Terms & Conditions
Welcome to The House of Almaari (“we,” “our,” “us”). These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern your use of our website and social-media channels, and your purchase of jewellery and related services from us. By accessing our Site, interacting with our social platforms, or placing an order, you agree to these Terms and all applicable New Zealand laws.
SECTION 1. SCOPE
These Terms apply to:
- Use of our website and all official social-media channels
- Purchases of ready-to-ship necklace sets, pre-orders, and custom designs
- Related services such as bespoke orders, promotions, or gift cards (if offered)
SECTION 2. WEBSITE USE
- You may not misuse the Site, attempt unauthorised access, introduce malware, or scrape content.
- All content, including text, images, and video, is for personal, non-commercial viewing unless we give prior written permission.
SECTION 3. ORDERS & ACCEPTANCE
Order Process: Your order is an offer to purchase. We accept it only when we email a confirmation.
Custom & Pre-Orders: Custom and pre-order pieces are handcrafted to order and typically dispatched within 6-9 weeks from confirmation, unless otherwise advised in writing.
We may require a deposit or full payment before production begins. Because these items are made especially for you, they are final sale and cannot be cancelled or returned once production has started, except where required by law.
Changes/Cancellation Requests: Requests for changes after production starts may incur extra costs or be declined.
3.1 Right to Refuse Service or Cancel Orders
We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to refuse or cancel any order or service, including but not limited to cases of suspected fraud, unauthorised or illegal activity, payment issues, abusive or inappropriate conduct, or errors in product information or pricing.
If we cancel an order after payment has been received, we will issue a full refund to the original payment method.
If you request a cancellation before dispatch and we agree, any refund will be at our sole discretion and may be subject to deduction of non-recoverable payment-processing fees.
SECTION 4. PRICE & PAYMENT
Currency & GST: All prices on our website are listed in New Zealand Dollars (NZD) and include Goods & Services Tax (GST) at 15% where applicable, unless expressly stated otherwise.
International Orders & Currency Conversion: For customers outside New Zealand, prices are shown in NZD and do not include any foreign taxes, duties, or import fees, which remain the customer’s responsibility.
For convenience, our website may display approximate prices in other currencies based on current exchange rates. All orders are processed and charged in New Zealand Dollars (NZD), and the final amount in your local currency will depend on the exchange rate and any fees applied by your card provider or payment service.
The House of Almaari is not liable for any foreign-exchange conversion or international transaction fees, nor for exchange-rate fluctuations between the time of purchase and the time your card is charged.
Payment Processing: Payments are securely processed through Shopify and/or its integrated payment gateways. Your payment information is handled in accordance with Shopify’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
While we choose reputable processors, The House of Almaari is not responsible for Shopify’s platform availability, technical issues, or any fees imposed by your card provider or Shopify’s payment partners.
Accuracy of Pricing: We strive to ensure all pricing is accurate and current. In the rare event of an obvious pricing error, we reserve the right to correct the price or cancel an order and issue a full refund before dispatch.
Payment: Secure payment methods are listed at checkout. Payment must be received in full before dispatch.
SECTION 5. SHIPPING, DELIVERY & RISK
5.1 Estimated Dispatch & Timing
We make every reasonable effort to send your jewellery by the timeframe indicated at checkout.
International shipping can involve factors beyond our control - such as courier delays or customs inspections - we cannot promise delivery on an exact date.
If you need your order for a special occasion, please confirm with us prior to placing the order. If we foresee a delay, we will communicate with you as soon as possible.
You agree that The House of Almaari is not financially responsible for any costs or losses arising from a delayed delivery.
5.2 Method of Delivery & Address Accuracy
All purchases are shipped via tracked, signature-required courier to the shipping address you provide at checkout.
Please ensure the address is correct and that someone will be available to sign for the parcel at the time of delivery.
Risk of loss remains with us until delivery is completed as described below.
5.3 Completion of Delivery
An order is considered delivered when the courier records a signature at the address you supplied, regardless of whether the signature is yours or that of someone authorised to accept the parcel.
5.4 International Shipments
For orders sent outside New Zealand, additional courier charges may apply and must be paid in advance.
You are solely responsible for any customs duties, import taxes, or other local fees required by your country’s authorities.
5.5 Customs Duties, Import Taxes & Brokerage Fees
Outside New Zealand: Orders may be subject to customs duties, VAT/GST, import taxes, brokerage fees, or other charges imposed by the destination country’s authorities or courier.
Responsibility: These charges are not included in our product price or shipping cost and are payable directly to your local customs office or delivery carrier.
Delays & Refusals: Customs inspections may delay delivery. If you refuse delivery or fail to pay duties/taxes and the parcel is returned to us, we will refund the product price less original shipping costs, any return shipping charges, and any duties/taxes we are required to pay on your behalf.
Post-Delivery Bills: If you receive a bill for duties or taxes after delivery, it originates from your country’s customs or postal service. We have no control over these assessments and are not liable for reimbursement.
SECTION 6. RETURNS & REFUNDS
Consumer Guarantees Act: Your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 remain fully protected.
Ready-to-Ship Products: All sales are final. We do not accept returns, exchanges, or refunds for change of mind on ready-to-ship items.
Custom & Pre-Orders: Custom and pre-order pieces are also final sale and cannot be cancelled or returned once production begins or for change of mind, except where required by law.
Damaged-in-Transit Claims:
o If your order arrives damaged, you must notify us within 24 hours of receipt and provide clear photos and videos of the packaging and item to info@thehouseofalmaari.com
- We will review the evidence and, at our sole discretion, determine whether a repair or refund is appropriate.
- Failure to notify us within 24 hours or to supply the requested evidence may result in the claim being declined.
International Returns & Customs Charges: If a parcel is returned to us for any reason and New Zealand Customs imposes import duties, GST, or other fees, the customer is responsible for those charges. Any amounts we pay will be deducted from any approved refund or charged to you directly.
SECTION 7. PRODUCT CARE & WEAR
Normal wear and tear, accidental damage, or damage caused by improper care (such as exposure to chemicals, impact, or incorrect storage) is not considered a manufacturing defect.
Because many of our pieces are finished with 22K gold plating, a gradual softening or fading of the plating may occur over time - this is a natural characteristic of plated jewellery and depends on how often and how carefully the piece is worn.
Such changes are not faults and do not qualify for return, exchange, or refund.
To help preserve the finish, please refer to our care guide.
SECTION 8. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
All content on our website and social-media platforms - including jewellery designs, photography, product images, graphics, text, videos, and logos - is the exclusive property of The House of Almaari or used with permission from our licensors.
Duplication or unauthorised use of any images, videos, or content is strictly prohibited. Reproducing, downloading, distributing, or exploiting our content for commercial or personal gain without prior written consent is a breach of intellectual-property rights and may result in civil or criminal liability.
You may view and share our content for personal, non-commercial purposes only, provided it is not altered and proper attribution is given.
SECTION 9. DESIGN SIMILARITY & OWNERSHIP DISCLAIMER
We create custom and made-to-order designs using original concepts, but jewellery design naturally draws on shared cultural and aesthetic traditions.
We do not guarantee that any custom design will be entirely unique or free from resemblance to designs created independently by other brands or artisans.
Custom order designs are not exclusive to the commissioning customer. The House of Almaari retains full rights in all design concepts, sketches, and finished pieces created through a custom order and may reproduce, adapt, or offer the same or similar designs for future clients on an on-demand basis.
We are not liable for coincidental or unintentional similarities between our designs and those appearing elsewhere.
SECTION 10. THIRD-PARTY LINKS & SERVICES
Our Site and social-media content may include links or integrations with third-party platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, and others.
These platforms are not operated or controlled by The House of Almaari, and their own terms of use and privacy policies apply.
We provide these links solely for convenience and are not responsible for:
- The content, security, or privacy practices of those third parties,
- Any changes to their services, or
- Any damages or loss resulting from your use of them.
Accessing or using these external sites or services is at your own risk.
SECTION 11. PRIVACY & COOKIES
We collect and use personal information as described in our Privacy Policy, which complies with the Privacy Act 2020.
We use cookies and analytics to improve the Site as outlined in that policy.
SECTION 12. SOCIAL MEDIA & USER-GENERATED CONTENT
By tagging @thehouseofalmaari or using our branded hashtags (e.g., #TheHouseofAlmaari), you grant The House of Almaari a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, repost, edit, and share that content on our website, social media, and marketing materials.
You confirm you own the rights to the content and that our use will not infringe any third-party rights.
As a courtesy, we may also contact you privately to request confirmation before sharing or featuring your images or videos, but such additional permission is not required for the licence granted above.
12.1 Community Conduct
We welcome open conversation on our social channels, but we reserve the right to remove comments or block users for harassment, hate speech, false claims, spam, or content that violates the rights of others.
12.2 Platform Policies Acknowledgement
Our social-media pages operate on third-party platforms. Your use of those platforms is also governed by their own terms and privacy policies (e.g., Instagram Terms of Use, TikTok Community Guidelines). We are not responsible for changes to those platforms or their services.
12.3 Influencer & Collaboration Disclosures
We comply with the NZ Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) Influencer Guidelines. Any sponsored posts or gifted-product promotions will be clearly disclosed with #ad or #gifted as required.
12.4 Giveaways & Contests
From time to time we may run giveaways or contests on our social channels.
- Eligibility requirements (such as age or country) and entry details will be stated in the specific promotion.
- Prize descriptions, draw dates, and winner-notification methods will also be clearly set out.
- Unless expressly stated, these promotions are not sponsored or endorsed by Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube, or LinkedIn.
12.5 Ideas, Feedback and Other Submissions
From time to time you may send us comments, suggestions, proposals, plans, contest entries, or other materials - whether at our request or voluntarily (“Submissions”).
By providing a Submission, you grant The House of Almaari a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use, reproduce, edit, publish, translate, distribute, and display that material in any medium for any lawful purpose, without obligation to you.
We are not required to:
- maintain Submissions in confidence,
- compensate you for Submissions, or
- respond to Submissions.
You represent and warrant that your Submissions do not infringe any third-party rights (including copyright, trademark, privacy, or other proprietary rights) and do not contain unlawful, abusive, defamatory, obscene, or harmful material or malware.
You must not misrepresent your identity or the origin of a Submission.
You remain solely responsible for the accuracy and legality of your Submissions, and we accept no liability for any content provided by you or other users.
SECTION 13. LIABILITY & DISCLAIMERS
Purchase Price Cap: To the fullest extent permitted by New Zealand law, our total liability for any claim - whether in contract, tort (including negligence), or otherwise - is limited to the total amount you paid for the Product(s) that gave rise to the claim.
No Consequential or Indirect Loss: We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential loss or damage, including loss of profits, revenue, data, goodwill, or business opportunities, except as required by the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 or other non-excludable laws.
Colour, Stones & Display Variations: Product photographs are provided as a visual guide only. Natural semi-precious gemstones and precious metals may display slight variations in colour, inclusions, texture, or finish compared with images shown on our website or social-media channels. Lighting, screen settings, and photography techniques can also create minor differences in hue or appearance. Such variations are not considered faults or misrepresentations.
Product Information & Pricing Accuracy: While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, occasional errors may occur - including pricing mistakes, typographical errors, incorrect images, colour references, stock levels, or product descriptions. We reserve the right to correct any errors or omissions and to change or update information (including prices and availability) at any time without notice. If an error affects your order, we may cancel it and refund any amount you have paid.
Service Interruptions & Third-Party Platforms: We are not liable for losses arising from website downtime, maintenance, technical issues, social-media outages, or changes to third-party services (e.g., Instagram, Pinterest, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok), or from failures or delays caused by third-party providers such as hosting, payment gateways, or shipping carriers.
Statutory Rights Preserved: Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes any rights or remedies you have under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 or other non-excludable New Zealand legislation.
SECTION 14. FORCE MAJEURE
We are not liable for any delay or failure to perform obligations caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, strikes, courier disruptions, or government restrictions.
SECTION 15. DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Before starting legal proceedings, you agree to first contact us to attempt an amicable resolution. If unresolved, disputes will be governed by New Zealand law and heard in New Zealand courts.
SECTION 16. AGE REQUIREMENT
You confirm that you are at least 18 years old, or using the Site under the supervision of a parent or guardian who agrees to these Terms.
SECTION 17. AMENDMENTS
We may update these Terms at any time by posting a new version with the effective date. Continued use of the Site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
SECTION 18. SEVERABILITY & WAIVER
If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, that provision will be severed and the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.
Our failure or delay to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.
SECTION 19. INDEMNIFICATION
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless The House of Almaari, its directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, and affiliates from and against any claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or related to:
- your breach of these Terms,
- your violation of any law or the rights of a third party, or
- any content or materials you submit or share with us.
We will promptly notify you of any such claim and may take steps to defend it at our discretion.
SECTION 20. CONTACT US
Email: info@thehouseofalmaari.com
Effective Date: September 2025
