Buyer Terms & Conditions

Buyer Terms & Conditions

Indian Shopping Mela

Effective date: 17 September 2026 | Version 1.0

1. About These Terms

These Buyer Terms & Conditions (Terms) apply when you browse, create an account, place an order, communicate through, or otherwise use Indian Shopping Mela. By using ISM or completing a purchase, you agree to these Terms and applicable marketplace policies.

Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts or modifies any right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded, including rights under the Australian Consumer Law.

2. Eligibility and Accounts

You must be legally capable of entering into the relevant transaction. You are responsible for providing accurate account, contact, billing and delivery information and for keeping your login credentials secure.

You must promptly notify ISM if you believe your account has been accessed without authority. You must not create accounts using false identities, impersonate another person, misuse another person's payment method, or use ISM for unlawful or fraudulent activity.

3. ISM Is a Multi-Seller Marketplace

ISM provides technology and marketplace services that allow independent sellers to list products and buyers to discover and purchase them. Unless ISM expressly identifies itself as the seller of a particular product, the contract for the sale of that product is between the buyer and the independent seller.

ISM may facilitate checkout, payment processing, order communications, delivery integrations, returns, disputes and customer support without becoming the manufacturer or supplier of the seller's product.

4. Independent Sellers and Product Responsibility

Each seller is responsible for the products it lists and sells, including product legality, safety, quality, authenticity, condition, description, stock, pricing, licences, approvals, certifications, labelling, warranties, dispatch and compliance with applicable law.

ISM may establish seller standards, remove listings, investigate complaints and take marketplace action, but publication of a listing or approval of a seller account does not constitute an ISM certification, guarantee or endorsement of a product or seller.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, ISM is not responsible for a seller's product or for claims, injury, loss, damage, defect, recall, infringement or regulatory issue caused by or arising from a seller's product or conduct. This does not exclude any liability ISM has that cannot lawfully be excluded.

5. Product Listings

Product information, photographs, specifications, sizing, materials, origin, availability and seller-provided descriptions are generally supplied by the relevant seller. Sellers are required to provide accurate and non-misleading information.

Colours and appearance may vary depending on screens, photography, lighting, manufacturing variations or handmade characteristics. Buyers should review the full listing, sizing, seller information, delivery details and applicable conditions before purchasing.

6. Pricing in a Multi-Seller Marketplace

Independent sellers determine the prices of their own products, subject to applicable law and ISM marketplace rules. ISM does not generally set or control a seller's retail price.

The same or substantially similar product may be offered by multiple sellers at different prices. Sellers may also have different stock levels, delivery charges, dispatch times, promotions, ratings and service terms. A lower price offered by another seller does not automatically entitle a buyer to a price match, refund or adjustment on an order already placed.

Prices displayed at checkout will show applicable charges relevant to the transaction. Buyers should review the final order total before confirming payment.

7. Orders

Submitting an order is an offer to purchase the selected product from the relevant seller. An order is subject to successful payment, product availability, fraud and security checks, and any other lawful marketplace validation.

ISM or the seller may cancel an order where reasonably necessary because of unavailable stock, an obvious pricing or listing error, suspected fraud, payment failure, legal restrictions, product safety concerns or another legitimate reason. Where a cancelled order has already been paid, the amount required to be returned will be processed in accordance with applicable law and ISM policy.

8. Payment

Payments may be processed by third-party payment providers. By submitting payment information, you authorise the applicable provider to process the transaction and any lawful refund, reversal or adjustment.

You must use a payment method that you are authorised to use. ISM may delay or cancel a transaction where there are reasonable grounds to suspect fraud, unauthorised payment activity or a security issue.

9. Delivery

The seller is responsible for dispatching the product in accordance with the listing and applicable ISM requirements. Delivery may be performed by independent courier, postal or logistics providers.

Delivery estimates are estimates unless expressly guaranteed. Delays can occur due to couriers, weather, peak periods, incorrect addresses, access issues or circumstances outside the reasonable control of the seller or ISM.

The buyer is responsible for providing a complete and accurate delivery address and for following reasonable delivery instructions. Additional costs caused by incorrect buyer-supplied information may be the buyer's responsibility where permitted by law.

10. 12-Day Change-of-Mind Exchange Policy

For eligible change-of-mind requests made within 12 days under the ISM Returns & Refunds Policy, ISM's marketplace policy is exchange only. A cash refund is not provided merely because a buyer changed their mind.

Eligibility, product condition, exclusions, return procedure, return shipping and exchange requirements are governed by the ISM Returns & Refunds Policy. Buyers must follow the required return process and must not return products without the required instructions or authorisation where the policy requires it.

The 12-day change-of-mind policy does not limit Australian Consumer Law rights. Where the law gives a buyer a right to a refund, replacement, repair or other remedy because of a product problem, those statutory rights continue to apply.

11. Faulty, Unsafe or Incorrectly Described Products

If a product is faulty, unsafe, significantly different from its description or otherwise fails to meet an applicable consumer guarantee, the buyer may have rights under the Australian Consumer Law.

The available remedy depends on the circumstances and whether the problem is major or minor. Nothing in ISM's exchange policy removes a buyer's statutory rights. Buyers should report product problems promptly through ISM's support or return process and provide reasonable information, photographs or other evidence where requested.

12. Exchanges

An exchange is subject to the ISM Returns & Refunds Policy and, where relevant, replacement stock availability. If the requested replacement is unavailable, ISM and the seller will address the matter in accordance with the applicable policy and Australian Consumer Law.

Products returned for a voluntary change-of-mind exchange may need to be unused, unworn, unwashed, unaltered, with original tags and packaging, and otherwise in resaleable condition, subject to category-specific rules.

13. Products That May Have Special Return Restrictions

For hygiene, health, safety, customisation or other legitimate reasons, certain products may be excluded from voluntary change-of-mind exchanges or subject to additional conditions. Examples may include personalised products, certain jewellery, beauty or personal-care products, food, perishables, opened hygiene-sensitive products and other categories identified in the Returns & Refunds Policy.

These voluntary restrictions do not remove statutory remedies where Australian Consumer Law applies.

14. Cancellations

A buyer may request cancellation before dispatch, but cancellation is not guaranteed once an order has been accepted or fulfilment has begun. If a seller or ISM permits cancellation, any applicable refund or adjustment will be processed in accordance with ISM policy and applicable law.

15. Reviews and User Content

Reviews, ratings, photographs, comments and other content submitted by buyers must be genuine, relevant and lawful. You must not post defamatory, threatening, discriminatory, fraudulent, misleading, obscene or infringing material, or content containing unnecessary personal information.

You must not manipulate reviews or ratings, demand improper benefits in exchange for changing feedback, or submit reviews for transactions in which you did not genuinely participate.

16. Communications With Sellers

Marketplace communications should relate to genuine enquiries, orders, products, delivery, returns or support. Buyers must not use seller contact details for spam, harassment, unrelated solicitation or unlawful purposes.

If a seller uses buyer information obtained through ISM to send unrelated promotions, move an ISM transaction off-platform or otherwise misuse personal information, buyers should report the conduct to ISM.

17. Buyer Conduct

You must not:

use ISM for fraudulent, illegal, abusive or deceptive activity;

interfere with the website, security systems, accounts, data or marketplace operation;

attempt to avoid legitimate marketplace processes through manipulation, false claims or chargeback abuse;

place orders without a genuine intention or ability to pay;

submit false return, non-delivery, counterfeit or product-condition claims;

harass, threaten or abuse sellers, other users, delivery personnel or ISM staff;

scrape, harvest or misuse personal information or marketplace content contrary to law or ISM rules.

18. Fraud, Chargeback and Return Abuse

ISM may investigate suspected fraud, payment abuse, return abuse, false claims, account manipulation or other misuse. Where reasonably necessary, ISM may restrict transactions, request verification, preserve evidence, suspend an account or take other proportionate action.

Nothing in this section prevents a buyer from legitimately exercising chargeback rights, Australian Consumer Law rights or other legal rights.

19. Privacy and Personal Information

ISM handles personal information in accordance with the Indian Shopping Mela Privacy Policy. Information reasonably necessary to fulfil an order may be provided to the relevant seller, payment provider, delivery provider or other service provider.

Sellers are prohibited under ISM seller rules from using buyer information obtained through ISM for unrelated marketing or off-platform solicitation without a separate lawful basis and any consent required by law.

20. Intellectual Property

ISM's name, branding, website design, software and marketplace materials are owned by or licensed to ISM and may not be copied, reproduced or commercially exploited except as permitted by law or with permission.

Seller product content may belong to the relevant seller or other rights holder. Purchasing a product does not transfer intellectual property rights in listing photographs, designs, brands or other protected content.

21. Third-Party Services and Links

ISM may integrate with or link to payment providers, delivery services, social platforms and other third-party services. Those services may have their own terms and privacy practices. ISM is not responsible for independent third-party services to the extent permitted by law.

22. Promotions and Discount Codes

Promotions, vouchers and discount codes may be subject to eligibility criteria, expiry dates, product or seller restrictions, minimum spends, usage limits and other campaign conditions. Unless expressly stated otherwise, promotions cannot be exchanged for cash and may not be combined.

23. Marketplace Availability

ISM aims to provide a reliable marketplace but does not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free access. ISM may maintain, modify, suspend or discontinue features where reasonably necessary. ISM may correct technical, display, catalogue or transaction errors where appropriate.

24. Liability

Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts or modifies any consumer guarantee, right, remedy or liability that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted or modified.

Subject to those non-excludable rights and to the maximum extent permitted by law, ISM is not liable merely because an independent seller's product is defective, unsafe, delayed, misdescribed, infringing or otherwise fails to meet the seller's obligations. The seller remains responsible for its products and statutory obligations.

To the extent permitted by law, ISM is not liable for indirect or consequential loss that was not reasonably foreseeable or for loss caused by circumstances outside ISM's reasonable control, except to the extent such liability cannot lawfully be excluded.

25. Account Restriction or Closure

You may stop using ISM or request account closure, subject to outstanding orders, returns, disputes and records that must lawfully be retained.

ISM may warn, restrict, suspend or close an account where reasonably necessary because of material or repeated breaches, fraud, abuse, security risks, unlawful activity or serious marketplace misconduct. Immediate action may be taken where reasonably necessary to prevent fraud, security threats, unlawful activity or serious harm.

26. Changes to These Terms

ISM may update these Terms to reflect changes in law, marketplace functionality, security, business operations or policies. Material adverse changes will be communicated with reasonable notice where practicable and required by law. Urgent changes may take effect sooner where reasonably necessary for legal, safety, fraud, security or technical reasons.

27. Governing Law and Disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws applicable in Victoria, Australia, subject to any mandatory rights or jurisdiction that cannot lawfully be excluded.

If you have a problem with an order, you should first use the applicable ISM support, return or dispute process so that the issue can be reviewed. Nothing in these Terms prevents a buyer from exercising rights available under Australian law or contacting an appropriate regulator or dispute-resolution body.

28. Relationship With Other ISM Policies

These Terms should be read together with:

Indian Shopping Mela Privacy Policy;

Indian Shopping Mela Returns & Refunds Policy;

applicable Shipping/Delivery Policy;

specific promotion, product or marketplace notices that apply to the transaction.

Where a specific ISM policy contains detailed rules for a particular subject, that policy applies to that subject to the extent of any direct inconsistency, subject always to applicable law.

29. Contact

Buyer, order and policy enquiries:

Indian Shopping MelaEmail: support@indianshoppingmela.com.auWebsite: indianshopping.online