Terms & Conditions

Last updated: 18/09/25

These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern the sale of the children’s book(s) (“Product”) by Helen Kent, a sole trader trading under the name Helen Kent (“I”, “me”, “my”, or “Seller”), to you, the customer (“you”, “your”, or “Customer”). By placing an order through my website at www.giraffebear.co.uk (“Website”), you agree to be bound by these Terms.

 

1. Application of these Terms

  1. These Terms apply to all purchases of Products made through my Website.
  2. Before placing an order, you should read these Terms carefully. By placing an order, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and accepted these Terms.
  3. These Terms do not affect your statutory rights under UK consumer protection laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, and other applicable laws.
     

2. Ordering & Contract Formation

  1. All orders are subject to acceptance. I may refuse an order for any lawful reason, including where I believe there is an error in pricing, product availability, or concerns over payment or identity verification.
  2. Your order constitutes an offer to buy the Product(s) selected. When you place an order and we send you an order confirmation email, this does not mean your order has been accepted. Acceptance of your order occurs when we dispatch the Product(s) to you, at which point a contract is formed.
  3. You will receive an email confirmation when the Product has been dispatched, at which point the contract becomes legally binding.

    4. I reserve the right to refuse or cancel any order where fraud or unauthorised or illegal activity is suspected. I may also restrict or cancel orders where there is evidence of misuse of the Website or breach of these Terms. Any such activity may be reported to the relevant authorities.

    5. Products purchased via this Website are for personal use only and may not be resold or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission.

    6. If you have any questions before placing an order, please email me at email@giraffebear.co.uk

    7. By purchasing, you confirm you are 18 years or older.

 

3. Product Information

  1. I endeavour to ensure that all descriptions, specifications, and prices of Products appearing on the Website are correct at the time when the relevant information was entered.
  2. However, I do not warrant that all information is error‑free. If an error is found, I will inform you as soon as reasonably possible and give you the option to reconfirm your order at the correct price or cancel.
  3. I will inform you as soon as possible if the Product is out of stock or unavailable after you've placed your order. You will have the option to wait for restocking, choose an alternate, or cancel your order for full refund.

 

4. Price & Payment

  1. All prices are quoted in pounds sterling (GBP). I am not VAT-registered, so VAT is not charged.
  2. Delivery charges may also apply, and these will be displayed at checkout.
  3. Payment must be made in full at the time you place your order. I accept payment via Square.
  4. I reserve the right to correct pricing errors at any time before dispatch; if an error has caused you to be undercharged, I may contact you to agree whether you wish to proceed at the correct price or cancel.

   5. Prices and delivery charges are clearly stated at checkout prior to order confirmation." (for clarity and compliance with CCR 2013)

 

5. Order Button / Confirmation

   1. The button you click to place your order is clearly labelled “Buy Now” (or similar) to make clear you are entering into a contract. This follows e‑commerce best practice.

   2. After your order, you will receive confirmation via email with details of what you ordered, price, delivery, and these Terms.

 

6. Delivery

  1. I will deliver the Product to the address you gave me when placing the order.
  2. Delivery times are estimates only. I will try to dispatch Products within 3-4 working days of receiving your order (excluding weekends and UK public holidays).
  3. If you need the Product by a particular date, please contact me before ordering; I cannot guarantee delivery by that date.
  4. Risk of loss and damage passes to you when the Product is delivered. Title (ownership) passes to you once I have received full payment for the Product and any applicable delivery charges.

   5. If delivery is delayed due to circumstances beyond my control, I will inform you as soon as possible and take steps to minimise the delay.

   6. If you claim not to have received a Product that has been marked as delivered by the courier or postal service, I may require you to sign a declaration of non-receipt and cooperate in any investigation. In cases of dispute, I may rely on delivery tracking and GPS confirmation as proof of delivery.

   7. I shall not be liable for any delay or failure to perform my obligations under these Terms if such delay or failure is due to an event beyond my reasonable control, including but not limited to strikes, pandemics, natural disasters, postal or courier disruption, or failure of suppliers.

 

7. Right to Cancel (“Cooling‑Off Period”)

  1. If you are a consumer (i.e. buying for your own non‑business use), you have a legal right to cancel your order within 14 days of receiving the Product. This is in accordance with the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013.
  2. To cancel, you must inform me in writing (e.g. by email - email@giraffebear.co.uk) before the end of the cancellation period.
  3. You will then have 14 days from the date you tell me you are cancelling to send the Product back to me. You must take reasonable care of the Product while it is in your possession.
  4. If you cancel, I will refund you all payments received from you, including the cost of standard delivery. However, you may have to bear the cost of returning the Product. 
  5. I will process your refund within 14 days of receiving the returned Product, or proof of return.
  6. Some Products may be exempt from cancellation rights (e.g. custom or personalised Products). If so, I will clearly highlight that in the product description.
     

8. Returns, Refunds & Faulty Products

  1. If the Product is defective or damaged on arrival, or if I sent you the wrong Product, you must notify me without undue delay and in any event within 14 days of discovering the fault.
  2. I will provide a full refund or replacement (at my option) for faulty damage/wrong Product, including reasonable postage costs.
  3. For returns otherwise than for faulty/damaged/wrong items, see section 7 above.
  4. Refunds will be made using the same method you used for payment, unless otherwise agreed.

    5.    This does not affect your legal rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which entitle you to a refund, replacement or repair for faulty goods within a reasonable time.

    6. Returned items must be in their original condition and packaging (unless defective), suitable for resale. You may be liable for any reduction in value resulting from handling beyond what is necessary to establish the nature and characteristics of the item.

 

9. Your Responsibilities

  1. You must provide accurate delivery information. I am not liable for delays or failure to deliver due to incorrect, incomplete or misleading information provided by you.
  2. You must examine the Product upon delivery and notify me promptly of any issues as in section 8.
     

10. Our Liability

  1. Subject to these Terms, my liability to you in respect of any Product supplied shall be as set out in these Terms and subject to statutory rights.
  2. I do not exclude or limit in any way our liability for:
    a. Death or personal injury caused by my negligence, or that of our employees or agents;
    b. Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or
    c. Any other liability which cannot lawfully be excluded or limited under UK law.
  3. In all other cases, my liability is limited to the price of the Product you purchased.
     

11. Intellectual Property

  1. All content on the Website (including text, images, logos, designs) is owned or licensed by me. You may not reproduce, transmit, share, modify or otherwise use that content except as necessary to view the Website and to make use of the Products you have purchased.
     

12. Data Protection & Privacy

  1. I will process your personal data in accordance with my Privacy Policy, which is part of these Terms. A copy is available here Privacy Policy
  2. I collect, use and store your data for purposes of processing your order, delivery, marketing (where applicable and with your consent), and for legal obligations.

    3. This website uses cookies as part of its hosting through IONOS to ensure proper functionality and improve your browsing experience.

 

13. Complaints

  1. If you have any complaint about the Product or the service, please contact me at email@giraffebear.co.uk.
  2. I will try to resolve your complaint within a reasonable time.
     

14. Business Information

Helen Kent (sole trader)

Trading Name: Helen Kent

Business email: email@giraffebear.co.uk

Business address: 18 Essex Close, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 1SH.

 

15. Variation

  1. I may amend these Terms from time to time. Any changes will be posted on the Website and will apply from the date of posting.
  2. If you place an order before changes are posted, the Terms in force at the time of your order will apply to that order.
     

16. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held by a court or other competent authority to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision will be struck out or limited to the extent necessary, and the remainder of these Terms will continue in full force and effect.

 

17. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

  1. These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
  2. Any dispute, claim or other matter arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.


 

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 18 September 2025

 

This Privacy Policy explains how I, Helen Kent, trading as a sole trader under the name Helen Kent, collect, use, and share personal information when you visit, browse, or make a purchase from my website: www.giraffebear.co.uk (the “Site”).

By using the Site, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable UK data protection laws.

 

1. Collecting Personal Information

When you visit the Site or make a purchase, I may collect the following information:

a. Personal Information You Provide

  • Name
     
  • Billing and shipping address
     
  • Email address
     
  • Phone number (if provided)
     
  • Payment details (processed securely via Square; I do not see or store your full card information)
     
  • Order history

 

b. Children’s Privacy

My Site and Products are intended for purchase by adults. I do not knowingly collect personal data from children under the age of 13. If you believe I have inadvertently collected information about a child, please contact me immediately and I will delete it.
 

c. Automatically Collected Information

The Site may collect certain technical information automatically, primarily through my website provider (IONOS), to support basic functionality and security:

  • IP address
     
  • Browser type and version
     
  • Device information
     
  • Pages viewed
     
  • Date and time of access
     
  • Referring site (if applicable)
     

This data is collected using cookies and similar technologies (see section 5 below).

 

2. Using Personal Information

I use the information I collect to:

  • Process and fulfil your orders
     
  • Communicate with you (e.g. order confirmations, customer service)
     
  • Respond to queries or complaints
     
  • Improve the performance of my website and customer experience
     
  • Comply with legal obligations (e.g. record-keeping, tax law)
     

I only process your personal data where I have a lawful basis to do so, such as:

  • Fulfilling a contract (your purchase)
     
  • Complying with a legal obligation
     
  • Consent (e.g. marketing emails)
     
  • Legitimate interests (e.g. preventing fraud)
     

I do not currently use your personal data for marketing or advertising. If that changes in the future, I will ask for your consent before sending any promotional messages.

 

If you opt in to receive marketing emails (such as news or promotions), I will only send these with your explicit consent. You can withdraw this consent at any time by clicking “unsubscribe” in any marketing email or by contacting me at the email below.

 

3. Sharing Personal Information

I do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties.

However, I may share your personal information with trusted service providers where necessary, including:

  • IONOS by 1&1 (website hosting provider)
     
  • Square (payment processor)
     
  • Royal Mail or other couriers (for delivery)
     
  • Email providers (to send order confirmations or responses)
     
  • Professional advisors (e.g. accountants or legal advisors, if needed for compliance)
     

All third-party service providers are only given the minimum information needed and must process your data in accordance with UK GDPR.

 

4. Your Rights

Under the UK GDPR, you have the right to:

  • Access the personal data I hold about you
     
  • Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
     
  • Request erasure (in certain circumstances)
     
  • Object to or restrict data processing
     
  • Withdraw consent (for example, unsubscribe from marketing emails)
     
  • Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you believe your data has been misused
     

To exercise your rights, contact me at: email@giraffebear.co.uk

 

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

This Site uses cookies and similar technologies to ensure it functions correctly and securely. I do not actively use any additional tracking tools (such as Google Analytics or Facebook Pixel), and I do not use cookies for advertising or behavioural profiling.

However, my website provider (IONOS by 1&1) may collect basic technical data (e.g. IP address, browser type, device information) to help monitor website performance, security, and server stability. This may involve the use of essential or functional cookies.

When you visit the Site, a cookie banner will request your consent for any non-essential cookies (if applicable). You can manage your cookie preferences via your browser settings or by visiting: https://www.aboutcookies.org

For more information, please see the Cookie Policy for IONOS. https://resources.ionos.co.uk/cookies

 

 

6. Data Retention

I retain personal information only as long as necessary to:

  • Complete your order
     
  • Comply with legal and tax obligations (e.g. 6 years for accounting records under UK law)
     
  • Resolve disputes or enforce agreements
     

After this period, your data will be securely deleted or anonymised.

 

7. Security

I take appropriate security measures to protect your personal data, including:

  • Secure HTTPS encryption
     
  • Password-protected systems
     
  • Trusted third-party providers with UK/EU data compliance
     

While I take precautions, no online transmission can be guaranteed 100% secure.

 

8. International Data Transfers

Some of my service providers (e.g. payment processors or email platforms) may process data outside the UK or EEA. Where this occurs, I ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place, such as UK-approved Standard Contractual Clauses or adequacy decisions.

 

9. Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how I handle your data, please contact:

Helen Kent
email@giraffebear.co.uk
Business Address: 18 Essex Close, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 1SH.

 

10. Changes to This Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated occasionally to reflect changes in laws or business operations. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date. Please review it regularly.

 

Thank you for trusting GiraffeBear. I am committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring a safe and secure shopping experience.

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