Terms of use

1. About these terms

These terms of use (“Terms”) are a binding agreement between you and Qwikstone Technologies Private Limited, a company incorporated in India (CIN [CIN — to be added], registered office Registered office, street, city, state, PIN, India) (“QwikStone”, “we”, “us”). They apply when you visit or use any QwikStone service, including qwikstone.com (the marketplace), seller.qwikstone.com (Seller Hub, the seller website and the developer site), broker.qwikstone.com (the broker app), our APIs, emails and messages (together, the “Services”).

By creating an account, placing an order, posting a buying request, listing stock, accepting an inspection job or otherwise using the Services, you accept these Terms. If you don't agree, please don't use the Services.

Some Services have additional terms that form part of your agreement with us and apply on top of these Terms:

• Seller agreement — for sellers, stores, tile makers and machinery dealers;
• Advertising & Ads wallet terms — for anyone who advertises;
• Brand Shield terms — for brand owners and their authorised sellers;
• Broker terms — for inspection brokers;
• API & developer terms — for developers and anyone using the API;
• the Privacy policy, Cookie policy and Returns & refunds policy.

If those terms conflict with these Terms, the more specific terms apply to that Service.

2. Who can use QwikStone

• You must be at least 18 years old and able to enter into a binding contract under the law that applies to you.
• If you use the Services for a business, you confirm you are authorised to bind that business, and “you” includes the business.
• You must not use the Services if you are barred from doing so by law, if you are subject to sanctions that prevent us from dealing with you, or if we have previously closed your account for breaking these Terms.

3. Your account

3.1 Accurate information

The information you give us — your name, business name, tax registration (such as GSTIN, EIN, VAT or CNPJ), addresses, phone and email — must be accurate, complete and kept up to date. We may ask you to verify it, and we may check it against official registers.

3.2 Security

• Keep your password private and don't share your account. Two-step sign-in is required for Seller Hub, broker and staff accounts and recommended for everyone.
• You are responsible for everything done through your account, unless you tell us promptly that it has been compromised. Tell us at support@qwikstone.com as soon as you suspect misuse.
• Business accounts can add team members with their own sign-in and role. The account owner is responsible for the people they add and for removing access when someone leaves.

3.3 One account each

A person or business may hold one buyer account and one seller account (a seller may add companies in other markets under the same group). Buyer and seller accounts can be linked. Creating additional accounts to avoid limits, reviews or suspensions is not allowed.

3.4 Suspension and closure

We may restrict, suspend or close an account if it breaks these Terms or the law, creates risk for other users or for QwikStone, provides false information, or if we are required to by a court or authority. Where reasonable and lawful we'll tell you why and give you a chance to respond first. You may close your account at any time from Account settings, after open orders, payouts and amounts owed are settled.

4. QwikStone's role

QwikStone provides a marketplace where independent sellers offer natural stone, engineered stone, ceramic and porcelain tiles, and stone-working machinery, tools and consumables, together with services we run around each order: holding deposits, arranging independent inspection, consolidating stock into containers, arranging transport, and handling refunds.

• Sellers sell. Each listing is offered by the seller named on it. The contract for the goods is between the buyer and that seller, on the terms shown at checkout and in these Terms.
• QwikStone runs the process. We hold the deposit, appoint the broker, coordinate loading and shipping, and apply the refund rules. Where we provide services ourselves (for example consolidation, shipping coordination, Merchandising or fabrication allotment) we do so as described on the relevant page.
• Brokers and fabricators are independent. Brokers inspect stock and fabrication shops cut and finish it under their own terms with us. They are not our employees.

5. Buying on QwikStone

5.1 Listings, photos and prices

Prices are set by the seller and shown to you in your chosen currency at that day's exchange rate; the amount and currency you pay are confirmed at checkout. Stone is priced per square foot (or per m², slab or box where you choose those units), tiles are sold in whole boxes and machinery per unit. Natural stone photos show the actual lot or block offered. Natural variation in colour, veining and pattern within the normal range for the material is part of natural stone and is not a defect.

5.2 What you pay

Before you pay, the cost breakdown shows the stone or goods, any fabrication you added, transport charges, applicable taxes we can calculate, and the deposit due now. Import duties and taxes that we cannot calculate in advance are payable by the importer of record on arrival. QwikStone's marketplace fee is charged to sellers, not added on top for buyers.

5.3 Containers and consolidation

A container holds stock from one origin country. Stock from several yards in that country may be consolidated at a hub or port. You can buy a single slab, a part load or a full container. A part load shares a container with other buyers and its freight is charged for the space it takes; there is no separate consolidation charge.

5.4 Deposit and reservation

At checkout you pay a deposit — normally 50% of the order value unless a different split is shown or agreed in a quote. The deposit reserves the exact lots (specific slabs, or boxes from one shade and batch). QwikStone holds the deposit; it is not released to the seller until the order passes inspection and is loaded.

5.5 Independent broker inspection

Once the seller confirms the stock is ready, an independent broker approved by a recognised regional stone or tile association inspects the reserved stock at the yard or factory, normally within 72 hours, and files a report with measurements and photos. The seller pays for the inspection; buyers are not charged for it.

• If the report matches the listing, you pay the balance and the order moves to loading.
• If the report shows a discrepancy (for example fewer slabs, a different thickness or visible defects beyond the listing), you may accept the seller's proposed adjustment — a lower price, a different quantity or replacement stock — or cancel and receive a full refund of everything you paid.

5.6 Balance, loading and delivery

The balance is due within 5 days of a matching report. If it isn't paid in time, the reservation may be released and section 9 applies. Delivery dates are estimates based on your delivery address, the route and current transit times. They are not guaranteed, because sailings, customs and port congestion are outside our control, but we will tell you promptly about any material delay and what you can do about it.

5.7 Stock in transit and bids

Some stock is offered while it is in transit or at port, and some lots accept bids. A bid is a binding offer for the quantity and price you enter, which the seller (or, for Merchandising stock, QwikStone) may accept or decline in the time shown. Bids are limited to buyers in the destination market of the shipment. An accepted bid becomes an order on these Terms; any advance you pay with a bid is refunded if the bid is not accepted.

5.8 Fabrication and surface finishing

You can add fabrication — cutting to size, edge profiles, cut-outs — or surface finishing such as polishing, honing or leathering to an order. The price is worked out from the shop's published rate card (or the bid you accept) and shown before you pay. QwikStone can allot the best-value shop, you can choose one, or shops can bid on your drawing. Finished pieces are checked against your accepted specification; unless the quote says otherwise, tolerances are ±1 mm for length, width and thickness. Fabricated and finished pieces made to your specification can't be returned for change of mind.

5.9 Buying requests and quotes

You can post a buying request (RFQ) with the stone, sizes, drawings and timing you need. Verified sellers may quote. We rank quotes using how well they match your request, total lead time, price and the seller's record; the ranking is guidance, not an endorsement. Orders from an accepted quote are protected in the same way as other orders, on the payment terms you choose from those the seller offered.

5.10 Returns, damage and refunds

Our Returns & refunds policy forms part of these Terms. Report transit damage, short delivery or wrong material within 48 hours of delivery, with photos. Refunds go back to the original payment method in the original currency. Where a refund is caused by the seller or by a failed inspection, you are not charged for exchange-rate differences.

6. Payments

• Payments are processed by regulated payment providers (currently Razorpay in India and Stripe in other markets). By paying, you also agree to the provider's terms.
• QwikStone never stores your full card or bank account number. We keep only the card brand, its last four digits, its expiry month and a token issued by the provider.
• Sellers issue the commercial invoice for the goods. QwikStone issues invoices for its own fees and services.
• You must not use the Services to pay or receive money for goods or services that aren't part of a real QwikStone order.

7. Selling, advertising, brokers and developers

If you sell, advertise, register a brand, inspect stock or use the API, the specific terms for that activity (listed in section 1) apply to you in addition to these Terms. Sellers must keep listings accurate, hold the stock they list, honour reserved orders and pass our document checks. Brokers must inspect independently and report truthfully.

8. Content you add

You keep ownership of the content you add — listing text and photos, reviews, forum posts, drawings, messages and documents (“your content”). You give QwikStone a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to host, copy, adapt (for example resize or translate), display and distribute your content for running, improving and promoting the Services, for as long as it is on the Services and for a reasonable period after for backups and legal records. You confirm you have the rights to give this licence.

• Reviews may only be written by buyers with a verified order, must reflect a genuine experience and must not be paid for, offered for a discount or written by the seller.
• Don't post personal contact details, offers to deal outside QwikStone, unlawful, misleading, abusive or discriminatory content, or content you don't have the rights to.
• We may remove content that breaks these Terms or the law, and we may label sponsored or AI-generated content.

9. Cancellations

• Before the broker visit: you may cancel and receive your deposit back, less any processing fee the payment provider doesn't return to us (we tell you the amount first).
• After a matching report: the reservation is firm. If you cancel, the seller may keep up to 20% of the order value to cover their loss; the rest of what you paid is refunded. We'll try to resell the stock to reduce your loss.
• If the seller cancels or can't supply reserved stock, you receive a full refund and the seller's account health is reduced.
• Mandatory consumer cancellation rights in your country, where they apply, are not affected.

10. Deals outside QwikStone

QwikStone gives no guarantee or protection for goods bought or sold outside QwikStone. If a buyer and seller agree a deal by phone, email, messaging app or in person, the deposit protection, inspection, consolidation, shipping and refund terms don't apply. Sellers and brokers must not use QwikStone to move buyers to off-platform deals.

11. Things you must not do

• break the law, including sanctions, export controls, customs, tax, anti-bribery and anti-money-laundering laws;
• list or sell stolen, counterfeit, illegally quarried or unsafe goods, or hazardous goods without the required declarations and safety data sheets;
• misrepresent goods, stock levels, origin, certifications or your identity;
• manipulate prices, bids, reviews, rankings, ads or search — for example with fake accounts, shill bids or click fraud;
• scrape, crawl or copy the Services or their data except through the API under the API terms; reverse-engineer, overload or interfere with the Services or their security;
• send spam or unsolicited messages, or collect other users' personal data;
• use another person's account, or let others use yours outside the team features we provide.

We may investigate suspected misuse, remove content, cancel orders, hold payouts connected with the misuse and report it to the authorities where required.

12. QwikStone's intellectual property

The Services, the QwikStone name and logo®, software, designs and content we create belong to QwikStone or its licensors. You may use the Services for their intended purpose under these Terms; no other rights are granted. You must not use our trademarks without our written permission.

13. Availability and changes to the Services

We work to keep the Services available and secure, but they may sometimes be interrupted for maintenance, upgrades or reasons outside our control. We may change, add or remove features. If we remove a paid feature you rely on, we'll give reasonable notice and a pro-rata refund of prepaid amounts for the part you can no longer use.

14. Disclaimers

We provide the Services with reasonable care and skill. Beyond what these Terms and the law say, the Services are provided “as is”. QwikStone does not guarantee that every listing, quote, ranking, delivery estimate, exchange rate or AI-generated suggestion is accurate or complete. Natural stone varies, and differences in shade or veining within the industry's normal range are not defects. Nothing in these Terms limits your rights under consumer law that can't be limited.

15. Liability

• Neither you nor QwikStone is liable for losses that were not reasonably foreseeable, or for indirect or consequential losses such as lost profit, lost business or project delay, except where the law doesn't allow this to be excluded.
• QwikStone's total liability to you for any order is limited to the amount you paid through QwikStone for that order; for any other claim it is limited to the fees you paid QwikStone in the 12 months before the claim.
• Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud, or any other liability that can't be limited by law.

16. Indemnity

If you use the Services for business, you will compensate QwikStone for losses, fines and reasonable legal costs caused by your breach of these Terms or the law, your content, or goods you list or sell, except to the extent caused by QwikStone.

17. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms to reflect changes in the law, the Services or how we work. For material changes we'll tell you by email or in the Services at least 14 days before they take effect (unless a change is needed sooner for legal or security reasons). Changes don't affect orders already placed. If you don't agree, you can stop using the Services and close your account before the change takes effect.

18. Complaints, grievances and disputes

18.1 Support and grievances

Most issues are resolved through support at support@qwikstone.com or live chat. If you're not satisfied, or you want to report content or conduct, contact our grievance officer:

[Grievance officer's name — to be added], Grievance Officer, Qwikstone Technologies Private Limited, Registered office, street, city, state, PIN, India · grievance@qwikstone.com. We acknowledge grievances within 24 hours and aim to resolve them within 15 days.

18.2 Governing law and courts

These Terms are governed by the laws of India. Subject to section 18.3, the courts at Jaipur, Rajasthan have exclusive jurisdiction. If you are a consumer, you also keep the protection of the mandatory laws of the country where you live and may bring claims in your local courts.

18.3 Arbitration for business users

For disputes between QwikStone and business users that are not settled through the grievance process within 30 days, either party may refer the dispute to arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, before a sole arbitrator appointed by agreement, seated in Jaipur, conducted in English. Either party may still seek urgent interim relief from a court.

19. General

• Whole agreement. These Terms and the documents they refer to are the whole agreement between you and QwikStone about the Services.
• Transfer. You may not transfer your rights under these Terms without our consent. We may transfer them to a company that takes over the Services, and we'll tell you if we do.
• Severability. If any part of these Terms is found unenforceable, the rest remains in force.
• No waiver. If we don't enforce a right straight away, we can still enforce it later.
• Force majeure. Neither party is responsible for delays caused by events outside its reasonable control, such as natural disasters, strikes, port closures, sanctions or failures of networks or providers.
• Language. These Terms are written in English. Translations are for convenience; if there is a difference, the English version applies.
• Notices. We send notices to the email address on your account or show them in the Services. You can send notices to legal@qwikstone.com.

20. Contact

Qwikstone Technologies Private Limited · Registered office, street, city, state, PIN, India · CIN [CIN — to be added] · GSTIN [GSTIN — to be added]
Legal: legal@qwikstone.com · Privacy: privacy@qwikstone.com · Support: support@qwikstone.com