GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

SOFTBOUND

Version 1 – March 2026

1. Identity and contact

Softbound is a project and brand developed and managed by Anouch Balthasar, who is responsible for day-to-day operations, communication and the composition of the offered bundles.

Softbound is part of the business of Giovanni Vermeulen, who acts as the legal seller:

Name: Giovanni Vermeulen

Address: Maalveld 26, 2160 Wommelgem, Belgium

Company registration number (CBE): 2.233.751.236

VAT number: BE0560.774.915

Email: hello@softbound.be

Hereinafter collectively referred to as: "Softbound".

2. Applicability

These general terms and conditions apply to all offers made by Softbound and to every distance contract concluded between Softbound and the consumer, in accordance with Book VI of the Belgian Code of Economic Law (CEL).

By placing an order, the customer explicitly accepts these terms and conditions.

3. Products and offer

Softbound offers reading-related bundles and accessories, including book-related items, stationery, decoration and 3D-printed pieces.

Softbound strives to represent products as accurately as possible. Minor differences in colour, finish or composition are possible and inherent to the nature of the products. Such deviations do not give rise to complaint or refund, unless they constitute a lack of conformity within the meaning of the law.

4. Bundle types

Premade Bundles contain a fixed, pre-disclosed content clearly described on the product page.

Venture Bundles are composed based on preferences provided by the customer and include a surprise element. Softbound composes these with care, but cannot guarantee a complete subjective match. These bundles are considered personalised products (see art. 9).

5. Order and conclusion of agreement

The agreement is concluded at the moment the customer places an order and payment has been successfully confirmed. Softbound confirms every order in writing by email.

Softbound reserves the right to refuse orders in the event of:

suspicion of fraud or misuse
submission of incorrect or incomplete data
obvious errors in price or offer

In case of refusal, the customer will be informed as soon as possible and any payments will be fully refunded.

6. Prices

All prices are stated in euros and include VAT, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Shipping costs are clearly displayed before the final completion of the order. The customer is only bound after explicit confirmation of the total amount payable, including shipping costs.

7. Payment

Payment is made via the payment methods offered at checkout. Orders are only processed after successful receipt of payment.

8. Delivery

Orders are generally dispatched within 3 to 5 business days after payment confirmation. The maximum delivery period is 30 days, unless a different period has been explicitly agreed upon.

The customer will receive follow-up by email, including tracking information where available.

Softbound is not liable for delays caused by the carrier, force majeure or circumstances beyond Softbound's control. If delivery does not take place within the agreed or statutory period, the customer has the right to dissolve the agreement free of charge and claim a full refund.

9. Right of withdrawal

The consumer has the right to withdraw from the agreement within 14 calendar days of receiving the product, without giving any reason.

To exercise this right, the customer must notify Softbound in writing via hello@softbound.be, preferably using the statutory model withdrawal form (available on request or as a download on the website).

Return shipment is at the customer's expense. Products must be returned unused, undamaged and in their original packaging.

Softbound will refund the purchase amount within 14 days of receiving the returned product, using the same payment method as the original payment.

Exception – Venture Bundles: Venture Bundles composed on the basis of the customer's personal preferences are considered made-to-order products. Pursuant to article VI.53, 3° of the CEL, the right of withdrawal does not apply to such personalised products. The customer is explicitly informed of this before placing the order.

10. Return conditions

Products must be returned unused, undamaged and in their original condition and packaging. The customer is liable for any diminishment in value resulting from handling beyond what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the product.

11. Cancellation or modification

Cancellations or modifications after ordering are not always possible due to rapid processing. The customer should contact us as soon as possible at hello@softbound.be. Softbound will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the request.

12. Legal guarantee

The customer is entitled to the legal guarantee of conformity pursuant to the law of 1 September 2004 and the transposition of EU Directive 2019/771, applicable to purchases from 1 June 2022.

In the event of a lack of conformity established within two years of delivery, the consumer is entitled to:

repair or replacement of the product
if this is not possible or disproportionate: a price reduction or dissolution of the agreement

The customer must report defects as soon as possible via hello@softbound.be.

13. Liability

Softbound is liable for direct damage that is the direct result of an attributable failure. Softbound is not liable for indirect damage, consequential damage, delays caused by third parties, or failure to meet subjective expectations regarding surprise bundles, to the extent permitted by law in a B2C context.

This limitation does not affect the mandatory rights of the consumer under Belgian law.

14. Complaints

Complaints can be submitted via hello@softbound.be. Softbound aims to respond to every complaint within 5 business days and to find an appropriate solution.

15. Force majeure

Softbound is not liable in the event of force majeure, including but not limited to: transport problems, illness, technical failures, strikes or government measures. In the event of prolonged force majeure, the customer has the right to dissolve the agreement and claim a refund.

16. Intellectual property

All content of Softbound – including texts, images, logos and product compositions – remains the exclusive property of Softbound or its licensors. Use, reproduction or distribution without prior written consent is not permitted.

17. Privacy

Personal data is processed in accordance with Softbound's privacy policy, available at: www.softbound.be/privacy-policy.

18. Disputes and out-of-court resolution

These terms and conditions are governed exclusively by Belgian law.

In the event of a dispute, the consumer may contact:

Consumer Mediation Service (Consumentenombudsdienst)

Address: Koning Albert II-laan 8, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Website: www.consumentenombudsdienst.be

In addition, pursuant to EU Regulation 524/2013, we refer to the European ODR platform for online dispute resolution: https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr