Terms and conditions

Wholesale Direct Terms & Conditions

These Terms and Conditions govern the sale of goods through the Wholesale Direct website. No variation of these Terms can be given by any of the Company’s employees unless authorised in writing by a signatory of the Company.

Throughout these Terms and Conditions, the terms "Wholesale Direct", "we", "our", and "us" refer to Gem Imports Limited trading as Wholesale Direct.

By placing an order with Wholesale Direct, you agree that you are purchasing as a business and to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree with these Terms, you should not place an order through our website.

These Terms apply whether you purchase through a registered customer account or via our guest checkout.

1. Definitions

For the purposes of these Terms and Conditions, the following definitions apply.

Additional Charges means the costs of shipping goods; any extra packaging, any taxes, duties or other charges levied by any authority or governmental body in respect of, or by reason of sale, delivery, export or import of the Goods; shipping and messenger costs, in addition to the Price or Full Price

Business Day means Monday to Friday excluding public and bank holidays in England.

Carton means the minimum unit in which a product is supplied. Products sold by Wholesale Direct are supplied in complete cartons only. The carton quantity is displayed on each product page.

Customer means any individual, sole trader, partnership, company or other organisation purchasing Goods from Wholesale Direct.

Contract means the agreement of sale and purchase of the Goods which is entered into between the Company and the Customer after the Effective Date; “the Company” means Gem Imports Limited (Registered No 7329987) whose registered office is at 2 Athena Way, Hoyland, Barnsley S74 0FQ, trading as Wholesale Direct.

Delivery Address means the address provided by the Customer during checkout.

Effective Date means the date on which an order is placed with the Company in person, on the website (www.wholesaledirect.co.uk)

Goods means the products ordered by the Customer to be supplied by the Company pursuant to these Terms.

Order means the individual order for Goods placed by the Customer and fulfilled by the Company subject to these Terms.

Price means the price displayed on the website at the time an Order is accepted, excluding VAT unless otherwise stated.

Restricted Information means any information which is disclosed to each party by the other party pursuant to or in connection with the Contract (whether orally or in writing, and which is expressly stated to be confidential or marked as such).

Terms means these terms and conditions.

Website means the Wholesale Direct online store.

2. Eligibility to Purchase

Wholesale Direct supplies business customers within the United Kingdom.

By placing an Order, you confirm that:

• you are at least 18 years of age;
• you are legally capable of entering into a binding contract;
• the information provided during checkout is accurate and complete.

Wholesale Direct reserves the right to refuse any Order where we reasonably believe fraudulent activity has occurred, age verification requirements have not been satisfied, or these Terms have not been complied with.

3. Website Accounts

Customers may place Orders either:

• by creating a Wholesale Direct customer account; or
• by using Guest Checkout.

Customers are responsible for ensuring that all account information remains accurate and up to date.

If you create an account, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and for all activity carried out under your account.

Orders containing age-restricted Goods cannot be placed using Guest Checkout. Customers purchasing age-restricted Goods must create and maintain a Wholesale Direct customer account.

Wholesale Direct may require additional information or verification before accepting or dispatching an Order containing age-restricted Goods. Customers agree to provide any information reasonably required for us to carry out appropriate age and identity verification.

Wholesale Direct reserves the right to suspend or terminate any customer account where we reasonably believe it has been used fraudulently, unlawfully or in breach of these Terms.

4. Product Information

We make every effort to ensure that product descriptions, specifications, images and pricing displayed on our website are accurate.

However:

• product images are for illustrative purposes only;
• colours may vary slightly depending upon screen settings;
• packaging may differ from images shown;
• product specifications and packaging may occasionally alter without notice.

Whilst we endeavour to keep all information accurate, we cannot guarantee that descriptions, dimensions, weights or specifications are completely free from error.

If we discover that information displayed on the website is materially incorrect, we reserve the right to correct the information and contact affected customers before dispatch.

5. Carton Quantities

Wholesale Direct sells products by the carton only.

Individual units cannot be purchased unless specifically stated.

Each product listing clearly displays:

• the quantity contained within each carton;
• the price applicable to each carton.

By placing an Order, the Customer confirms they understand that purchases are made in complete carton quantities only.

6. Placing an Order

Orders may be placed through the Wholesale Direct website at any time.

Submission of an Order does not constitute acceptance by Wholesale Direct.

Following submission of an Order, you will receive an automated acknowledgement email confirming receipt of your Order. This email does not constitute acceptance of your Order.

A Contract is only formed when Wholesale Direct accepts your Order and begins processing it for dispatch.

Wholesale Direct reserves the right to refuse or cancel any Order before dispatch, including, but not limited to, where:

• payment has not been authorised;
• products are unavailable;
• pricing or product information contains an obvious error;
• fraud prevention checks fail;
• we reasonably suspect fraudulent or unlawful activity.

Where payment has already been taken for an Order that cannot be fulfilled, a full refund will be issued using the original payment method.

7. Product Availability

We endeavour to maintain accurate stock levels across the website.

However, stock levels are updated continually, and availability cannot be guaranteed until an Order has been accepted.

In the unlikely event that products become unavailable after an Order has been placed, Wholesale Direct may:

• cancel the unavailable item;
• substitute an equivalent product only with the Customer's agreement;
• cancel the Order in full and issue a refund.

Wholesale Direct does not offer products on a pre-order basis. Only products available for immediate dispatch can be purchased.

8. Pricing

All prices displayed on the website are shown in Pounds Sterling (£).

As standard, prices exclude VAT, which will be added at the rate in force at the time of checkout where applicable. You can change the view to include VAT at the top of the menu bar.

Wholesale Direct reserves the right to amend prices at any time without prior notice.

Price changes will not affect Orders already accepted.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure pricing accuracy, genuine pricing errors may occasionally occur. If a pricing error is discovered before your Order has been dispatched, we reserve the right to:

• cancel the Order;
• contact you with the correct price; or
• offer you the option to proceed at the corrected price.

Where payment has already been taken for an Order affected by a pricing error, and you choose not to proceed, a full refund will be issued using your original payment method.

Where an obvious pricing error has occurred, Wholesale Direct reserves the right to cancel the affected Order before dispatch and issue a full refund.

9. Payment

Payment must be received in full before any Order is dispatched unless otherwise agreed by Wholesale Direct in writing.

We currently accept payment by:

• Visa
• Mastercard
• Maestro
• PayPal

All payments are processed securely using our authorised payment provider. Wholesale Direct does not store customers' full payment card details.

If payment authorisation is declined, your Order will not be accepted, and no Contract will be formed.

Wholesale Direct reserves the right to undertake fraud prevention and identity verification checks before accepting an Order. Where additional verification is required, dispatch may be delayed until satisfactory checks have been completed.

All payments and any Additional Charges must be made in Pounds Sterling (£).

10. Delivery Charges

All prices show exclusive of vat.

Delivery charges are calculated separately from the cost of Goods.

The applicable delivery charge will be displayed during checkout before payment is completed.

Standard UK delivery charge: £6.95

Free delivery on orders over £100 excluding VAT

11. Dispatch

Orders received before 12:00 noon on a Business Day are normally dispatched the next working day.

Orders received:

• after 12:00 noon;
• at weekends; or
• on public holidays,

will normally be dispatched within two Business Days.

Dispatch times are estimates only and are not guaranteed.

During periods of exceptionally high demand, adverse weather, carrier disruption or circumstances beyond our reasonable control, dispatch times may be extended.

Wholesale Direct will always endeavour to notify customers where significant delays occur.

12. Delivery

Add courier information - Who delivers, how will it be delivered!

The Company shall have the right to deliver Goods in instalments. Delivery times begin once an Order has been dispatched rather than when it is placed.

Typical delivery times are:

Destination	Estimated Delivery
Mainland UK	2-3 Business Days from order

Delivery times are estimates only.

Wholesale Direct shall not be liable for any loss resulting from delivery delays caused by:

• courier delays;
• adverse weather;
• customs procedures;
• industrial action;
• incorrect delivery information supplied by the Customer;
• events outside our reasonable control.

13. Delivery Address

Customers are responsible for ensuring that the delivery address supplied during checkout is complete and accurate.

Wholesale Direct cannot accept responsibility for delays, failed deliveries or additional costs resulting from incorrect information supplied by the Customer.

Where an Order is returned because:

• the delivery address was incorrect;
• delivery was refused;
• delivery could not be completed;
• the parcel remained uncollected,

Wholesale Direct reserves the right to charge the Customer for any additional delivery costs incurred before redispatching the Goods.

14. Failed Deliveries

If delivery cannot be completed due to circumstances within the Customer's control, our delivery partner may:

• leave a calling card;
• attempt redelivery;
• deliver to a nominated collection point where available;
• return the Goods to Wholesale Direct.

Where Goods are returned to us due to failed delivery attempts, additional delivery charges may apply before the Goods are redispatched.

If the Customer no longer wishes to receive the Goods following a failed delivery, any refund will be made in accordance with our Returns Policy and may be subject to deductions for delivery costs already incurred.

15. Inspection of Goods

Customers should inspect all Goods as soon as reasonably practicable following delivery.

If Goods appear damaged upon arrival, customers should:

• note the damage when signing for delivery wherever possible;
• retain all packaging;
• notify Wholesale Direct as soon as possible.

Claims for:

• damaged Goods should be reported within 14 days of delivery;
• Shortages & Incorrect items within 5 Business Days of delivery.

Failure to notify us within a reasonable period may affect our ability to investigate the claim with the carrier.

16. Risk

Risk in the Goods passes to the Customer upon delivery to the Delivery Address.

17. Ownership (Retention of Title)

Ownership of the Goods shall remain with Wholesale Direct until:

• payment has been received in full;
• all outstanding sums owed by the Customer to Wholesale Direct have been paid.

Until ownership passes, the Customer shall:

• store the Goods separately where reasonably practicable;
• keep the Goods identifiable as the property of Wholesale Direct;
• not remove or obscure identifying labels where applicable.

Where payment remains outstanding, Wholesale Direct reserves the right to recover the Goods without prejudice to any other legal remedy available.

18. Force Majeure

Wholesale Direct shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations where such failure or delay results from circumstances beyond its reasonable control.

These include, but are not limited to:

• natural disasters;
• flood;
• fire;
• severe weather;
• epidemic or pandemic;
• war;
• terrorism;
• industrial disputes;
• transport disruption;
• shortages of raw materials;
• supplier failure;
• governmental restrictions;
• failures affecting communication networks or utilities.

Where a Force Majeure event continues for an extended period, Wholesale Direct reserves the right to suspend or cancel affected Orders and provide an appropriate refund where payment has already been received.

19. Return of Goods and Order Cancellation Policy

Orders are considered firm once accepted by Wholesale Direct.

Customers are not entitled to cancel accepted Orders or return unwanted Goods unless agreed in writing by Wholesale Direct.

Wholesale Direct supplies Goods primarily in wholesale carton quantities. We ask Customers to ensure they have carefully checked all product details, carton quantities and pricing before placing an Order.

Wholesale Direct does not accept returns of unwanted Goods, except where Goods are faulty, damaged, or incorrectly supplied.

We do not accept returns because:

• a Customer has changed their mind;
• too many cartons have been ordered;
• the Goods are no longer required;
• the Customer has ordered the incorrect product.

20. Damaged, Missing or Incorrect Goods

Customers should inspect all deliveries as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt.

If any Goods are:

• damaged;
• missing;
• incorrectly supplied,

the Customer must notify Wholesale Direct as soon as possible and, wherever practicable, within five Business Days of delivery.

When reporting an issue, we may request:

• photographs of the Goods;
• photographs of the packaging;
• batch numbers;
• delivery labels;
• any other information reasonably required to investigate the claim.

Failure to provide sufficient information may delay the resolution of the claim.

Wholesale Direct reserves the right to inspect or collect the Goods before agreeing to any replacement or refund.

21. Faulty Goods

If Goods supplied are faulty, defective or not of satisfactory quality, Customers should notify Wholesale Direct as soon as reasonably practicable after the fault becomes apparent.

Where appropriate, Wholesale Direct may:

• repair the Goods;
• replace the Goods;
• provide replacement parts;
• issue a full or partial refund.

The remedy offered will depend upon:

• the nature of the fault;
• the age of the Goods;

In the event of any claim being made by the Customer, the Customer shall give the Company a reasonable opportunity to inspect the Goods and liability will not be accepted unless this procedure is followed.

22. Customer Responsibilities

Customers are responsible for ensuring that:

• Goods are suitable for their intended purpose;
• Products are used safely and in accordance with any instructions provided;
• Goods are not modified, altered or misused.

Wholesale Direct accepts no responsibility for damage resulting from:

• misuse;
• improper installation;
• neglect;
• accidental damage;
• use outside the manufacturer's intended purpose.

23. Product Safety

If the Company is the subject of a request, court order or other directive of a governmental or regulatory authority to withdraw any Goods from the market (Recall Notice), it shall immediately notify the Customer in writing enclosing a copy of the Recall Notice. If required, the Customer agrees to undertake a product recall or withdrawal in accordance with the Company's instructions as to the process of implementing the withdrawal.

24. Limitation of Liability

Nothing within these Terms excludes or limits liability for:

• death or personal injury caused by negligence;
• fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;
• any liability which cannot legally be excluded under English law.

Subject to the above, Wholesale Direct shall not be liable for:

• indirect losses;
• consequential losses;
• loss of profits;
• loss of business;
• loss of contracts;
• loss of anticipated savings;
• loss of goodwill;
• business interruption;
• loss of opportunity.

Where liability cannot be excluded, Wholesale Direct's total liability arising from any Order shall not exceed the total amount paid by the Customer for the Goods giving rise to the claim.

25. Website Information

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information published on the Website, Wholesale Direct cannot guarantee that all content will always be:

• complete;
• current;
• error free.

Product availability, pricing, specifications and images may change without notice.

Wholesale Direct reserves the right to correct errors at any time, including after an Order has been placed, before dispatch.

26. Customer Indemnity

Customers agree to indemnify Wholesale Direct against any claims, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses arising from:

• misuse of Goods;
• resale of Goods in breach of applicable legislation;
• alteration of products;
• failure to follow manufacturer guidance;
• breach of these Terms.

27. Circumstances Beyond Our Control

Wholesale Direct shall not be liable for delays or failures resulting from events beyond our reasonable control.

Where such events continue for a prolonged period, Wholesale Direct may suspend performance of the Contract or cancel affected Orders and provide appropriate refunds where payment has already been received.

28. Website Use

The Wholesale Direct website is provided for the purpose of browsing products and purchasing Goods.

You agree not to:

• use the Website for any unlawful purpose;
• interfere with the operation or security of the Website;
• attempt to gain unauthorised access to our systems;
• introduce viruses, malware or malicious code;
• use automated software, bots or scripts to extract Website content without our prior written consent.

We reserve the right to suspend or restrict access to the Website where misuse is suspected.

29. Website Availability

Whilst we endeavour to ensure that the Website is available at all times, we cannot guarantee uninterrupted access.

The Website may occasionally be unavailable due to:

• scheduled maintenance;
• emergency maintenance;
• software updates;
• third-party service interruptions;
• circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

Wholesale Direct accepts no liability for temporary Website downtime.

30. Product Reviews

Where customers can submit product reviews or ratings, they agree that their content:

• is truthful;
• relates to their genuine experience;
• does not infringe the rights of others;
• does not contain offensive, defamatory or unlawful material;
• does not include advertising or promotional content.

Wholesale Direct reserves the right to edit, refuse or remove reviews at its sole discretion.

By submitting a review, you grant Wholesale Direct a perpetual, royalty-free licence to display, reproduce and publish that content on the Website and associated marketing materials.

31. Intellectual Property

All content available on the Website, including but not limited to:

• text;
• graphics;
• logos;
• icons;
• product photography;
• page layouts;
• downloadable material;
• software;
• branding,

is owned by or licensed to Wholesale Direct or Gem Imports Limited and is protected by UK and international intellectual property laws.

You may view, download and print Website content solely for the purpose of placing Orders.

You may not:

• reproduce;
• copy;
• distribute;
• publish;
• modify;
• commercially exploit;

any Website content without our prior written consent.

32. Privacy

Wholesale Direct processes personal information in accordance with applicable UK data protection and privacy legislation, including the UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, as amended or replaced from time to time.

Information collected may include:

• name;
• address;
• email address;
• telephone number;
• payment information;
• purchase history.

Your personal information is used only for legitimate business purposes including:

• processing Orders;
• arranging delivery;
• providing customer support;
• complying with legal obligations;
• preventing fraud.

Further information can be found within our Privacy Policy available on the Wholesale Direct website.

33. Cookies

The Website uses cookies and similar technologies to operate the Website, remember preferences, improve your browsing experience and, where permitted, understand how the Website is used.

Some cookies are strictly necessary for the operation of the Website and do not require consent. Where required by law, we will ask for your consent before placing or accessing non-essential cookies or similar technologies on your device.

You can manage your cookie preferences at any time using the cookie settings available on the Website.

Further information about the cookies and similar technologies we use, their purposes and how you can manage your preferences is available in our Cookie Policy.

34. Third-Party Links

The Website may occasionally contain links to third-party websites.

These links are provided for convenience only.

Wholesale Direct has no control over third-party websites and accepts no responsibility for their:

• content;
• availability;
• security;
• privacy practices.

Access to third-party websites is entirely at your own risk.

35. Changes to these Terms

Wholesale Direct reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions at any time.

Any revised Terms will become effective once published on the Website.

Orders already accepted before changes take effect will continue to be governed by the version of the Terms in force when the Contract was formed.

Customers are encouraged to review these Terms periodically.

36. Assignment

Wholesale Direct may transfer or assign any of its rights or obligations under these Terms without notice.

Customers may not assign or transfer their rights or obligations without our prior written consent.

37. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found by a court or competent authority to be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable, that provision shall be deemed severed.

The remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

38. Waiver

Failure by Wholesale Direct to enforce any provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that provision or of any other rights available to us.

Any waiver must be made in writing.

39. Entire Agreement

These Terms and Conditions, together with our Privacy Policy and any documents expressly referred to within them, constitute the entire agreement between Wholesale Direct and the Customer relating to the sale of Goods.

They supersede any previous discussions, representations or agreements relating to those Goods.

Nothing in this clause limits liability for fraudulent misrepresentation.

40. Third Party Rights

No person other than the Customer and Wholesale Direct shall have any right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any provision of these Terms.

41. Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

Any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

42. Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding these Terms and Conditions or any Order placed with Wholesale Direct, please contact us using the details below.

Wholesale Direct
A trading name of Gem Imports Limited
Company Number: 7329987

Registered Office:

2 Athena Way
Hoyland
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S74 0FQ

Email: customerservice@wholesaledirect.co.uk

Document: Wholesale Direct Terms & Conditions
Version: 1.0