Terms of service
SOI WebShop
Terms of Use and Sale
These Terms of Use and Terms of Sale (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Special Olympics Webshop (the “Webshop”) and any purchases made through the Webshop. Please read these Terms carefully before using the Webshop or placing an order. By using the Webshop, you agree to be bound by these Terms.
A separate Privacy Notice governs how we collect and use your personal data in connection with the Webshop. The Privacy Notice is available at https://shop.specialolympics.org/policies/privacy-policy and forms part of the agreement between you and us. We also use cookies on the Webshop; your cookie preferences can be managed through the cookie consent tool available on the Webshop.
PART I – WEBSITE TERMS OF USE
1. About the Webshop
The Webshop is operated by Special Olympics, Inc. (“SOI,” “we,” “our,” or “us”), a nonprofit organization incorporated in the United States with its principal office at 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037.
The Webshop provides information about Special Olympics and offers merchandise and related products for purchase globally. Certain functions of the Webshop are provided by third-party service providers including Shopify (storefront platform) and Global-e (international payment and merchant-of-record services). See Section 11 for details of the seller and merchant-of-record structure.
2. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using the Webshop, you agree to be bound by these Terms and all applicable laws and regulations. If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Webshop.
We may update these Terms from time to time in accordance with Section 20. Your continued use of the Webshop after any update constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.
3. Eligibility
You must be at least the age of majority in your jurisdiction — or otherwise have the legal authority — to enter into binding contracts in order to use the Webshop or place an order. By using the Webshop, you represent that you meet this requirement.
The Webshop is not directed at children under the age of 13 (or the applicable age of digital consent in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us at privacy@specialolympics.org.
4. Intellectual Property
All content available through the Webshop — including trademarks, logos, photographs, graphics, product designs, text, videos, and software — is owned by or licensed to SOI and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws worldwide.
No content may be copied, reproduced, modified, distributed, or used without prior written permission from SOI, except as permitted by applicable law (including fair use or fair dealing).
If you believe that content on the Webshop infringes your intellectual property rights, please contact legal@specialolympics.org with a description of the allegedly infringing material and your contact information.
5. Acceptable Use
You agree not to:
• violate any applicable laws or regulations;
• interfere with or disrupt Webshop operations or servers;
• attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Webshop or its systems;
• introduce malicious code, viruses, or other harmful software;
• scrape, harvest, or systematically extract data from the Webshop without our written consent; or
• use the Webshop or its content for any fraudulent, misleading, or unlawful purpose.
6. User Content
If you submit reviews, comments, feedback, or other content through the Webshop (“User Content”), you grant SOI a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, publish, and display such User Content solely in connection with the operation and promotion of the Webshop and the sale of Webshop products.
You represent that you have the right to submit the User Content and that it does not infringe any third-party rights or violate any applicable law. SOI reserves the right to remove User Content that violates these Terms or that SOI deems inappropriate, without notice.
7. Third-Party Links
The Webshop may contain links to third-party websites or services (including payment processors, social media platforms, and fulfillment partners). These links are provided for convenience only. SOI does not control, endorse, or accept responsibility for the content, privacy practices, or terms of any third-party website. Your use of third-party websites is at your own risk and subject to those parties’ terms and conditions.
8. Disclaimer of Warranties
The Webshop and its content are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, SOI disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.
Nothing in this Section 8 excludes or limits any warranty or liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law, including mandatory consumer guarantees under applicable consumer protection legislation in your jurisdiction.
9. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law:
• SOI’s total liability to you for any claim arising out of or relating to your use of the Webshop (excluding purchase transactions, which are governed by Part II) shall not exceed USD $100 or the amount you paid to SOI in the twelve months preceding the claim, whichever is greater; and
• SOI shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Webshop, even if SOI has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits SOI’s liability for: (a) death or personal injury caused by SOI’s negligence; (b) fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or (c) any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law. For Australian consumers, nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts, or modifies any consumer guarantee, right, or remedy conferred by the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)) that cannot be excluded.
PART II – TERMS OF SALE
10. Orders
All orders placed through the Webshop are subject to acceptance. We reserve the right to refuse, cancel, or limit any order at our discretion, including where necessary to prevent fraud, comply with applicable law, address inventory limitations, correct pricing errors, or protect the integrity of the Webshop.
If we cancel your order after payment has been collected, we will issue a full refund to your original payment method within a reasonable time.
11. Seller Identity and Merchant of Record
11.1 U.S., European, and Norwegian Transactions
For purchases to be delivered within the United States, Norway, and the European Union, Special Olympics, Inc. is the seller and merchant of record. Your purchase contract is with SOI.
11.2 Other International Transactions — Global-e
For purchases to be delivered outside the United States, Norway, and the European Union, your transaction will be processed by Global-e Online Ltd. or one of its affiliated entities (“Global-e”), which acts as the merchant of record and seller for those transactions. Global-e is incorporated in Ireland and operates a global cross-border ecommerce platform.
Where Global-e is the merchant of record:
• Your purchase contract is with Global-e, not with SOI;
• Global-e’s applicable terms and conditions — available during checkout — govern your transaction in addition to these Terms;
• Global-e is responsible for collecting and remitting applicable VAT, GST, and other consumption taxes on your order;
• Prices displayed in your local currency are set by Shopify and Global-e and are inclusive of applicable taxes where required by law;
• For returns, refunds, and transaction-specific disputes, SOI customer service (shop@specialolympics.org) is available to assist and will redirect transaction-specific inquiries to Global-e where appropriate.
11.3 Fulfillment Partners
SOI uses third-party fulfillment partners to produce and ship orders, including Printful (for certain print-on-demand merchandise) and Will Customized Products / Will Enterprises LLC (for certain international orders fulfilled through Global-e). These partners act as fulfillment agents only and are not parties to your purchase contract. Order and shipping data is shared with fulfillment partners as described in the Webshop Privacy Notice.
12. Pricing
Prices are displayed at checkout in the applicable currency for your jurisdiction. Applicable taxes, duties, shipping charges, and other fees will be disclosed during the checkout process.
For international orders processed by Global-e, the displayed price is the price you will pay. SOI is not responsible for pricing displayed for Global-e-processed transactions; questions regarding pricing for those transactions may be directed to SOI customer service at shop@specialolympics.org.
We reserve the right to correct pricing errors at any time before an order is accepted. If a pricing error is identified after your order is placed, we will notify you and give you the option to proceed at the correct price or cancel for a full refund.
13. Payment
Payment is charged at the time an order is placed. By submitting payment information, you represent that you are authorized to use the payment method provided and that the payment information is accurate.
Available payment methods are displayed during checkout. Payment processing for U.S., EU, and Norwegian orders is handled through the Shopify platform. Payment processing for other international orders is handled by Global-e. SOI does not store full payment card details.
14. Shipping and Delivery
Delivery times displayed during checkout are estimates only and are not guaranteed. SOI and Global-e are not responsible for delays caused by carriers, customs authorities, weather events, governmental actions, or other circumstances beyond reasonable control.
Risk of loss and title to products passes to you upon delivery to the shipping address you provided, except to the extent that applicable law in your jurisdiction provides otherwise.
For international orders, Global-e generally delivers on a Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) basis, meaning applicable import duties and taxes are included in your checkout price and you will not be charged additional duties at the border. If your order is subject to additional charges not collected at checkout, we or Global-e will notify you.
15. Returns and Refunds
15.1 General Return Policy
Our return policy provides for a 14-day return period from the date of delivery for eligible products. Full details — including eligible product categories, condition requirements, and return procedures — are set out in the Webshop Return Policy, available at https://shop.specialolympics.org/policies/refund-policy, which forms part of these Terms.
Changes to the Return Policy apply only to purchases made after the date of the change. The Return Policy in effect at the time of your purchase governs your return rights for that purchase.
15.2 EU and EEA Consumers — Right of Withdrawal
If you are a consumer resident in the European Union or European Economic Area, you have the right to withdraw from your purchase contract within 14 calendar days of the date on which you or a third party you designate (other than the carrier) takes physical possession of the goods (“Withdrawal Period”), without giving any reason, in accordance with the EU Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU) and applicable national implementing legislation.
To exercise your right of withdrawal, you must notify us of your decision before the Withdrawal Period expires. You may use the Model Withdrawal Form set out in Section 15.4 below, but this is not mandatory. You may exercise your withdrawal right through the Webshop withdrawal function, by email, or by any other clear, unambiguous statement sent to:
• Email: shop@specialolympics.org for orders where either SOI or Global-e is the seller; or
If you withdraw, we (or Global-e, as applicable) will reimburse all payments received from you, including the cost of standard delivery (but not any additional cost if you chose a more expensive delivery option), without undue delay and no later than 14 days after the day on which we receive notification of your withdrawal. We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the returned goods or you have supplied evidence of having sent them back, whichever is earlier. You are responsible for the direct cost of returning the goods unless we have agreed otherwise.
15.3 Exclusions from the Right of Withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
• goods made to your specifications or clearly personalized, including certain print-on-demand merchandise produced by Printful specifically for your order (where this exclusion applies, it will be clearly indicated in the product description before you place your order);
• sealed goods that are not suitable for return due to health protection or hygiene reasons, if they were unsealed after delivery; or
• digital content that has been supplied and downloading or streaming has begun with your prior express consent and acknowledgment that you thereby lose your right of withdrawal.
15.4 Model Withdrawal Form
|
To exercise your right of withdrawal, you may complete and return this form. Its use is optional. |
To: Special Olympics, Inc., | shop@specialolympics.org
I/We hereby give notice that I/We withdraw from my/our contract of sale of the following goods: [describe goods]
Ordered on: __________ / Received on: __________
Name of consumer(s): __________
Address of consumer(s): __________
Signature (only if notified on paper): __________ Date: __________
15.5 UK Consumers
If you are a consumer in the United Kingdom, you have equivalent withdrawal rights under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/3134). The 14-day withdrawal period, notification procedure, reimbursement rules, and exclusions described in Sections 15.2–15.4 apply equally to UK consumers. Note that for UK orders, Global-e is the Merchant of Record, while the SOI customer service team can help with your request.
15.6 Australian Consumers
If you are a consumer in Australia, the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) provides you with consumer guarantees that cannot be excluded, including guarantees as to acceptable quality, fitness for disclosed purpose, and compliance with description. Nothing in these Terms limits, excludes, or modifies any ACL consumer guarantee. To the extent permitted by ACL Section 64A, SOI’s liability for a failure to comply with an ACL consumer guarantee in relation to goods ordinarily acquired for personal, domestic, or household use is limited to: (a) replacing or repairing the goods; or (b) paying the cost of replacing or repairing the goods.
16. Product Information
We attempt to display products accurately but cannot guarantee that product descriptions, colors, sizing, images, or other content are error-free. Products may vary slightly from images shown due to photographic lighting, monitor display settings, or production variation.
If a product you receive does not conform to its description, please contact us at shop@specialolympics.org within a reasonable time of delivery to arrange a return or exchange in accordance with our Return Policy and your applicable statutory rights.
17. Product Safety and GPSR Compliance
We are committed to offering products that meet applicable safety standards. For products offered within the European Union, we comply with the EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR, Regulation (EU) 2023/988).
For EU-market products, the following information is available in the relevant product description or accompanying documentation:
• the identity and contact details of the responsible person within the EU for product safety compliance;
• product safety warnings and instructions for use where required; and
• batch or traceability information where applicable.
If you have a product safety concern or wish to submit a complaint regarding a product, please contact us at shop@specialolympics.org or write to Special Olympics, Inc., 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037.
18. Donations
Where donation functionality is available through the Webshop, donations are voluntary contributions to Special Olympics, Inc., a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are generally non-refundable except as required by applicable law or as otherwise stated at the point of donation.
Donor data is processed in accordance with the Webshop Privacy Notice and SOI’s broader Privacy and Data Security Policy. Charitable solicitation disclosures applicable to your jurisdiction may be provided at or near the point of donation.
19. Governing Law
19.1 U.S., EU, and Norwegian Transactions
For transactions where SOI is the seller (purchases delivered within the United States, European Union, or Norway), these Terms are governed by the laws of the District of Columbia, without regard to conflict-of-law principles, subject to the mandatory consumer rights described in Section 19.3. For U.S. transactions, and subject to the arbitration provision in Section 21, disputes that are not resolved informally shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Washington, D.C. Consumers outside the United States may bring claims in any court having jurisdiction under applicable law.
19.2 Other International Transactions
For transactions where Global-e is the merchant of record, the governing law applicable to your purchase contract is as set out in Global-e’s applicable terms and conditions.
19.3 Mandatory Consumer Rights
Regardless of the governing law specified above, if you are a consumer, these Terms do not affect any mandatory rights you have under the laws of your country or territory of habitual residence that cannot be derogated from by contract — including rights arising under applicable consumer protection legislation, product liability law, and data protection law. In particular:
• EU/EEA consumers retain all rights under applicable EU consumer protection directives and regulations, including the Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU), the Consumer Sales and Guarantees Directive (2019/771), and the Unfair Contract Terms Directive (93/13/EEC);
• UK consumers retain all rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, and other applicable UK consumer law;
• Australian consumers retain all rights under the Australian Consumer Law; and
• Canadian and Quebec consumers retain all rights under applicable federal and provincial consumer protection legislation, including the Quebec Consumer Protection Act (Loi sur la protection du consommateur).
20. Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in law, our business practices, or for other legitimate reasons. When we make material changes, we will post the updated Terms on the Webshop with a revised “Last Updated” date.
For material changes that may significantly affect your rights, we will provide reasonable advance notice (which may include notice by email where you have provided us with an email address). Your continued use of the Webshop or placement of an order after the effective date of updated Terms constitutes your acceptance of those Terms. Updated Terms apply only to purchases and interactions occurring after the effective date; the Terms in effect at the time of your purchase govern that purchase.
21. Dispute Resolution
21.1 Informal Resolution
Before initiating formal dispute resolution proceedings, you agree to contact us at legal@specialolympics.org and provide a written description of the dispute, the amount in dispute (if applicable), and the relief you seek. We will attempt in good faith to resolve the dispute informally within 30 days of receiving your notice. If the dispute is not resolved within that period, either party may proceed to formal dispute resolution as described below.
21.2 Binding Arbitration (U.S. Customers Only)
If you are located in the United States and informal resolution fails, any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or your use of the Webshop or purchase of products — including questions about the existence, validity, or termination of these Terms — shall be resolved by final and binding individual arbitration administered by JAMS under its Consumer Arbitration Minimum Standards, before a single arbitrator. The arbitration shall take place in Washington, D.C., or by remote hearing if agreed by the parties. The Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.) governs the interpretation and enforcement of this Section.
21.3 Class Action Waiver (U.S. Customers Only)
TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, YOU AGREE THAT ANY DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEEDINGS WILL BE CONDUCTED ONLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY CLASS, CONSOLIDATED, OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION. THE ARBITRATOR MAY NOT CONSOLIDATE MORE THAN ONE PERSON’S CLAIMS AND MAY NOT OTHERWISE PRESIDE OVER ANY FORM OF CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING.
21.4 Small Claims Court
Notwithstanding Section 21.2, either party may bring an individual action in small claims court for disputes that fall within that court’s jurisdiction, without first engaging in the informal dispute resolution process.
21.5 Applicability to International Customers
The arbitration and class action waiver provisions in Sections 21.2 and 21.3 do not apply to consumers in the European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, or Canada, or in any other jurisdiction where mandatory consumer protection law renders such provisions void or unenforceable. Consumers in those jurisdictions retain the right to bring claims before a court of competent jurisdiction in their country of residence.
22. Contact Information
For general Webshop inquiries and order support:
• Email: shop@specialolympics.org
• Post: Special Olympics, Inc., 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
For legal notices and formal dispute correspondence:
• Email: legal@specialolympics.org
• Post: Special Olympics, Inc. (Legal Department), 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
For EU GPSR responsible person inquiries: shop@specialolympics.org