Regional & Payment Policy

At Patcy Stitches (accessible via [https://www.patcystitches.com]), we aim to provide a seamless shopping experience for customers worldwide—whether you’re ordering a watch from the United States, Europe, or beyond. This policy outlines our regional service guidelines (including shipping restrictions, local compliance, and support) and payment terms (accepted methods, security measures, and refund processes) to keep you informed and confident when shopping with us. For questions or assistance, contact our team at [info@patcystitches.com].

1. Regional Policy

Our services vary slightly by region to comply with local laws, logistics capabilities, and customer needs. Below is a breakdown of key policies for our primary service areas, plus general guidelines for international orders.

1.1 Domestic Region (United States)

1.1.1 Service Coverage

We ship to all 50 U.S. states, Washington D.C., and U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands). For military addresses (APO/FPO/DPO), we offer specialized shipping via USPS Priority Mail (see our [Shipping & Delivery] page for details).

1.1.2 Local Compliance

• Taxes: All U.S. orders include applicable state and local sales tax (calculated at checkout based on your shipping address). Tax exemptions (e.g., for resellers or non-profits) require a valid tax exemption certificate—submit it to [info@patcystitches.com] before placing your order to avoid tax charges.
• Warranty Support: U.S. customers receive complimentary in-country warranty service. If your watch needs repairs, we cover return shipping to our U.S.-based service center (details in our [Terms & Conditions]).
• Returns: Domestic returns are free for orders over $200 (we provide a prepaid shipping label). For orders under $200, a $5 return shipping fee applies (waived if the return is due to our error, e.g., wrong product).

1.2 European Union (EU) & European Economic Area (EEA)

1.2.1 Service Coverage

We ship to all EU/EEA countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom (post-Brexit). Note: UK orders may be subject to additional customs checks (see Section 1.2.2).

1.2.2 Local Compliance

• VAT & Customs: EU/EEA orders include VAT (20% for most countries) at checkout—no additional VAT charges will be due upon delivery. For UK orders, VAT (20%) is included, but you may need to provide a customs declaration (we include this in your shipping documentation).
• Data Privacy: We comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). EU/EEA customers have enhanced data rights (e.g., access, erasure) outlined in our [Privacy Policy], and can submit data requests directly to [info@patcystitches.com] with a 14-day response guarantee.
• Warranty: EU/EEA customers benefit from a 2-year legal warranty (per EU consumer law) in addition to our manufacturer’s warranty. Repairs are handled via our partner service centers in Germany and France to reduce shipping time.

1.3 Canada, Australia, & New Zealand

1.3.1 Service Coverage

We ship to all major cities and regions in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Remote areas (e.g., Northern Canada, rural Australia) may require additional shipping time (3–5 business days) and a $10 remote area surcharge.

1.3.2 Local Compliance

• Taxes & Duties: Canadian orders include GST/HST (5–15%, based on province) at checkout. Australian orders include GST (10%), and New Zealand orders include GST (15%)—no further taxes are due upon delivery.
• Product Restrictions: Certain watch models with lithium-ion batteries (e.g., smartwatches) may have shipping restrictions in Australia. We clearly mark restricted products on our website; if you’re unsure, contact [info@patcystitches.com] before ordering.

1.4 International (Rest of World)

1.4.1 Service Coverage

We ship to select countries in Asia (Japan, Singapore, South Korea), the Middle East (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia), and Latin America (Mexico, Brazil). Due to logistical or legal restrictions, we cannot ship to countries under U.S. trade sanctions (e.g., Iran, North Korea) or regions with high shipping risk (e.g., war zones).

1.4.2 General Guidelines

• Customs & Duties: You are responsible for all import duties, taxes, and fees imposed by your country’s customs authority. We recommend checking your local customs website (e.g., Japan’s Customs Bureau, Singapore’s Customs) for estimated costs before ordering.
• Delivery Confirmation: All international orders require signature confirmation. If you miss delivery, the carrier will leave a notice with instructions to reschedule or pick up your package.
• Support: International customers can reach our multilingual support team (English, Spanish, Japanese) via [info@patcystitches.com] or our website chat (available 9 AM–5 PM ET).

2. Payment Policy

We prioritize secure, flexible payment options to accommodate global customers. Below are our accepted payment methods, security measures, and rules for payments, refunds, and disputes.

2.1 Accepted Payment Methods

We support the following payment methods, with options tailored to your region:

Note: Payment methods may be limited for high-value orders (over $1,000). For orders exceeding this amount, we may require a 50% deposit via bank transfer, with the balance due before shipping. Contact [info@patcystitches.com] to arrange this.

2.2 Payment Security

We take every measure to protect your payment information:

• Encryption: All payment data is transmitted via SSL/TLS encryption (256-bit) to prevent interception. We never store full credit card details—this information is processed and secured by our trusted third-party payment partners (Stripe, PayPal, Klarna).
• Fraud Prevention: We use advanced fraud detection tools (e.g., address verification, 3D Secure) to verify the authenticity of payments. If we detect suspicious activity (e.g., mismatched billing/shipping addresses), we may contact you to confirm your order before processing.
• Compliance: We adhere to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) to ensure our payment systems meet global security benchmarks.

2.3 Payment Terms

• Order Confirmation: Your order is confirmed only after payment is successfully processed. If your payment is declined, we will notify you via email with instructions to retry or select an alternative method.
• Currency: All payments are processed in [specify base currency, e.g., USD]. If you pay with a card issued in a different currency, your bank will convert the amount at their current exchange rate (we do not charge additional currency conversion fees).
• Pre-Orders: For pre-ordered watches, full payment is required at the time of order placement. If the pre-order is canceled (by you or us), a full refund will be issued within 3–5 business days.

2.4 Refunds & Payment Disputes

2.4.1 Refund Process

Refunds are issued to the original payment method and follow these timelines:

• Credit Cards: 5–7 business days (varies by card issuer)
• PayPal: 1–3 business days
• Bank Transfers: 3–5 business days

Refunds include the full product price but may exclude original shipping costs (unless the refund is due to our error, e.g., defective product, wrong item shipped).

2.4.2 Dispute Resolution

If you have a payment issue (e.g., duplicate charge, unauthorized transaction):

1. Contact us at [info@patcystitches.com] within 14 days of the transaction—include your order number, payment receipt, and a description of the issue.
2. We will investigate the issue and provide a resolution within 5 business days (e.g., issue a refund, reverse a duplicate charge).
3. If you file a dispute with your bank or payment provider (e.g., chargeback), please notify us immediately. We will provide supporting documentation (e.g., order confirmation, shipping proof) to resolve the dispute quickly.

Note: We reserve the right to deny refunds for orders that are returned used, damaged, or without original packaging (see our [Returns & Refunds] guidelines for details).

3. Contact Us

For questions about regional services, payment options, or disputes:

• Email: [info@patcystitches.com] (response within 24 business hours)
• Website: Visit [https://www.patcystitches.com/contact] to submit a support ticket

We regularly update this policy to reflect changes in local laws or payment technologies—check back periodically for updates.