Effective from 12/03/2024

Welcome to the Hivoox marketplace, an innovative and secure platform exclusively dedicated to the sale of products and services between businesses (B2B). Hivoox provides a collaborative environment where businesses can connect, exchange, and thrive in a professional setting.

These terms define the rules and principles governing the use of the platform by sellers. They specify the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of sellers to ensure a transparent, fair, and compliant experience in accordance with applicable regulations.

By registering on the platform and offering products or services, sellers agree to adhere to these terms, which are designed to protect all parties involved and maintain the integrity and quality of business interactions. Hivoox is committed to creating a reliable and efficient marketplace where every seller can grow their business in a structured and user-friendly environment.

1. Registration and Eligibility

1.1 Seller Account Creation and Management

Sellers must create a business account on the Hivoox platform to access its services.
During registration, sellers must provide accurate, complete, and up-to-date information, including:

The business or professional name.
The full address.
Contact details, including a valid phone number and a professional email address.
Sellers are responsible for regularly updating their information to ensure its accuracy and compliance.

1.2 Seller Eligibility Criteria

Hivoox is exclusively intended for legally registered businesses and professionals authorized to provide B2B products or services. Sellers must comply with all applicable local and international laws and regulations in their country of registration and the countries where they operate. Hivoox reserves the right to refuse or suspend access to the platform if the seller does not meet the eligibility criteria or comply with applicable laws.

1.3 Account Verification

To ensure a secure and compliant environment, Hivoox requires sellers to submit documentation to verify their identity and legitimacy. Required documents may include, but are not limited to:

Business registration certificate: proving that the business is legally established.
VAT or tax identification number: confirming the business’s tax status.
Identity documents of the legal representative or professional: to verify the identity of the person registering the account.

Proof of product/service compliance or quality: such as certificates, test reports, or specific authorizations.
Hivoox may also conduct additional checks, such as interviews or audits, to ensure the integrity of registered sellers.

2. Authorized Products and Services

2.1 Eligible Products and Services

Hivoox is a marketplace exclusively dedicated to business-to-business (B2B) transactions.
As a seller on our platform:

You may offer products and services strictly intended for a business, organization, or professional clientele.
Products and services must meet all applicable quality and safety standards, in compliance with local and international laws and regulations.

Listings must be described clearly and accurately, including detailed information on features, technical specifications, and terms of use.
The services offered must be delivered within the advertised timelines and must honor contractual commitments made with buyers.
Hivoox encourages sellers to maintain high-quality standards to ensure customer satisfaction and strengthen trust between parties.

2.2 Prohibited Products and Services

To protect the integrity of the platform and ensure legal compliance, Hivoox strictly prohibits the sale of the following:

Illegal or counterfeit products: Any item or service that violates local, national, or international laws or regulations.
Food, perishable, or medical products: Hivoox does not accept these types of offerings, even if they comply with local regulations.
Products or services infringing intellectual property rights: This includes items protected by patents, copyrights, trademarks, or other legal protections, unless the seller holds the necessary rights.

Inappropriate or discriminatory content: Products or services containing obscene, hateful, defamatory, discriminatory elements, or promoting fraudulent or illegal activities.
Products non-compliant with safety standards: Items that are hazardous to end users or do not meet required certifications and mandatory safety requirements.

2.3 Consequences of Non-Compliance

In the event of a violation of these rules, Hivoox reserves the right to:

Suspend or remove non-compliant listings.
Restrict or terminate the seller’s access to the platform.
Inform the relevant authorities if illegal products or services are identified.
Take legal action to protect the integrity of the platform and the rights of users.
Hivoox is committed to maintaining a safe, fair, and professional business environment for all marketplace users. Sellers are encouraged to report any suspicious content or activity through the dedicated contact channels.

3. Offer Presentation

3.1 Accurate Descriptions

A clear and comprehensive presentation of offers is essential to ensure transparency and trust between sellers and buyers on Hivoox.

To this end, sellers must
Provide detailed and accurate descriptions of the products or services offered, including:

Technical Specifications: Dimensions, materials, performance, compatibility, specifications, or any other relevant details.
Terms of Use: Clear instructions on how to use the product or benefit from the service, including any restrictions or special requirements.
Warranty and Return Policy: Indicate whether the product or service comes with a warranty, the duration of the warranty, and the conditions for returns or exchanges (if applicable).

Ensure that the information provided accurately reflects the product or service being sold to avoid misunderstandings or disputes.
Sellers must maintain up-to-date information and promptly inform buyers of any changes affecting their offer.

3.2 Images and Content

Use of High-Quality Images: The images must be clear, high resolution, and accurately represent the product or service. They should allow the buyer to clearly visualize the item (front view, specific details, included accessories, etc.).

Respect for Copyright and Intellectual Property: Sellers must ensure that the images, videos, or other visual content they use are their property or that they have the necessary permissions. The use of unauthorized images or content may lead to the removal of the listing or legal penalties.

Honest Descriptive Content: Any form of misrepresentation, false advertising, or exaggerated promises is strictly prohibited. These practices, in addition to damaging the seller’s reputation, may lead to account suspension or termination.

3.3 Editorial Standards

Descriptions must be written in a professional tone, without spelling or grammatical errors, in order to reflect a serious and reliable image of the seller.
Listings must not contain discriminatory, offensive, or inappropriate language.
Sellers must avoid unnecessary or irrelevant content, focusing only on the essential information for buyers.

3.4 Listing Review and Approval

Hivoox reserves the right to review listings before or after they are published.
If a listing does not comply with the established standards, Hivoox may:

Request the seller to modify it.
Temporarily or permanently suspend the listing.
Terminate the seller’s account in case of repeated violations or serious breaches of the rules.

4. Seller Obligations

Compliance with Laws and Regulations: Sellers must ensure that all products and services offered on the Hivoox marketplace comply with applicable laws and regulations, both in their country of origin and in the countries where their customers are located.

This includes, but is not limited to:

Import and export requirements.Safety and quality standards.
Consumer protection and data privacy laws.
Legal Documentation: Sellers must possess certificates, licenses, and other documents that verify the legality and compliance of their products/services.

4.2 Product and Service Quality

Accuracy of Offers: Products and services must exactly match the descriptions provided on the platform. Sellers must ensure that each product/service meets the promised quality standards and is free from major defects.

Delivery and Execution Times: Sellers are committed to meeting the agreed delivery times for products or service execution. Any delays must be promptly communicated to the buyer.

Warranties and After-Sales Service:

Sellers must honor the warranties stated in their product/service descriptions.
They must provide efficient after-sales service, handling repairs, replacements, or refunds in accordance with their stated policies.

4.3 Customer Service

Responsiveness and Professionalism:

Sellers must respond to buyer questions, concerns, and complaints within a reasonable timeframe, ideally within 24 to 48 hours.
Communication should be respectful, clear, and focused on resolving issues.
Dispute Resolution: In case of a dispute, sellers must cooperate with Hivoox and the buyer to find a fair solution, in accordance with the platform’s conflict resolution policies.

4.4 Pricing and Payments

Price Transparency:

Prices displayed must be accurate, clear, and include all applicable fees (e.g., shipping costs, taxes).
VAT may be added separately if necessary, according to local tax laws.
Any price changes must be updated on the platform immediately.

Prohibition of Off-Platform Transactions:

All payments related to transactions initiated on Hivoox must be processed exclusively through the platform’s secure payment systems. Sellers must not solicit or accept direct payments outside the marketplace, under penalty of account suspension or termination.

Accuracy of Financial Data: Sellers must provide valid banking information to enable payment processing by Hivoox. Any fraud or manipulation of financial data will result in immediate penalties.

4.5 Responsibility

Sellers assume full responsibility for the products and services they offer, including any damages or losses resulting from non-compliance or poor execution. They also agree to indemnify Hivoox in case of disputes or legal actions arising from the sale of their products/services.

5. Fees and Commissions

5.1 Usage Fees

Registration on Hivoox is free, but the use of certain specific features or access to premium categories may require a monthly subscription.
Hivoox charges a commission on each successfully completed transaction via the platform.

5.2 Commission Calculation

Commission rates vary depending on the categories of products or services and will be clearly communicated to sellers before listing their products or services.
These fees are intended to cover the management, maintenance, and promotion costs of the marketplace, ensuring a safe and efficient environment for all parties.

5.3 Subscription Fees

For certain specific categories or premium services, a monthly subscription fee may be charged to sellers for accessing the platform.
These subscription fees are transparently set and detailed at the time of registration or activation of the corresponding services.

5.4 Payments to Sellers

Payments to sellers are made after the applicable commissions are deducted, according to the agreed payment schedule.
Sellers can view a detailed report of their transactions and associated fees directly on their Hivoox dashboard.

6. Dispute Resolution

6.1 Seller Responsibility

In the event of a dispute with a buyer, sellers must cooperate with Hivoox to find a quick and fair resolution.

6.2 Claims and Returns

Sellers must specify their return and refund policies in compliance with applicable laws.
Unresolved disputes may be submitted to Hivoox’s dispute resolution mechanisms (see our dispute resolution policy).

7. Account Suspension and Termination

7.1 Reasons for Suspension or Termination

Hivoox reserves the right to suspend or terminate a seller account in the following situations:

Non-compliance with these Terms and Conditions: Any violation of the seller’s legal or contractual obligations.
Repeated or serious buyer complaints: Frequent dissatisfaction related to product/service quality or customer service.
Fraudulent or illegal activities: Any act of fraud, counterfeiting, presenting false information, or any activity deemed illegal according to applicable laws.
Abuse of the platform: Attempts to avoid commission fees, engage in transactions outside the platform, or circumvent established rules.
Non-payment of applicable fees: Unpaid subscriptions, commissions, or other charges.

7.2 Suspension or Termination Procedure

Prior Notification: In most cases, Hivoox will send a warning or notification explaining the reason for the suspension and outlining the steps necessary to reactivate the account.
Immediate Termination: For serious violations or illegal activities, Hivoox may terminate an account without notice.

7.3 Consequences of Termination

Blocking of funds: In the event of termination, any pending funds will be temporarily withheld until any existing disputes are resolved or past transactions are verified.
Removal of listings: All of the seller’s products and services will be removed from the platform.
Restricted account access: The account will be limited to functions such as viewing past transactions or managing ongoing disputes.
Loss of privileges: The seller will not be able to create a new account without express permission from Hivoox.

7.4 Appeals and Recourse

Sellers may challenge a suspension or termination by contacting Hivoox’s customer service and providing explanations or supporting documents.
Hivoox will review each appeal within a reasonable timeframe and inform the seller of its final decision.

8. Privacy and Security

8.1 Data Protection

Sellers must ensure strict confidentiality of buyers’ personal and business data (names, addresses, phone numbers, payment information, etc.).
The information collected via the platform should only be used for order processing or to provide specific services, in accordance with Hivoox’s privacy policy.
Any breach of confidentiality, whether intentional or due to negligence, will result in penalties, including suspension or termination of the account.
Hivoox may audit or review sellers’ practices to ensure compliance with applicable data protection standards.

8.2 Transaction Security

All transactions must be processed exclusively through Hivoox’s secure payment systems to ensure traceability and minimize the risk of fraud.
Sellers must not under any circumstances request or encourage buyers to make payments outside the platform.
In the event of suspected fraudulent activities, Hivoox reserves the right to temporarily or permanently suspend the affected account and conduct a thorough investigation.

9. Modification of Terms

Hivoox reserves the right to modify these terms at any time to adapt to legal, regulatory, or operational changes.
Sellers will be informed of changes through notifications on the platform, email, or any other appropriate means, with a reasonable notice period before the modifications take effect.
If sellers disagree with the new terms, they may terminate their account by contacting Hivoox support.
Continued use of the platform after the modifications take effect will be considered as implicit acceptance of the new terms.

10. Limitation of Liability

Hivoox acts solely as a technical and commercial intermediary, providing a platform for connecting buyers and sellers.
The platform assumes no responsibility for the quality, compliance, or delivery of products and services offered by sellers.
Sellers are fully responsible for the accuracy of descriptions, the quality of products/services, and the adherence to delivery deadlines.
In case of a dispute between a seller and a buyer, Hivoox may offer mediation support but is not obligated to guarantee a favorable resolution for either party.

Hivoox disclaims any liability for direct or indirect losses resulting from the use of the platform, except in cases of gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing on its part.

Hivoox is committed to providing a seamless and secure experience for both sellers and buyers on its platform.