Print Partner Terms & Conditions — India

1. Agreement Overview

These Terms & Conditions ("Agreement") govern the relationship between you ("Print Partner" / "Partner") and MerchNique Technologies Private Limited ("MerchNique" / "Company"), a company registered under the Companies Act, 2013, with its registered office in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

By registering as a Print Partner on the MerchNique platform, you agree to be bound by these terms, our Privacy Policy, and all applicable laws of India.

2. Eligibility & Registration

• You must be a registered business entity in India (Proprietorship, Partnership, LLP, or Private Limited Company).
• You must possess a valid GSTIN (if annual turnover exceeds ₹40 lakhs) and PAN.
• You must have verifiable print production capabilities (screen printing, DTF, DTG, sublimation, embroidery, etc.).
• MerchNique reserves the right to reject any application at its sole discretion.
• A refundable security deposit of ₹5,000 may be required upon verification.

3. Commission & Pricing

• Platform Commission: MerchNique charges a 15% commission on the selling price of each order fulfilled by the Partner.
• Tier-Based Discounts: Partners may qualify for reduced commission rates (as low as 10%) based on performance tier (Starter → Bronze → Silver → Gold → Platinum).
• Currency: All transactions are in Indian Rupees (INR).
• GST: Partners are responsible for applicable GST on their services. MerchNique will deduct TDS as per Income Tax Act provisions.
• Pricing Control: For marketplace products, the Partner sets the selling price. MerchNique may suggest competitive pricing but cannot override Partner pricing.

4. Payouts

• Payouts are processed weekly (every Monday) via NEFT/IMPS to the registered Indian bank account.
• Minimum payout threshold: ₹500.
• TDS at applicable rates (currently 1% under Section 194-O for e-commerce) will be deducted.
• Payout disputes must be raised within 7 days of the payout date.
• MerchNique reserves the right to hold payouts if quality complaints or fraud investigations are pending.

5. Order Fulfillment & Quality

• Partners must fulfill orders within the committed production timeline (default: 7 business days).
• Products must meet MerchNique quality standards. Quality check photos (minimum 2) are required before dispatch.
• Shipping within India is handled via Shiprocket integration. Partners must ensure products are ready for pickup at the registered address.
• Defective products or quality failures will incur penalties (₹200 per incident after 3 warnings).
• Repeated quality failures (5+ penalties) may result in account suspension.

6. Returns & Replacements

• India orders follow a 7-day return/replacement window from delivery.
• If a return is due to Partner's fault (print defect, wrong size, wrong design), the Partner bears the return shipping cost and must provide a replacement at no additional charge.
• Refunds for Partner-fault returns will be deducted from the Partner's next payout cycle.

7. Intellectual Property

• Partners must not reproduce, sell, or distribute any Creator designs outside the MerchNique platform.
• Partners are responsible for ensuring their own ready-stock designs do not infringe third-party IP rights.
• MerchNique has a zero-tolerance policy for counterfeit merchandise. Violation results in immediate termination and potential legal action.

8. Data Protection

Partners must comply with the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. Customer data received for order fulfillment must not be used for any purpose other than order delivery.

9. Termination

• Either party may terminate this Agreement with 30 days written notice.
• MerchNique may immediately terminate for: fraud, counterfeit production, quality failures exceeding 5 incidents, or violation of these terms.
• Upon termination, pending payouts will be settled within 30 days, minus any penalties or deductions.
• Security deposit will be refunded (minus deductions) within 45 days of termination.

10. Dispute Resolution

All disputes shall be resolved through arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, with the seat of arbitration in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The language of arbitration shall be English.

11. Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. Courts in Bengaluru, Karnataka shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

12. Grievance Officer

For any complaints or grievances: