APN African Marketplace — Shipping Policy

Welcome to APN African Marketplace. We take immense pride in bringing authentic African fashion, premium tailored apparel, handmade crafts, and unique cultural heritage items to a global audience. Because many of our items are handcrafted, delicate, or built to custom specifications, our fulfillment processes are designed to guarantee that your pieces arrive safely and securely. Please read this comprehensive Shipping Policy carefully before placing an order on our portal. By completing a purchase on our website, you agree to the terms, timelines, and responsibilities outlined below.

1. Fulfillment Framework & Item Classification

To ensure clear communication, APN African Marketplace classifies inventory into two distinct logistical categories. The processing time for your order depends entirely on the types of items purchased:

Note: If an order contains a mix of Ready-to-Ship and Handcrafted items, the entire package will ship together once the handcrafted items are fully finalized, unless prior arrangements are made with our team.

2. Domestic Shipping Layout (United States)

All domestic orders are coordinated, packed, and dispatched directly from our central headquarters facility located at 3015 Merle Hay Road, Suite 9, Des Moines, IA 50310, USA. We partner with primary domestic carriers, primarily utilizing the United States Postal Service (USPS) and other trusted premium couriers to ensure dependable delivery.

Domestic Delivery Options & Timelines

The delivery timeframes listed below apply after the order has completed its respective processing window (as defined in Section 1):

3. International Shipping Infrastructure

APN African Marketplace is fundamentally a global link, and we proudly offer international shipping to clients worldwide. Whether you are ordering premium fashion or heritage decor, we ensure your cultural assets safely navigate global transits.

A. Global Transit Timelines

• Estimated Delivery: International shipments typically take between 7 to 21 business days to arrive, depending entirely on the destination country, local postal networks, and international customs clearance protocols.
• Tracking Accessibility: All international shipments are assigned an end-to-end international tracking code, allowing you to monitor your package from our Des Moines hub until it reaches your doorstep.

B. Customs, Duties, and Import Taxes

• Customer Responsibility: International recipients are solely responsible for any import duties, customs clearance fees, VAT, or local taxes levied by the destination country's government.
• Policy on Refusal: APN African Marketplace does not pre-calculate or collect these fees. If a customer refuses a package due to unexpected import fees, the original shipping costs and any return shipping fees charged to APN will be deducted from any potential product refund.

4. Real-Time Tracking & Portal Notifications

We believe in absolute visibility throughout the lifecycle of your order. Our digital infrastructure, engineered and maintained daily by Lerony Co. Ltd, features a completely self-contained, internal order-tracking portal.

• Email Confirmations: Instantly upon completing a secure checkout transaction via Stripe, you will receive an automated Order Confirmation Email containing an itemized summary of your purchase.
• Tracking Status Updates: The moment our fulfillment team packages your order and registers it with the shipping carrier, our database updates your order profile. You will receive an automated Shipping Notification Email containing a secure link to your customer tracking portal.
• Portal Actions: Within your personal dashboard on our website, you can view your real-time internal status tracking across three major phases:
  • Processing: Your item is being verified, packaged, or undergoing artisanal crafting.
  • Shipped: The package has been handed over to the carrier and is in transit.
  • Delivered: The courier has verified drop-off at your specified address.

5. Delivery Verification, Stolen Packages, & Lost Shipments

To protect the value of our high-end fashion lines and delicate craftsmanship, we enforce strict guidelines regarding delivery safety:

• Address Accuracy: Customers must double-check and verify their full shipping address before finalizing a payment. APN African Marketplace cannot be held liable for packages delivered to incorrect, incomplete, or outdated addresses provided by the user.
• High-Value Delivery Safeguards: For elite shipments (such as custom premium suits or delicate heirloom decor over a certain value), APN reserves the right to require a Signature Confirmation upon delivery at no extra cost to the buyer. This eliminates the risk of unattended porch thefts.
• Stolen Packages: If a package is marked as "Successfully Delivered" by the carrier's tracking data but you cannot locate it, please contact your local postal branch immediately. APN African Marketplace cannot replace or refund items that have been verified as delivered to the requested address by the carrier.

6. Separated Channels Disclaimer (TikTok Shop & Amazon Marketplace)

APN African Marketplace maintains a distinct separation between direct purchases made on our independent web portal (apnafricanmarketplace.com) and purchases made via external social commerce channels.

• Independent Rules: This Shipping Policy applies exclusively to orders placed directly through this website.
• Third-Party Purchases: If you purchased an APN item via TikTok Shop or Amazon Seller Center, your fulfillment path, package parameters, shipping rates, and dispute resolutions are strictly governed by the algorithmic constraints, rules, and tracking structures of those specific platforms. Our website customer portal cannot modify or track orders born on third-party marketplace networks.

7. Shipping Disruption & Force Majeure

While we strive for prompt dispatch, certain global supply chain factors or environmental disruptions can impact transit metrics. APN African Marketplace is not liable for unexpected transit delays stemming from:

• Severe weather emergencies (blizzards, floods, severe storms impacting transit hubs).
• Postal strikes, domestic transportation delays, or localized carrier backlogs.
• International customs holds or political import disruptions.

In the rare event that a package experiences a prolonged delay, our development and support team at Lerony Co. Ltd will work closely with the shipping carrier to investigate and provide clear updates via email.

8. Customer Support & Logistical Inquiries

If you have questions about the tracking of a custom masterpiece, need to request an expedited shipping adjustment prior to dispatch, or want to check on a global shipment, please reach out directly through our verified communication pipelines:

• Official Marketplace Email: Apnafricanmarketplace@gmail.com
• Fulfillment Center Telephone: +1 (515) 689-4857
• Alternative Client Support Line: +1 (515) 577-5013
• Direct Support: You may also use the interactive WhatsApp contact menu located directly on our portal to chat live with the store manager or request engineering support via our technical partner, Lerony Co. Ltd.