Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the Italian Essence wholesale platform at italianessence.com (the "Service"). The Service is operated by Italian Essence ("we," "us"). By creating an account, placing an order, or otherwise using the Service you agree to these Terms.

1. Eligibility

The Service is offered to licensed food-service and retail businesses purchasing imported Italian products for resale or commercial use. To register you must (a) be at least 18 years old, (b) hold a valid resale or sales-tax permit in your jurisdiction where required, and (c) be authorized to enter into binding agreements on behalf of your business. We may decline or revoke any account at our discretion.

2. Accounts

You are responsible for keeping your login credentials confidential and for all activity on your account. Owners may invite team members and assign roles; the business remains responsible for everything those team members do. Notify us immediately at [email protected] if you suspect unauthorized access.

3. Orders & pricing

Posted prices are wholesale and shown only to approved, signed-in customers. Pricing, volume breaks, and customer-specific overrides are subject to change. We will confirm an order only after we have accepted it and stock has been allocated. We may decline, cancel, or partially fulfill an order — including for stock-outs, pricing errors, or credit-limit reasons — and will refund any pre-payment for the unfulfilled portion.

4. Fulfillment

Fulfillment options include in-store pickup, local delivery in our published zones, and parcel shipment via carriers we select. Delivery dates are estimates. Risk of loss transfers to you on delivery for local routes and on hand-off to the carrier for parcel shipments. Inspect every shipment on arrival; report shortages, damage, or quality issues within 48 hours.

5. Payment terms

Default payment is due at the time the order is placed via Stripe. Approved customers may receive net terms (typically Net 15 or Net 30) up to a credit limit we set. Late balances may incur a service charge of 1.5% per month (or the maximum allowed by law). We may suspend ordering when balances are overdue or the credit limit is exceeded. Processing fees may be passed through unless we have agreed otherwise in writing.

6. Tax exemption

Tax is collected unless you have a current resale or exemption certificate on file. You are responsible for keeping that certificate current and for paying any tax due in jurisdictions where your certificate does not apply.

7. Returns & food safety

Many imported products are perishable, temperature-sensitive, or otherwise not eligible for return once delivered. Defective or mis-shipped product may be returned for credit if reported within 48 hours of delivery and held under appropriate conditions until we authorize the return. We do not accept returns of opened or partially-used product.

8. Acceptable use

You agree not to: (a) misrepresent your business, (b) use the Service to resell at retail in violation of any supplier agreement we communicate to you, (c) reverse engineer, scrape, or interfere with the Service, (d) upload anything unlawful, infringing, or harmful, or (e) use another customer's pricing or login.

9. Intellectual property

The Service, including product photography, descriptions, design, and software, is owned by Italian Essence or its licensors and is protected by intellectual-property laws. We grant you a limited, non-exclusive license to use the Service for your authorized wholesale-purchasing activities. You may use product images we provide to market our products you have purchased; you may not alter or use them to imply endorsement of products you have not purchased from us.

10. Disclaimers

The Service and the products are provided "as is" and "as available" to the fullest extent permitted by law. We disclaim all warranties not expressly granted in these Terms, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

11. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Italian Essence will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for lost profits, lost business, or loss of data, even if we have been advised of the possibility. Our total liability for any claim related to the Service or any order is limited to the amount you paid us for the order giving rise to the claim.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from any claims arising out of your breach of these Terms, your violation of law, or your resale or use of products purchased from us in a manner that violates supplier agreements, food-handling regulations, or third-party rights.

13. Termination

We may suspend or close your account at any time for breach of these Terms, non-payment, or any other reason at our discretion. Upon closure, outstanding balances become immediately due. Sections that by their nature should survive termination (payment, disclaimers, limitation of liability, indemnification, governing law) will survive.

14. Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Arizona, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules. Any dispute will be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Maricopa County, Arizona, and you consent to personal jurisdiction there.

15. Changes

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be posted here with a new effective date. Continued use of the Service after a change means you accept the updated Terms.

16. Contact