Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the PrairieMate website ("Website") or purchasing our products ("Services"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not access or use our Website or Services.

These Terms apply to all visitors, users, customers, and others who access or use the Service. PrairieMate reserves the right to update these Terms at any time without prior notice.

2. Description of Service

PrairieMate provides wholesale compostable and biodegradable tableware products, primarily drinking straws, to commercial customers including restaurants, cafes, institutions, and other businesses.

Products and Services Include:

• Compostable and biodegradable drinking straws in various sizes (5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 12mm)
• Custom packaging and printing services
• Wholesale pricing and bulk ordering
• Product samples and consultation services
• Technical support and documentation

3. User Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and have the legal authority to enter into contracts to use our Services. By using our Services, you represent and warrant that:

• You are at least 18 years of age
• You have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms
• You are representing a legitimate business entity
• All information you provide is accurate and complete

4. Ordering and Payment Terms

Pricing and Payment

• All prices are in USD and subject to change without notice
• Volume pricing tiers apply as published on our website
• Payment terms: Net 30/60 days for approved commercial accounts
• Credit card payments accepted for immediate orders
• Late payments may incur interest charges of 1.5% per month

Order Processing

• Orders are subject to credit approval and product availability
• Lead times: 1-2 weeks for standard orders, 2-4 weeks for custom orders
• We reserve the right to refuse or cancel orders at our discretion
• Order confirmations will be sent via email

5. Shipping and Delivery

Shipping Terms

• Shipping costs are additional and determined at time of order
• Freight shipping is typically used for wholesale orders
• Delivery dates are estimates and not guaranteed
• Risk of loss transfers to buyer upon delivery to carrier

Delivery and Inspection

• Buyer must inspect goods upon delivery
• Damage or shortage claims must be reported within 5 business days
• Failure to inspect and report issues waives right to claim
• Delivery confirmation constitutes acceptance unless defects are reported

6. Product Warranties and Disclaimers

Limited Warranty

We warrant that our products will:

• Conform to published specifications when used as intended
• Be free from material defects in materials and workmanship
• Meet stated performance criteria under normal use conditions

Warranty Period

• Standard Products: 6 months from date of delivery
• Custom Products: 3 months from date of delivery
• Warranty claims must be made in writing with proof of purchase

Disclaimers

EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH ABOVE, WE PROVIDE PRODUCTS "AS IS" AND DISCLAIM ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

7. Limitation of Liability

Specific Exclusions

We are not liable for damages resulting from:

• Misuse, abuse, or improper storage of products
• Normal wear and tear or gradual deterioration
• Modifications or alterations to products
• Use in applications not recommended by PrairieMate
• Acts of God, natural disasters, or circumstances beyond our control

8. Intellectual Property

The Website and its content, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, images, and software, are owned by PrairieMate and protected by intellectual property laws. You may not:

• Copy, reproduce, or distribute our content without permission
• Use our trademarks or logos without written consent
• Reverse engineer or attempt to extract source code
• Create derivative works based on our intellectual property

9. Returns and Cancellations

Standard Products

• Returns accepted within 30 days of delivery for defective products
• Return authorization required before returning any products
• Returned products must be in original, unopened packaging unless product is defective
• Return shipping costs are buyer's responsibility unless product is defective

Custom Products

• Custom printed or custom dimension products are non-returnable
• Cancellations accepted up to 48 hours after order confirmation
• Cancellation fees may apply for orders in production

Refund Processing

• Approved refunds will be processed within 30 business days
• Refunds will be issued to the original payment method
• Restocking fees may apply to non-defective returns

10. Prohibited Uses

You may not use our Website or Services to:

• Violate any local, state, national, or international law
• Transmit or procure harmful, threatening, or harassing material
• Impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your affiliation
• Engage in unauthorized framing or linking to our Website
• Upload viruses or malicious code
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems
• Engage in any commercial use without our express written consent
• Use our products for any illegal or unauthorized purpose

11. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your access to our Services immediately, without prior notice, for:

• Breach of these Terms
• Violation of applicable laws
• Fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity
• Non-payment of outstanding invoices
• Any reason at our sole discretion

Upon termination, your right to use the Services will cease immediately. Sections that by their nature should survive termination will survive, including warranty disclaimers, limitation of liability, and dispute resolution.

12. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Ohio, United States, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

Dispute Resolution

• Informal Resolution: Before filing any formal action, parties agree to attempt informal resolution for 30 days
• Binding Arbitration: Disputes not resolved informally will be settled through binding arbitration
• Arbitration Rules: Arbitration will be conducted under the rules of the American Arbitration Association
• Location: Arbitration will take place in Ohio
• Class Action Waiver: You waive any right to participate in class action lawsuits

Jurisdiction

For any disputes not subject to arbitration, the exclusive jurisdiction shall be the state and federal courts located in Ohio.

13. Force Majeure

PrairieMate shall not be liable for any delay or failure in performance resulting from causes beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to:

• Acts of God, natural disasters, severe weather
• War, terrorism, civil unrest, or government actions
• Labor strikes, lockouts, or labor disputes
• Supply chain disruptions or material shortages
• Pandemic, epidemic, or public health emergencies
• Equipment failures or infrastructure damage

14. Severability and Entire Agreement

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that these Terms will otherwise remain in full force and effect.

Entire Agreement

These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and PrairieMate regarding the use of our Services and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

Modifications

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated through our Website or via email. Continued use of our Services after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

15. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us:

Response Time: We will respond to legal inquiries within 5 business days of receipt.