Legal

Terms & Conditions

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Please read these terms carefully before engaging in any commercial transaction with Sun Time Tea Co.

1. Agreement to Terms

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between Sun Time Tea Co. ("Seller", "we", "us", or "our"), a company legally registered in the People's Republic of China, and any business entity ("Buyer", "you", or "your") that accesses our website at suntimetea.com, submits an inquiry, places an order, or enters into any commercial arrangement with us.

By submitting an inquiry or purchase order, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not proceed with any transaction.

2. B2B Wholesale Only — Not for Retail Consumers

Sun Time Tea Co. operates exclusively as a B2B (business-to-business) wholesale exporter. Our products and services are intended solely for:

  • Licensed importers, distributors, and wholesalers
  • Tea brands and private-label businesses
  • Retail chains, specialty tea shops, and food service operators purchasing in commercial quantities
  • E-commerce sellers and resellers with documented business registration

We do not sell directly to individual retail consumers. Any order placed by a non-business entity may be rejected at our sole discretion, and any payments received for such orders will be refunded in full.

By placing an order, you represent and warrant that you are acting in the capacity of a legitimate business entity and that the goods purchased will be used for commercial resale or business purposes.

3. Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) Policy

All products listed on suntimetea.com are subject to a Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) specified on the individual product page. MOQs exist to ensure quality control, appropriate export packaging, and commercially viable logistics for both parties.

  • Standard MOQ: MOQs vary by product type, grade, and packaging option. The MOQ for each product is displayed on its respective product detail page in the Sanity-powered catalogue.
  • Sample Orders: We offer pre-shipment samples below MOQ for qualified buyers. Sample fees may apply and will be credited towards your first commercial order. Please use our contact form to request samples.
  • MOQ Negotiation: For first-time buyers or strategic long-term partnerships, MOQs may be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Contact our sales team to discuss your specific requirements.
  • Mixed Orders: Mixed-SKU container orders may aggregate multiple products to meet the container MOQ. Specific mixing rules are confirmed during the quotation stage.

Orders that fail to meet the stated MOQ without prior written agreement will not be processed, and any deposit paid will be returned minus applicable bank transfer fees.

4. Pricing, Quotations & Payment

4.1 Pricing

All prices quoted by Sun Time Tea Co. are in United States Dollars (USD) unless otherwise stated in writing. Prices displayed on the website, if any, are indicative only and subject to change based on harvest season, raw material market fluctuations, and logistics costs. A formal written quotation ("Proforma Invoice") will confirm the binding price for each order.

4.2 Payment Terms

Payment terms — including any advance payment requirements, milestone schedules, and final balance timing — will be negotiated and specified individually based on the specific details, volume, and nature of each order, and will be confirmed in the Proforma Invoice issued prior to production. We work collaboratively with our buyers to reach mutually agreeable payment arrangements. Accepted payment methods include:

  • Telegraphic Transfer (T/T / Wire Transfer)
  • Letter of Credit (L/C at sight or usance, for qualifying orders)
  • Western Union or PayPal for sample orders only

All bank charges outside of China are the Buyer's responsibility. Production and shipment will commence only after payment terms have been mutually confirmed in writing.

5. International Trade Terms, Logistics & Customs

5.1 Incoterms

All shipments are conducted under internationally recognized Incoterms® 2020 (published by the International Chamber of Commerce). The applicable Incoterm will be clearly stated on the Proforma Invoice and Commercial Invoice. Common terms we offer include:

  • FOB (Free On Board) — Port of Origin, China: Sun Time Tea Co. is responsible for all costs and risks until the goods are loaded onto the vessel nominated by the Buyer at the specified Chinese port. All freight, marine insurance, destination customs clearance, and import duties are the sole responsibility of the Buyer from this point.
  • CIF (Cost, Insurance & Freight) — Named Port of Destination: Sun Time Tea Co. covers the cost of goods, international freight to the named destination port, and minimum marine insurance. Import customs clearance, duties, and local delivery at the destination remain the Buyer's responsibility.
  • EXW (Ex Works): The Buyer assumes full responsibility for all logistics from our facility in China, including inland transportation, export customs clearance, and all subsequent costs. Available for buyers with established freight forwarder relationships in China.

5.2 Shipping Lead Times

Estimated production and shipping lead times are provided at the quotation stage. These are estimates based on current capacity and are subject to change due to harvest seasons, factory schedules, port congestion, or force majeure events. We will proactively communicate any delays.

5.3 Import Duties & Customs Compliance

The Buyer is solely responsible for understanding and complying with all import regulations, phytosanitary requirements, food safety certifications, labelling laws, and customs duties applicable in the destination country. Sun Time Tea Co. will provide all required export documentation (Phytosanitary Certificate, Certificate of Origin, Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading), but makes no representation regarding the importability of goods into any specific jurisdiction.

6. Product Quality, Specifications & Certifications

Sun Time Tea Co. provides detailed product specifications including tea type, cultivar, elevation, harvest season, processing method, and available certifications (e.g., EU Organic, USDA Organic, ISO 22000, Rainforest Alliance). These specifications are provided in good faith based on information available at the time of listing.

Natural agricultural products may exhibit minor batch-to-batch variations in flavour, colour, or aroma within acceptable industry tolerances. Such natural variation does not constitute a defect. For critical specification requirements, buyers are strongly encouraged to request pre-shipment samples and laboratory testing before placing full commercial orders.

Pre-shipment inspection by a third-party inspection company (e.g., SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek) can be arranged at the Buyer's expense upon request.

7. Returns, Claims & Refund Policy

Due to the perishable nature of agricultural food products and the complexities of international trade, our returns policy for bulk orders is as follows:

7.1 Valid Claims

Claims will only be considered in the following circumstances:

  • Shipping damage: Visible physical damage to goods caused during transit (supported by photographic evidence and a carrier's damage report).
  • Significant quality deviation: Where the delivered goods materially fail to meet the agreed written specifications (supported by an independent laboratory test report from a mutually-agreed third-party lab).
  • Incorrect shipment: Where the goods delivered differ from the confirmed Purchase Order.

7.2 Claim Procedure

All claims must be submitted in writing to info@suntimetea.com within 14 calendar days of the delivery date, accompanied by:

  • Photographic / video evidence of the issue
  • The relevant invoice and packing list numbers
  • A laboratory report (for quality deviation claims)

Claims submitted after the 14-day window, or without the required documentation, will not be accepted.

7.3 Resolution

Approved claims will be resolved at Sun Time Tea Co.'s discretion through one of the following means: partial or full refund to the original payment method, credit note towards a future order, or replacement shipment of the affected goods. Physical return of bulk goods to China is generally not required or accepted due to logistics costs and food safety regulations.

7.4 No Returns for Change of Mind

We do not accept returns for change of mind, market price fluctuations, excess stock on the Buyer's side, or failure to obtain required import permits. Buyers are responsible for conducting their own due diligence before placing orders.

8. Intellectual Property

All content on suntimetea.com — including text, photography, brand materials, product descriptions, and the "Sun Time Tea Co." brand identity — is the exclusive property of Sun Time Tea Co. and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

Buyers who enter into a private-label or OEM arrangement with us are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use the agreed brand assets solely for reselling the products purchased from us, strictly within the terms of a separate OEM Agreement.

9. Confidentiality

Both parties agree to treat as confidential any non-public pricing information, product formulations, supply chain details, and business terms shared during the course of our commercial relationship. This obligation survives the termination of any commercial agreement between the parties for a period of three (3) years.

10. Force Majeure

Neither party shall be held liable for any failure or delay in performance arising from circumstances beyond their reasonable control, including but not limited to: natural disasters, government actions, port closures, export/import restrictions, pandemics, war, civil unrest, or catastrophic crop failures. The affected party must notify the other party in writing within 7 business days of the force majeure event commencing.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Sun Time Tea Co.'s total liability to the Buyer for any claim arising out of or in connection with any order shall not exceed the invoice value of the specific shipment giving rise to the claim.

We shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, loss of market, or loss of goodwill, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

12. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These Terms and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the People's Republic of China.

In the event of a dispute, the parties agree to first attempt resolution through good-faith negotiation. If a negotiated resolution cannot be reached within 30 days, the dispute shall be submitted to the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) for binding arbitration in accordance with its arbitration rules. The language of arbitration shall be English unless otherwise agreed. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on both parties.

13. Amendments to These Terms

Sun Time Tea Co. reserves the right to update or modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Continued use of our website or engagement in commercial transactions after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

14. Contact Us

For any questions regarding these Terms and Conditions, please contact our team:

Sun Time Tea Co.
Commercial & Legal Enquiries
Email: info@suntimetea.com
Website: suntimetea.com/contact