CARIBCRAFT SELLER POLICY!

hello welcome to caribcraft sellers policy!

 

If you are interested in becoming a Vendor on Caribcraft please Read!

CARIBCRAFT LAUNCHES 12-1-2023

SELLER POLICY UPDATED:  07-25-2023

 

 

CARIBCRAFT VENDOR SELLING  BASICS

What can be sold on Caribcraft?

Caribcraft is a unique marketplace which specializes in promoting, supporting, and exposing Caribbean Vendors to the World. Buyers come here to purchase items that they might only find in the Caribbean. Everything listed for sale on Caribcraft must be handmade, vintage, craft supply, and most importantly, from the Caribbean.

Handmade items are items that are made and/or designed by you, the seller. 

Selling Handmade Items

Handmade on Caribcraft is a spectrum. On one end, we have makers — sellers who are literally making their items with their own hands (or tools). On the other end, we have designers — sellers who design their items but rely entirely on outside assistance or another business to help physically produce them. Many handmade sellers fall in the middle of the spectrum because they are both making and designing their items.

Regardless of where you fall on this spectrum, you must be transparent about who is helping you and how your items are being made. Everything listed as handmade must be made and/or designed by you, the seller. Reselling is prohibited in the handmade category. You may also have shop members who help you run your business, as long as you, the seller, are making and/or designing your items.

Makers

A maker is a seller who is physically making the items listed for sale in their Caribcraft store. A maker might design their items in addition to making them, or they might follow a pattern or template that they did not design. Regardless, makers must be creating their items with their own hands (or tools).

Designers

A designer is a seller who has come up with an original design, pattern, sketch, template, prototype, or plan to be produced by in-house shop members or a production partner. Simple customization, such as selecting colors, shapes, or choosing from ready-made options is not considered a design on Caribcraft.

If you are a designer and you are using a production partner to help make your items, you must also disclose information about your production partner in your listings. A production partner is anyone (who’s not a part of your Etsy shop) who helps you physically produce your items.

2. Using Production Assistance

Designers may work with production partners to help make handmade items in certain circumstances. Keep in mind that people come to Caribcraft to discover items that they might not find anywhere else outside the Caribbean. Your design and production process should lead to the creation of a unique item that would not exist without you, the designer.

We expect your production partner to produce items themselves in their own facilities. A contractor or agent who outsources production may not be used as a production partner. Examples of production services include, but are not limited to, printing, apparel printing, 3D-printing, casting, plating, engraving, cutting and sewing, and finishing.

If you work with a production partner, you must disclose certain information in the listing process, including:

1. The name of your production partner(s);
2. The location of your production partner(s);
3. Details about the nature of your partnership and design process; and
4. A general description of the work your production partner does for you.

 

We may reach out to you at any time with a more detailed inquiry about your business. Please be prepared to provide additional details about the origins of your business, your role in the design process, your production process, and your connection to your production partner, as well as what efforts your production partner has made to follow our ethical expectations. 

We understand that you may wish to keep the details of your design and business practices confidential. Please be assured that Caribraft will not use the private information you provide us for any purpose other than reviewing your business to determine that you are in compliance with our policies.

We reserve the right to reject any production partnerships that aren't in the letter or spirit of this policy or our 

Ethical Expectations:

Trust is the foundation of Caribcraft's marketplace and community. When you work with a production partner, we trust you will make wise and informed choices. That means knowing that the businesses you collaborate with comply with all applicable laws, including safety, labor, and employment laws.

While Caribcraft does not audit or approve production partners, we do expect you to consider the following standards when choosing production partners to work with: 

1. No child labor or youth labor. Any production partner you choose to work with should follow all local laws and rules regarding working hours and working conditions for minors. 

2. No involuntary labor. Production partners should not use involuntary labor, including slave labor, prison labor, indentured labor, or forced labor. 

3. Humane working conditions. Work with production partners who provide humane working hours for their employees and who do not use any form of physical or psychological coercion or intimidation against their workers.  

4. Non-discrimination. Per our Anti Discrimination Policy, there should be no tolerance for discrimination on the basis of:

• Race
• Color
• Ethnicity
• National origin
• Religion
• Gender
• Gender identity
• Sexual orientation
• Disability
• Any other characteristic protected under applicable law

Caribcraft may reach out for additional information to determine sellers' commitment to these ethical expectations, as well as Caribcraft's handmade policy.

Caribcraft cannot guarantee the conditions under which products listed for sale on Caribcraft were made. Caribcraft does not currently audit third-party production partners based on labor or other standards, and we do not require sellers to demonstrate that the materials incorporated into their products comply with the laws in the country or countries in which such suppliers do business.  Caribcraft is not responsible for any production partners chosen by sellers.

Caribcraft connects thoughtful consumers around the world with creative entrepreneurs from the Caribbean. It’s an ecosystem where people of all backgrounds inspire each other and build relationships through making, selling, and buying unique goods. We want everyone on Caribcraft to feel safe, and our priority is fostering an inclusive environment. This policy explains the kind of behavior we prohibit on Caribcraft to make sure we all have a positive experience.

By using Caribcraft, you’re agreeing to this policy and our Terms of Use.

It is your responsibility to know your local laws and any other legal regulations on discrimination that might apply to you. Additionally, Caribcraft does not allow hate speech. Hate speech occurs when violent, offensive, derogatory or demeaning language is directed at a person or group based on their one or more protected group attributes.

Whether you’re engaging with public features on Caribcraft, such as listing items, using community spaes, and writing reviews, or having direct communication with other members of the Caribcraft community, such as via Messages, discrimination and hate speech are not allowed. As a seller on Caribcraft your shop content, including shop announcements and shop policies, cannot display discriminatory behavior toward protected groups. Examples of prohibited behavior include, but are not limited to:

• Refusal of service based on membership in one or more protected group
• Expressing intolerance or a lack of respect for another member on the basis of protected group attributes
• Having a shop policy that excludes sales to members of one or more protected groups listed above
• Directly or indirectly making derogatory or demeaning remarks against protected groups listed above
• Racial slurs
• Posts that support or glorify hate groups and their members

If you think discrimination or hate speech has occurred on Caribcraft, please report it by contacting Caribcraft through help@caribcraft.com and we will investigate. If you see a listing on Caribcraft which you believe violates our policies, including prohibited hate items, we encourage you to contact us. 

3. Being Transparent About Your Business

At Caribcraft, we value transparency. Transparency means that you honestly and accurately represent yourself, your items, and your business. As a handmade seller, you agree to:

1. Disclose in your About section the names and roles of people who help make your items or run your business;
2. Use your own words and photographs (not stock photos) to describe your items; and
3. Respond to any inquiries from us in a timely manner. We may ask you how your items are made, what workspace, tools, and equipment you use; and how you communicate and collaborate with the people who help you run your shop.

Remember: Our marketplace is built on trust. Providing false, inaccurate, or misleading information is prohibited by our terms of use.  If we find that you’re not being open and honest with us, we may suspend or terminate your account.

If you sell handmade items, you agree that:

1. All handmade items are made or designed by you. If you work with a production partner, you must disclose that production partner in your relevant listings.
2. You accurately describe every person involved in the making of an item in your shop in your About section.
3. You are using your own photographs or video content —not stock photos, artistic renderings, or photos used by other sellers or sites.

If you are selling personalized or made-to-order items in the Handmade category, you agree that:

1. All listings are available for purchase at a set price.
2. If you are using photographs of previous work with options for customization (like color choices) included in the listing, it is clear in your description that the photos shown are just examples.

 

Vintage items must be at least 20 years old.

Craft Supplies are tools, ingredients, or materials whose primary purpose is for use in the creation of an item or special occasion. Craft supplies may be handmade, commercial, or vintage, but must originate within the Caribbean through design, or production. Party supplies may also be sold as craft supplies. 

We encourage you to be transparent about how your craft supplies were made and where your materials come from. You can disclose whether your items have social or environmental attributes, such as organic or recycled. 

b. What Can't be Sold on Caribcraft

Even if they otherwise meet our marketplace criteria, prohibited items, services, and items that violate caribcraft's intellectual propery policy are not allowed to be sold on Caribcraft. All listings must offer an item for sale (which includes digitally delivered items, and can also include reserved listings). You may not create a Caribcraft listing for the purpose of sharing a referral code, posting a want ad, or similar activity that does not offer a physical or digital item for sale.

Reselling is not allowed in the handmade category on Caribcraft. Reselling refers to listing an item as handmade when you were not involved in designing or making that item.

Keep in mind that members or, in some cases third parties, may flag listings that appear to violate our policies for Caribcraft review. Caribcraft may remove any listings that violate our policies. Note that listing fees are non-refundable. Caribcraft may also suspend or terminate your account for any violations. You’ll still be on the hook to pay any outstanding fees on your Caribcraft statement. 

If you are raising money on behalf of a charity, you must obtain that charity’s consent. 

c. Managing your Caribcraft Shop

Your shop represents you and your business to the Caribcraft community. It’s important that you, your items and your shop are honestly and accurately represented.

By selling on Caribcraft, you agree that you will:

1. Provide honest, accurate information to Caribcraft and in your about section.
2. Honor your Shop Policies.
3. Ensure your shop content, such as any text, photos or videos used to represent yourself, your shop or your listings, abide by Caribcraft's policies, including our Anti Descrimination Policy.
4. Accurately represent your items in listings and listing photos.
5. Respect the Intellectual Property of others. If you feel someone has violated your intellectual property rights, you can report it to Caribcraft through.  
6. Not engage in fee avoidance.
7. Not create duplicate shops or take any other action (such as manipulating clicks, carts or sales) for the purpose of shilling, manipulating search or circumventing Caribcraft policies.
8. Not coordinate pricing with other sellers.

d. Seller Standards By listing a product for sale on Caribcraft you understand and agree that you are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations for the products you list for sale, including any required labels and warnings. Caribcraft assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, labeling, or content of your listings.

Meeting Service Level Standards

As a seller, you must provide great customer service and maintain trust with your buyers. These requirements are called our Seller Service Level Standards. Caribcraft may reach out to you if your shop fails to meet Caribcraft Seller Service Level Standards.

By selling on Caribcraft you agree to:

1. Honor your shipping and processing times. Sellers are obligated to ship an item or otherwise complete a transaction with a buyer in a prompt manner, unless there is an exceptional circumstance. Please be aware that legal requirements for shipping times vary by island. 
2. Respond to Messages in a timely manner.
3. Honor the commitments you make in your shop policies.
4. Resolve disagreements or order issues directly with the buyer. 
5. If you are unable to complete an order, you must notify the buyer and cancel the order. 

e. Selling Fees

Sellers may be charged for using some of Caribcraft's services. There are fees associated with listing, selling, advertising, and certain other Caribcraft products and features. 

Caribcraft Fees and Payments Policy

 

Transaction Fees

When you make a sale through caribcraft.com, you will be charged a transaction fee of 6.0% of the price you display for each listing plus the amount you charge for shipping.  If you are selling from Caribbean Islands other than St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, the shipping price will vary along with any applicable taxes that you as a seller are responsible for), shipping price, and gift wrapping fee. If you offer optional personalization for an additional fee, the additional fee for personalization is added to the listing price you display and the total display price is subject to the same transaction fees described in this Section. See the Taxes section below for more information about whether you are required to include applicable taxes in your listing prices. Transaction fees are deducted from your current balance as each sale occurs, and are reflected in your payment account.