Terms of Service & Disclaimer for Antiques United

1. Agreement to Terms

By accessing, browsing, or using antiquesunited.co.uk (referred to as “the Site” or “Antiques United”), you agree to be legally bound by these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy. These terms apply to all visitors, registered members, buyers, sellers, and general users of the platform. If you do not agree to all of these terms, you must discontinue using the Site immediately.

2. Nature of Service and Intermediary Disclaimer

Antiques United operates purely as a passive introductory venue and directory platform designed to allow independent collectors, dealers, and specialists to display, promote, buy, and sell fine mechanical instruments, artifacts, and items of cultural or scientific interest. Antiques United acts solely as an introductory vehicle. We maintain no duty, obligation, or responsibility to screen, inspect, verify, authenticate, or conduct background checks on any user, buyer, seller, listing, description, provenance record, or title of ownership. We do not warrant or guarantee that any listed item is authentic, accurately described, legally owned, or free from theft, nor do we process, handle, or guarantee any financial transactions, payments, or agreements between users. Any fraudulent activity, financial loss, misrepresentation, or dispute regarding stolen property or false provenance is strictly the sole liability of the participating parties, and Antiques United disclaims all duty of care in verifying such details.

3. User Obligations, Warranties, and Stolen Property

All users registering or listing items on Antiques United must be at least 18 years of age and legally capable of entering into binding contracts. When listing an item on the Site, the seller explicitly warrants that they are the absolute legal owner with unencumbered title, that the item is not stolen or subject to third-party claims, and that all provided descriptions, images, and provenance records are truthful, decent, and accurate to the best of their knowledge. The seller assumes full legal responsibility for their listings. Any false statements, fraudulent financial dealings, misrepresentations, or listing of stolen goods shall constitute a material breach of these terms, for which the user agrees to fully indemnify and hold harmless Antiques United. You agree not to list items that infringe upon third-party intellectual property rights, contain malicious software, or violate any applicable local or international laws.

4. Statutory Regulations and Ivory Act Compliance

All users dealing in antiques or historic items must strictly adhere to relevant UK statutory laws, international trade treaties, and customs regulations. Under the UK Ivory Act 2018, dealing in items containing or made of elephant ivory is strictly prohibited unless the item is formally registered as exempt or holds an official exemption certificate issued by the relevant authorities. It is the sole responsibility of the seller and buyer to verify, register, or certify any eligible ivory items prior to offering, listing, buying, or arranging a transaction on the Site. Users must also comply with CITES requirements for endangered species where applicable. Antiques United reserves the right to immediately remove any listing that fails to demonstrate required legal exemptions or regulatory compliance.

5. Intellectual Property and Content Rights

All layout designs, code, site structures, database rights, branding, text, and trademarks created by or for Antiques United remain the exclusive intellectual property of Antiques United. Users retain ownership of photographs and textual details they upload for their listings, but grant Antiques United a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to host, display, and promote that content across the platform. Users are granted a limited, revocable licence to view and print individual pages for personal, non-commercial use only. Automated data scraping, framing, copying, mirroring, or unauthorized reproduction of any part of the Site or its source code is strictly prohibited.

6. Limitation of Liability and Indemnity

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Antiques United, its owners, and operators shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or special damages arising from your use of or inability to use the Site. This includes, without limitation, loss of business, loss of profits, data corruption, or damages resulting from third-party transactions, inaccurate listings, stolen property, fraudulent transactions, or external site links. You agree to fully indemnify and hold harmless Antiques United against any claims, losses, liabilities, or legal expenses arising from your breach of these terms, your use of the platform, or any dispute between you and another user.

7. Registrations, Subscriptions, and Account Termination

Antiques United reserves the right to accept, reject, suspend, or terminate user registrations, dealer directory listings, or platform access at its sole discretion if a user breaches these terms, engages in fraudulent behavior, or acts inconsistently with community standards. Where subscription or listing fees apply, payment terms and recurring billing schedules will be explicitly outlined during registration. Accounts may be cancelled by providing written notice in accordance with specified platform notice periods.

8. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms of Service, along with any disputes or claims arising out of or in connection with the Site, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English Law. You agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any legal matters or disputes regarding the Site or these terms.

9. Returns Policy and Physical Goods Disclaimer

Antiques United functions solely as a digital directory and showcase venue designed to connect independent specialists, dealers, and collectors. We do not negotiate sales, manage payment processing, hold physical inventory, or arrange shipping for any items displayed across the platform.

Consequently, Antiques United cannot process refunds, facilitate returns, or receive physical goods at our administrative facilities under any circumstances. Any shipments directed to Antiques United will be turned away, as our organization is neither structured nor legally obligated to handle or store returned merchandise.

All return inquiries, refund requests, or disputes concerning an item must be addressed directly with the independent seller concerned. We strongly advise buyers and sellers to clarify and agree upon individual return terms prior to finalizing any transaction.