Terms & Conditions

1) Scope: Any commercial transactions concluded between (i) the limited company “BVBA Mer D'ocre” (hereinafter “Mer D'ocre”), with its registered office in 8300 Knokke-Heust, Kustlaan 38, Belgium, VAT BE 0.473.569.440, RPR Ghent, and (ii) the customer with its domicile at a European Union member state, as concluded via the webshop with addresses http://www.hypnochic.net and http://www.hypnochic.fr (hereinafter the “webshop”), shall be governed by these general terms and conditions.

Mer D'ocre is a whole-sale/retailer/manufacturer in clothing which includes - without being limited to - the brands Hypnochic® as other brands and collections (hereinafter the “products”), and aims to sell via its webshop to professional and endcustomers. 

Under “customer” is understood: a person who purchases products from Mer D'ocre via the webshop who is expected to be 18 years or older.

With its order/purchase via the webshop, the customer acknowledges having taken cognisance of and having accepted these general terms and conditions of Mer D'ocre, that possess priority over any other terms and conditions of whatsoever party.

These general terms and conditions do not affect the mandatory rights granted to the customer by virtue of the Belgian and/or European legislation in respect of consumer protection.

Any nullity of one or more stipulations of these terms and conditions shall leave the applicability of all other clauses intact. In the event of nullity of one of the stipulations, Mer D'ocre and the customer, as far as possible and in accordance with their loyalty and conviction, shall negotiate to replace the void stipulation with an equivalent stipulation that answers the general tenor of these general terms and conditions.

If Mer D'ocre refrains from demanding the strict application of one of the stipulations of these terms and conditions, this shall not be considered to be an automatic surrender of the rights that Mer D'ocre has by virtue of these terms and conditions and it shall not prevent Mer D'ocre from demanding strict compliance with those stipulations later.

Mer D'ocre reserves the right to adapt or change its general terms and conditions at any time.

It is recommended that the customer prints and/or saves a copy of these terms and conditions when placing an order.

2) Offer: Catalogues, newsletters, folders and other advertising announcements of whatsoever quality shall not be considered to be binding offers of the described products.

3) Conclusion of an online purchase: Placing an order through the webshop consists of the following steps:

(i) the customer chooses the products he/she likes and “Add to Cart”;

(ii) proceeds to “Checkout”;

(iii) chooses the delivery method and enters the delivery information;

(iv) chooses a method of payment and enters its payment information;

(v) receives an order review;

(vi) confirms “Pay this order”;

(vii) after payment, the customer receives an order confirmation from Mer D'ocre, which he/she is recommended to print or save for possible future consultation.

The purchase is concluded upon receipt by the customer of the order confirmation by mail from Mer D'ocre, even when this mail is received by the customer in the “spam” inbox of his/her email account. This confirmation mail shall only be sent by Mer D'ocre after correct payment of the order by the customer.

Any changes or additions to the products after the conclusion but before delivery has taken place (e.g. in respect of change of size, colour or delivery method) shall only apply upon written approval by both parties.

4) Dissolution agreement: Prior to processing an order placed by the customers, Mer D'ocre reserves the right to (i)  verify the data of the customer and his/her activities, and (ii) demand additional information about the customer and his/her activities, for reasons of security, fraud and surety, and, failing these, to refuse execution of the order. In addition, Mer D'ocre may refuse to execute orders that prove that the customer intends to resell the products.

In the event that Mer D'ocre, for objective reasons, considers itself incapable of executing the purchase/order (e.g. without limitation:  products being not or no longer in stock, reason to believe that the customer is under the age of 18, unavailability of Mer D'ocre to deliver the order at the address provided by the customer), Mer D'ocre shall inform the customer of this within 7 calendar days after the conclusion of the agreement. In that case, payments already made by the customer shall be repaid within 14 calendar days after the conclusion of the agreement. Under no circumstances, compensation may be demanded from Mer D'ocre by the customer in such case.

Mer D'ocre reserves the right to cancel a purchase/order if it is based on incorrect information from the customer entered in the system of the webshop or when Mer D'ocre suspects that the customer purchases a product from Mer D'ocre for reasons that cannot be considered objectively as reasonable and acceptable. In such case, Mer D'ocre will be entitled to claim compensation for the loss suffered as a result. At any rate, Mer D'ocre shall in the first instance approach the customer with a view to obtaining more information.

5) Price: All prices shall be expressed in the currency applicable in the country of delivery and shall be inclusive of VAT, but exclusive of any delivery, shipping or other administrative costs, unless expressly stated otherwise.

Any costs for delivery shall always be stated separately.

The products shall always be sold at the prices as stated in the webshop at the moment of the online purchase.

In the event of a raise or reduction of one or more of the following price factors - insofar as the prices are based on amount of the costs as: wages, fabrics and parts, social contributions and government charges, transport costs and insurance premiums, rates of exchange and/or other costs - Mer D'ocre will be entitled to raise or reduce, respectively, its prices accordingly in accordance with the legally permissible norms.

6) Promotions: Promotional codes, in whatever form (such as, without limitation, price reductions, discount vouchers, free shipment, etc.) must always be used in accordance with their terms and conditions as expressly stipulated. In any case, they must be applied for a single discount on a purchase of a single product, or for the time as indicated by the promotional code.

Promotional codes are personal and may not be transferred. They may only be used for purchases on the webshop. The customer may not sell, exchange or assign the promotional code. The promotional codes may not be uploaded or disclosed through websites or other media making public the offers, gifts, sales or exchanges. Promotional codes may not be used for commercial purposes.

Just one promotional code can be used per product and per order. In no way, the promotional code can be combined with other special offers or promotions. In no way, the promotional code can be exchanged for money.

Mer D'ocre reserves the right to void a promotional code immediately when it suspects that it is being used in violation of any of the above conditions, or in any improper manner or when it has reasonable grounds for voiding it.

If the customer uses the right of withdrawal for products that were subject to a promotional code, Mer D'ocre reserves the right to recalculate the price of the products that were not part of the withdrawal. For example: promotion campaign entailing that in case of purchase of product A, product B can be purchased for half the price. The customer cancels product A. This means that the promotion conditions are no longer fulfilled and the full price will have to be paid for product B. In that case, Mer D'ocre shall repay the money paid, in accordance with clause 9, deducting the additional part that must still be paid for product B.

7) Delivery: The date of delivery stated shall always be of an approximate date, but in any case 30 days at the latest upon conclusion of the agreement. Under no circumstance, except in the event of intention or gross neglect on the part of Mer D'ocre, shall the excess of the estimated delivery term be reason for compensation or dissolution of the agreement at the expense of Mer D'ocre.

Changes in the order shall automatically cancel the terms of delivery stated. In no case shall Mer D'ocre be liable for delays occurred due to the default of suppliers, the customer and/or any other third party. Late delivery by Mer D'ocre shall not release the customer from his/her obligations. Mer D'ocre reserves the right to make partial deliveries in respect of any order whatsoever.

The customer may opt for (i) delivery at an address appointed or (ii) delivery at a GLS-pick up spot.

In case of delivery to a customer’s appointed address or a GLS-pick up spot, the products shall be supplied DELIVERED AT PLACE (Incoterms® 2010) at the delivery address specified by the customer or at the collection point chosen by the customer. The transfer of risk for damage, destruction and disappearance in respect of the products shall therefore pass on at the moment of effective delivery.

In case of absence of the customer upon delivery at its appointed address, the transport service shall leave a note at the delivery address stating that the customer may collect the order from the post office stated in the note or any other pick-up point. If the customer rejects the order upon delivery or if the parcel is not collected from the GLS-pick up spot or post office within the term stated in the note, the order shall be returned to the registered office of Mer D'ocre. The costs of returning the goods as well as the costs connected with this (such as, without limitation, customs charges, taxes, VAT, storage costs) shall be borne by the customer.

8) Payment: Orders via the webshop may be paid online by the customer via a special payment module provided on the webshop of Mer D'ocre or by bank transfer to Mer D'ocre.

For the processing of these online transactions, Mer D'ocre uses external professional and specialised partners who manage a payment platform. The financial data of the customer entered in the framework of online payment shall only be exchanged between the external partner and the financial institutions concerned. Mer D'ocre shall not have any access to the confidential data of the customer.

Online payments take place using secured protocols. To all online payments shall apply the general terms and conditions of the external manager of the payment platform, who is the sole person responsible for the correct execution of all online payments.

9) Electronic invoicing: By ordering a product, the customer expressly agrees with the use of electronic invoicing by Mer D'ocre, except if agreed otherwise in writing between the parties.

10) Right of withdrawal: The customer has the right of withdrawal in respect of the products purchased via the webshop. Pursuant to Book VI “Marktpraktijken & Consumentenbescherming“ of the Belgian Wetboek Economisch Recht [Market Practices & Consumer Protection of the Belgian Code of Business and Economic Law] the customer is entitled to cancel the agreement within a period of 14 calendar days without stating reasons.

The term of withdrawal expires 14 calendar days after the day on which the customer or a third party designated by the customer, not being the conveyor, receives the physical possession of the good.

To exercise the right of withdrawal, the customer shall inform Mer D'ocre (webshop@riverwoods.net or American Clothing Associates NV, Noorwegenstraat 17, B-9940 Evergem) of his/her decision to cancel the order via a clearly worded statement by fax, post or email.  Mer D'ocre shall send the customer acknowledgement of receipt of his/her cancellation without delay on a sustainable data carrier (e.g. by email). To comply with the terms of withdrawal, Mer D'ocre shall suffice that the customer sends his/her statement in respect of the exercise of the right of withdrawal before the term of withdrawal has expired.

In case of correct withdrawal, Mer D'ocre shall repay the customer of all payments he/she has made up to that moment, including delivery costs (with the exception of any additional costs as a result of the choice of the customer for another manner of delivery than the cheapest standard delivery provided by Mer D'ocre), without delay and at any rate no later than 14 calendar days after Mer D'ocre was informed of the customer’s decision to cancel the agreement. Mer D'ocre shall then repay the customer using the same means of payment used by the customer for the original transaction, unless the customer has expressly agreed otherwise. At any rate, the customer shall not be charged costs for such repayments. Mer D'ocre will be entitled to postpone repayment up until (i) the products have been received by Mer D'ocre or (ii) the customer has proven that he/she has returned the products to Mer D'ocre, depending on which point of time is first.

The customer shall return or hand the products to Mer D'ocre without delay, but at any rate no later than 14 calendar days after the day when he/she informed Mer D'ocre of his/her decision to cancel the order. The customer shall have acted in due time if he/she returns the products before the term of 14 calendar days has expired.

The direct costs of returning the products shall be borne by the customer.

The customer shall be liable for the decrease in value of the products due to the use of the products that goes beyond what is necessary to determine the nature, size, characteristics and effect of the products. This implies that the customer may try on the clothing products bought, but in no way wear them longer than necessary. If this is not met, Mer D'ocre is entitled to deduct this decrease in value of the amount subject to pay back following the withdrawal of the customer.

Repayment of the delivery costs by Mer D'ocre shall always occur pro rata. (For example: the customer buys 2 products and sends 1 back, using the right of withdrawal. In that case, Mer D'ocre needs only to repay 50% of the delivery costs.) However, when Mer D'ocre uses fixed delivery costs, Mer D'ocre will not be obliged to repay any delivery costs upon partial cancellation.

The returned product may not have been worn longer than necessary to try the clothing on, and must be in the same condition as at the moment of delivery. Moreover, the product must be returned in the original packing in which the product was sent, whether opened or not and including all appurtenances supplied with the product, whereas the customer will not be entitled to remove the “label/etiquette”, so that Mer D'ocre will be able to sell the product still to a third party upon withdrawal. 

11) Visible/hidden defects and complaints: Upon delivery of the product, the customer shall immediately carry out a first verification. This obligation of immediate verification relates to, among other things: (a non-exhaustive summary of conformity) quantity, size, colour, and other visible defects. At the risk of forfeiture, the customer shall inform Mer D'ocre immediately, within 48 hours after delivery of the product (delivery note) and at any rate before wearing/using the products, of verifiable variations in writing.

Given their quality of consumer, each customer will further possess the statutory guarantee in accordance with the Belgian Act of 1 January 2005 on the sale of consumption products.

If no complaints are submitted within these terms, the customer shall be considered to have approved and accepted the delivery. At the risk of inadmissibility of the complaint, the customer shall have to prove that he/she has kept the products correctly both before and after discovery of the defects.

After finding any defect, the customer shall immediately discontinue the further use of the product concerned and furthermore take all reasonable measures to prevent (further) damage and to keep the products correctly, at the risk of inadmissibility of the complaint. The guarantee or indemnification for hidden defects shall in no case apply if the damage has been caused by incorrect usage or incorrect maintenance of the product.

In no case will the customer be entitled to return the products to Mer D'ocre pursuant to this clause without the prior agreement of the latter. Mer D'ocre shall in no case be responsible for the loss of or damage to returned products until the moment that they are accepted by Mer D'ocre in its warehouses.

Any claim of indemnification shall become ineffective upon processing, change or repair by the customer or by third parties or in the event of abnormal or extraordinary usage, burdening and/or wear and tear of the products or damage caused by force majeure.

No claim of indemnification by Mer D'ocre for hidden defects or non-conformity may be retained after expiry of the aforementioned terms.

The customer will be obliged to compensate the costs incurred because of unjustified complaints.

The guarantees that Mer D'ocre provides to the customer shall be limited, upon Mer D'ocre’s discretion and insight, to (complete or partial): (i) replacement (ii) taking back the products concerned accompanied with crediting the customer.

Disagreement with an invoice by the customer shall be submitted in writing by the customer within 7 days after invoice date.

12) Liability: Mer D'ocre makes every reasonable effort to ensure that the colours on the webshop match the actual products as closely as possible. The customer acknowledges in any case that certain colours may vary, due to technical limitations.

With the exception of indemnification by Mer D'ocre in accordance with the above guarantee stipulation, Mer D'ocre’s liability shall be limited to the invoice value (exclusive of VAT) of the products supplied by Mer D'ocre and shall at any rate be limited to the mandatory liability.

In no case will Mer D'ocre be obliged to compensate indirect damage (such as, without limitation, loss of income or damage to third parties).

Mer D'ocre shall not be liable either for defects that are caused directly or indirectly by an act of the customer or of a third party, irrespective of whether these are caused by an error or negligence.

The customer shall be solely responsible for the use of the product and, more particularly, in respect of the composition/fabrics of the clothing, and, for this purpose, shall take the initiative for a prior check, whereas Mer D'ocre shall not be responsible in this respect in any way. In addition, the customer shall be responsible to judge if he/she is allergic to a certain fabric out of which a product of Mer D'ocre is composed.

13) Force majeure/hardship: If, because of force majeure, Mer D'ocre cannot possibly execute its obligations or if the execution is made more difficult to an unreasonable extent, Mer D'ocre will be entitled to suspend the execution fully/partially and this for the time being of this force majeure. Mer D'ocre shall in no way be obliged to cancel the order beforehand or to pay any compensation. Cases of force majeure shall be, without limitation: war, blockade, insurrection, industrial action or lock-out, seizure, shortage of means of transport, general shortage of raw materials or products, limitations in respect of energy consumption, either at Mer D'ocre, or at one of its suppliers. In the event of hardship, Mer D'ocre aims to renegotiate the terms of the agreement. If no agreement can be reached between the parties, Mer D'ocre reserves the right to suspend the execution of the agreement entirely or partially for the duration of the hardship.

14) Compensation: In accordance with the provisions of the Belgian Financial Collateral Act of 15 December 2004, Mer D'ocre and the customer shall automatically and by operation of law compensate and set off all actually existing and future debts with each other. This means that in the permanent relationship between Mer D'ocre and the customer, after the aforementioned automatic set-off, as a balance only the largest debt remains always. This set-off shall at any rate be enforceable against the receiver and the other joint creditors, who, therefore, will not be able to oppose the set-off implemented by the parties.

15) Intellectual property rights: Mer D'ocre guarantees that it has the necessary licences for offering its range of products. Mer D'ocre shall retain all copyrights or other intellectual rights granted to it or its product description, texts, designs, drawings, models, samples, photographs and products drawn up by it, so that the customer shall not copy or use e.g. the products for other purposes than for which they are intended without prior written permission from Mer D'ocre.

16) Choice of law and competent courts:

Belgian law shall apply.

Disputes shall fall under the exclusive competence of the courts of the district where Mer D'ocre has its registered office in Belgium, unless Mer D'ocre expressly states otherwise.

17) Language: The original language of these terms and conditions is English.

Translations of documents drawn up in another language shall always only serve an informational purpose for the customer.