Introducing
Astal (“Astal”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) provides a decentralized commerce and payment infrastructure that enables merchants to sell digital and physical products and services to end users.Astal does not directly sell products or services to end customers, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Refunds are therefore generally governed by the merchant’s own refund policy, not Astal’s.This Refund Policy explains when refunds may apply and who is responsible for issuing them.
Astal is an online marketplace platform that enables communication and transactions between independent sellers and shoppers. While we strive to maintain a safe and trustworthy environment, following all principles of blockchain technology, Astal does not create, own, inspect, guarantee, or control the products or services offered by sellers.
Users agree not to engage in any activity that is fraudulent, deceptive, misleading, or unlawful, including but not limited to:
- Misrepresentation of products, services, identity, or intentAttempts to scam, defraud, or manipulate other users
- Circumventing platform safeguards, payment systems, or dispute processes
- Using the platform for illegal, harmful, or abusive purposes
Astal reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to investigate, restrict, suspend, or terminate accounts suspected of violating these terms or engaging in fraudulent or abusive behavior, without prior notice.
Astal is not liable for losses, damages, or disputes arising from transactions between users. Responsibility for compliance with applicable laws, accurate representation, and fulfilment of obligations rests solely with the seller and shopper involved in the transaction.
The system of payment on Astal works through a smart contract escrow system, meaning:
1. Buyer places an order: The transaction is created and recorded on the blockchain.
2. Smart contracts handle payments: The payment is automatically verified and secured; Payment fees are very low, as there is no middleman.
3. Escrow system ensures security: Funds are held until the product is received.
4. Transaction is recorded: Once the order is completed, the details are permanently stored on the blockchain.
5. Immutable records: No one can alter past transactions, ensuring transparency.More information on how Astal and blockchain ecommerce works is available here.
When you purchase a product or service through Astal:
● The merchant is solely responsible for:
• Product quality
• Fulfillment
• Customer support
• Refunds, returns, or cancellations
● Astal does not control, process, or guarantee merchant refunds unless:
• Astal is explicitly listed as the seller, or
• The merchant has opted into an Astal-managed refund mechanism
Each seller is solely responsible for defining and clearly stating whether refunds are allowed or not allowed for their products or services. This refund policy must be visible to shoppers prior to purchase. This is mandatory.
If a seller allows refunds, any request for a refund must be:
● Initiated by the shopper
● Addressed directly between the shopper and seller
● Conducted exclusively through the platform’s messaging or chat system
Both parties are required to communicate in good faith and reach a mutual agreement regarding any refund, including eligibility, amount, and method.
Astal is not obligated to mediate, enforce, or guarantee refunds from merchants and is not responsible for the outcome of disputes between sellers and shoppers. Failure to resolve a dispute does not create liability for Astal.
By using the Astal platform, users acknowledge and accept that all transactions, refunds, and resolutions are the responsibility of the participating seller and shopper.
Astal does not impose any undisclosed or intermediary fees. All Astal platform fees are explicit, transparent, and first-party. We do not charge, nor will we ever charge, any middleman fees, or hidden fees.
All Astal platform fees, including but not limited to:
● Transaction fees
● Processing fees
● Infrastructure or service feesare non-refundable, except where required by applicable law.
Once a transaction is submitted on-chain or processed via a payment rail, it is considered final and irreversible.
Due to the nature of blockchain technology:
Astal is not responsible for losses resulting from:
If Astal directly sells a product or service (clearly labeled as such):
Exceptions may apply where required by consumer protection laws.
If a payment is made using a card or bank transfer:
Astal reserves the right to cooperate with payment providers and law enforcement where necessary.
This Refund Policy is designed to comply with applicable consumer protection laws.Where local laws provide mandatory refund rights, those rights override this policy.
For refund questions related to:
