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Terms of service

TERMS OF SERVICE

Last updated: May 2026

OVERVIEW

This website and our retail business are operated by Our Country Cottage, Inc., doing business as The Cottage ("The Cottage," "we," "us," "our"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of shopthecottage.com (the "Site"), your purchases of our products, and any interaction with us through third-party platforms or AI-powered tools that surface our products.

By using the Site, placing an order, or buying our products through any channel, you agree to these Terms. If you don't agree, please don't use the Site or place an order.

We may update these Terms from time to time. The current version is always posted on this page. Continued use after updates are posted means you accept the changes.

Our store is hosted on Shopify Inc., which provides our online ecommerce platform.

SECTION 1 — ELIGIBILITY

By using the Site or placing an order, you confirm you are at least 18 years old (or the legal age of majority where you live). You agree not to use our products or the Site for any illegal purpose, and not to violate any laws in your jurisdiction.

SECTION 2 — PRODUCTS, PRICING, AND AVAILABILITY

We do our best to show accurate product photos, descriptions, prices, and stock levels, but we cannot guarantee everything is perfect.

  • Colors may look different on different screens
  • Stock levels can change quickly as we sell across our two stores and online
  • Prices are in U.S. dollars and may change without notice
  • We may limit quantities, refuse orders, or discontinue products at our discretion
  • We may correct errors in product info, pricing, or availability at any time, even after an order is placed

SECTION 3 — HOW ORDERS WORK (THE OFFICIAL RECORD)

This section matters, especially if you found us through an outside platform.

Placing an order is an offer, not an acceptance. When you submit an order through our Site or through any third-party platform that connects to our store, you are making an offer to buy. Your offer becomes a binding order only when we send you an order confirmation email from us (or from Shopify on our behalf).

The official record of your order is the Shopify order record and the confirmation email we send you. If anything you saw before checkout (price, description, availability, promo code, shipping estimate) does not match your confirmation email, the confirmation email and Shopify record control.

We may cancel or modify orders if:

  • A product was mispriced or out of stock
  • We suspect fraud, reseller activity, or a violation of these Terms
  • An error appeared on our Site or on a third-party platform
  • We cannot verify the billing or shipping information

If we cancel an order you already paid for, we will refund you in full.

SECTION 4 — THIRD-PARTY PLATFORMS AND AI-POWERED TOOLS

You may discover, view, or purchase our products through platforms we do not operate, including but not limited to:

  • Search engines and shopping comparison sites (Google, Bing, etc.)
  • Social media platforms (Meta, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok)
  • AI-powered assistants and chatbots (such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI, Claude, and similar tools)
  • Shopping apps and integrations (Shop app, Google Shopping, marketplace listings)
  • Affiliate, influencer, or referral content

We do not control how these platforms display, describe, recommend, or price our products. AI tools in particular may generate descriptions, comparisons, recommendations, or summaries about our products that are inaccurate, outdated, or fabricated. We are not responsible for:

  • Product information generated, summarized, or recommended by AI tools
  • Prices, promo codes, availability, or shipping times shown on third-party platforms
  • Reviews, ratings, or commentary that did not come from us
  • Any technical issues, fees, or terms imposed by a third-party platform

Only information shown on shopthecottage.com at the time of checkout, and confirmed in your order confirmation email, is binding. If something an AI tool or third-party platform told you does not match what we confirm, what we confirm wins.

If you discovered us through a third-party platform, we welcome you, and our products and policies are the same regardless of how you got here.

SECTION 5 — RETURNS AND REFUNDS (APPLY TO ALL CHANNELS)

Our return and refund policy applies the same way no matter where you placed your order, whether on our Site, through the Shop app, via a Meta or Google shopping link, through an AI-powered assistant, or any other channel.

Full details: https://shopthecottage.com/policies/refund-policy

A few key points:

  • Final sale items cannot be returned or exchanged. This includes all sale or discounted items and all gift cards.
  • Returns must follow the timing and condition requirements in our Refund Policy
  • Refunds are processed to the original payment method
  • For orders placed through third-party platforms or AI tools, that platform may display its own return language, but our Refund Policy is what governs your return

SECTION 6 — ACCOUNT AND BILLING INFORMATION

You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information when you place an order or create an account, and to keep it up to date. We need this so we can process your payment, ship your order, and reach you if something comes up.

We accept the payment methods shown at checkout, which may include credit and debit cards, Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and gift cards. All transactions are in U.S. dollars.

SECTION 7 — MARKETING EMAILS AND TEXT MESSAGES

If you opt in to marketing emails or SMS/text messages from The Cottage, here is what to know:

  • Email: You can unsubscribe at any time using the link at the bottom of any marketing email.
  • SMS/Text: By providing your mobile number and opting in, you consent to receive recurring marketing text messages from The Cottage at that number, including messages sent using automated technology. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Reply STOP to unsubscribe or HELP for help. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

Our full Privacy Policy: https://shopthecottage.com/policies/privacy-policy

SECTION 8 — INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

All content on the Site (logos, photos, product descriptions, graphics, text, design) is owned by The Cottage or our licensors and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws. You may not copy, reproduce, resell, scrape, or use our content for commercial purposes without our written permission.

This includes a specific restriction on using our content, images, or product data to train artificial intelligence or machine learning models, or for any automated data extraction, without our explicit written consent.

SECTION 9 — USER SUBMISSIONS, REVIEWS, AND TAGGED CONTENT

If you tag us, send us photos or reviews, or submit any content to us (collectively "User Content"), you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, display, and share that content in our marketing across any channel, including in-store, online, social media, email, paid ads, and third-party platforms. We are not obligated to use it, pay for it, or keep it confidential.

You agree that your User Content:

  • Is your own, or you have permission to share it
  • Does not violate anyone's rights, including copyright, trademark, or privacy
  • Is not false, defamatory, abusive, or offensive
  • Does not contain malicious code or spam

We may remove any User Content at our discretion.

SECTION 10 — PROHIBITED USES

You agree not to:

  • Use the Site for any unlawful purpose or to violate any law
  • Infringe our intellectual property or anyone else's
  • Harass, abuse, or harm anyone, or engage in discriminatory conduct
  • Submit false or misleading information
  • Upload viruses or malicious code
  • Scrape, crawl, harvest data, or use bots without our written permission
  • Use our Site or our content to train AI or machine learning models without our written permission
  • Resell our products without authorization
  • Interfere with the security or operation of the Site

We may terminate your access at any time for violating these Terms.

SECTION 11 — DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES

The Site, our products, and any related services are provided "as is" and "as available." To the fullest extent allowed by law, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

We do not guarantee the Site will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure. We do not guarantee that information about our products shown on third-party platforms or generated by AI tools will be accurate.

SECTION 12 — LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the fullest extent allowed by law, Our Country Cottage, Inc., The Cottage, and our owners, officers, employees, contractors, and suppliers will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including lost profits, lost data, or replacement costs, arising from or related to:

  • Your use of, or inability to use, the Site or our products
  • Any product you purchased from us through any channel
  • Errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in product descriptions, pricing, photos, or availability
  • Content, descriptions, comparisons, or recommendations generated by third-party AI tools, chatbots, or assistants (including ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI, Claude, or similar tools) about The Cottage or our products
  • Information, listings, or transactions on third-party platforms (search engines, social media, marketplaces, shopping integrations, affiliate or influencer content)
  • Delays, failures, or technical issues caused by third-party platforms or services we do not control

Our total liability for any claim related to a product or order will not exceed the amount you paid for that product or order. Some states do not allow these limitations, so they may not apply to you in full.

SECTION 13 — INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Our Country Cottage, Inc. and our owners, officers, employees, contractors, and suppliers from any claim, demand, or expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from your breach of these Terms, your violation of any law, your infringement of anyone's rights, or your misuse of the Site or our products.

SECTION 14 — GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to conflict-of-law rules. Any dispute arising from these Terms or your use of the Site or our products will be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, and you consent to the jurisdiction of those courts.

SECTION 15 — CHANGES, TERMINATION, AND MISCELLANEOUS

  • Changes: We may update these Terms at any time by posting the updated version. Continued use of the Site or placement of an order means you accept the changes.
  • Termination: We may suspend or terminate your access to the Site, or refuse service, at any time if we believe you have violated these Terms.
  • Severability: If any part of these Terms is found unenforceable, the rest remains in effect.
  • No waiver: If we do not enforce a provision, that does not waive our right to enforce it later.
  • Entire agreement: These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Refund Policy, are the full agreement between you and us.

SECTION 16 — 

SMS/MMS MOBILE MESSAGE MARKETING PROGRAM TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Our Country Cottage, Inc. (hereinafter, “We,” “Us,” “Our”) is offering a mobile messaging program (the “Program”), which you agree to use and participate in subject to these Mobile Messaging Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy https://shopthecottage.com/policies/privacy-policy (the “Agreement”). By opting in to or participating in any of our Programs, you accept and agree to these terms and conditions, including, without limitation, your agreement to resolve any disputes with us through binding, individual-only arbitration, as detailed in the “Dispute Resolution” section below. This Agreement is limited to the Program and is not intended to modify other Terms and Conditions or Privacy Policy that may govern the relationship between you and Us in other contexts.

1. User Opt In: The Program allows Users to receive SMS/MMS mobile messages by affirmatively opting into the Program, such as through online or application-based enrollment forms. Regardless of the opt-in method you utilized to join the Program, you agree that this Agreement applies to your participation in the Program. By participating in the Program, you agree to receive autodialed or prerecorded marketing mobile messages at the phone number associated with your opt-in, and you understand that consent is not required to make any purchase from Us. While you consent to receive messages sent using an autodialer, the foregoing shall not be interpreted to suggest or imply that any or all of Our mobile messages are sent using an automatic telephone dialing system (“ATDS” or “autodialer”). Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies.

Further, You authorize your wireless carrier to use or disclose information about your account and your wireless device, if available, to Our Country Cottage, Inc. or its service provider(s) for the duration of your business relationship, solely to help them identify you or your wireless device and to prevent fraud. See our Privacy Policy https://shopthecottage.com/policies/privacy-policy for how we treat your data.

2. User Opt Out: If you do not wish to continue participating in the Program or no longer agree to this Agreement, you agree to reply STOP, END, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE, or QUIT to any mobile message from Us in order to opt out of the Program. You may receive an additional mobile message confirming your decision to opt out. You understand and agree that the foregoing options are the only reasonable methods of opting out. You acknowledge that our text message platform may not recognize and respond to unsubscribe requests that alter, change, or modify the STOP, END, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE or QUIT keyword commands, such as the use of different spellings or the addition of other words or phrases to the command, and agree that Our Country Cottage, Inc. and its service providers will have no liability for failing to honor such requests.  You also understand and agree that any other method of opting out, including, but not limited to, texting words other than those set forth above or verbally requesting one of our employees to remove you from our list, is not a reasonable means of opting out.

3. Program Description: Without limiting the scope of the Program, users that opt into the Program can expect to receive messages concerning the marketing, promotion, payment, delivery and sale of clothing, footwear and accessories. Messages may include checkout reminders.

4. Cost and Frequency: Message and data rates may apply. You agree to receive messages periodically at Our discretion. Daily, weekly, and monthly message frequency will vary. The Program involves recurring mobile messages, and additional mobile messages may be sent periodically based on your interaction with Us.

5. Support Instructions: For support regarding the Program, text “HELP” to the number you received messages from or email us at hello@shopthecottage.com. Please note that the use of this email address is not an acceptable method of opting out of the program. Opt outs must be submitted in accordance with the procedures set forth above.

6. MMS Disclosure: The Program will send SMS TMs (terminating messages) if your mobile device does not support MMS messaging.

7. Our Disclaimer of Warranty: The Program is offered on an "as-is" basis and may not be available in all areas at all times and may not continue to work in the event of product, software, coverage or other changes made by your wireless carrier. We will not be liable for any delays or failures in the receipt of any mobile messages connected with this Program. Delivery of mobile messages is subject to effective transmission from your wireless service provider/network operator and is outside of Our control. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered mobile messages.

8. Participant Requirements: You must have a wireless device of your own, capable of two-way messaging, be using a participating wireless carrier, and be a wireless service subscriber with text messaging service. Not all cellular phone providers carry the necessary service to participate. Check your phone capabilities for specific text messaging instructions.

9. Age Restriction: You may not use or engage with the Platform if you are under thirteen (13) years of age. If you use or engage with the Platform and are between the ages of thirteen (13) and eighteen (18) years of age, you must have your parent’s or legal guardian’s permission to do so. By using or engaging with the Platform, you acknowledge and agree that you are not under the age of thirteen (13) years, are between the ages of thirteen (13) and eighteen (18) and have your parent’s or legal guardian’s permission to use or engage with the Platform, or are of adult age in your jurisdiction. By using or engaging with the Platform, you also acknowledge and agree that you are permitted by your jurisdiction’s Applicable Law to use and/or engage with the Platform.

10. Prohibited Content: You acknowledge and agree to not send any prohibited content over the Platform. Prohibited content includes:

- Any fraudulent, libelous, defamatory, scandalous, threatening, harassing, or stalking activity;

- Objectionable content, including profanity, obscenity, lasciviousness, violence, bigotry, hatred, and discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, or age;

- Pirated computer programs, viruses, worms, Trojan horses, or other harmful code;

- Any product, service, or promotion that is unlawful where such product, service, or promotion thereof is received;

- Any content that implicates and/or references personal health information that is protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) or the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (“HITEC” Act); and

- Any other content that is prohibited by Applicable Law in the jurisdiction from which the message is sent.

 

11. Dispute Resolution: In the event that there is a dispute, claim, or controversy between you and Us, or between you and Stodge Inc. d/b/a Postscript or any other third-party service provider acting on Our behalf to transmit the mobile messages within the scope of the Program, arising out of or relating to federal or state statutory claims, common law claims, this Agreement, or the breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation or validity thereof, including the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, such dispute, claim, or controversy will be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, determined by arbitration in Severna Park, MD before one arbitrator.

The parties agree to submit the dispute to binding arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) then in effect. Except as otherwise provided herein, the arbitrator shall apply the substantive laws of the Federal Judicial Circuit in which Our Country Cottage, Inc. principle place of business is located, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Within ten (10) calendar days after the arbitration demand is served upon a party, the parties must jointly select an arbitrator with at least five years’ experience in that capacity and who has knowledge of and experience with the subject matter of the dispute. If the parties do not agree on an arbitrator within ten (10) calendar days, a party may petition the AAA to appoint an arbitrator, who must satisfy the same experience requirement. In the event of a dispute, the arbitrator shall decide the enforceability and interpretation of this arbitration agreement in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”). The parties also agree that the AAA’s rules governing Emergency Measures of Protection shall apply in lieu of seeking emergency injunctive relief from a court. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding, and no party shall have rights of appeal except for those provided in section 10 of the FAA. Each party shall bear its share of the fees paid for the arbitrator and the administration of the arbitration; however, the arbitrator shall have the power to order one party to pay all or any portion of such fees as part of a well-reasoned decision. The parties agree that the arbitrator shall have the authority to award attorneys’ fees only to the extent expressly authorized by statute or contract. The arbitrator shall have no authority to award punitive damages and each party hereby waives any right to seek or recover punitive damages with respect to any dispute resolved by arbitration.

THE PARTIES AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN AN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY VIA ARBITRATION AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ARBITRATION PROCEEDING. Further, unless both parties agree otherwise in a signed writing, the arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person’s claims, and may not otherwise preside over any form of a representative or class proceeding. 

Except as may be required by law, neither a party nor the arbitrator may disclose the existence, content, or results of any arbitration without the prior written consent of both parties, unless to protect or pursue a legal right. If any term or provision of this Section is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Section or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. If for any reason a dispute proceeds in court rather than in arbitration, the parties hereby waive any right to a jury trial. This arbitration provision shall survive any cancellation or termination of your agreement to participate in any of our Programs.

12. State Law:

Florida: We endeavor to comply with the Florida Telemarketing Act and the Florida Do Not Call Act as applicable to Florida residents.  For purposes of compliance, you agree that we may assume that you are a Florida resident if, at the time of opt-in to Program, (1) your shipping address, as provided is located in Florida or (2) the area code for the phone number used to opt-into the Program is a Florida area code.  You agree that the requirements of the Florida Telemarketing Act and the Florida Do Not Call Act do not apply to you, and you shall not assert that you are a Florida resident, if you do not meet either of these criteria or, in the alternative, do not affirmatively advise us in writing that you are a Florida resident by sending written notice to us.  Insofar as you are a Florida resident, you agree that mobile messages sent by Us in direct response to mobile messages or requests from You (including but are not limited to response to Keywords, opt-in, help or stop requests and shipping notifications) shall not constitute a “telephonic sales call” or “commercial telephone solicitation phone call” for purposes of Florida Statutes Section 501 (including but not limited to sections 501.059 and 501.616), to the extent the law is otherwise relevant and applicable.

New Jersey: In our efforts to comply with the New Jersey telemarketing law, (as applicable to New Jersey residents), you agree that we may assume that you are a New Jersey resident if, at the time of opt-in to the Program, the area code for the phone number used to opt-into the Program is a New Jersey area code. You agree that the requirements of the New Jersey telemarketing statute do not apply to you, and you shall not assert that you are a New Jersey resident, if you do not meet this criteria or, in the alternative, do not affirmatively advise Us in writing that you are a New Jersey resident. Insofar as you are a New Jersey resident, you agree that mobile messages sent by Us in direct response to mobile messages or requests from you (including but are not limited to response to Keywords, opt-in, help or stop requests and shipping notifications) shall not constitute an “unsolicited telemarketing sales call” or “telemarketing sales call” for purposes of New Jersey Statute Title 56, Chapter 8 (including but not limited to section 56:8-128.), to the extent the law is otherwise relevant and applicable. Additionally, in efforts to comply with section 56:8-128, we will state Our company name (or any D/B/A of Ours) at the start of every message We send to you.

Washington: To the extent the law is relevant and applicable to the Program, we endeavor to comply with the commercial telephone solicitation requirements pursuant to the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) (including but not limited to sections 80.36.390, 19.158.040, 19.158.110 and  19.158) as applicable to Washington residents.  For purposes of compliance, you agree that we may assume that you are a Washington resident if, at the time of opt-in to the Program, the area code for the phone number used to opt-into the Program is a Washington area code. 

Oklahoma: We endeavor to comply fully with the Oklahoma Telephone Solicitation Act of 2022 as applicable. For purposes of compliance, you agree that we may assume that you are an Oklahoma resident and are currently located in the state of Oklahoma if, at the time of opt-in to Program, the area code for the phone number used to opt-into the Program is an Oklahoma area code. If the area code for the phone number used to opt-into the Program is not an Oklahoma area code, or, in the alternative, if you do not affirmatively send written notice to Us advising that you reside or are currently located in Oklahoma, You agree that the requirements of the Oklahoma Telephone Solicitation Act do not apply to you, and further agree that you will not assert that you are an Oklahoma resident, nor assert you are located in the state of Oklahoma at the time of receiving a communication from Us. Insofar as you are an Oklahoma resident or are otherwise subject to the laws of Oklahoma, you agree: (1) that mobile messages sent by Us in direct response to any form of messages or requests from You (including but are not limited to responses to Keywords, opt-in, help or stop requests and shipping notifications) shall not constitute a “telephonic sales call” or “commercial telephone solicitation phone call” for purposes of Oklahoma Statutes Title 15 (including but not limited to sections 775C.1, 775C.2, 775C.3, 775C.4 and 775C.5), to the extent the law is otherwise relevant and applicable; (2) that you have only opted-in to the Program with one phone number and that We can rely on the fact that mobile messages sent to any other phone number are being sent to other persons; and (3) that you will opt-out of the Program prior to any termination of the phone number used to opt-into the Program and that without such opt-out we can rely on the fact that messages sent to the number are sent to you with your consent as described above.

13. Miscellaneous: You warrant and represent to Us that you have all necessary rights, power, and authority to agree to these Terms and perform your obligations hereunder, and nothing contained in this Agreement or in the performance of such obligations will place you in breach of any other contract or obligation. The failure of either party to exercise in any respect any right provided for herein will not be deemed a waiver of any further rights hereunder. If any provision of this Agreement is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that this Agreement will otherwise remain in full force and effect and enforceable. Any new features, changes, updates or improvements of the Program shall be subject to this Agreement unless explicitly stated otherwise in writing. We reserve the right to change this Agreement from time to time. Any updates to this Agreement shall be communicated to you. You acknowledge your responsibility to review this Agreement from time to time and to be aware of any such changes. By continuing to participate in the Program after any such changes, you accept this Agreement, as modified.

 

SECTION 17 — CONTACT

Questions about these Terms?

The Cottage (Our Country Cottage, Inc.) 562B Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, MD 21146 hello@shopthecottage.com 410-647-6742