Terms of Purchase: Cotopaxs — Shop Outdoor Gear With Clear Rules
When you purchase outdoor gear from Cotopaxs—whether it’s a hiking tent, waterproof jacket, or camping cookware—these Terms of Purchase outline the rules governing our transactions. We keep it straightforward, no confusing legalese—just the info you need to shop confidently, knowing exactly what to expect from order placement to refund.
1. Order Placement & Acceptance
- How Orders Work: Adding items to your cart, entering your details, and completing payment constitutes an offer to purchase from Cotopaxs. We’ll send an order confirmation email (to the address you provided) within 1 hour of your purchase—this confirms we’ve received your order, but not yet accepted it.
- Order Acceptance: We officially accept your order once we process it (see Section 2) and send a “Shipping Confirmation” email with your tracking number. In rare cases, we may decline an order (e.g., out-of-stock gear, incorrect payment info, suspected fraud)—we’ll email you promptly to explain and issue a full refund if payment was already processed.
- Pricing & Currency: All prices on our site are listed in United States Dollars (USD)—this is our only accepted currency for purchases. We strive to keep pricing and stock levels accurate, but if an item you ordered is mispriced or suddenly out of stock, we’ll notify you and offer a choice: cancel the order for a full refund, or adjust the price/purchase to a comparable item (with your consent).
2. Shipping & Delivery
- Processing Time: We process all in-stock outdoor gear within 1–3 business days (Monday to Friday, excluding major holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas). For large or specialized items (e.g., 4-person tents, inflatable kayaks) or custom gear (e.g., embroidered backpacks), processing time may extend to 4–5 business days—we’ll note this on the product page before you add the item to your cart.
- Delivery Timeline: Regardless of your location (domestic or international), we estimate delivery of your gear within 6–12 business days after processing. This timeline accounts for standard transit with our trusted carriers (USPS, UPS, or international partners) and routine customs clearance (for international orders). Delays may occur due to remote locations or unforeseen carrier issues, but we’ll share tracking updates to keep you informed.
- Global Free Shipping: We offer free shipping on all orders worldwide—no minimum purchase required, no hidden fees. This applies to every item, from small accessories (e.g., water bottles, compasses) to large gear (e.g., camping tents, backpacking frames), with no exceptions. We believe access to quality outdoor gear shouldn’t be limited by shipping costs, no matter where you’re adventuring.
3. Payment Terms
- Accepted Payment Methods: We accept major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), PayPal, and Cotopaxs gift cards. All payments are processed in USD—your payment provider may apply currency conversion fees (these fees are not controlled by Cotopaxs, so check with your bank or card issuer for details).
- Payment Security: Your payment information is protected by industry-standard SSL encryption during checkout. We never store your full credit card details—this is handled securely by our third-party payment processors (Stripe, PayPal), who follow global security standards to prevent fraud.
- Payment Issues: If your payment is declined (e.g., insufficient funds, expired card, security hold), we’ll email you to notify you. You can update your payment info in your order history (if you have a Cotopaxs account) or reach out to [email protected] for help—we’ll hold your order for 2 business days before canceling it to give you time to resolve the issue.
4. Returns & Refunds
- Return Eligibility: You may return any unused, unwashed, and unaltered outdoor gear (with original tags and packaging attached) for a refund within 60 days of receiving your order. “Unused” includes reasonable test use (e.g., setting up a tent once in your backyard to practice, trying on a jacket to check fit)—we understand outdoor gear needs a quick test to ensure it works for your adventures. Final sale items (marked clearly on product pages, e.g., discounted seasonal gear, limited-edition pieces) are non-returnable.
- Return Process: To start a return, email [email protected] with your order number, the item(s) you want to return, and a brief note (e.g., “too small,” “not suited for my hike”). We’ll send a pre-paid return label (global, no cost to you) within 24 hours—just pack the gear securely and drop it off at the nearest carrier location.
- Refund Timeline: Once we receive and inspect your return (usually 2–3 business days after delivery to our warehouse), we’ll process your refund. Refunds are issued to your original payment method and take 5–10 business days to appear in your account—this includes processing time with your bank or payment provider (we’ll confirm when the refund is sent, but we can’t speed up the final posting step).
- Refund Exceptions: We can’t issue refunds for gear that’s damaged due to improper use (e.g., a tent torn from being set up in high winds without stakes, a hiking boot scuffed from rock climbing when designed for casual trails) or gear returned after the 60-day window.
5. Cancellations & Order Changes
- Order Cancellations: You may cancel your order for a full refund only if you request it within 24 hours of placing the order. After that, your order will likely be in processing and can’t be canceled. To cancel, email [email protected] with your order number and “Cancel Order” in the subject line—we’ll confirm cancellation and refund status within 1 business day.
- Order Changes: We can only make changes to your order (e.g., size, color, shipping address) within 24 hours of purchase. After that, changes are not guaranteed—email us as soon as possible with your order number and the requested change, and we’ll do our best to update it before your gear ships. For address changes, double-check the new details—we’re not responsible for misdeliveries due to incorrect updated addresses.
6. Product Information & Accuracy
- Product Descriptions: We strive to provide accurate information about every item (sizing, materials, performance features—e.g., “waterproof rating,” “tent capacity”) and use photos that reflect the true appearance of the gear. However, colors may vary slightly due to device screen settings, and sizing may have minor differences (we include detailed size charts and gear specs on every product page to help you choose).
- Errors & Omissions: If we make a mistake in product information (e.g., a tent’s capacity is listed as 4-person but is actually 3-person) or pricing, we reserve the right to correct it. If you already purchased the item based on incorrect info, we’ll offer a choice: keep the item with a 15% store credit, or return it for a full refund (with free return shipping).
7. Limitation of Liability
- Cotopaxs is not liable for delays or issues caused by factors outside our control, including but not limited to: carrier errors (e.g., lost packages, delayed delivery), customs hold-ups (for international orders), weather-related disruptions, or payment provider issues. We’ll work to resolve these problems, but we can’t be held responsible for refunds or compensation for unforeseen events.
- We do not guarantee that our site will be error-free or available 24/7—occasional maintenance or technical issues may occur, but we’ll restore access as quickly as possible and notify you of extended downtime.
8. Contact Us for Questions
If you have questions about these Terms of Purchase—whether it’s about payment, returns, shipping, or product info—email our team at [email protected]. We reply within 24 hours on weekdays (48 hours on weekends/holidays) and will clarify any rules to make your shopping experience smooth.
By placing an order with Cotopaxs, you agree to these Terms of Purchase. We may update them occasionally (we’ll post the new version on our site and note the last update date), but we’ll never change rules retroactively for existing orders.
— The Cotopaxs Team
