Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the products, services, website, booking systems, communications, and related offerings provided by Maple Clay Studio ("Maple Clay Studio," "we," "us," or "our"). By accessing, booking, purchasing, attending, or otherwise using our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you must not use our services.

1. Introduction and Acceptance of Terms

Maple Clay Studio is a pottery business located at 2148 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6K 1N6, Canada. These Terms form a legally binding agreement between you and Maple Clay Studio regarding your use of our services, including in-person classes, workshops, private events, custom orders, repair consultations, and related products and services.

By making a booking, placing an order, attending a class or event, submitting a custom request, or otherwise engaging with Maple Clay Studio, you confirm that:

• you have read and understood these Terms;
• you are at least the age of majority in your province or territory, or you have the consent of a parent or legal guardian;
• you have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement; and
• you agree to comply with these Terms and all applicable laws.

2. Scope of Services

Maple Clay Studio provides pottery-related goods and services, including but not limited to:

• hand-thrown ceramic mugs and bowls;
• custom dinnerware sets;
• pottery classes and beginner workshops;
• private group pottery events;
• custom glaze and surface design;
• made-to-order gift pieces; and
• ceramic repair and restoration consultation.

We may update, modify, suspend, or discontinue any service, product, class format, or offering at any time, subject to applicable law and any specific written agreement with you.

All descriptions, images, samples, and examples are provided for general informational purposes only. Due to the handmade nature of pottery, variations in size, shape, color, glaze, texture, and finish are normal and expected.

3. User Obligations and Responsibilities

You agree to use our services responsibly and in accordance with all instructions provided by Maple Clay Studio. Without limiting the foregoing, you agree that you will:

• provide accurate, current, and complete information when booking, ordering, or communicating with us;
• follow all safety instructions, studio rules, and staff directions during classes, workshops, events, and studio visits;
• supervise minors at all times unless we expressly agree otherwise in writing;
• use equipment, tools, materials, and studio space carefully and only as instructed;
• not engage in disruptive, abusive, unsafe, unlawful, or harassing conduct;
• not damage studio property, other participants' property, or any finished or unfinished work;
• notify us promptly of any allergies, medical conditions, accessibility needs, or safety concerns relevant to participation; and
• comply with any additional terms applicable to a specific class, event, custom order, or consultation.

You acknowledge that pottery activities may involve physical activity, tools, clay, glazes, kilns, dust, water, heat, and other materials that can cause injury, staining, allergic reactions, or property damage if not handled properly. You participate at your own risk, subject to applicable law.

4. Payment Terms and Conditions

All prices are stated in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated. Applicable taxes, including GST, PST, or other taxes required by law, will be added where applicable.

Payment terms may vary depending on the service or product. Unless otherwise stated:

• full payment may be required at the time of booking for classes, workshops, and private events;
• custom orders and made-to-order items may require a non-refundable deposit before production begins;
• the balance for custom work must be paid before pickup, delivery, or shipment; and
• we may refuse to begin or continue work until payment is received in full.

You authorize Maple Clay Studio to charge the payment method you provide for all amounts due, including deposits, balances, taxes, shipping, handling, and any other agreed charges. You are responsible for ensuring that your payment information is valid and current.

If a payment is declined, reversed, charged back, or otherwise not completed, we may suspend services, cancel orders, withhold products, or take reasonable steps to recover amounts owed, to the extent permitted by law.

5. Cancellation and Refund Policy

Because our services often involve reserved studio time, materials, kiln space, and custom production, cancellation and refund rules are as follows unless a different written policy applies to a specific booking or order:

• Classes and workshops: Cancellations made within the stated cancellation window, if any, may be eligible for a refund or credit. Late cancellations, missed sessions, and no-shows may not be refunded.
• Private group events: A deposit may be required to reserve the date and is generally non-refundable. Rescheduling may be permitted subject to availability and notice requirements.
• Custom and made-to-order items: Once production has started, deposits are non-refundable and cancellations may not be accepted. Because these items are made specifically for you, all sales may be final except where required by law.
• Repair and restoration consultations: Consultation fees may be non-refundable once the consultation has occurred.
• Finished goods: Returns or exchanges are generally not accepted for handmade items unless the item is defective, materially different from the agreed specifications, or otherwise required by law.

We may, at our discretion, offer a refund, store credit, replacement, or rescheduling option in exceptional circumstances. Any approved refund will be processed using the original payment method where practicable and may take a reasonable period to appear, depending on your financial institution.

We are not responsible for delays or losses caused by incorrect shipping information, failure to collect items on time, or failure to respond to pickup notices. Unclaimed items may be subject to storage fees or disposal after reasonable notice, to the extent permitted by law.

6. Liability Limitations

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Canadian law, Maple Clay Studio, including its owners, employees, contractors, instructors, and agents, shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages arising from or related to your use of our services, products, or premises.

Without limiting the foregoing, we are not responsible for:

• injuries resulting from misuse of tools, materials, equipment, or studio facilities;
• allergic reactions, sensitivities, or health issues related to clay, glaze, dust, or other materials;
• damage to clothing, personal items, or property during participation;
• variations, imperfections, cracking, warping, glaze differences, or other natural characteristics of handmade ceramics;
• delays in production, firing, pickup, shipping, or delivery caused by circumstances beyond our control;
• loss or damage resulting from inaccurate information provided by you; or
• third-party acts, omissions, or services, including shipping carriers and payment processors.

To the extent permitted by law, our total liability for any claim arising out of or relating to the services or products shall not exceed the amount you paid to Maple Clay Studio for the specific service or product giving rise to the claim.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where such exclusion or limitation is prohibited by law, including liability for gross negligence, wilful misconduct, or other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded under applicable Canadian law.

7. Intellectual Property Rights

All content, designs, text, photographs, graphics, logos, product names, class materials, instructional content, and other materials provided by Maple Clay Studio are owned by or licensed to Maple Clay Studio and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

You may not, without our prior written consent:

• copy, reproduce, distribute, modify, publish, display, or create derivative works from our content or materials;
• use our trademarks, logos, or branding in a misleading or unauthorized manner;
• record, photograph, or film class materials or studio processes for commercial use where prohibited;
• reverse engineer or replicate our proprietary designs, methods, or custom work for commercial exploitation; or
• represent our work, designs, or instructional materials as your own.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, custom designs created for you may remain the intellectual property of Maple Clay Studio, while you receive a limited right to use the finished physical item for personal or agreed purposes. We may, unless you request otherwise in writing and we agree, photograph completed work for our portfolio, website, social media, marketing, and recordkeeping purposes.

8. Data Protection and Privacy

We collect, use, disclose, and retain personal information in accordance with applicable Canadian privacy laws, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and any applicable provincial privacy legislation.

Personal information may be collected for purposes including:

• processing bookings, orders, payments, and deliveries;
• communicating with you about services, schedules, and updates;
• managing studio operations, safety, and customer support;
• maintaining records for accounting, tax, and legal compliance; and
• sending marketing communications where permitted by law and, where required, with your consent.

We take reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

By using our services, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in our privacy practices and as reasonably necessary to provide our services. If we use third-party service providers, such as payment processors, booking platforms, or shipping carriers, your information may be shared with them to the extent necessary to fulfill your request.

9. Force Majeure

Maple Clay Studio shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations where such failure or delay results from events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to:

• fire, flood, earthquake, severe weather, or other natural disasters;
• power outages, kiln failure, equipment malfunction, or utility interruptions;
• labour disputes, strikes, or shortages of materials or supplies;
• government actions, public health restrictions, or changes in law;
• transportation disruptions, shipping delays, or carrier failures; and
• other events commonly understood as force majeure.

If a force majeure event occurs, we may suspend, reschedule, modify, or cancel affected services without liability, subject to applicable law and any specific written agreement.

10. Changes to Terms

We may update or revise these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our services, legal requirements, or business practices. The updated Terms will be effective when posted or otherwise communicated to you, unless a different effective date is stated.

Your continued use of our services after any changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you must stop using our services.

11. Applicable Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and any dispute arising out of or relating to them, our services, or our products shall be governed by the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without regard to conflict of law principles.

You agree that the courts located in Vancouver, British Columbia shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute, claim, or proceeding arising from or related to these Terms, except where applicable law requires otherwise. Nothing in these Terms limits any rights you may have under mandatory consumer protection laws.

12. Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding these Terms, please contact:

Maple Clay Studio
2148 West 4th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6K 1N6
Canada
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1 (604) 872-4938

13. Severability Clause

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be severed to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

Where possible, any invalid or unenforceable provision shall be interpreted in a manner that best reflects the original intent of the parties and remains enforceable under applicable law.

Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with any additional written policies or agreements referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between you and Maple Clay Studio regarding the subject matter and supersede prior or contemporaneous understandings, communications, or representations, whether oral or written.