Marketplace & Seller Beta Terms
These operational beta terms explain the Stripe Connect, fulfillment, shipping-estimate, fee, refund, and seller-responsibility rules used by the MonkeeBooks commerce foundation.
1. One customer checkout, separate fulfillment groups
Stripe may collect one customer payment for a cart containing MonkeeBooks inventory and items from multiple independent sellers or approved providers. MonkeeBooks records each fulfillment source separately so shipment, proceeds, refunds, and support can be allocated to the responsible party. Digital products require no shipping, and affiliate products complete checkout on the outside provider’s website.
2. Seller marketplace fee and Stripe costs
The marketplace fee applies only to independent-seller or drop-ship merchandise. Current tiers are 5% Standard with 0–1 confirmed referrals, 4% Community Builder with 2–10 confirmed referrals, 3% Elite Ambassador with 11–24 confirmed referrals, and 2% Community Champion with 25 or more confirmed referrals. The fee does not apply to shipping, packaging and handling, or tax. The seller separately bears their allocated actual Stripe processing and payout costs.
3. Stripe Connect allocations
Sellers must complete Stripe Connect onboarding and keep charges and payouts enabled. MonkeeBooks may create a seller transfer only after the customer payment is confirmed. Refunds may require a corresponding seller-transfer reversal. Live seller transfers remain disabled until MonkeeBooks completes checkout, refund, and transfer-reversal testing.
4. Listing and shipping accuracy
Sellers must identify the item, edition, condition, included components, weight class, any exact weight override, the source of the weight, Media Mail eligibility, shipping method, ship-from ZIP code, processing time, handling charge, and package dimensions when needed. Sellers are responsible for losses or adjustments caused by materially inaccurate weight, dimensions, eligibility, or listing information.
5. Estimated shipping and handling
Calculated shipping combines eligible items from the same fulfillment source, adds a 0.5 lb packaging allowance, and rounds the estimated packaged weight up to the next whole pound. Postage and packaging/handling are displayed separately. The recommended initial handling charge is $1.00. An estimate may differ from the amount actually paid to the carrier.
6. Fulfillment target and tracking
The default seller target is shipment within three business days unless a different processing time is disclosed. Sellers must enter the carrier, tracking number when available, date shipped, actual postage, and actual packaged weight. MonkeeBooks retains estimated-versus-actual shipping differences for support and accounting records.
7. Returns, refunds, and disputes
Each seller states a shipping and return policy and remains responsible for timely fulfillment, buyer communication, and items that materially differ from the listing. MonkeeBooks may coordinate a Stripe refund and seller-transfer reversal for a marketplace order. Refunds, shipping adjustments, and restored inventory are recorded by fulfillment group.
8. Taxes and records
MonkeeBooks stores merchandise, shipping, handling, tax, platform fee, Stripe allocations, seller proceeds, MonkeeBooks-owned proceeds, third-party proceeds, refunds, and shipping adjustments separately. Arizona TPT classification fields are retained for review. Sellers remain responsible for their own income, business, and tax obligations unless applicable law assigns a marketplace-facilitator duty to MonkeeBooks.
9. Reports and moderation
Buyers and sellers may report inaccurate listings, non-shipment, payment problems, harassment, fraud, or prohibited items. MonkeeBooks may hide listings, pause or restrict accounts, preserve audit records, and request supporting information while reviewing a report.
10. Beta changes
This commerce foundation may change as Stripe, shipping, tax, subscription, and marketplace requirements are tested. Material changes use a new terms version and may require acceptance again.