Terms of Service & Escrow Agreement

1. Role of WildCurio (Escrow Positioning)

WildCurio acts strictly as a marketplace platform and financial Escrow intermediary. We do not inspect, handle, deliver, or assume ownership of any goods listed on this platform.

• Escrow Services: We hold the Buyer's payment securely until the delivery conditions are met.
• Communication: We provide a platform for Buyers and Sellers to communicate and negotiate directly.

2. Limitation of Liability

• WildCurio does not guarantee the quality, health, condition, or legal compliance of any item sold.
• Buyers and Sellers bear full, absolute responsibility for verifying and complying with all applicable laws (e.g., CITES, local wildlife protection acts, import/export regulations).
• In the event of a dispute, DOA (Dead on Arrival), or legal confiscation, the Buyer and Seller must resolve the matter independently via the platform's chat.
• WildCurio assumes ZERO legal liability for any damages, mortality during transit, or legal infractions resulting from transactions on this platform.

3. Dead on Arrival (DOA) Claims

For live animal or plant shipments, Buyers are protected under the DOA protocol:

• Buyers must submit a DOA claim within 48 hours of the carrier's delivery timestamp.
• Clear evidence is required: Uncut unboxing video and clear photographs of the deceased specimen in its original packaging.
• DOA coverage applies ONLY to transit deaths. It does not cover legal confiscations at customs, or deaths occurring after the specimen has been placed in the Buyer's aquarium/enclosure.
• WildCurio acts purely as an impartial mediator and will release or refund the escrowed funds based solely on the provided evidence.

4. Prohibited Items & Zero-Tolerance Wildlife Policy

Sellers are strictly forbidden from listing the following items. To protect our platform and payment processing accounts (including Stripe), we enforce a zero-tolerance policy against any prohibited listings. Violation will result in immediate listing removal, account suspension, permanent seller ban, and the freezing of escrowed funds:

• No Illegal Wildlife Trade: The sale, trade, or shipping of illegal wildlife, poached specimens, reserved plants, or endangered species is strictly prohibited. All specimens listed on this platform must be ethically sourced ("Ethically Sourced") and comply with both international conservation treaties and local jurisdictions.
• CITES Appendix I & II Species: Listing or selling species protected under CITES Appendix I & II is strictly banned unless the seller uploads and provides verified, legally binding commercial permits and official registration documents in the listing.
• Protected & Reserved Species: Endangered or protected wildlife and reserved plants under local and international jurisdictions (e.g., local Wildlife Protection Acts, Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act of Thailand) are completely prohibited.
• Invasive Species: Invasive species or specimens banned in the buyer's destination country or region are strictly forbidden.

5. Seller Obligations

By listing an item, the Seller legally binds themselves to the following:

• I confirm that every item listed is 100% legal, legally sourced, and I possess all necessary permits to sell and export it.
• I understand that I am solely responsible for the safe and humane packaging of live specimens according to IATA Live Animals Regulations.

6. Final Administrative Authority

In the event of an unresolvable conflict between Buyer and Seller, WildCurio may step in as an impartial mediator.

• Both parties must respect the decision-making process, which is based entirely on the provided evidence (e.g., unboxing videos, chat logs).
• The final decision rendered by WildCurio administrators is absolute, final, and binding. By using this platform, all users agree to respect the admin's ruling to close the dispute and release or refund the escrowed funds accordingly.

7. Escrow Fees, Withdrawals & Limits

By using the platform's escrow wallet services, Sellers agree to the following financial policies:

• Minimum Withdrawal Amount: A seller must accumulate an available wallet balance of at least $80 USD to request a payout.
• International Remittance Fees: Payouts to bank accounts outside Thailand (via Wise international transfer) are subject to a 2% processing fee, with a minimum fee of $7.00 USD (equivalent to approximately 250 THB) and a maximum fee capped at $50.00 USD.
• Domestic Transfers: Local domestic bank transfers to bank accounts within Thailand are completely free of these international remittance fees.
• Transaction Commissions: Platform commissions are deducted automatically from the escrow balance upon delivery verification: 8.5% for the Hobbyist Plan (Standard), 4.5% for the Verified Breeder Plan (Plus), and 2.0% for the Global Exporter Plan (Pro).
• Affiliate Program & Platform Co-Sponsorship: Sellers can opt-in to the WildCurio Affiliate Program to allow influencers and partners to promote their listings.
  • Default Affiliate Rate: The default affiliate commission is set to 4.0% of the total order value, customizable by the seller between 1.0% and 20.0% per listing.
  • 1.5% Co-Sponsorship Discount: To support sellers who drive sales through affiliates, WildCurio will co-sponsor the marketing effort by reducing its transaction commission by 1.5%:
    • Hobbyist Plan: Platform fee drops from 8.5% to 7.0% on affiliate-referred sales.
    • Verified Breeder Plan: Platform fee drops from 4.5% to 3.0% on affiliate-referred sales.
    • Global Exporter Plan: Platform fee drops from 2.0% to 0.5% on affiliate-referred sales.

8. Cross-Border Taxes, VAT & Merchant of Record

All platform transactions are governed by the following taxation and cross-border shipping agreements:

• Merchant of Record (MoR) Status: The Seller is the sole Merchant of Record. The Seller holds sole, absolute responsibility for determining, collecting, reporting, and paying any and all applicable income taxes, sales taxes, import/export duties, and VAT to their local and international tax authorities. WildCurio operates strictly as an escrow agent and technology venue, and will not automatically deduct or remit withholding taxes.
• 0% Zero-Rated VAT for Foreign Sellers: Under Section 80/1(2) of the Thai Revenue Code, platform service fees (commissions, ads, subscriptions) billed to international merchants qualify as exported technology services and are subject to 0% Zero-Rated VAT (no VAT is added to your merchant invoices).
• Shipping Terms (DDU vs. DDP):
  • Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU): Standard listings are sold on DDU terms. The Buyer acts as the importer of record and is responsible for paying all local VAT, sales tax, and import customs duties upon arrival at the destination border.
  • Delivered Duty Paid (DDP): Premium listings marked with the green "Duty Paid" badge are sold on DDP terms. The Seller pre-calculates and pre-clears all import duties and taxes, ensuring delivery straight to the Buyer's door with no hidden or extra fees.

9. Special Category Compliance

Sellers offering items in specialized categories must comply with strict registration and safety standards:

• Amulets & Talismans (Antiques & Collectibles): All listings must guarantee description accuracy and authenticity. Exporting historical items or cultural antiquities out of the country of origin may require verified heritage clearance certificates from the local Ministry of Culture or Fine Arts Department.
• Licensed Herbs & Inhalers (Traditional Herbal Wellness): All herbal balms, essential oils, and traditional inhalers (such as Hong Thai) must clearly display their verified FDA or national health authority registration number directly in the product listing to prevent seizure at customs and ensure consumer health and safety.

By using WildCurio, you acknowledge and agree that WildCurio is merely a venue and escrow service. You waive any right to hold WildCurio liable for the actions, products, or legal compliance of its users.