Last updated: November 15, 2026. These policies describe the proposed Westside Alley marketplace at westsidealley.com.
What you agree to when you join
By checking the box at sign-up, you agree to the following:
- Site fees as listed. Westside Alley charges a commission on each sale at the rate shown on our site fees page at the time of the sale. The commission is taken from each sale before your share is sent to your Stripe account. You pay all fees on your sales, including Stripe processing fees (about 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction). We may change site fees with advance notice, and new rates apply only to sales made after the change takes effect.
- Returns & Refunds policy. You agree to follow the Returns & Refunds policy, including Westside Alley Buyer Protection.
- You and your buyers resolve disputes directly. You handle returns, refunds and disputes directly with your buyers through on-site messaging, following your shop’s posted return policy. Refunds you give come out of your Stripe balance, as explained in Payments, Refunds & Negative Balances below.
- Prohibited Items. You will not list or sell anything on the Prohibited Items list, including alcohol, cannabis/CBD/THC, sexual or adult products, guns, ammunition and weapons, tobacco and vapes, and drugs or paraphernalia.
Your role as an independent seller
You sell your own products and control your business. You are responsible for lawful inventory, accurate descriptions, pricing, intellectual-property permissions, product safety, required permits, tax compliance, fulfillment and customer service. You are not an employee, agent or partner of Westside Alley. Admission and continued selling require administrator approval. Do not list products you cannot lawfully sell or fulfill.
Fees and payment
Westside Alley charges a 10% commission plus 30¢ per item sold on the Free plan. Plus and Pro plans have lower rates, as shown on the site. Commission is calculated on merchandise value after discounts, excluding separately stated shipping and tax. You pay all fees on your sales: the Westside Alley commission, Stripe payment processing (about 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction), dispute and chargeback fees, and Instant Payout fees (1%, 50¢ minimum). Factor these into your prices. No hidden seller subscription is established by this agreement. Payments are processed by Stripe, and you are paid through your own Stripe Express account (see Payments, Refunds & Negative Balances).
Your store return and exchange terms
You set your own change-of-mind return window, whether exchanges are allowed, final-sale/no-return exclusions and any restocking fees. Display those terms clearly on your store and on product pages where possible before purchase. State any exceptions for custom, perishable or difficult-to-exchange items. If you fail to publish a policy, the marketplace default is a 14-calendar-day return/exchange request window after delivery for unused, complete goods in original condition and packaging with proof of purchase. An exchange depends on stock; an eligible default return can be refunded if a replacement is unavailable.
Your policy cannot override Buyer Protection or applicable law. Buyer Protection covers only items not received, significantly not as described, damaged in transit or counterfeit. You must cooperate with and remedy valid protected claims even for a final-sale or no-return item. An accepted and clearly disclosed final-sale/no-return term blocks a change-of-mind dispute, not a protected or statutory claim. Disclose restocking fees before purchase; do not apply them to valid protected claims where prohibited by law.
Service and dispute obligations
Respond promptly to buyer messages and work to resolve complaints within 3 business days of first documented contact. Buyers may escalate to Westside Alley after that period if unresolved. Provide order, tracking and product evidence requested for a fair review. Westside Alley may require you to refund claims involving non-delivery, significant misdescription, transit damage or counterfeit goods, including required delivery/return costs. Initiate approved refunds within 5 business days of a qualifying return or dispute decision. Do not force store credit where a refund is owed, retaliate against a buyer or seek duplicate recovery.
Payments, Refunds & Negative Balances
How you get paid. You’re paid through your own Stripe Express account, which you set up when you connect your shop to Stripe. Your share of each sale (the sale amount minus Westside Alley’s commission) is sent to your Stripe account as soon as the buyer’s payment goes through. After that, Stripe’s payout schedule applies. Payouts usually reach your bank in about 2 business days, but your first payout can take 7–14 days while Stripe verifies your account. If you choose Stripe Instant Payouts, you pay the Instant Payout fee.
Your shop, your return policy. Each shop sets its own return and refund policy and must show it clearly on the shop page. You handle returns, refunds and disputes directly with your buyers through Westside Alley’s on-site messaging. Westside Alley does not hold your money. Once a payment is sent to your Stripe account, it’s in your hands.
You’re responsible for refunds and fees on your sales. You cover all refunds, chargebacks, dispute fees and Stripe processing fees on your sales. These amounts are taken from your Stripe balance.
If your balance goes negative. Your Stripe balance can go below zero. For example, a buyer might get a refund or file a chargeback after you’ve already been paid out. If that happens:
- Your shop is suspended until the negative balance is paid in full. Your listings are hidden and you can’t make new sales.
- If Westside Alley covers any amount for you, we may recover it from you, including from your future sales.
- Shops that go negative repeatedly may be permanently removed from Westside Alley.
Questions about a payment or refund? Email thewestsidealley@gmail.com with your order number. Never send passwords or full card details.
This summary is provided for convenience and is not legal advice.
Store standards, data and enforcement
Publish clear shipping, return and exclusion terms; keep stock and delivery estimates current. Use customer information only to fulfill/support the order or with another valid legal basis. Do not add buyers to marketing lists without required consent or disclose private order data publicly. Upload only content you have rights to use, and grant Westside Alley a limited permission to display and format it for marketplace operation and promotion. Follow the Prohibited Items list and report safety problems promptly.
Suspension, closure and changes
Repeated failure to resolve disputes, honor refunds, fulfill orders or disclose exclusions can result in restrictions or suspension. Fraud, dangerous goods or serious legal concerns may require immediate action. We may request information and review an appeal; we do not guarantee reinstatement. Closing a store does not remove duties for existing orders, returns, taxes or balances. Material fee and policy changes require appropriate advance notice and apply prospectively where required.
Fair-use evidence and buyer reports
Follow the Buyer Protection fair-use process. Request proof of purchase and reasonable photo/video evidence for damaged or materially misdescribed goods. You may refuse buyer-used, buyer-damaged or incomplete change-of-mind returns with evidence, but may not reject a valid original damage/defect claim for the same condition. Confidentially report suspected abuse to Westside Alley rather than retaliating or publishing buyer data. The buyer normally pays change-of-mind return shipping; you pay required costs for defective, damaged, wrong or misdescribed goods. Disputes must be recorded within the stated 14-day window, with legal rights preserved. An external chargeback ends the parallel internal process. Follow our review decision and preserve evidence.
Contact Westside Alley
Email thewestsidealley@gmail.com for marketplace support, policy questions, privacy requests or dispute escalation. Include your order or listing reference, not passwords or complete payment details.