Terms & Conditions

Effective Date: 3 February 2026
Last Updated: 3 February 2026

These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern your use of

valerievale.com (the “Site”)

and any purchases you make from Valérie Vale

(“Valérie Vale”, “we”, “us”, “our”, the “Store”). By accessing the Site or placing an order, you agree to these Terms.

If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.

Store Information

Definitions

For clarity, the following definitions apply:

  • “Product”: A physical book edition offered on the Site (e.g., Paperback, Limited Edition).

  • “Consumer”: An individual buying for personal use, not for business purposes.

  • “Business Customer”: Any buyer purchasing for business, resale, distribution, or commercial purposes.

  • “Resalable Condition”: The Product is unused and free from marks, writing, stains, strong odors, tears, water damage, creased covers, bent spines, missing pages, or any handling that reduces resale value.

  • “Withdrawal”: The legal right (in certain jurisdictions) for a Consumer to cancel a distance purchase within a defined period (e.g., EU/EEA/UK).

  • “Working Day / Business Day”: A day when banks and carriers normally operate, excluding weekends and public holidays.

Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in your country) to place an order. By ordering, you confirm you have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract.

Products & Availability

We offer physical books, including:

  • Paperback (available now)

  • Limited Edition (coming soon; availability may be limited)

We strive to display accurate product descriptions and images. However:

  • Colors and appearance may vary slightly depending on screen settings.

  • Minor variations in printing/cutting may occur and do not automatically constitute a defect.

We reserve the right to:

  • update Product details, availability, and pricing;

  • limit quantities per customer;

  • discontinue Products without prior notice.

Orders

1. Order placement

Placing an order constitutes an offer to purchase. An order is considered accepted when we send an order confirmation and payment is successfully processed.

2. Refusal or cancellation

We may refuse or cancel an order if:

  • payment cannot be verified,

  • the shipping address is invalid or incomplete,

  • inventory is unavailable,

  • we suspect fraud, abuse, or unauthorized activity.

If we cancel after payment, you will receive a refund to the original payment method (processing times depend on the payment provider and bank).

 

3. Customer responsibility

You are responsible for providing accurate information, including:

  • shipping address,

  • email address,

  • phone number (if required by the carrier).

We are not responsible for failed delivery due to incorrect or incomplete address details provided by you.

Prices, Currency, Taxes & Duties

Prices are shown on the Site and/or at checkout in the currency displayed for your region.

1. Taxes

Depending on your country, taxes may apply (VAT/sales tax) and may be calculated at checkout.

2. Customs & import fees (international orders)

For international shipments, your order may be subject to customs duties, import taxes, or handling fees imposed by your country. Unless explicitly stated otherwise at checkout, these fees are the customer’s responsibility and are outside our control.

Payments

Payments are processed via Stripe. Available payment methods may vary by country and local availability.

We do not store full payment card details on our servers. Your payment information is handled by the payment processor in accordance with its policies.

Shipping & Delivery

1. Worldwide shipping

We offer worldwide shipping. Shipping options, costs, and estimated delivery times are shown at checkout based on your destination.

2. Processing time

Orders are prepared and handed to the carrier within a reasonable processing time. During launches or Limited Edition releases, processing may take longer.

3. Delivery estimates

Delivery times are estimates, not guarantees. Delays may occur due to:

  • customs processing,

  • carrier disruptions,

  • local delivery conditions,

  • weather or events beyond our control.

4. Risk of loss

Risk transfers to you upon delivery (or attempted delivery) to the address you provided, subject to mandatory consumer protection rules in your jurisdiction.

5. Failed delivery / returned to sender

If a shipment is returned due to:

  • incorrect address,

  • refusal to accept,

  • failure to collect from pickup point,
    you may be responsible for reshipping costs. Refunds (if any) may be reduced by shipping and handling costs where permitted by law.

Pre-Orders & Limited Edition

If we offer a Limited Edition or pre-order:

  • Product details and any special conditions will be stated on the Product page.

  • Estimated release/shipping timelines may change.

  • If the Limited Edition is personalized (name, dedication, special numbering assigned to you, or otherwise made specifically for you), it may be treated as non-returnable except in cases of defect/damage (where permitted by law).

Returns, Withdrawals & Refunds

This section is written to be clear and protective, while recognizing that mandatory consumer laws may apply depending on where you live.

1. Damaged, defective, or wrong item (48 hours)

If your Product arrives damaged, defective, or incorrect:

  1. Email us within 48 hours of delivery at valerie.vale.official@gmail.com

  2. Include:

    • order number,

    • photos of the damage/defect,

    • photos of the packaging (if relevant),

    • a short description.

Resolution: We may offer, depending on the case:

  • replacement,

  • partial refund,

  • full refund.

Failure to report within 48 hours may limit our ability to assist, unless local law provides otherwise.

2. Non-EU/EEA/UK customers — change of mind

For customers outside the EU/EEA/UK, we do not accept returns for change of mind.
Returns are accepted only for:

  • damaged/defective items,

  • wrong item shipped,

  • missing items (reported within 48 hours).

This policy does not limit any mandatory consumer rights you may have under your local laws.

3. EU/EEA/UK Consumers — right of withdrawal (14 days)

If you are a Consumer in the EU/EEA/UK, you may have a legal right to withdraw from your purchase within 14 days of receiving the Product, without giving a reason.

To exercise withdrawal:

  1. Email us within 14 days of delivery at valerie.vale.official@gmail.com

  2. State clearly that you are withdrawing from the purchase and include your order number.

Return conditions (critical)

Returned books must be in Resalable Condition:

  • No writing, highlighting, annotations, stains, torn pages

  • No creased cover, bent spine, water damage, or strong odors

  • No handling beyond what would be reasonably allowed in a physical store

Important: You may inspect the Product as you would in a bookstore. If the Product shows signs of use beyond inspection, you may be liable for diminished value, and we may:

  • refuse the return if it is not resalable, and/or

  • issue a partial refund reflecting the diminished value, where permitted by law.

Return shipping costs

Unless the law requires otherwise, the customer pays the direct cost of return shipping for withdrawal returns.

Refund timing

Where withdrawal applies, refunds are issued after:

  • we receive and inspect the returned Product, or

  • you provide acceptable proof of return shipment (where legally applicable).

Refunds are made to the original payment method.

Original shipping cost

Where required by law for withdrawal, we refund the standard outbound shipping cost (if you paid it). If you chose an upgraded shipping option, the upgrade portion may not be refundable where permitted.

4. If you were not informed properly (EU/EEA/UK)

If required withdrawal information is not provided in the required manner, the withdrawal period may be extended under applicable law.

5. Chargebacks & payment disputes

If you believe there is an issue with your order, please contact us first. Unnecessary chargebacks increase costs and may delay resolution. We may provide proof of shipment, delivery, and product condition documentation to the payment processor in case of disputes.

Intellectual Property

All Site content (text, visuals, branding, design) and the book content are protected by intellectual property laws.

You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, or commercially exploit any content without prior written permission, except where legally permitted (e.g., brief quotations for review).

Reviews & User Content

If you submit reviews, messages, or content:

  • you confirm you have the right to submit it,

  • it must not be illegal, abusive, defamatory, or infringing,

  • we may moderate or remove content at our discretion.

Prohibited Use

You agree not to:

  • attempt unauthorized access to the Site,

  • interfere with Site security or operation,

  • use the Site for fraud or unlawful activity,

  • scrape, copy, or automate data extraction without permission.

We may restrict access or cancel orders where we reasonably suspect misuse.

Privacy & Cookies

Our handling of personal data is described in our Privacy Policy. We use cookies and analytics tools, including Google Analytics, in accordance with cookie consent preferences.

Disclaimers

The Site and Products are provided “as is” and “as available.” We do not guarantee uninterrupted operation of the Site.

Nothing in these Terms limits statutory rights that cannot be waived.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

  • We are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages.

  • Our total liability related to any order is limited to the amount you paid for that order.

This limitation does not apply where liability cannot be limited under applicable law (e.g., fraud, intentional misconduct, or mandatory consumer protections).

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from claims and expenses arising from your breach of these Terms, misuse of the Site, or violation of laws.

Force Majeure

We are not responsible for failure or delay caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including carrier disruptions, customs delays, natural disasters, strikes, war, or governmental actions.

Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. The updated version will be posted on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date. Continued use of the Site after changes indicates acceptance.

Governing Law & Disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of Belgium, without regard to conflict-of-law provisions.

If you are a Consumer, mandatory consumer protection laws in your country of residence may also apply.

Informal resolution first

Before starting formal proceedings, please contact us at valerie.vale.official@gmail.com to attempt to resolve the issue.

Note on EU ODR Platform

The European Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform has been discontinued as of 20 July 2025.
If you need guidance on consumer dispute options in the EU, you may consult official consumer redress resources.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any policies referenced at checkout (e.g., Shipping/Returns pages), constitute the entire agreement between you and the Store regarding your purchase and Site use.

Contact

For questions about orders, returns, or these Terms:
Email: valerie.vale.official@gmail.com
Website: valerievale.com