Terms of Service

By accessing or using the Aethel Seating website (the "Site") located at any domain operated by Aethel Seating, or by engaging with our sales team, submitting a Request for Quotation (RFQ), or placing a purchase order, you ("Client," "you," or "your") acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"), along with our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated herein by reference.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Aethel Seating ("Company," "we," "us," or "our"), a manufacturer incorporated and operating under the laws of the People's Republic of China, headquartered in Foshan, Guangdong Province.

If you are entering into these Terms on behalf of a company or other legal entity, you represent that you have the authority to bind such entity to these Terms.

Aethel Seating provides the following manufacturing and commercial services:

• OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing): Production of ergonomic mesh chairs and office seating under your brand name, to your specifications.
• ODM (Original Design Manufacturing): End-to-end product development from concept and industrial design through to mass production.
• Private Label: Customization of existing Aethel Seating product lines with your branding, colors, and packaging.
• Wholesale & Bulk Orders: Large-volume procurement of standard catalog products for distributors, retailers, and project contractors.
• Value-Added Services: Procurement support, factory visits, logistics coordination, and VIP concierge services for international buyers visiting China.

Our services are intended for business-to-business (B2B) clients only. To engage with Aethel Seating, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age and have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts.
• Represent a legitimately registered business entity, brand, distributor, wholesaler, contractor, government agency, or institution.
• Not be located in a jurisdiction subject to applicable trade sanctions or export control restrictions.

Aethel Seating reserves the right to decline service to any party at its sole discretion, including those who cannot verify their business credentials.

All orders placed with Aethel Seating are subject to the following process and conditions:

A binding purchase contract is formed only upon (a) the Client's written acceptance of Aethel Seating's Proforma Invoice (PI) or Sales Contract, and (b) receipt of the agreed deposit payment. Verbal agreements, email inquiries, or website contact forms alone do not constitute a binding order.

All quotations are valid for 30 calendar days from the date of issuance unless otherwise stated. Prices are subject to change due to raw material fluctuations, currency exchange rates, or changes in order specifications.

For all OEM, ODM, and Private Label engagements, the following additional terms apply:

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the following standard payment terms apply:

All prices are quoted in United States Dollars (USD) unless otherwise specified. Aethel Seating accepts payment via T/T (Telegraphic Transfer / Wire Transfer), L/C (Letter of Credit) for orders exceeding $50,000 USD, and other methods as mutually agreed.

All bank charges and transfer fees are the responsibility of the Client. Payments must be received in full, net of any bank charges, for production or shipment to proceed.

Overdue payments will incur interest at a rate of 1.5% per month on the outstanding balance, or the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, whichever is lower.

Aethel Seating ships internationally from Foshan, Guangdong, China. Standard Incoterms apply as specified in the Sales Contract:

• FOB (Free on Board) Foshan/Guangzhou: Default shipping term unless otherwise negotiated. Risk transfers to the Client once goods are loaded onto the vessel.
• CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight): Available upon request. Aethel Seating will arrange freight and insurance to the named destination port.
• DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): Available for select regions. All import duties, taxes, and last-mile delivery are included.

Lead times are estimated and not guaranteed. Standard production lead times range from 25 to 45 business days following deposit receipt and approved samples, depending on order complexity and volume. Aethel Seating is not liable for delays caused by port congestion, customs clearance issues, force majeure events, or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

Aethel Seating maintains rigorous quality control protocols throughout the production process. All products are manufactured in compliance with applicable international standards including EN 1335, BIFMA, GREENGUARD, FSC, and ISO 21014.

Warranty claims must be submitted in writing within the warranty period, accompanied by photographic evidence, the original order number, and a detailed description of the defect. Aethel Seating's sole obligation under this warranty is, at its discretion, to repair, replace, or issue a credit for defective products.

The warranty does not cover damage resulting from misuse, unauthorized modification, normal wear and tear, improper assembly, or failure to follow care and maintenance guidelines.

All intellectual property rights in Aethel Seating's proprietary designs, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, manufacturing processes, technical drawings, and website content remain the exclusive property of Aethel Seating or its licensors.

For ODM projects where the Client provides original design concepts, the Client warrants that such designs do not infringe upon any third-party intellectual property rights. The Client agrees to indemnify and hold Aethel Seating harmless from any claims, damages, or legal costs arising from alleged intellectual property infringement related to Client-supplied designs.

Designs developed jointly by Aethel Seating and the Client shall be subject to a separate IP ownership agreement. In the absence of such an agreement, all jointly developed IP remains the property of Aethel Seating.

Clients are prohibited from reverse-engineering, copying, or reproducing any Aethel Seating proprietary product or design without prior written authorization.

Both parties acknowledge that in the course of their business relationship, each may receive or have access to confidential information belonging to the other party, including but not limited to pricing structures, product specifications, business strategies, customer data, and manufacturing processes ("Confidential Information").

Each party agrees to:

• Hold all Confidential Information in strict confidence and not disclose it to any third party without the prior written consent of the disclosing party.
• Use Confidential Information solely for the purpose of fulfilling obligations under the applicable Sales Contract.
• Promptly notify the other party upon becoming aware of any unauthorized disclosure or use of Confidential Information.

Confidentiality obligations survive the termination of any business relationship between the parties for a period of five (5) years.

Aethel Seating shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, loss of business opportunity, loss of data, or reputational damage, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

Aethel Seating shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations under these Terms to the extent such failure or delay is caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, pandemics, war, government actions, labor disputes, port strikes, or transportation disruptions ("Force Majeure Events"). In such cases, Aethel Seating will notify the Client promptly and make commercially reasonable efforts to resume performance.

These Terms and any disputes arising out of or in connection with them shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the People's Republic of China, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

In the event of a dispute, the parties agree to first attempt to resolve the matter through good-faith negotiation within 30 days of written notice of the dispute. If negotiation fails, the dispute shall be submitted to the Foshan Arbitration Commission for binding arbitration in accordance with its then-current arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in Chinese, and the arbitral award shall be final and binding on both parties.

Nothing in this clause prevents either party from seeking emergency injunctive or other equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent irreparable harm.

Aethel Seating reserves the right to modify or update these Terms of Service at any time at its sole discretion. When changes are made, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.

For existing clients with active orders or ongoing contracts, material changes to these Terms will be communicated via email at least 14 days prior to taking effect. Your continued use of our services or placement of new orders after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

We encourage you to review these Terms periodically to stay informed of any updates.

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding these Terms of Service, please contact us through any of the following channels: