Seller Policy

CARTWiLLS is a multi-vendor marketplace platform operating under South African e-commerce laws, offering Sellers/Vendors the opportunity to sell their products to a wide customer base. By becoming a Seller/Vendor on the CARTWiLLS platform, you agree to comply with this policy, relevant South African laws, and any guidelines or updates provided by CARTWiLLS.

Failure to comply may result in the suspension or termination of your account, withholding of payments, and potential legal actions. This policy outlines the terms and conditions, security measures, VAT/tax compliance, prohibited activities, and responsibilities for all Sellers/Vendors on CARTWiLLS.

1. Legal Compliance & Responsibility

Sellers/Vendors on CARTWiLLS must adhere to all relevant South African laws, including:

• Consumer Protection Act (CPA)
• Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (ECTA)
• Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA)
• Value Added Tax Act

It is the responsibility of each Seller/Vendor to ensure full compliance with these laws when conducting business on the platform.

2. VAT and Tax Compliance

• VAT Obligations: Each Seller/Vendor is solely responsible for their own VAT registration, collection, and remittance, in accordance with South African tax law. CARTWiLLS does not assume responsibility for any Seller/Vendor's tax obligations.
• Tax Compliance: Sellers/Vendors are required to ensure they are tax-compliant. Failure to meet tax obligations may result in account suspension, withholding of payments, or further investigation by relevant authorities.

3. Commission and Payment Clearing

• Commission on Sales: CARTWiLLS retains a 30% (B2C) & 30% (B2B) commission on every successful sale plus 3% for payment gateways success . This commission rate is deducted from the final sale price before transferring the Seller / Vendor’s earnings excluding shipping.
• Payment Clearing: Payments to Sellers/Vendors will only be processed after the product has been successfully delivered to the customer. All bank transfers attract 3% withheld for transfer fees / costs and payments are cleared within 7 days post-delivery for B2C Sellers.
• Withholding of Payments: CARTWiLLS reserves the right to withhold any pending payments if a Seller/Vendor is under investigation for policy violations or fraudulent activities. Payments will be withheld until the matter is resolved.

4. Prohibited Products

Sellers / Vendors must comply with the South African & international e-commerce laws regarding prohibited products. The following items are strictly forbidden on CARTWiLLS:

• Firearms, ammunition, and explosives
• Controlled substances and illegal drugs
• Counterfeit goods and intellectual property violations
• Pornographic material and adult services
• Tobacco products and related accessories
• Hazardous chemicals or materials
• Endangered wildlife products and items banned by environmental protection laws

Listing prohibited products may result in immediate account suspension and legal action.

5. Returns, Refunds, and Seller Responsibility

CARTWiLLS responsibility for returns. The responsibility falls solely on the Customer to return a product in compliance with South African & international laws as well as the CARTWiLLS Return Policy found HERE

• Return Policies: Each Seller/Vendor must comply with the aforementioned return and refund policy.
• Refunds: Refunds will be managed by CARTWiLLS in the event that Sellers / Vendors are non compliant to our return policy.
• Customer Disputes: CARTWiLLS reserves the right to mediate disputes between Sellers / Vendors and customers. If a Seller / Vendor is found to have provided false or misleading information about a product, CARTWiLLS reserves the right to refund the customer, with the unpaid sales refunded to the customer’s account.

6. Traffic Redirection and External Sales

Sellers / Vendors are prohibited from:

• Redirecting CARTWiLLS customers to external websites or platforms for purchasing outside of the CARTWiLLS platform.
• Engaging in offline transactions or convincing customers to complete purchases off-platform.
• Driving traffic to external websites or personal profiles without CARTWiLLS’ explicit permission.

Violation of this policy may result in suspension or termination of the Seller / Vendor’s account.

7. Customer Data and POPIA Compliance

Sellers / Vendors are required to comply with POPIA regarding the collection, use, and storage of customer data. This includes:

• Data Protection: Sellers / Vendors may only use customer data for completing transactions within CARTWiLLS.
• Privacy: Selling, sharing, or misusing customer data is strictly prohibited.

Breach of POPIA or any data misuse will result in legal action and immediate account suspension.

8. Seller Mediation & Dispute Resolution

• Mediation: CARTWiLLS will mediate disputes between Sellers / Vendors and customers through the support ticket system.
• Refund Conditions: If a customer lodges a complaint regarding product misinformation or fraudulent activity, CARTWiLLS may issue a refund on the customer’s behalf if they meet the conditions of the Return Policy. 
• Dispute Resolution: Any unresolved disputes between Sellers / Vendors and CARTWiLLS will be handled in accordance with South African law.

9. Product Delivery and Payment Transfers

Payments to Sellers / Vendors will be processed only if:

• The product has been successfully delivered and received by the customer.
• Delivery occurs within 3 - 7 days of the sale. Failure to deliver on time may result in penalties or suspension.
• Commission is deducted from the sale amount before payment is transferred to the Seller / Vendor.

10. Security and Account Protection

• Suspension and Banning: CARTWiLLS reserves the right to suspend or ban Sellers / Vendors at its discretion for policy violations.
• Withholding Payments: CARTWiLLS may withhold payments if a Seller / Vendor is under investigation for misconduct or fraud.
• Legal Investigations: CARTWiLLS will cooperate with legal authorities in the event of a court case or investigation involving a Seller / Vendor. Sellers / Vendors must provide all requested information during legal proceedings.

11. Shipping and Delivery Policy

Sellers / Vendors are responsible for submitting the purchased product to the courier that's booked by CARTWiLLS, which must comply with CARTWiLLS’ standards.

• Shipping Methods: CARTWiLLS uses reliable shipping services as per the setup and configuration of reliable couriers on the platform and we provide tracking information at all times for all shipments.
• Delivery Times: Orders must be delivered within 2 - 7 days of purchase.
• Shipping Costs: CARTWiLLS is solely responsible for shipping rates in accordance with the couriers on our marketplace hence shipping rates may vary depending on the volume metric weight of the purchased items.
• International Shipping: If applicable, Sellers / Vendors must comply with all customs and import / export regulations.

12. Terms and Conditions

By listing products on CARTWiLLS, Sellers / Vendors agree to:

• Adhere to all user eligibility requirements and complete the account registration process truthfully.
• Refrain from engaging in any prohibited activities such as fraud, false advertising, or selling prohibited products.
• Respect all intellectual property rights and refrain from selling counterfeit goods.
• Limitations of Liability: CARTWiLLS will not be held liable for any issues arising from Seller / Vendor activities, including legal disputes, shipping issues, or tax obligations.

13. Data Collection & Privacy Policy

CARTWiLLS collects and processes data from Sellers / Vendors as part of the platform's operations. The types of data collected, and the purposes for processing include:

• Personal Information: Name, contact details, VAT number, and payment details for account setup.
• Transaction Data: Sales, commissions, and payments for bookkeeping and tax purposes.

CARTWiLLS takes appropriate security measures to protect all data and complies with South African privacy laws, including POPIA. Sellers / Vendors have the right to request access to or deletion of their data in accordance with the platform’s privacy policy.

14. Changes to Policy

CARTWiLLS reserves the right to update or amend this Seller / Vendor policy at any time. Sellers / Vendors will be notified of any changes and will be required to agree to the updated terms to continue using the platform.

For more information or assistance, please contact CARTWiLLS at support@cartwills.co.za.

This policy is designed to ensure a secure, fair, and legally compliant environment for all Sellers / Vendors and customers on the CARTWiLLS platform. All parties are expected to act in good faith and uphold the standards set forth in this policy