Founding Member Terms & Conditions

1. Definitions

In these Terms and Conditions:

• "FairPlate," "we," "us," or "our" refers to Fair Plate Co, an Australian business operating at fairplate.com.au.
• "You," "your," or "Founding Member" refers to any individual who makes a Founding Member deposit.
• "Deposit" refers to the $5 AUD payment made to secure Founding Member status.
• "Credit" refers to the $10 AUD store credit provided to Founding Members upon launch.
• "Launch" refers to FairPlate commencing commercial operations and accepting orders from customers in at least one geographic area in Australia.
• "Launch Deadline" refers to 1 January 2027.
• "Payment Processor" refers to Stripe, Inc. and its affiliates, our third-party payment processing service.

2. The Founding Member Deposit

2.1 Nature of the Deposit

The Founding Member deposit is a refundable commitment of support for FairPlate's pre-launch development. It is:

• NOT a purchase of goods or services
• NOT a binding contract for future goods or services
• NOT an investment or equity stake in FairPlate
• NOT a donation (it is fully refundable)

Your deposit represents your interest in becoming an early customer of FairPlate and your support for our mission to provide fair rewards to Australian farmers.

2.2 Deposit Amount

The Founding Member deposit is $5.00 AUD (Australian Dollars), payable as a one-time payment via our secure payment processor, Stripe.

2.3 Limited Availability

Founding Member status is limited to the first 100 depositors. Once this limit is reached, the Founding Member program will be closed. We reserve the right to modify this limit at our discretion.

3. Founding Member Benefits

As a Founding Member, you are entitled to the following benefits, contingent upon FairPlate launching:

3.1 Store Credit

You will receive $10 AUD store credit to spend on your first order with FairPlate - that's double your $5 deposit back. This credit:

• Is only valid if FairPlate launches commercially
• Must be used on your first order
• Cannot be redeemed for cash
• Has no expiry date once FairPlate launches
• Is non-transferable to other individuals

3.2 Priority Access

You will receive early access to place orders before FairPlate opens to the general public. The duration of this exclusive access period will be determined at our discretion.

3.3 Founding Member Recognition

Your account will display a "Founding Member" badge, recognising your early support of FairPlate.

3.4 Benefit Conditions

All benefits described above are contingent upon:

• FairPlate successfully launching commercial operations
• Launch occurring in a geographic area serviceable to you
• You creating an account and placing an order with FairPlate

If FairPlate does not launch, no benefits will be provided, and your deposit will be refunded in full.

4. Refund Policy

4.1 Voluntary Refund Requests

You may request a full refund of your deposit at any time prior to using your Founding Member benefits. To request a refund:

1. Send an email with the subject line "Refund Request"
2. Include the email address used when making your deposit
3. We will process your refund within 14 business days

4.2 Refund Method

Refunds will be processed to the original payment method used for the deposit. If this is not possible, we will contact you to arrange an alternative refund method.

4.3 Refund Amount

You will receive a refund of your full $5.00 AUD deposit. See Section 6 regarding payment processing fees.

5. Launch Deadline & Automatic Refunds

5.1 Definition of Launch

For the purposes of this deadline, "launch" means FairPlate has:

• Commenced accepting and fulfilling commercial orders from customers
• Established operations in at least one geographic area in Australia
• Made products available for purchase through our website or other sales channels

5.2 Automatic Refund Process

If the Launch Deadline passes without FairPlate launching:

1. We will notify all Founding Members via email within 7 days of the deadline
2. Refunds will be initiated automatically - no action required from you
3. All refunds will be processed within 30 days of 1 January 2027
4. Refunds will be sent to the original payment method

5.3 Partial Launch

If FairPlate launches in some areas but not in your area:

• You may request a refund at any time
• Alternatively, you may retain your Founding Member status and wait for expansion to your area
• Your $10 credit will remain valid indefinitely if you choose to wait

6. Payment Processing Fees

6.1 Third-Party Fees

Your deposit is processed through Stripe, a third-party payment processor. Stripe charges FairPlate a processing fee for each transaction (approximately 1.75% + $0.30 AUD for domestic cards).

6.2 Non-Recoverable Fees

Important: When a refund is issued, Stripe does not refund the original processing fee to FairPlate. These fees are:

• Charged by Stripe, not by FairPlate
• Non-recoverable by FairPlate upon refund
• Absorbed by FairPlate as a cost of offering the Founding Member program

6.3 Your Refund Amount

Despite the non-recoverable processing fees, you will receive a full refund of your $5.00 AUD deposit. FairPlate absorbs the processing fee loss - you will not be charged for this.

6.4 Your Bank's Fees

Please note that your own bank or card issuer may charge fees for international transactions or currency conversion. These fees, if any, are outside of FairPlate's control and are not refundable by us.

7. No Guarantee of Launch

7.1 Pre-Launch Venture

FairPlate is a pre-launch business venture. By making a deposit, you acknowledge and accept that:

• FairPlate may not launch at all
• FairPlate may not launch in your geographic area
• Launch timelines are estimates and may change
• The nature of FairPlate's products and services may evolve
• Pricing, product availability, and other details are subject to change

7.2 No Binding Commitment

Your deposit does not create any binding obligation on FairPlate to:

• Launch the business
• Launch in any particular location
• Launch by any particular date (except for the refund obligation under Section 5)
• Offer any particular products or services
• Maintain any particular pricing

7.3 Business Decisions

FairPlate reserves the right to make all business decisions at its sole discretion, including but not limited to decisions regarding launch timing, geographic coverage, product offerings, and pricing. Your deposit does not entitle you to any input into these decisions.

8. Use of Funds

8.1 How Deposits May Be Used

Founding Member deposits may be used by FairPlate for legitimate business purposes, including but not limited to:

• Business development and planning
• Marketing and customer acquisition
• Technology and website development
• Legal and professional services
• Operational setup costs
• Supply chain development

8.2 Refund Capability

FairPlate commits to maintaining sufficient funds or access to funds to honour all refund requests. If FairPlate becomes unable to process refunds for any reason, we will notify affected Founding Members immediately and work to resolve the situation.

9. Communication

9.1 Email Communication

By making a deposit, you consent to receive email communications from FairPlate regarding:

• Confirmation of your deposit and Founding Member status
• Updates on FairPlate's progress toward launch
• Launch announcements and early access invitations
• Important notices regarding your deposit or the Founding Member program
• Refund notifications if applicable

9.2 Communication Frequency

We will not send excessive communications. You can expect updates approximately once per month, plus any important announcements.

9.3 Unsubscribe

You may unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time. However, you cannot unsubscribe from transactional communications related to your deposit (e.g., refund notifications).

10. Changes to Terms

10.1 Right to Modify

FairPlate reserves the right to modify these Terms and Conditions at any time. However, any changes that materially affect your rights will:

• Be communicated to you via email
• Not retroactively reduce your refund rights
• Give you the option to request a refund if you disagree with the changes

10.2 Core Commitments

The following commitments will not be changed to your detriment:

• Your right to a full refund upon request
• The automatic refund if FairPlate does not launch by the Launch Deadline
• The value of your store credit ($10 AUD or greater)

11. Limitation of Liability

11.1 Maximum Liability

FairPlate's maximum liability to you in connection with the Founding Member program is limited to the amount of your deposit ($5.00 AUD).

11.2 Exclusion of Damages

To the maximum extent permitted by law, FairPlate shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from or related to your participation in the Founding Member program.

11.3 Consumer Rights

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes, restricts, or modifies any consumer rights under the Australian Consumer Law that cannot be excluded, restricted, or modified by agreement.

12. Privacy

12.1 Information Collected

When you make a deposit, we collect:

• Your name and email address
• Payment information (processed securely by Stripe - we do not store your card details)
• Any additional information you voluntarily provide

12.2 Use of Information

Your information will be used to:

• Process your deposit and any refunds
• Communicate with you about FairPlate and your Founding Member status
• Provide you with early access and benefits upon launch

12.3 Information Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information. Payment processing is handled by Stripe, which is PCI-DSS compliant.

12.4 Third-Party Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information with:

• Stripe (for payment processing)
• Service providers who assist our operations (under confidentiality agreements)
• As required by law

13. Governing Law

13.1 Jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales.

13.2 Australian Consumer Law

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions is intended to exclude, restrict, or modify any rights you may have under the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010) or any other applicable consumer protection legislation.