SimplytheBest is a marketplace where you can sell your products and services directly to buyers around the world. We want to make sure that you and your buyers have a positive experience on SimplytheBest. Please read on to find out more about your rights, as well as what is expected of you, as a vendor.
This policy is a part of our Terms of Use. By opening an SimplytheBest store, you’re agreeing to this policy and our Terms of Use.
Selling Basics
These basic requirements will set you up for success on SimplytheBest.
What can be sold on SimplytheBest
SimplytheBest is a fast growing marketplace. Buyers come here to purchase products and services from vendors they can rely on.
If you are selling personalized or made-to-order items, you agree that all products and services are available for purchase at a set price. If you are using photographs of previous work with options for customization (f.e. color choices) included in the listing, it must be clear in your description that the photos shown are just examples.
If you sell vintage items, they must be at least 20 years old.
We encourage you to be transparent about how your products were made and where your materials come from. You can disclose whether your items have social or environmental attributes, such as organic or recycled. You should also provide the location of manufacture.
What Can’t be Sold on SimplytheBest
Even if they otherwise meet our marketplace criteria, prohibited items, services, and items that violate our intellectual property policies are not allowed to be sold on SimplytheBest. Keep in mind that members may flag listings that appear to violate our policies for SimplytheBest’s review. SimplytheBest may remove any listings that violate our policies. Note that any listing fees are non-refundable. SimplytheBest may also suspend or terminate your account for any violations. You’ll still be obliged to pay any outstanding fees on your SimplytheBest statement.
Managing your SimplytheBest Store
Your store presents you and your business to the SimplytheBest community. It is important that you, your items and your store are honestly and accurately represented.
By selling on SimplytheBest, you agree that you will:
- Provide honest, accurate information in your About section.
- Abide by your Shop Policies.
- Ensure your store content, such as text, photos or videos used to represent yourself, your store or your listings, abide by SimplytheBest’s policies.
- Accurately represent your items in listings and listing photos.
- Respect the intellectual property of others. If you feel someone has violated your intellectual property rights, you can report it to SimplytheBest.
- Do not engage in fee avoidance.
- Do not create duplicate stores or take any other action (such as manipulating clicks, carts or sales) for the purpose of shilling, manipulating search or circumventing SimplytheBest’s policies.
- Do not coordinate pricing with other vendors.
Vendor Standards
By listing a product for sale on SimplytheBest 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. SimplytheBest assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, labeling, or content of your listings.
Quality Service Level
As a vendor, you must provide great customer service and maintain trust with your buyers. SimplytheBest may reach out to you if your store fails to meet SimplytheBest’s Vendor Service Level Standards.
By selling on SimplytheBest, you agree to:
- Honor your shipping and processing times. Vendors 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 country.
- Respond to Messages in a timely manner.
- Honor the commitments you make in your store policies.
- Resolve disagreements or disputes directly with the buyer. In the unlikely event that you can’t reach a resolution, SimplytheBest can help through our case system.
- If you are unable to complete an order, you must notify the buyer and cancel the order.
Selling Fees
Vendors may be charged for using some of SimplytheBest’s services. There may be fees associated with listing, selling, advertising, and other SimplytheBest products and features. You can find information on fees in the Fees and Payments Policy.
Being a Member of the SimplytheBest Community
At SimplytheBest, everyone is expected to treat fellow members of the SimplytheBest community with respect. As a vendor, you have additional responsibilities to safeguard personal information and communicate promptly with buyers in order to provide a great customer experience.
Creating and Uploading Content
As a member of SimplytheBest, you have the opportunity to create and upload a variety of content, like listings, messages, text, photos, and videos. In order to keep our community safe and respectful, you agree that you will not upload content that is:
- Abusive, threatening, defamatory, harassing, or otherwise in violation of our policies
- Obscene or vulgar
- In violation of someone else’s privacy or intellectual property rights
- False, deceptive, or misleading
Privacy and Protecting Personal Information
You are responsible for protecting members’ personal information you receive or process, and you must comply with all relevant legal requirements. This includes applicable data protection and privacy laws that govern the ways in which you can use SimplytheBest user information. These laws may require that you post and comply with your own privacy policy, which must be accessible to SimplytheBest users with whom you interact. Your privacy policy must be compatible with this policy and SimplytheBest’s Terms of Use.
In particular, when you sell using our Services (subject to this Policy) or use SimplytheBest’s API (also subject to the SimplytheBest API Terms of Use), you may receive and determine what to do with certain personal information, such as when communicating with users and entering into transactions with buyers. This means you process personal information (for example, buyer name, email address, and shipping address) and, to the extent you do so, under EU law, you are an independent controller of data relating to other users that you may have obtained through the Services. For more information on the General Data Protection Regulation, see more resources at https://gdpr-info.eu and http://gdprandyou.ie. As a data controller (that is someone who decides what personal data is collected and the purpose you’ll use the data for) to the extent that you process user personal information outside of the Services, you may be required under applicable data protection and privacy laws to honor requests received from such users for data access, portability, correction, deletion, and objections to processing. Also, if you disclose personal information without the buyer’s proper consent, you are responsible for that unauthorized disclosure. This includes, for example, disclosures you make or unintentional data breaches. For example, you may receive a buyer’s email address or other information as a result of entering into a transaction with that buyer. This information may only be used for SimplytheBest related communications or for SimplytheBest facilitated transactions. You may not use this information for unsolicited commercial messages or unauthorized transactions. Without the buyer’s consent, and subject to other applicable SimplytheBest policies and laws, you may not add any SimplytheBest member to your email or physical mailing list, use that buyer’s identity for marketing, or obtain or retain any payment information. Please bear in mind that you’re responsible for knowing the standard of consent required in any given instance. If SimplytheBest and you are found to be joint data controllers of personal information, and if SimplytheBest is sued, fined, or otherwise incurs expenses because of something that you did in your capacity as a joint data controller of buyer personal information, you agree to indemnify SimplytheBest for the expenses it occurs in connection with your processing of buyer personal information.
For more information, please see our Privacy Policy.
Communication Standards
With SimplytheBest Messages (available in the near future), you will have the ability to communicate directly with your buyers or other SimplytheBest members. Messages are a great way for buyers to ask you questions about an item or an order.
Messages may not be used for the following activities:
- Sending unsolicited advertising or promotions, requests for donations, or spam
- Harassing or abusing another member or violating our Anti-Discrimination Policy
- Contacting someone after they have explicitly asked you not to
- Interfering with a transaction or the business of another member
Interference
Interference occurs when a member intentionally interferes with another member’s store in order to drive away their business. Interference is strictly prohibited on SimplytheBest. Examples of interference include:
- Contacting another member via SimplytheBest Messages to warn them away from a particular member, store, or item
- Posting in public areas to demonstrate or discuss a dispute with another member
- Purchasing from a vendor for the sole purpose of leaving a negative review
- Maliciously clicking on a competitor’s Promoted Listings ads in order to drain that member’s advertising budget, also known as “click fraud”
- Creating or using an independent buyer account to maliciously upvote another store’s negative reviews in order to position those reviews more prominently
Communicating Cancellations
If you are unable to complete a transaction, you must notify the buyer via SimplytheBest Messages or email and cancel the transaction. If the buyer already submitted payment, you must issue a full refund. You are encouraged to keep proof of any refunds in the event a dispute arises. All cancellations are subject to our Cancellation Policy.
European Union Right of Withdrawal Buyers in the European Union (EU) may be entitled to a 14-day “right of withdrawal” after receiving an item, during which they may return an item for any reason. The details of this right vary by EU member state. The right of withdrawal may not apply to certain items like custom items or perishable goods. Rights with respect to digital items vary by EU member state .
Please be aware that in addition to this policy, each country has its own laws surrounding shipping, cancellations, returns, and exchanges. Please familiarize yourself with the laws of your own country and those of your buyers’ countries.
Feedback, Disputes and Your Success
Reviews are a great way for you to build a reputation on SimplytheBest. Buyers can leave a review, including a one to five star rating and a photograph of their purchase, within 100 days after their item’s estimated delivery date. If an estimated delivery date is not available, the review window opens after the order’s processing time and shipping time have elapsed. Buyers can edit their review, including the photograph, any number of times during that 100 day period. On the rare occasion you receive an unfavorable review, you can reach out to the buyer or, if the review is less than 3 stars, leave a response.
Reviews and your response to reviews may not:
- Contain private information
- Contain obscene, racist, or harassing language or imagery
- Violate our Anti-Discrimination Policy
- Contain prohibited medical drug claims
- Contain advertising or spam
- Be about things outside the vendor’s control, such as a shipping carrier, SimplytheBest or a third party
- Contain threats or extortion
- Include shilling or otherwise falsely inflate a store’s review score
- Undermine the integrity of the Reviews system
SimplytheBest’s Case System
The Case system is how order disputes are resolved at SimplytheBest. We ask buyers to contact vendors directly and attempt to resolve any outstanding issues before opening a case on SimplytheBest. For this reason, it is important that you fill out your store policies and regularly respond to messages from your buyers. However, sometimes a case may be necessary, and SimplytheBest will work with you and the buyer to resolve it as quickly as possible.
Buyers may file a case for a non-delivery or a not-as-described item (for more information on how we define these terms, click here). You must respond to any open cases within three days or the time frame noted by SimplytheBest in the case. SimplytheBest may request your assistance in resolving a case opened against your store. SimplytheBest reserves the right to escalate a case early for circumstances such as vendor inactivity, harassment, refusal of service, case manipulation, and undermining the integrity of the case system.
By using SimplytheBest’s case system, you understand that SimplytheBest may use your personal information for the purpose of resolving disputes with other members. For more information on cases and when an order might qualify for a case, please see this Help article. If SimplytheBest determines that an item is not as described, you will be required to refund the order, including original shipping and return shipping.
Your Vendor Account and SimplytheBest’s Terms
In order to keep SimplytheBest safe and improve our Services, we may take actions that limit the visibility of your store, listings or ads, or that impact your payment account. In the event a store sees unusual order activity, or we otherwise believe that your actions or store may result in buyer disputes, chargebacks, increased risk of fraud, counterfeiting, or other claims, SimplytheBest may take actions such as limiting visibility of your account, or placing restrictions or reserves on your payments account, in accordance with our Terms of Service, including this Policy and our SimplytheBest Payments Policy. When appropriate and permitted by law, SimplytheBest will communicate information to the affected vendor about the issue.
In the event a store sees an unusual spike in orders, particularly in a high demand category, a store may see an increase or decrease in its search ranking. Often, if a store sees an increase in fulfilled orders and good reviews, this may result in higher visibility and search rank. However, sometimes a rapid increase in orders can reduce visibility.
In addition, we may limit the visibility of listings or ads in the interest of keeping SimplytheBest safe, and improving our Services. For example, listings or ads may have decreased visibility because they include terms that represent a prohibited item or based on third party policies. These listings or ads may also be restricted from appearing in one or more features of the SimplytheBest Services. While these listings or ads may have limited visibility, they are still discoverable in search.
If SimplytheBest has reason to believe you, Your Content, or your use of the Services violate our Terms, including this Vendor Policy, we may deactivate Your Content or suspend or terminate your account (and any accounts SimplytheBest determines is related to your account) and your access to the Services. Generally, SimplytheBest will notify you that Your Content or account has been suspended or terminated, unless you’ve repeatedly violated our Terms or we have legal or regulatory reasons preventing us from notifying you.
Supplier Code of Conduct
SimplytheBest’s Code of Conduct outlines standards for conducting business in an ethical, lawful and responsible way. In accordance with these standards, SimplytheBest has established this Supplier Code of Conduct to ensure its suppliers are committed to the same principles.
Suppliers, their employees, agents, and subcontractors (collectively referred to as “Suppliers”) may enter into agreements with SimplytheBest to conduct business with us or on our behalf. All Suppliers are required to comply with this Supplier Code of Conduct, or at least all applicable laws and regulations. In rare circumstances, such agreements can still move forward if SimplytheBest identifies sufficient compensating controls in place to reasonably ensure legal compliance. SimplytheBest expects Suppliers to have strong corporate governance in place to support their compliance with this Code of Conduct. SimplytheBest may audit a Supplier upon reasonable notice to help confirm compliance with this Code of Conduct. SimplytheBest reserves the right to discontinue a Supplier relationship in the event they are found to be acting unlawfully or in violation of this Code of Conduct or any applicable SimplytheBest policy.
Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Anti-Corruption: Never give or offer anything of value to gain an improper advantage, whether it be in dealings with government officials or the private sector. Suppliers are required to comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
Antitrust: Do not participate in any anti-competitive conduct such as discussing or exchanging competitively sensitive information or agreeing to geographic markets, customers or pricing with competitors. Suppliers are required to comply with all applicable antitrust and fair competition laws.
Trade: Comply with applicable import and export laws, act in accordance with trade restrictions of the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and any other applicable trade restrictions.
Code of Conduct: Business Practices and Ethics
Conflicts of Interest: Avoid conflicts of interest or even the appearance of conflicts of interest. Suppliers must not deal directly with any SimplytheBest employee whose spouse, domestic partner, or other relative has an interest in the Supplier as an employee, partner, owner, investor, or similar roles, including negotiating the Supplier contract.
Gifts and Hospitality: Avoid giving gifts or providing lavish hospitality to SimplytheBest employees. If offering a gift or hospitality to an SimplytheBest employee, Suppliers should use good judgement and ensure it complies with applicable laws, and is consistent with local customs.
Insider Trading: Do not buy or sell SimplytheBest stock when in possession of material non-public information, or pass such information to any others, including friends or family.
Records Management: Accurately record, maintain, and report financial and business information. Ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations regarding such information.
External Communications: Do not speak publicly on SimplytheBest’s behalf unless authorized to do so by SimplytheBest.
Risk Management: Implement internal policies, procedures, and controls to identify, address, and remediate risks addressed in this Code of Conduct as well as applicable legal requirements.
Training and Communication: Communicate this Code of Conduct to all employees or contractors who will be conducting business with SimplytheBest and conduct training for employees, when necessary.
Anti-harassment and Unlawful Discrimination: Provide equal opportunity employment and maintain a respectful work environment that is free of discrimination, violence harassment, and intimidation.
Human Rights: Respect human rights, provide fair working conditions and prohibit forced, compulsory, or child labor.
Compensation: Provide compensation (including overtime and benefits) that at a minimum, complies with local laws. Suppliers must pay their employees in a timely manner and provide documentation detailing the basis of their pay.
Parental Leave: Abide by all applicable laws pertaining to parental leave, and offer paid benefits that are gender inclusive when possible.
Freedom of Association: Abide by all applicable laws pertaining to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Do not retaliate against employees who choose to organize.
Environmental Protection
Compliance with Environmental Laws and Regulations: Abide by all applicable laws for hazardous materials, air emissions, waste, and wastewater discharges.
Ecological Footprint: Conduct business in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner, including: resource-efficient consumption of energy, water and other natural resources, minimizing waste and diversion from landfills, and reducing harmful chemical use.
Protection of Data, Intellectual Property, and Assets
Data Protection: Protect confidential and proprietary information of SimplytheBest, SimplytheBest employees, members, and others with whom we do business. Information should not be disclosed without proper authorization and should only be used for a legitimate business purpose. All information uses must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and governing contracts.
Protect and use SimplytheBest’s intellectual property and tangible assets responsibly. SimplytheBest’s intellectual property (including name, logo, trademarks, etc.) and tangible assets should be used for legitimate business purposes and only when authorized to do so by SimplytheBest.
If a Supplier is in violation of this Code of Conduct they are required to notify SimplytheBest immediately.
To report concerns about activity related to violations of this Supplier Code of Conduct you may do so confidentially, anonymously (if desired), and free of retaliation. You may report violations to your contact at SimplytheBest using our contact form.
Last updated on April 10, 2021