Terms of Service

Effective Date: October 2026
Website: Maris Samuel Official Store & Literary Platform
Author: Maris Samuel

1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to the official online platform of author Maris Samuel. By accessing or using our website, purchasing books or digital media, subscribing to newsletters, or participating in our affiliate program, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, please refrain from using our services.

2. Products, Licensing & Intellectual Property

All content on this website—including novels, books, poetry, essays, articles, audio recordings, character designs, cover illustrations, blog posts, logos, and digital files—is the exclusive intellectual property of Maris Samuel and is protected by Nigerian copyright law and international copyright treaties.

Digital Products (E-books, Audio, PDFs, ePub): When you purchase a digital product, you are granted a limited, personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to download and access the work for personal, non-commercial reading or listening. You may not distribute, duplicate, resell, share download links, upload to cloud storage or file-sharing networks, or modify the works in any manner.
Physical Products (Paperbacks, Hardcovers, Merchandise): Physical copies are sold for personal enjoyment and library collection. Reselling physical books is subject to standard first-sale doctrine, but unauthorized photocopying, reprinting, or digital reproduction remains strictly prohibited.

3. Orders, Pricing & Payments

All prices listed on the store are denominated in the displayed currency (e.g., Nigerian Naira - ₦ / NGN, or USD) and are subject to change without notice. We reserve the right to limit quantities or refuse service to anyone at our discretion.

We provide multiple secure payment methods to make ordering seamless:

Paystack: Supporting debit and credit cards, USSD, and automated Bank Transfer (via Paystack dynamic virtual accounts with instant verification).
Stripe: Supporting international credit and debit cards.
PayPal: Supporting global payments and account balances.

Your payment information is encrypted and transmitted directly to the respective payment gateway. We never store credit card numbers, CVVs, or online banking passwords on our servers.

4. Physical Shipping & Delivery

Physical orders are dispatched from our fulfillment center via trusted courier partners (including DHL Express, GIG Logistics, GUO Transport, SpeedAF, and Gokada) or made available for local store pickup when chosen at checkout.

Shipping Estimates: Our standard estimated dispatch and delivery timeframe is typically 2 to 4 business days for domestic orders, unless otherwise indicated at checkout. Delivery timelines are estimates and may vary due to carrier delays or regional logistics.
Tracking Your Parcel: Once your package is dispatched, a tracking code and courier notice are sent directly to your email and WhatsApp. You can also monitor real-time shipping status by logging into your Customer Dashboard.

5. Customer Accounts & Passwordless Login

An account is automatically set up for you upon your first purchase to facilitate seamless tracking and download access. For your security and convenience, our platform offers passwordless login via WhatsApp One-Time Password (OTP) through Termii, eliminating the need to memorize complex passwords. You are responsible for maintaining control of your registered mobile number and email address.

6. Affiliate Program Terms

Affiliates registered on our platform may earn commissions by sharing unique referral links and coupon codes for eligible book purchases. Affiliates must comply with all ethical marketing standards:

Spamming, unsolicited messaging, misleading promotional claims, and bidding on trademarked keywords are strictly prohibited.
Commissions are calculated on valid, completed sales and paid out according to the scheduled payout terms once the minimum threshold is met.
Self-referrals or fraudulent transactions will result in immediate termination of the affiliate account and forfeiture of pending commissions.

7. Donations & Patronage

Donations made through this platform are voluntary gifts intended to support Maris Samuel's writing projects, research, book development, and community literacy outreach. Donations are not exchangeable for goods or services and are non-refundable.

8. User Comments & Book Reviews

Readers are encouraged to leave honest book reviews and participate constructively in blog comments. We reserve the right to review, edit, or delete any user submissions that are abusive, defamatory, harassing, sexually explicit, spammy, or in violation of intellectual property rights.

9. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability

This website, its content, and all products are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Maris Samuel and affiliated entities shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, punitive, or consequential damages arising from the use of, or inability to use, this website or its products.

10. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Any disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts in Nigeria.

11. Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these Terms of Service, please reach out to us via our Contact Page or by email at contact@marissamuel.com.