Terms of Service

Introduction

These Terms of Service ("Terms", "Agreement") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("Customer", "User", or "you") and France Commerces ("Company", "we", "us", or "our"), a registered business operating under the laws of the French Republic, with its principal place of business at 15 Rue du Commerce, 75015 Paris, France.

These Terms govern your access to and use of the website france-commerces.com, including all content, features, functionality, products, and services offered through the website. Please read these Terms carefully before making any purchases.

Acceptance of Terms

By accessing, browsing, or using our website, or by completing a purchase, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, along with our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. If you do not agree to any part of these Terms, you must not use our website or services.

Eligibility

To use our services, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age, or the age of majority in your jurisdiction
• Have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts
• Not be prohibited from using our services under applicable laws
• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and checkout

About Our Services

France Commerces is an online marketplace specializing in authentic products made in France. We curate and sell a wide range of French products including, but not limited to:

• Gourmet Food: Artisan cheeses, chocolates, pastries, foie gras, truffles, and regional specialties
• Fine Wines & Spirits: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Cognac, and other regional wines
• Luxury Fashion: Haute couture accessories, silk scarves, leather goods, and designer pieces
• Beauty & Skincare: Provençal lavender products, French perfumes, and pharmacy skincare
• Home & Lifestyle: French tableware, home décor, candles, and lifestyle products

We act as the retailer of record for all products sold through our website. Every product is sourced directly from verified French producers, artisans, and official brand distributors.

User Accounts

Creating an account on France Commerces is optional for guest checkout but provides additional benefits such as order tracking, saved addresses, wishlists, and exclusive member offers.

Your Responsibilities

• Provide accurate and complete registration information
• Maintain the security of your password and account credentials
• Promptly notify us of any unauthorized use of your account
• Not share your account with any third party

Our Rights

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, engage in fraudulent activity, or remain inactive for an extended period. Upon termination, your right to use our services ceases immediately.

Products & Pricing

Product Descriptions

We strive to display our products as accurately as possible, including detailed descriptions, origin information, ingredients, and high-quality images. However, we do not warrant that product descriptions, images, or other content are completely error-free, complete, or current.

Pricing

All prices are displayed in Euro (EUR) by default, with optional display in other major currencies (USD, GBP, CHF, JPY) for reference purposes. The final transaction is always processed in EUR.

• Prices include applicable French VAT (20% standard rate, reduced rates for certain food products)
• International customers may be subject to import duties and taxes in their destination country
• We reserve the right to modify prices at any time, but orders already confirmed will be honored at the price displayed at the time of purchase
• Promotional prices and discount codes are valid for limited periods and subject to specific conditions

Orders & Payment

Order Process

When you place an order, you are making an offer to purchase the selected products. Your offer is subject to acceptance by France Commerces. The contract of sale is formed only when we send you an order confirmation email.

1. Add products to your cart and proceed to checkout
2. Enter shipping details and select a delivery method
3. Choose your preferred payment method
4. Review your order and confirm the purchase
5. Receive order confirmation by email within minutes

Accepted Payment Methods

• Credit/Debit Cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express (secured via Stripe)
• Digital Wallets: Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal
• Bank Transfer: Available for orders above €500

Order Acceptance & Cancellation

We reserve the right to refuse or cancel any order for reasons including but not limited to: product unavailability, errors in product or pricing information, suspected fraud, or issues identified by our payment processor. If an order is canceled after payment, a full refund will be issued.

Shipping & Delivery

Shipping Zones & Times

Special Shipping Notes

• Perishable Items: Shipped in temperature-controlled packaging via express delivery
• Wines & Spirits: Shipped in specialized protective packaging; adult signature required at delivery
• Customs & Duties: International orders may be subject to import taxes and customs duties, which are the customer's responsibility
• Tracking: All orders include tracking numbers sent by email once dispatched

Returns & Refunds

EU Consumer Withdrawal Right

In accordance with EU Directive 2011/83/EU, customers located in the European Union have the right to withdraw from their purchase within 14 calendar days of receiving their order, without providing any justification.

Exceptions to the Withdrawal Right

The withdrawal right does not apply to:

• Perishable goods (fresh food, dairy products, fresh truffles)
• Sealed products opened after delivery for hygiene or health protection reasons
• Alcoholic beverages where the price depends on market fluctuations
• Personalized or custom-made products

Return Conditions

• Products must be returned in their original, unused condition with all packaging
• All labels, certificates of authenticity, and tags must be intact
• Return shipping costs are the customer's responsibility unless the product is defective
• Refunds are processed within 14 days of receiving the returned items

Defective or Damaged Products

If you receive a defective, damaged, or incorrect product, please contact us within 48 hours of delivery with photos. We will arrange for a replacement or full refund at no additional cost to you, including return shipping.

Authenticity Guarantee

At France Commerces, authenticity is our foundation. Every product sold through our website is guaranteed to be authentically manufactured or produced in France.

Our Authenticity Commitment

• Direct Sourcing: We work exclusively with verified French producers, artisans, and official brand distributors
• Quality Labels: Many products carry official certifications including AOC, AOP, IGP, Label Rouge, and Origine France Garantie
• Certificates of Origin: Each product comes with documentation verifying its French origin
• Expert Verification: Our team personally visits and audits our supplier network regularly

Intellectual Property

All content on the France Commerces website, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, images, product descriptions, layouts, icons, and software, is the property of France Commerces or its content suppliers and is protected by French and international intellectual property laws.

Permitted Use

• Browsing and viewing content for personal, non-commercial use
• Sharing product links through personal social media with proper attribution
• Printing product pages for personal purchase reference

Prohibited Use

• Reproducing, distributing, or displaying any content without written permission
• Using our brand name, logos, or proprietary content for commercial purposes
• Modifying, adapting, or creating derivative works from our content
• Removing any copyright, trademark, or proprietary notices

Prohibited Uses

You agree not to use France Commerces for any unlawful purpose or in any way that could damage, disable, or impair our website. Prohibited activities include:

• Attempting to gain unauthorized access to our systems or other user accounts
• Using automated systems (bots, scrapers) to access our website without permission
• Uploading viruses, malware, or any malicious code
• Interfering with the security features of our website
• Engaging in fraudulent transactions or payment activities
• Harassing, abusing, or harming our staff or other customers
• Reselling our products without a formal reseller agreement
• Violating any applicable local, national, or international laws

Violation of these terms may result in immediate account termination and legal action.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, France Commerces shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including loss of profits, data, or goodwill, arising from your use of our services.

Our Total Liability

Our total aggregate liability for any claim arising from these Terms or our services shall not exceed the amount you paid to us for the specific product(s) giving rise to the claim during the twelve (12) months preceding the claim.

Exceptions

This limitation does not apply to:

• Liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence
• Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation
• Breach of our authenticity guarantee
• Matters where liability cannot be excluded under applicable law

Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the French Republic, without regard to conflict of law principles. For consumers in the EU, mandatory protections under the laws of your country of residence remain applicable.

Jurisdiction

Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of our services shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts of Paris, France, subject to mandatory consumer protection rules that may apply in your country of residence.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

In accordance with EU Regulation No. 524/2013, we inform you that as a consumer, you have access to the European Online Dispute Resolution platform:

• EU ODR Platform: https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr/
• Médiateur du e-commerce (FEVAD): Available for French consumers

We encourage you to contact our customer service team first to resolve any issues amicably before initiating formal dispute resolution procedures.

Changes to These Terms

France Commerces reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. When we make changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
• For material changes, notify registered users by email at least 30 days before the changes take effect
• Publish a prominent notice on our website homepage

Your continued use of our services after the effective date of any changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree with the updated Terms, you must discontinue using our services.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or notices regarding these Terms of Service, please contact us through any of the following channels: