Rattan and Riempie Restorers — Terms & Conditions

1. Definitions

“Seller” refers to Rattan and Riempie Restorers.
“Buyer” refers to the customer purchasing goods, requesting quotes, or commissioning restoration services.
“Goods” refers to riempies (kudu, bovine, synthetic), cane webbing, rattan, and related materials supplied.
“Services” refers to restoration, repair, hand-weaving, cane seating, and other workshop work undertaken by the Seller.

2. Orders & Payment

Goods

Orders for goods are confirmed only upon receipt of full payment. No goods will be dispatched or released without payment in full.

Services

Orders for services are confirmed upon receipt of a 50% deposit. The balance is payable upon completion and prior to collection or delivery.

Quotations

Quotations are valid for 14 calendar days unless otherwise stated in writing.

Price and Stock Availability

Price Changes: Due to circumstances beyond the Seller’s control—such as international events, supply chain disruptions, shipping delays, or significant increases in raw material costs—quoted prices may need to be adjusted. Prices for materials not yet purchased or secured are subject to change if supplier prices or availability change. Any necessary price adjustments will be communicated to the Buyer and agreed upon before proceeding with the affected work.
Stock Disruptions: In the event of a stock shortage or supply disruption, including those caused by international events or shipping delays, the Buyer may choose to:
- Wait for stock to become available, understanding that material prices may have changed by the time stock arrives and that the original quoted price may no longer apply; or
- Request a refund of their deposit if the required materials are unavailable and the Buyer chooses not to proceed.
- If the Buyer chooses to proceed once stock becomes available, any necessary price adjustments will be communicated and agreed upon before work continues.

VAT

The Seller is not a registered VAT vendor; therefore, no VAT is charged on any goods or services.

3. Supply of Goods

Delivery & Risk

Risk in the goods passes to the Buyer upon collection or delivery to the courier/carrier. The Seller is not liable for courier delays, transport transit damage, or customs clearance.

Delivery Charges

Orders above R1,500 are delivered free of charge within South Africa. Orders below this threshold may incur standard delivery fees.

Quality & Variations

Goods are inspected before dispatch. Natural variations in shade, grain, thickness, or texture inherent to raw kudu hide, bovine leather, cane, and rattan are natural characteristics and do not constitute defects.

Returns & Refunds

Returns are accepted only for unused, uncut, and unopened standard stock goods reported within 7 calendar days of receipt.
Goods must be returned in their original condition and packaging.
Made-to-order or custom-processed goods—including kudu riempies cut or dried to order and cane webbing cut to customer-specified lengths—are non-returnable and non-refundable, except where verified defective.
Misuse, incorrect installation, chemical alteration, or partial use voids all return eligibility.
Refunds or replacements are granted at the Seller’s sole discretion, limited to the invoice value of the goods supplied, subject to applicable law.

Usage Disclaimer

Responsibility for application, installation, and third-party restoration work lies solely with the Buyer.

4. Workshop Services & Uncollected Property

Scope of Work

Services are undertaken strictly as per the written accepted quotation. Additional work requested will be quoted separately and undertaken only with the Buyer’s prior approval.

Materials & Ownership

Materials supplied by the Seller remain the Seller’s property until the total invoice amount is received in full. If the Buyer supplies their own materials, the Seller accepts no responsibility for material defects, strength, suitability, or performance.

Quotations Declined or Expired

Furniture delivered or offloaded at the Seller’s premises for assessment or quotation remains the Buyer’s property and is accepted strictly for assessment purposes.
If the Buyer declines a quotation, or fails to accept it within its 14-day validity period, the Buyer must arrange for the collection and removal of all furniture (including cushions and loose accessories) within 7 calendar days of being notified.
Transport and collection arrangements are entirely the responsibility and expense of the Buyer.

Completed Restorations & Collection Window

Completion dates provided are estimates only. The Buyer must collect completed furniture within 14 calendar days of being notified that the work is ready for pickup, unless alternative written arrangements have been agreed upon.

Tiered Storage & Handling Charges

The Seller does not provide indefinite or free storage for furniture left at the workshop premises. Items remaining on the premises past the applicable collection window (7 days for declined/expired quotes; 14 days for completed work) will automatically accrue daily storage and handling charges based on physical footprint and shop management effort:

Category	Item Description / Example	Daily Storage Fee
Small / Single Items	Dining chairs, stools, small side tables, loose cushions	R50.00 / day
Medium Items	Large single armchairs, rockers, servers, desks	R100.00 / day
Large / Multi-Piece Sets	2/3-seater sofas, full lounge suites (e.g., 4-piece cane suites), full dining sets	R200.00 / day

No furniture or materials will be released until all accumulated storage charges and outstanding invoices are paid in full.

Worker’s Lien (Ius Retentionis)

The Seller retains a legal worker’s lien over all items restored, repaired, or held on the premises. The Seller reserves the right to withhold possession of all items until all restoration invoices, assessment fees, and accrued storage charges are paid in full.

Abandonment, Asset Realisation & Shortfall (Res Derelicta)

Notice of Abandonment: If furniture remains uncollected for more than 30 calendar days following the collection deadline, and the Buyer fails to respond or collect following written notice (via WhatsApp, email, or SMS), the property will be deemed legally abandoned (res derelicta).
Right to Sell or Dispose: Where accrued storage fees (plus any unpaid restoration balances) equal or exceed the reasonable second-hand trade value of the uncollected items, the Seller reserves the unconditional right to sell the items by private treaty, second-hand trade, or public auction to recover accrued costs, or dispose of them if unsellable.
Application of Proceeds: Proceeds from any sale will be applied first toward transaction/selling expenses, second to accrued storage fees, and third to unpaid restoration balances. Any surplus proceeds remaining after full settlement will be held for the owner for 90 days, after which unclaimed funds are forfeited. If sale proceeds fail to cover total accrued charges, the Buyer remains legally liable for the outstanding shortfall.

Quality & Natural Variations

Restoration involves natural, traditional materials with inherent physical variations. Minor differences in finish, color, hide character, or weave tension are natural characteristics of hand-craftsmanship and do not constitute defects.

Liability & Workmanship Warranty

Workmanship is warranted for 6 months under normal residential use, subject to applicable law.
The Seller is not liable for damage caused by misuse, fair wear and tear, structural overload, neglect, or adverse environmental conditions—including high/low humidity, direct sunlight, rain, wood-boring insects, or pests.
Liability under this warranty is strictly limited to the repair or re-execution of defective workmanship.

Customer-Supplied Items & Pre-Existing Damage

The Seller accepts no responsibility for pre-existing internal damage, dry rot, woodworm, hidden glue failure, or structural weaknesses in furniture supplied for restoration. Work on structurally compromised frames is undertaken entirely at the Buyer’s risk.

5. Limitation of Liability

General Liability

Liability is strictly limited to the value of the goods or services supplied, subject to applicable law. The Seller is not responsible for any indirect, special, or consequential losses, including loss of use, business interruption, or reputational damage, to the extent permitted by law.

Insurance Responsibility

The Buyer is solely responsible for insuring their furniture against risk while it is located on the Seller’s premises or in transit.
While the Seller will take all reasonable precautions to safeguard items in its care, the Seller cannot prevent all risks—including fire, flood, theft, accidental workshop damage, or unforeseen events beyond reasonable control.
The Seller accepts no liability for uninsured items, except where such liability cannot lawfully be excluded under South African law.

6. Jurisdiction & Legal Framework

These Terms & Conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
Any legal action or dispute arising from these terms shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the competent courts in Johannesburg / Gauteng.
E&OE (Errors & Omissions Excepted).