Terms of service
1. Introduction and Acceptance of These Terms
Welcome, and thank you for visiting The Cork Plug (referred to throughout this document as "The Cork Plug," "we," "us," or "our"). These Terms of Service (the "Terms") govern your access to and use of our website located at www.thecorkplug.com, together with any related subdomains, pages, content, features, tools, and services that we make available through that website (collectively, the "Site"), as well as any purchase you make from us.
By accessing, browsing, or using the Site in any way, by creating an account with us, or by placing an order through the Site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by these Terms in full. You also agree to be bound by our Privacy Policy, our Return and Refund Policy, our Shipping Policy, and any other policies, rules, or guidelines that we publish on the Site, all of which are incorporated into these Terms by reference.
If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, please do not use the Site and do not place an order with us. Your continued use of the Site after any changes to these Terms means that you accept those changes.
These Terms form a legally binding agreement between you and The Cork Plug. Please read them carefully and keep a copy for your records. We recommend that you revisit this page from time to time, because the version that applies to you is the version in effect at the moment you place an order or use the Site.
2. Who We Are and What We Do
The Cork Plug is an online retailer that sells clothing, footwear, and related items to customers around the world. Although we ship internationally, our primary market is the Republic of Ireland, and these Terms are written with that in mind. We aim to make quality clothing and footwear accessible at fair prices to a global audience.
Some of the items we offer are sourced through the resale market. This means that we are an independent reseller. We are not a manufacturer, and we are not an authorised dealer, official stockist, agent, or representative of any of the original brands whose products may appear on the Site. Please read Section 5 ("Brands, Trademarks, and Non-Affiliation") and Section 6 ("Condition of Items, Including Refurbished and Renewed Goods") carefully, because they explain important details about the nature of the products we sell.
3. Eligibility and Your Account
To place an order with us, you must be the age of legal majority in your country or region of residence, whichever is higher. By placing an order, you confirm that you meet this requirement and that you have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract.
If you are under the age of 18, you may use the Site only with the involvement and consent of a parent or legal guardian, and that parent or guardian accepts responsibility for your use of the Site and for any orders placed.
You may be able to create an account to make shopping with us faster and easier. If you create an account, you agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information, and to keep that information up to date. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account login details, including your password, and you are responsible for all activity that takes place under your account. If you believe that your account has been accessed without your permission, please contact us immediately at info@thecorkplug.com.
We reserve the right to suspend, restrict, or close any account at our discretion, including where we reasonably believe that an account has been used in breach of these Terms, in connection with fraud, or in a way that harms us, other customers, or third parties.
4. Products, Descriptions, and Availability
We try hard to describe and display our products as accurately as possible. We provide details such as material, fit, size, colour, and use case so that you can make an informed decision. However, we cannot guarantee that every description, photograph, measurement, or other piece of product information is completely free from error.
Colours, finishes, and textures may appear differently on different screens and devices, and slight variation between the image shown and the item received is normal and to be expected. Sizing can vary between different makers and styles, so we encourage you to review any size guidance provided and to contact us with questions before ordering if you are unsure.
All products are offered subject to availability. We may change, limit, or discontinue any product at any time without notice. Where an item is part of a limited run or is in short supply, it may sell out quickly, and we cannot guarantee that any particular item will remain available.
We reserve the right to limit the quantity of any product that we supply to any one customer or order, and to refuse or cancel any order, including after an order confirmation has been sent. Situations in which we may do this include, but are not limited to, errors in pricing or product information, suspected fraudulent or unauthorised activity, stock that is no longer available, or breaches of these Terms.
5. Brands, Trademarks, and Non-Affiliation
This section is important, so please read it carefully.
The Cork Plug is an independent reseller. We are not affiliated with, associated with, authorised by, endorsed by, sponsored by, or in any way officially connected to any of the original brands, manufacturers, designers, or rights holders whose products may be offered for sale on the Site. Any reference to a brand, product line, model, or style, where such a reference is made, is made purely for the purpose of identifying and describing the item so that you understand what you are buying.
All brand names, trademarks, trade names, logos, service marks, and other intellectual property remain the exclusive property of their respective owners. The appearance of any such name or mark on the Site, in product listings, in communications, or anywhere else does not imply any partnership, sponsorship, endorsement, agency, licence, or other relationship between The Cork Plug and the owner of that name or mark.
If you are looking for products that come with the warranties, guarantees, after-sales support, or other services that an original manufacturer or its authorised network may provide, please be aware that, because we are an independent reseller and not affiliated with those brands, such manufacturer-provided services may not apply to items purchased from us. Any rights you have in relation to items purchased from us are the rights set out in these Terms, in our other policies, and under applicable consumer protection law, as described in Section 13.
6. Condition of Items, Including Refurbished and Renewed Goods
Some of the items we sell are brand new. Other items we sell may be pre-owned, refurbished, renewed, restored, or otherwise reconditioned to give them a better and longer usable life. Where an item is not sold as brand new, we aim to make its condition clear in the relevant product listing.
When we describe an item as refurbished, renewed, restored, or reconditioned, we mean that the item has been inspected, cleaned, repaired, or otherwise prepared so that it is in good, usable condition, even though it is not a brand new item straight from a factory. Refurbished and renewed items may show minor signs of previous use, handling, or age, such as small marks, light wear, or slight cosmetic imperfections. These characteristics are a normal part of a refurbished or renewed item and are not considered faults.
Because the nature, history, and condition of refurbished and renewed items varies from item to item, the appearance, packaging, included accessories, and exact specification of such items may differ from those of a brand new equivalent. Original packaging, tags, labels, dust bags, boxes, or accessories may not be included unless we specifically state otherwise in the listing.
Nothing in this section removes or limits your legal rights as a consumer. If an item arrives faulty, not as described, or otherwise not in the condition we represented, you are entitled to the remedies available to you under our Return and Refund Policy and under applicable consumer protection law, as described in Section 11 and Section 13. The purpose of this section is simply to make sure you understand, before you buy, that some items are intentionally and openly sold as refurbished or renewed rather than as brand new.
7. Pricing, Currency, Taxes, and Duties
All prices shown on the Site are listed in the currency indicated at the point of sale. Prices are subject to change at any time, but changes will not affect orders that we have already accepted and confirmed.
We make every effort to ensure that prices are accurate. However, errors can occur. If we discover an error in the price of an item you have ordered, we will let you know as soon as reasonably possible and give you the option to confirm the order at the correct price or to cancel it. If we are unable to reach you, we may treat the order as cancelled and notify you. We are not obliged to supply any item at an incorrect price, even if we have accepted your order, where the error is one that you could reasonably have recognised as a mistake.
Depending on where you are located and where your order is shipped, the price you pay may or may not include applicable taxes such as value added tax (VAT). Any taxes that apply will be handled in accordance with the law of the relevant jurisdiction and, where applicable, shown during checkout.
For international orders, your shipment may be subject to import duties, customs charges, handling fees, brokerage fees, and local taxes that are imposed by the destination country and that are outside our control. These charges are not included in the price of the item or in the shipping cost you pay to us, unless we expressly state otherwise. You, as the customer and importer of record, are responsible for paying any such charges. We recommend that you check with your local customs authority before ordering if you would like to understand the charges that may apply. If a parcel is refused or returned because import charges were not paid, any costs incurred may be passed on to you and may be deducted from any refund.
8. Orders and Formation of the Contract
When you place an order through the Site, you are making an offer to buy the items in your order subject to these Terms. After you place an order, you will normally receive an order acknowledgement by email. This acknowledgement confirms that we have received your order; it does not by itself mean that we have accepted it.
A binding contract between you and The Cork Plug is formed only when we send you a confirmation that your order has been accepted or dispatched, or when we otherwise make clear that we accept your order. Until that point, we may decline or cancel your order for any of the reasons described in these Terms, including those set out in Section 4.
If we are unable to accept or fulfil your order, in whole or in part, we will let you know and will not charge you for the part of the order we cannot supply, or will refund you if payment has already been taken.
9. Payment
You agree to pay the full price for the items you order, together with any applicable shipping charges and taxes, using one of the payment methods we make available at checkout. By submitting payment details, you confirm that you are authorised to use the payment method and that the details you provide are accurate.
Payments are processed by third-party payment providers. We do not store full payment card details ourselves. Your use of a payment provider may be subject to that provider's own terms and policies, in addition to these Terms. If your payment is declined, refused, or reversed, we may cancel or suspend your order.
We take the prevention of fraud seriously. We may carry out checks, including verification of your identity and payment details, before accepting or dispatching an order, and we may decline orders where we reasonably suspect fraudulent or unauthorised activity.
10. Shipping, Delivery, and Risk
We ship to many destinations worldwide. Details of shipping options, costs, and estimated delivery times are provided on the Site or at checkout and are also addressed in our Shipping Policy, which forms part of these Terms.
Any delivery dates or time frames we give are estimates only. While we work to dispatch and deliver orders promptly, we are not responsible for delays caused by events outside our reasonable control, including but not limited to carrier delays, customs processing, weather, strikes, or other disruptions. Where a delay occurs, we will do what we reasonably can to keep you informed.
Risk of loss or damage to the items passes to you at the time the items are delivered to the address you provide, or, where applicable, at such other point as required by the consumer protection law that applies to you. Ownership of the items passes to you once we have received full payment, including all applicable charges.
It is your responsibility to provide a complete and accurate delivery address. We are not responsible for orders that are delayed, lost, or delivered incorrectly as a result of an address that you provided incorrectly or incompletely.
11. Returns, Cancellations, and Refunds
Your rights to return items, to cancel orders, and to receive refunds are set out in our Return and Refund Policy, which forms part of these Terms and which you should read together with this section.
Where the law that applies to you gives you a right to cancel a purchase made at a distance, such as the right of withdrawal available to many consumers in the European Union and in Ireland, that right applies in addition to anything stated here, and nothing in these Terms removes or reduces it. Certain items may be excluded from a general right of return for reasons of hygiene or because they have been personalised, to the extent permitted by law, and any such exclusions will be explained in our Return and Refund Policy.
If an item you receive is faulty, damaged, or not as described, please contact us at info@thecorkplug.com so that we can put things right. As explained in Section 6, normal characteristics of a refurbished or renewed item that were disclosed at the time of sale are not treated as faults, but a genuine defect or a material difference from what was described is, and you will have the remedies available to you under our policies and under applicable law.
12. Intellectual Property in the Site
All content on the Site that belongs to us, including text, graphics, layouts, designs, photographs that we create, written descriptions, and the overall look and feel of the Site, is owned by The Cork Plug or licensed to us, and is protected by intellectual property laws. You may view and use the Site for your own personal, non-commercial purposes in connection with shopping with us.
You may not copy, reproduce, republish, distribute, modify, sell, or otherwise exploit any part of the Site or its content for commercial purposes without our prior written permission. This does not affect the rights of third parties in their own brand names, trademarks, and other intellectual property, which, as explained in Section 5, remain the property of their respective owners.
13. Consumer Rights and Statutory Protections
Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude, restrict, or limit any rights you have as a consumer that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted, or limited. If you are a consumer, you benefit from mandatory protections under the law that applies to you, including, where relevant, the consumer protection laws of Ireland and the European Union.
These protections may include the right to receive goods that are of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described, and the right to certain remedies if they are not. Where there is any conflict between these Terms and the mandatory consumer protection law that applies to you, that law prevails to the extent of the conflict.
If you are a consumer in the European Union, you may also have the option to use the European Commission's Online Dispute Resolution platform to help resolve disputes, in addition to contacting us directly.
14. Acceptable Use of the Site
You agree to use the Site only for lawful purposes and in a way that does not infringe the rights of, or restrict or inhibit the use and enjoyment of the Site by, anyone else. In particular, you agree that you will not use the Site to engage in fraud; to transmit any unlawful, harmful, or malicious material; to attempt to gain unauthorised access to the Site, our systems, or any account; to interfere with the proper working of the Site; to scrape, harvest, or collect data from the Site without our permission; or to use the Site in any way that breaches any applicable law or regulation.
We reserve the right to take any action we consider appropriate where we believe the Site is being misused, including restricting or terminating your access.
15. Disclaimers
The Site and its content are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. While we work to keep the Site accurate, current, and available, we do not guarantee that the Site will always be available, uninterrupted, error-free, or secure, or that any defects will be corrected. We do not guarantee that the Site is free from viruses or other harmful components, and you are responsible for taking your own precautions.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, and except for the statutory rights described in Section 13 that cannot be excluded, we make no warranties, representations, or conditions of any kind, whether express or implied, in relation to the Site or its content beyond those expressly set out in these Terms.
16. Limitation of Liability
Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes our liability where it would be unlawful to do so. This includes any liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, and for any other liability that cannot be limited or excluded under the law that applies to you, including your mandatory rights as a consumer.
Subject to the paragraph above, and to the fullest extent permitted by law, we will not be liable for any loss or damage that was not reasonably foreseeable, for any loss that arises because you used the Site or our products for a commercial or business purpose, or for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential loss. To the fullest extent permitted by law, our total liability to you in connection with any order will not exceed the amount you paid for that order.
17. Indemnity
To the extent permitted by law, and except where it would conflict with your rights as a consumer, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless The Cork Plug and its owners, employees, and agents from and against any claims, losses, liabilities, and reasonable costs that arise out of your breach of these Terms, your misuse of the Site, or your violation of any law or the rights of a third party.
18. Events Outside Our Control (Force Majeure)
We will not be in breach of these Terms or otherwise liable for any failure or delay in performing our obligations where that failure or delay results from events outside our reasonable control. Such events include, without limitation, acts of God, natural disasters, fire, flood, severe weather, epidemic or pandemic, war, civil unrest, terrorism, government action, labour disputes, failures of utilities or communications networks, and disruptions to transport or supply chains. Where such an event occurs, we will take reasonable steps to minimise its effect and to resume performance as soon as reasonably possible.
19. Privacy and Data Protection
We respect your privacy and handle your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy and with applicable data protection law, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as it applies in Ireland and the European Union where relevant. Our Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect, how we use it, the legal bases on which we rely, how long we keep it, and the rights you have in relation to your data. By using the Site, you acknowledge that you have read and understood our Privacy Policy.
20. Third-Party Links and Services
The Site may contain links to third-party websites, tools, or services, and may rely on third-party providers for functions such as payment processing and delivery. These third parties are independent of us, and we do not control and are not responsible for their content, products, policies, or practices. Any use you make of a third-party website or service is at your own risk and is subject to that third party's own terms and policies. The inclusion of any link or the use of any third-party service does not imply our endorsement of that third party.
21. Changes to These Terms
We may update or amend these Terms from time to time, for example to reflect changes in our products, our practices, or the law. When we do, we will post the updated Terms on the Site and update the "Last updated" date at the top of this document. Changes take effect when they are posted. The version of the Terms that applies to your order is the version in effect at the time you place that order. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.
22. Severability and Waiver
If any provision of these Terms is found by a court or other competent authority to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, that provision will be severed to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect. If we do not enforce a right or provision of these Terms on any occasion, that does not mean we waive the right to enforce it on another occasion.
23. Assignment
You may not transfer or assign any of your rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent. We may transfer or assign our rights and obligations under these Terms to another organisation, for example as part of a business reorganisation, provided this does not adversely affect your rights.
24. Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, Return and Refund Policy, Shipping Policy, and any other policies referenced on the Site, make up the entire agreement between you and The Cork Plug in relation to your use of the Site and any order you place, and replace any earlier agreements or understandings between us on the same subject.
25. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them, their subject matter, or their formation, are governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Ireland. The courts of Ireland will have jurisdiction over any such dispute or claim.
If you are a consumer resident in a country other than Ireland, this choice of law and jurisdiction does not deprive you of the protection given to you by the mandatory provisions of the law of your country of residence, and you may also be entitled to bring proceedings in the courts of your own country where the law allows.
26. How to Contact Us
If you have any questions about these Terms, about an order, or about anything else, please get in touch. We are happy to help.
The Cork Plug Website: www.thecorkplug.com Email: info@thecorkplug.com
These Terms of Service are provided to set out the basis on which we sell to you and on which you may use our Site. They are not a substitute for tailored legal advice. Because your business circumstances and the laws that apply to you can change, we recommend having these Terms reviewed by a qualified legal professional in your jurisdiction before publishing them.