transactions on this website are conducted in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act, 68 of 2008 (CPA). Nothing in these Terms is intended to limit or waive any rights you may have as a consumer under the CPA.
15. Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding these Terms, please contact us at:
Chai Society – Customer Care
Email: info@chaisociety.co.za