Refund & Cancellation Policy

Last updated: not yet set: last updated date · Effective: not yet set: effective date

Draft — not legal advice. Review with a licensed attorney before use, and reconcile with consumer‑protection laws (which may grant non‑waivable refund/ cancellation rights) and your payment processor's rules.

This policy explains cancellations, refunds, and disputes for orders, reservations, and catering on LocalCooking. It is part of the Terms of Service. Because food is perishable and made by independent Vendors, refund rights are more limited than for typical retail goods.

1. Roles

LocalCooking is a marketplace and the Vendors' limited payment collection agent, not the seller of food. Vendors are responsible for fulfillment. We may, as a service, facilitate cancellations, refunds, and disputes, but are not obligated to beyond what the law requires.

2. Immediate (made‑to‑order and stocked) orders

• Before a Vendor starts preparing / before dispatch: you may request cancellation; if the order has not been started or dispatched, we will generally refund it in full.
• After preparation has begun or the order is out for delivery: because the food is perishable, cancellation may not be possible and refunds may be partial or unavailable, except where required by law or agreed by the Vendor.
• Frozen/shipped items: once shipped, cancellation follows the carrier's status; refunds for shipped perishable goods may be limited.

3. Reservations and catering

• Reservations/catering terms — including any deposit, cancellation window, and cancellation fee — are set by agreement between you and the Vendor during negotiation. Review those terms before you accept.
• A confirmed (contracted) reservation may be subject to the Vendor's cancellation terms; cancellations close to the event are more likely to incur charges given the Vendor's advance commitments (ingredients, scheduling).
• Changing the deal before both parties accept is free and simply requires re‑acceptance; once contracted, changes may require the Vendor's agreement or a new negotiation.

4. When we may issue refunds

We may issue a full or partial refund (and correspondingly reverse or offset the Vendor's payout) when, for example:

• The order was not fulfilled or was materially different from its description;
• Food arrived unsafe, spoiled, or grossly incorrect (report promptly with details and, where possible, photos);
• The Vendor cancelled or could not fulfill; or
• Required by law.

Requests should be made promptly — ideally within not yet set: window for refund requests of the delivery/pickup time or scheduled event — through the in‑app tools or not yet set: support email.

5. How refunds are made

Approved refunds are returned to your original payment method via Stripe. Timing depends on your bank/card issuer. Payment‑processing fees may be non‑refundable in some cases; delivery fees may or may not be refundable depending on the situation.

6. Tips

Tips you add are optional and are generally passed to the Vendor. Tip refunds/adjustments are handled case‑by‑case.

7. Disputes and chargebacks

If you and a Vendor disagree, we may mediate at our discretion. Please contact us before initiating a card chargeback so we can help. Abusive refund or chargeback behavior may lead to account action.

8. Vendor obligations

Vendors authorize us to process refunds and reverse/offset payouts consistent with this policy and the Chef/Vendor Agreement.

9. Contact

not yet set: support email · not yet set: company legal name, not yet set: mailing address.