Terms of Website Use and Sale

1. Agreement and seller

These Terms of Website Use and Sale (“Terms”) apply when you visit, use or place an order through SpectrophotometerDirect.com (the “Site”). SpectrophotometerDirect.com is operated by Lodestar International Limited, a company based in Hong Kong (“we”, “us” or the “Seller”).

By using the Site or submitting an order, you agree to these Terms. If you act for a business, you confirm that you have authority to bind that business. If a written agreement signed by the Seller applies to a purchase, it takes priority to the extent of any inconsistency.

2. Using the Site

We grant you a limited, personal and non-transferable right to use the Site for legitimate information-gathering and purchasing purposes. You must not misuse the Site, interfere with its security or operation, introduce harmful code, scrape or reproduce substantial content without permission, or use the Site in a way that infringes another person’s rights.

Site content is general commercial and technical information. It is not a substitute for your own testing, validation, safety assessment or professional advice. You are responsible for deciding whether a product is suitable for your application, materials, operating environment and regulatory requirements.

3. Product information and availability

We aim to present product descriptions, images, specifications and prices accurately. Images, screens and colors are illustrative and may not reproduce physical appearance precisely. Specifications, availability and product configurations may change without notice. We may correct an error, omission or typographical mistake at any time, including after an order has been submitted.

Unless we expressly agree otherwise in writing, manufacturer specifications and information are provided for guidance and do not create a separate warranty or guarantee by the Seller.

4. Measurement performance and variability

Any stated accuracy, repeatability, tolerance, ΔE value or other performance figure is measured under defined test conditions and should be read with the applicable product specification. Actual results may vary with the sample, color, surface texture, gloss, opacity, curvature, measurement geometry, calibration status, environmental conditions, operator technique and normal instrument-to-instrument variation. Unless we expressly agree otherwise in writing, published figures are performance specifications, not a guarantee that every reading will match a particular reference result or another manufacturer’s instrument. You are responsible for validating the instrument and measurement method for your intended materials, tolerances and quality-control process. This does not limit rights that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

5. Prices, currency, taxes and payment

Prices are displayed in the currency shown on the relevant product or checkout page. Unless clearly stated otherwise, prices exclude shipping, insurance, import duties, customs charges, VAT/GST, sales taxes and similar charges. You are responsible for these amounts and for providing accurate billing, delivery and tax information.

Payment must be made by the method offered at checkout or otherwise agreed in writing. We may require cleared payment, additional verification or a deposit before accepting or dispatching an order. You authorise us and our payment providers to process the payment details you supply.

6. Orders and acceptance

Adding an item to a cart or submitting an order is an offer to purchase, not our acceptance of that offer. We may accept an order by issuing a written order confirmation or dispatching the goods. We may decline, limit or cancel an order where supply is unavailable, payment cannot be authorised, a pricing or listing error is identified, fraud is suspected, or doing so is reasonably necessary to protect the Site or our business.

If we cancel an accepted order before dispatch for a reason within our control, our usual remedy is to refund amounts paid for the undelivered item. We are not responsible for a loss caused by a reasonable refusal or cancellation permitted by these Terms or by law.

7. Delivery, risk and title

Delivery dates are estimates unless a date is expressly guaranteed in writing. Delays caused by carriers, customs, suppliers, force majeure events or circumstances beyond our reasonable control do not give rise to compensation. For international orders, you are responsible for import clearance, licences, duties, taxes and local compliance unless we expressly agree otherwise in writing.

Risk in goods passes to you when the goods are delivered to the carrier, your nominated recipient or the delivery location, as applicable. Title remains with the Seller until all sums due for the goods have been paid in full, subject to applicable law.

8. Inspection, returns and remedies

Please inspect goods promptly on delivery and notify us at sales@spectrophotometerdirect.com within 7 business days of any apparent shipping damage, shortage or incorrect item. This helps us investigate and pursue carrier claims; it does not remove any mandatory legal rights.

Unless mandatory law requires otherwise, discretionary returns require our prior written approval and must be requested within 14 days of delivery. Returned goods must be unused, complete, in original packaging and in resaleable condition. You are responsible for return shipping and insurance unless the return results from our error or a confirmed defect. Custom-configured, used, calibrated, damaged, incomplete or non-resaleable items may not be returnable.

Where a defect is confirmed and a remedy is required, we may choose to repair, replace or refund the affected goods, to the extent permitted by law.

9. Warranty and support

Any manufacturer warranty applies only on its stated terms. It may exclude normal wear, consumables, misuse, unauthorised repair, improper storage or operation, accidental damage, failure to follow instructions, and calibration or performance matters outside the stated conditions. We may require diagnostic information, photographs, serial numbers or return inspection before arranging warranty support.

10. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Seller is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive loss; loss of profit, revenue, production, data, goodwill or opportunity; or the cost of substitute goods or services. Our total liability relating to an order or use of the Site is limited to the amount you paid to us for the goods or service giving rise to the claim.

These limits do not apply where liability cannot be excluded or limited by law, including for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.

11. Intellectual property and third-party links

The Site and its content, including text, images, marks, designs and technical material, are protected by intellectual property rights. You may not use them except as these Terms or applicable law permit. Links to third-party websites are provided for convenience; we do not control or endorse them and are not responsible for their content, availability or practices.

12. Privacy and electronic communications

Our handling of personal data is explained in our Privacy Policy. You agree that we may communicate with you electronically about your order, account, support request or these Terms.

13. Dispute resolution and binding arbitration

Before commencing arbitration, a party must give written notice of the dispute and the parties must try in good faith to resolve it for 30 days. If the dispute is not resolved, any dispute, controversy, difference or claim arising out of or relating to these Terms, an order or the Site, including its existence, validity, interpretation, performance, breach, termination or any non-contractual obligation, shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration administered by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) under the HKIAC Administered Arbitration Rules in force when the Notice of Arbitration is submitted. The seat of arbitration is Hong Kong. The arbitration agreement is governed by Hong Kong law. The tribunal will consist of one arbitrator and proceedings will be conducted in English. The award is final and binding on the parties, subject to any rights of challenge or appeal that cannot lawfully be waived. Nothing in this clause prevents either party from seeking urgent interim, conservatory or injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction. Where mandatory consumer law gives you a right to bring a claim in a court or tribunal, that right is not limited by this clause.

14. Governing law and changes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules. We may update these Terms from time to time. The version published on the Site applies from its stated “Last updated” date; the version in force when an order was accepted continues to apply to that order unless the parties agree otherwise or law requires a change.