APN African Marketplace — Returns & Refunds Policy

At APN African Marketplace, we strive to deliver exceptional quality in every piece of authentic African fashion, handmade craft, and cultural asset we ship. We understand that sometimes an item may not fit perfectly or meet your expectations. Because our inventory spans from standard clothing items to delicate, handcrafted, or unique masterpieces, our return guidelines are structured to balance customer satisfaction with the preservation of artisanal craft. This policy is fully compliant with the consumer protection laws of the State of Iowa and the United States federal trade frameworks.

1. The 14-Day Return Window

We offer a 14-day return window from the date of delivery verification.

• Eligibility Period: You have exactly 14 calendar days from the day your package is marked as "Delivered" by the carrier (e.g., USPS) to request a return portal authorization.
• Expiration: Requests initiated after the 14-day window has closed will automatically be deemed ineligible for a refund or store credit.

2. Condition Requirements for Returns

To protect our brand and ensure hygiene standards for premium apparel, items sent back must fulfill the following strict criteria:

• Unworn & Unaltered: Apparel must be entirely unworn, unwashed, and free from any alterations, tailoring adjustments, or damages.
• Pristine Presentation: Items must be completely free of human or pet hair, body odors, perfumes, cosmetics, or deodorant stains.
• Original Packaging: All original designer tags, traditional labels, and original protective packaging materials must be fully intact and attached to the item.

Defect Exceptions: If an item arrives with an inherent manufacturing defect, please refer to Section 5 below immediately.

3. Strict Non-Returnable & Final Sale Items

Due to the custom nature, hygiene regulations, or limited availability of certain cultural artifacts, the following items are strictly non-returnable and final sale:

• Custom-Tailored Apparel: Any garments made, altered, or specifically adjusted to user-provided body dimensions (including high-end tailored executive suits or custom traditional bridal attire).
• Marked "Unique Piece": Items explicitly designated as a "Unique Piece" or "One-of-a-Kind" in the global catalog.
• Clearance & Discounted Stock: Any item purchased at a discount of 30% or higher, or explicitly marked as "Final Sale" on the checkout page.
• Hygiene Sensitive Products: Items under categories such as Bath & Beauty, infant products, or hair accessories.

4. Return Shipping & Restocking Protocols

• Shipping Fees: Customers are responsible for all return shipping costs. APN African Marketplace does not provide free return labels unless the return is a direct result of an internal error on our part (e.g., wrong item or wrong size shipped).
• Restocking Assessment: All eligible returns are subject to a 10% restocking fee to cover manual quality inspections, data re-logging, and sanitization formatting. This fee will be automatically deducted from your final refund amount.
• Secure Transit Recommendation: We highly advise shipping your return using a trackable courier service (like USPS or UPS Ground) and purchasing shipping insurance. APN African Marketplace is not responsible for return packages that are lost, intercepted, or damaged during return transit to our hub.

5. Damaged, Defective, or Incorrect Shipments

We maintain strict quality control checking protocols at our facility in Des Moines, Iowa. However, if your package suffers severe transit mishandling or an incorrect product is delivered:

• Reporting Deadline: You must report the damage or incorrect item within 48 hours of delivery verification.
• Required Evidence: Send an official email to Apnafricanmarketplace@gmail.com including your order number, a brief description of the issue, and clear, high-resolution photographs of both the damaged product and the exterior shipping packaging.
• Resolution: Upon verification, our team will issue a pre-paid return shipping label and prioritize a rush replacement shipment or clear a full 100% refund at no additional cost to you.

6. Refund Processing Lifecycle

Once your return package arrives at our central storefront warehouse, it enters our administrative processing cycle:

• Inspection Window: Our warehouse team will thoroughly inspect the product condition within 3 to 5 business days of arrival.
• Approval/Denial Notification: You will receive an automated notification email via our system portal alerting you whether your return has been approved or rejected based on Section 2 conditions.
• Financial Reversal: Approved refunds will be issued directly back to the original payment method utilized during checkout via our secure Stripe network.
• Bank Processing Timelines: While our system processes the refund instantly upon approval, credit card companies and banking institutions typically take an additional 5 to 10 business days to post the credit to your financial statement.

7. Direct Channel Policy Isolation (External Marketplaces)

This Return & Refund Policy governs transactions completed strictly on our proprietary portal domain (apnafricanmarketplace.com).

• TikTok Shop & Amazon Orders: If your purchase was initiated or finalized through TikTok Shop or Amazon Seller Center, you cannot return the item through our independent portal.
• Platform Dominance: All external channel sales are entirely restricted to the automated return labels, algorithmic mediation timelines, and corporate dispute mechanisms embedded within those specific third-party applications. We cannot view, override, or refund transactions outside our direct Stripe database.

8. How to Initiate a Return Order

To return an eligible product, please follow these steps:

1. Log into your account on the APN customer dashboard portal.
2. Navigate to your Order Profile, select the item you wish to return, and submit an authorization request.
3. Once authorized, package the item securely alongside your print receipt document.
4. Ship the package to our verified administrative headquarters address below:

For further assistance, clear up clarifications, or direct logistics validation, connect instantly via our digital portals or chat live with our technical support team at Lerony Co. Ltd using our interactive interface tools.