Return & Refund Policy

1. About this Policy

B2Bmarkets.com (the "Platform," "we," "us") operates an online marketplace where independent third-party sellers ("Sellers") list, sell, and ship goods to business buyers ("Buyers," "you") through auctions, requests for quote ("RFQ"), and fixed-price catalog listings.

We are an intermediary, not the seller. Every purchase made on the Platform is a contract for the sale of goods between the Buyer and the Seller. The Platform is not a party to that contract, does not take title to or possession of goods, and does not itself sell, ship, accept returns, or issue refunds. This Policy sets the minimum return and refund obligations that every Seller must honor, and the process by which Buyers may escalate an unresolved dispute to the Platform.

This Policy is incorporated by reference into, and must be read together with, the B2Bmarkets.com Website Terms & Conditions, the Auction Terms & Conditions, and the RFQ Terms & Conditions (together, the "Platform Agreements"), and forms part of each of them. This Policy has no independent legal force apart from the Platform Agreements. Where a Seller’s published listing terms conflict with this Policy, this Policy controls, except where this Policy expressly permits the Seller to set its own terms.

1.1 These are business-to-business transactions

All transactions on the Platform are between merchants for business purposes and are governed by Division 2 (Sales) of the California Commercial Code (California’s enactment of UCC Article 2). Consumer-protection rights — including any statutory right of cancellation, "cooling-off" period, or no-fault right of return — do not apply. A Buyer’s return rights are limited to those set out in this Policy and in the applicable sale contract.

2. Definitions

• Conforming Goods — goods that match the listing description, specifications, quantity, and any agreed sample or model, and that arrive undamaged.

• Non-Conforming Goods — goods that are defective, damaged in transit, materially not as described, the wrong item, or short of the ordered quantity.

• Delivery — the date the carrier records the goods as delivered to the Buyer’s stated address.

• Inspection Period — [5] business days from Delivery, during which the Buyer must inspect goods and report any non-conformity.

• RMA — a Return Merchandise Authorization issued by the Seller (or, on escalation, the Platform) before goods are returned.

3. Inspection and Acceptance

Buyers have the right to inspect goods on arrival. The Buyer must inspect the goods and notify the Seller of any non-conformity, through the Platform messaging system, before the end of the Inspection Period.

Goods are deemed accepted if the Buyer does not report a non-conformity within the Inspection Period, or if the Buyer uses, resells, alters, or commingles the goods beyond what is reasonably necessary to inspect them. Once goods are accepted, the Buyer’s only remaining remedy is for a latent defect that could not reasonably have been discovered on inspection, reported promptly after discovery and within [30] days of Delivery.

Buyers handling perishable, time-sensitive, or rapidly degrading goods should inspect on arrival; the Inspection Period for such categories may be shortened in the listing.

4. Mandatory Returns (every Seller must accept)

A Seller must accept a return and issue a full refund (including original outbound shipping) where the goods are Non-Conforming — specifically when the goods are:

1. defective or not in working order;

2. damaged in transit;

3. materially different from the listing description, specifications, photos, or agreed sample;

4. the wrong item; or

5. short of the ordered quantity (refund or completion of the order, at the Buyer’s election).

For mandatory returns:

• the Seller pays return shipping and refunds original outbound shipping;

• no restocking fee may be charged;

• the Seller may first elect to cure — repair, replace, or complete the shipment within [10] business days — instead of refunding, provided the cure fully resolves the non-conformity and the Buyer agrees to a reasonable cure timeline.

A claim under this Section must be reported within the Inspection Period and supported by reasonable evidence (photos, packing-slip discrepancy, carrier damage report, etc.).

5. Discretionary (No-Fault) Returns

B2B sales carry no automatic right of return for buyer’s remorse, over-ordering, changed requirements, or any other reason unrelated to non-conformity.

A Seller may choose to accept no-fault returns. If it does, the Seller must state its no-fault return terms clearly on the listing before purchase, including:

• whether no-fault returns are accepted at all;

• the return window;

• any restocking fee (Seller’s discretion; must be disclosed pre-purchase and may not be applied to mandatory returns under Section 4); and

• who pays return shipping.

For no-fault returns, return logistics, restocking charges, and shipping costs are arranged directly between the Buyer and the Seller in accordance with the disclosed listing terms. The Platform does not mandate these terms but does require that they be disclosed before purchase and honored as disclosed.

If a listing is silent on no-fault returns, no-fault returns are not available for that item.

6. Rules by Sale Type

6.1 Auctions

Auction sales are final sale. The only returns permitted on auction purchases are mandatory returns under Section 4 (Non-Conforming Goods). No-fault returns do not apply to auction wins. Buyers are responsible for reviewing all listing details, condition disclosures, and any "as-is" notices before bidding.

6.2 RFQ / Negotiated Orders

For RFQ and other negotiated orders, the return terms agreed in the accepted quote control. Where the quote is silent, this Policy’s baseline applies. Mandatory returns under Section 4 apply to RFQ orders regardless of negotiated terms and cannot be waived by the Seller, except that the parties may agree in writing that specified goods are sold as-is where the relevant condition is disclosed and accepted in the quote.

6.3 Catalog / Fixed-Price Listings

This Policy applies in full: mandatory returns under Section 4 always; no-fault returns only as disclosed on the listing under Section 5.

7. Non-Returnable Goods

Unless Non-Conforming under Section 4, the following are not returnable and may be sold final-sale where disclosed on the listing:

• custom-made, made-to-order, or built-to-spec goods;

• perishable goods, food, and goods with a short shelf life;

• hazardous materials and regulated substances;

• goods sold expressly "as-is," "salvage," "clearance," or "final sale";

• items where a returnable seal or tamper-evidence has been broken, where the item cannot be resold for health, safety, or regulatory reasons; and

• licensed or downloadable software and digital goods once activated or accessed.

8. How to Request a Return

1. Open a return request through the Platform within the applicable window (Inspection Period for mandatory returns; the Seller’s disclosed window for no-fault returns). Requests must be made through the Platform, not by direct email or phone, so that a record exists for any later dispute.

2. Receive an RMA. Do not ship goods back without an RMA. Returns sent without authorization may be refused.

3. Return the goods in their original packaging where possible, using a trackable method, within [14] days of receiving the RMA.

4. Refund or replacement is issued per Section 9 once the Seller receives and verifies the return.

The Seller must respond to a return request within [3] business days.

9. Refunds

• Who issues refunds. The Seller issues all refunds. The Platform may facilitate or, on escalation, direct a refund through the Platform’s payment system. Under no condition is B2B Markets responsible for any and all damages, returns or refunds on any transaction kind. Sellers & Buyers shall take necessary steps to resolve all returns or refunds.

• Amount. Mandatory returns: full purchase price plus original and return shipping. No-fault returns: purchase price less any disclosed restocking fee and shipping as disclosed.

• Method. Refunds are issued to the original payment method.

• Timing. Within [10] business days of the Seller receiving and verifying the returned goods.

10. Dispute Resolution and Platform Escalation

Step 1 — Direct resolution. Buyer and Seller must first attempt to resolve any return or refund dispute directly through Platform messaging.

Step 2 — Platform escalation. If the dispute is unresolved [7] business days after the Buyer first reported it, either party may escalate to the Platform at [[email protected]]. The Platform will review the listing, order record, messages, and evidence submitted.

Step 3 — Platform determination. The Platform may, in its sole & absolute discretion, mediate, direct a refund or partial refund, order a return, release or hold funds, or decline to intervene where the dispute falls outside this Policy. The Platform acts as a neutral facilitator, not an arbitrator, and does not guarantee any outcome. A determination resolves the matter for Platform purposes only; it does not limit either party’s separate legal rights.

The Platform will acknowledge an escalation within [2] business days and aim to reach a determination within [10] business days.

11. Seller Compliance

Sellers agree, as a condition of selling on the Platform, to honor this Policy in full. Failure to honor mandatory returns, disclose no-fault terms accurately, or comply with a Platform determination may result in withheld payouts, listing removal, account suspension, or termination under the Platform Agreements.

12. Release, Indemnification, and Hold Harmless

The Platform is an intermediary and is not a party to any transaction between a Buyer and a Seller. The Platform does not manufacture, inspect, store, handle, ship, or take title to any goods listed or sold on the Platform, and is not responsible for the conduct, acts, or omissions of any Buyer or Seller.

Each Buyer and Seller agrees that any dispute, claim, loss, or damage arising out of or relating to a transaction, listing, communication, payment, return, refund, non-delivery, or the quality, safety, legality, description, or conformity of goods is solely between the Buyer and the Seller. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each Buyer and Seller releases and holds harmless B2Bmarkets.com and its parent, subsidiaries, officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates (the "Platform Parties") from any and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees), of every kind and nature, whether direct or indirect, known or unknown, that arise out of or are in any way connected with such a dispute or transaction.

Waiver of California Civil Code § 1542. Each Buyer and Seller expressly waives the protections of California Civil Code Section 1542, which provides: "A general release does not extend to claims that the creditor or releasing party does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release and that, if known by him or her, would have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor or released party." Each Buyer and Seller understands the significance of this waiver and assumes the risk of claims that are presently unknown or unsuspected.

Indemnification. Each Buyer and Seller agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Platform Parties from and against any third-party claim, demand, action, or proceeding, and any resulting liabilities, damages, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees), arising out of or related to: (i) its transactions or dealings with another user; (ii) the goods it buys, sells, ships, or receives through the Platform; (iii) its breach of this Policy or any of the Platform Agreements; or (iv) its violation of any applicable law or the rights of any third party.

Exclusions. Nothing in this Section limits or excludes any liability that cannot be limited or excluded under applicable law, including liability arising from a Platform Party's own fraud, willful misconduct, or gross negligence.

13. Governing Law

This Policy and all sale contracts formed on the Platform are governed by the laws of the State of California, including Division 2 of the California Commercial Code, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles. Venue and dispute-resolution provisions in the Website Terms & Conditions apply.

14. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Policy. Changes take effect when posted with a revised "Last updated" date and apply to orders placed after that date.

15. Contact

Returns and dispute escalation: [email protected]

General support: [email protected]

This Policy is part of the B2Bmarkets.com Platform Agreements — the Website Terms & Conditions, the Auction Terms & Conditions, and the RFQ Terms & Conditions. Capitalized terms not defined here have the meaning given in those agreements.