Terms & Conditions

1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to The StoryBook Library (operated under doctormom.in). By accessing our website, creating an account, or using our book rental services, you ("User," "Member," or "You") agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our services.

These Terms, along with our Privacy Policy, constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Dr. Maliha Saman A ("we," "our," or "us").

2. Eligibility & Accounts

To use our services, you must be at least 18 years of age and capable of forming a legally binding contract under the Indian Contract Act, 1872.

• Account Responsibility: You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account.
• Parental Consent: While our books are intended for children, all accounts, memberships, and financial transactions must be managed by a parent or legal guardian. By creating an account, you represent that you have the legal authority to bind any minor for whom you are creating the account.
• Accurate Information: You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration, including a valid delivery address within Chennai and a working phone number for courier logistics.

3. Membership & Signup Fee

Our service operates on a membership basis. To activate your account, you must pay a one-time, refundable Signup Fee of ₹1,000 per family.

• Signup Fee Purpose: This fee acts as a refundable security deposit, covers identity verification, and account setup. It is refundable only under the conditions outlined in Section 8 (Cancellation & Refund Policy).
• Membership Plans: After paying the signup fee, you must purchase a rental plan (Explorer, Voyager, or Pioneer). Each plan dictates your monthly book allowance. Membership is billed either on a monthly or quarterly basis.
• Manual Plan Purchases (No Auto-Renewal): Our plans are not auto-renewing subscriptions. Plan fees are paid as a one-time purchase for the selected duration. When your current plan expires, you must manually purchase a new plan from your dashboard to continue renting books.
• Non-Refundable Fees: Membership fees are non-refundable once the subscription has started.
• Plan Changes: Plan changes cannot be made mid-cycle. Both upgrades and downgrades take effect from the next billing cycle.

4. Book Rental & Batching Rules

To ensure efficient logistics and fair distribution among all members, our rental system operates on strict batching rules:

• Full Batch Requirement: You must order the exact number of books specified by your plan (🛰️ Explorer: 6 books, 🚀 Voyager: 9 books, or Pioneer: 12 books) in a single transaction. Partial batches are not permitted.
• The 28-Day Cycle: To optimize courier costs and ensure availability, you must wait 28 days from the date of your last order before you can place a new batch order, regardless of when you return the books.
• Book Selection: Books are selected based on the child's age and reading preferences. Inventory availability is subject to our current stock.
• Priority Reservations: Available exclusively to Voyager and Pioneer members. Priority reservation is subject to book availability and does not guarantee immediate access to high-demand titles.

5. Rental Period & Returns

• Rental Duration: The standard rental period for any batch of books is 30 days, starting from the date the books are marked as "Delivered" by our courier partner.
• Free Delivery: Free doorstep delivery is available exclusively within Chennai. One-way delivery (from us to you) is complimentary and included with every monthly subscription.
• Return Process: Members may return books by either visiting our library in person or by couriering them to us at their own expense. We do not provide prepaid return labels.
• Condition of Return: All books in a batch must be returned together. We do not accept partial returns of a batch to close out a rental cycle.
• Additional Deliveries: Any additional delivery requests beyond the standard monthly exchange may incur a delivery charge.

6. Late Fees & Penalties

Timely returns are crucial for our community. Books must be returned on or before the due date. If books are not returned by the end of the 30-day rental period, late fees will apply:

• Flat Late Fee Structure: A flat late fee of ₹10 per day, applies to all overdue books, regardless of your membership tier (Explorer, Voyager, or Pioneer).
• Account Hold: If late fees remain unpaid, or if books remain overdue, your account will be placed on hold. Membership benefits may be paused, and you will be unable to order new books or purchase a new plan until the outstanding balance is cleared and books are returned.
• Manual Payment of Penalties: We do not automatically deduct late fees from your saved payment methods or your ₹1,000 security deposit. You are required to manually clear any outstanding late fees or damage penalties since The StoryBook Library does not have an account dashboard for clearing fees, you must resolve outstanding late fees or damage penalties by manually contacting support.

7. Book Care, Damage & Loss

We expect all books to be treated with care. While normal wear and tear is acceptable, excessive damage or loss will incur charges:

• Minor Wear: Normal wear from careful reading is expected and will not be charged.
• Moderate to Severe Damage: Books with significant damage (water damage, torn pages, writing, missing pages, etc.) may incur repair or replacement charges equivalent to 25% - 100% of the book's retail value.
• Lost Books: Lost books must be replaced or paid for at the current replacement cost (100% of retail value). This amount must be paid before you can order your next batch.

8. Cancellation & Refund Policy

You may cancel your membership at any time through your account dashboard or by contacting our support team.

• Plan Fees: Monthly or quarterly plan fees are non-refundable once a billing cycle has begun. You will retain access to the service until the end of the current billing cycle.
• Signup Fee Refund (1,000): Your one-time signup fee is fully refundable ONLY IF:
  1. You have returned ALL books currently rented under your account.
  2. All returned books are in good condition (no severe damage or loss).
  3. All outstanding late fees or penalties have been settled in full.
• Refund Processing: Once the above conditions are met, the ₹1,000 refund will be processed back to your original payment method within 7-10 business days.

9. Limitation of Liability & Library Rights

To the maximum extent permitted by Indian law:

• The StoryBook Library provides books for educational and recreational purposes. We are not liable for any content within the books that you or your child may find objectionable.
• We shall not be held liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use of our service, including but not limited to delays in shipping caused by third-party courier partners.
• Library Rights: The library reserves the right to update membership policies, pricing, and benefits with prior notice. Membership may be suspended or terminated in cases of repeated policy violations or misuse.
• Communication: Members are responsible for providing accurate contact details. Delivery updates and reminders will be shared via WhatsApp, SMS, email, or phone.

10. Governing Law & Contact Information

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. Any disputes arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Tamil Nadu, India.

Pioneer Member Benefit: Pioneer members receive 10% OFF on all eligible classes and workshops during their active membership. Discounts cannot be combined with other promotional offers unless stated otherwise.

If you have any questions, concerns, or grievances regarding these Terms, please contact us:

• Name: Noorie
• Designation: Grievance Officer
• Email: thestorybooklibrary.chennai@gmail.com
• Address: 20/247 Angappa Naicken, Mannady, Chennai -1
• Response Time: We will acknowledge your grievance within 48 hours and strive to resolve it within 30 days.