Terms of service

TERMS OF SERVICE — THE SOURCERY

Last Updated: May 2026

OVERVIEW

This website is operated by The Sourcery (referred to throughout as "we", "us", or "our"). The Sourcery is an online retailer of cosmetic, food, and general-purpose ingredients based in New Zealand.

By visiting our website and/or purchasing from us, you engage in our "Service" and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). These Terms apply to all users of the site, including browsers, customers, and any other visitors.

Please read these Terms carefully before using our website. If you do not agree to all terms and conditions, you must not access or use this website or purchase from us.

We reserve the right to update these Terms at any time by posting changes to this page. Continued use of the website following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. It is your responsibility to review this page periodically.

Our store is hosted on Shopify Inc., which provides the e-commerce platform through which we sell our products.

SECTION 1 — ELIGIBILITY AND ACCOUNT TERMS

By using this website, you represent and warrant that:

  • You are at least 18 years of age, or are the age of majority in your jurisdiction, whichever is greater;
  • You have the legal authority to enter into these Terms;
  • You will not use our products or Services for any unlawful or unauthorised purpose;
  • You will comply with all applicable laws in your jurisdiction, including but not limited to health and safety, consumer protection, and intellectual property laws;
  • You will not transmit any viruses, malware, worms, or code of a destructive or harmful nature.

A breach of any of the above will result in immediate termination of your access to our Services.

SECTION 2 — INTENDED USE OF INGREDIENTS; CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITY

This section is important. Please read it carefully.

The Sourcery sells raw ingredients intended for use by persons with appropriate knowledge, skill, and experience in formulation, cosmetic science, food production, or related fields.

You acknowledge and agree that:

2.1 You are responsible for suitability assessment. It is entirely your responsibility to determine whether any ingredient purchased from us is suitable, safe, and legally compliant for your intended application. We make no representation that any ingredient is suitable for any specific formulation, product, or end use.

2.2 Patch testing and safety testing. Before using any ingredient — particularly in cosmetic, personal care, or food applications — you must conduct all appropriate safety, stability, and compatibility testing. We strongly recommend patch testing all cosmetic ingredients before incorporation into finished products.

2.3 Regulatory compliance. It is your sole responsibility to ensure that your use of our ingredients complies with all applicable laws, regulations, and standards, including but not limited to those relating to food safety, cosmetic product safety, labelling, and consumer protection in your jurisdiction.

2.4 Not a substitute for professional advice. Nothing on this website constitutes professional cosmetic, medical, nutritional, pharmaceutical, or regulatory advice. Product descriptions, usage notes, and suggested applications are provided for general information only. You should seek independent professional advice where appropriate.

2.5 Formulation risks. Reactions between ingredients, sensitivity to individual users, and variations in formulation outcomes are outside our control. We accept no liability for any product you create using our ingredients.

2.6 Allergens and sensitivities. We provide ingredient information to the best of our knowledge, but we cannot guarantee the absence of allergens, cross-contamination, or sensitivities. You must assess allergen risk independently for your specific application.

SECTION 3 — GENERAL CONDITIONS

3.1 We reserve the right to refuse Service to anyone for any reason at any time.

3.2 You agree not to reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, resell, or exploit any portion of the Service or its content without our express prior written permission.

3.3 Your content (excluding payment information) may be transmitted unencrypted over various networks. Credit card and payment information is always encrypted during transmission.

3.4 The headings in these Terms are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation.

SECTION 4 — ACCURACY OF PRODUCT INFORMATION

4.1 We make reasonable efforts to ensure that product descriptions, specifications, ingredient details, usage guidance, and other information on our website are accurate and current. However, we do not warrant that all such information is complete, accurate, or error-free.

4.2 Product descriptions and suggested uses are provided for general informational purposes only. You must independently verify suitability for your intended application.

4.3 We reserve the right to correct errors, inaccuracies, or omissions and to update information at any time without prior notice, including after an order has been submitted.

4.4 Colours displayed on product images are subject to monitor variation and may not exactly represent the actual product.

4.5 We are not responsible for information on third-party websites, publications, or databases that reference our products.

SECTION 5 — MODIFICATIONS TO SERVICE AND PRICES

5.1 Prices are subject to change at any time without notice.

5.2 We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Service at any time without notice or liability to you or any third party.

5.3 We shall not be liable for any modification, price change, suspension, or discontinuance of the Service.

SECTION 6 — PRODUCTS AND ORDERS

6.1 Certain products may be available exclusively online and may be subject to limited quantities.

6.2 We reserve the right to limit sales of any product to any person, geographic region, or jurisdiction, on a case-by-case basis.

6.3 We reserve the right to refuse or cancel any order at our sole discretion, including but not limited to orders that appear to be placed by resellers or distributors without prior agreement, or where pricing or product errors have occurred.

6.4 We shall not be liable for any loss arising from our refusal to fulfil an order.

6.5 Returns and exchanges are subject to our Refund Policy: [LINK TO REFUND POLICY]

6.6 We do not warrant that the quality of any product or ingredient will meet your specific expectations or formulation requirements.

SECTION 7 — ACCURACY OF BILLING AND ACCOUNT INFORMATION

7.1 You agree to provide current, complete, and accurate purchase and account information for all transactions.

7.2 You agree to promptly update your account information, including email address and payment details, to ensure successful processing of orders.

7.3 We may limit or cancel quantities per person, per household, or per order, including where multiple orders share the same account, credit card, or billing/shipping address.

7.4 For further details, see our Refund Policy: [LINK TO REFUND POLICY]

SECTION 8 — OPTIONAL TOOLS AND THIRD-PARTY LINKS

8.1 We may provide access to third-party tools or integrations over which we have no control. Such tools are provided "as is" without any warranties or endorsement. We are not liable for your use of such tools.

8.2 Third-party links on this site may direct you to websites not affiliated with us. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or practices of third-party sites. Any transactions with third parties are entirely at your own risk.

8.3 We are not liable for any harm, loss, or damage arising from your use of or reliance on any third-party tools, content, or websites.

SECTION 9 — USER SUBMISSIONS AND FEEDBACK

9.1 Any feedback, suggestions, reviews, or other materials you submit to us may be used by us without restriction, compensation, or obligation of confidentiality, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

9.2 You agree that your submissions will not violate any third-party rights, be unlawful, abusive, defamatory, or contain any malicious code.

9.3 You are solely responsible for the accuracy and lawfulness of any content you submit. We take no responsibility for user-submitted content.

9.4 We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to monitor, edit, or remove any content that we deem unlawful, offensive, or in violation of these Terms.

SECTION 10 — PERSONAL INFORMATION

Your personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy: [LINK TO PRIVACY POLICY]

SECTION 11 — PROHIBITED USES

You are prohibited from using this site or its content:

(a) For any unlawful purpose or to solicit others to engage in unlawful acts;

(b) To violate any applicable laws, regulations, or ordinances;

(c) To infringe upon our intellectual property rights or those of any third party;

(d) To harass, abuse, harm, defame, or discriminate against any person;

(e) To submit false or misleading information;

(f) To upload viruses, malware, or any code that could interfere with the operation of the Service;

(g) To collect or harvest personal information of other users;

(h) To spam, phish, scrape, crawl, or engage in any automated data collection;

(i) To interfere with or circumvent the security of the Service or related systems;

(j) To resell or commercially exploit any ingredient purchased from us for the purpose of distributing to third parties without prior written agreement with us.

We reserve the right to terminate access to the Service for any violation of the above.

SECTION 12 — DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

12.1 No warranties. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, The Sourcery provides all products and Services "as is" and "as available" without any representation, warranty, or condition of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, durability, or non-infringement.

12.2 No guarantee of results. We do not guarantee that products will achieve any particular outcome in your formulations or end products. Results will vary depending on formulation, method, and end use.

12.3 Limitation of liability. To the maximum extent permitted by law, The Sourcery, its directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, suppliers, and licensors shall not be liable for:

  • Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages;
  • Loss of profit, revenue, data, goodwill, or business opportunity;
  • Any claim arising from your use of our products in formulations or finished goods;
  • Any adverse reaction, injury, or harm resulting from your use or misuse of any ingredient purchased from us;
  • Any regulatory non-compliance arising from your use of our products;
  • Any loss arising from reliance on product descriptions or information on our website.

12.4 Maximum liability cap. Where liability cannot be fully excluded under New Zealand law (including the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 and the Fair Trading Act 1986), our liability is limited to the purchase price of the relevant product(s) giving rise to the claim.

12.5 Consumer Guarantees Act. Where you are acquiring products for business purposes, you agree that the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 does not apply to the supply of those products. If you are a consumer purchasing for personal use, the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 may apply, and nothing in these Terms is intended to limit rights you are entitled to under that Act.

SECTION 13 — INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless The Sourcery and its directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, licensors, and suppliers from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from:

  • Your breach of these Terms;
  • Your use of products purchased from us, including in any formulation or finished product;
  • Any third-party claims relating to a product you have manufactured or sold using our ingredients;
  • Your violation of any applicable law or third-party rights;
  • Any misrepresentation you make in connection with your purchase or use of our products.

SECTION 14 — INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

14.1 All content on this website, including but not limited to text, images, logos, product descriptions, formulations, and designs, is the property of The Sourcery or its licensors and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

14.2 You may not copy, reproduce, modify, distribute, or commercially exploit any content from this website without our prior written consent.

14.3 Any feedback or suggestions you provide to us may be incorporated into our products or Services without any obligation to you.

SECTION 15 — SEVERABILITY

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, void, or unenforceable, that provision shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

SECTION 16 — TERMINATION

16.1 These Terms remain in effect unless terminated by either party.

16.2 We may terminate your access to the Service immediately and without notice if you breach any of these Terms, and you will remain liable for any amounts owed up to the date of termination.

16.3 Provisions that by their nature should survive termination — including disclaimers, limitations of liability, indemnification, and intellectual property — shall survive termination of these Terms.

SECTION 17 — ENTIRE AGREEMENT

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Refund Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and The Sourcery regarding use of the Service and supersede all prior agreements, representations, or understandings. No waiver of any provision shall constitute a continuing waiver.

SECTION 18 — GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

18.1 These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of New Zealand.

18.2 Any disputes arising from or relating to these Terms or your use of the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New Zealand.

18.3 Before initiating any formal dispute process, you agree to contact us in good faith to attempt to resolve the matter informally.

SECTION 19 — CHANGES TO TERMS OF SERVICE

We reserve the right to update or replace these Terms at any time at our sole discretion. The most current version will always be posted on this page with the date of last update. Your continued use of the Service after any changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

SECTION 20 — CONTACT INFORMATION

Questions about these Terms of Service should be directed to:

The Sourcery Email: leah@thesourcery.co.nz Address: Unit 6, 100 Molesworth Drive, Mangawhai 0505, New Zealand Phone: 021 499 803