Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the TurkMerchants platform ("Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to all of these Terms, you may not access or use the Platform. These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and TurkMerchants, operated under the laws of the Republic of Turkey. By registering an account, browsing the Platform, or using any of its features, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, as well as our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

2. Definitions

"Platform" refers to the TurkMerchants website, including all pages, features, and services. "User" refers to any individual or entity that accesses or uses the Platform, including Buyers and Suppliers. "Buyer" refers to a User who searches for products, sends inquiries, or requests quotations. "Supplier" refers to a User who lists products, responds to inquiries, and provides quotations. "Content" refers to all text, images, videos, data, and other materials uploaded to or generated on the Platform. "Account" refers to the registered profile of a User on the Platform.

3. Account Registration and Security

To access certain features of the Platform, you must register an account by providing accurate and complete information. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You must immediately notify us of any unauthorized use of your account. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that provide false information, violate these Terms, or engage in fraudulent activity. Each User may maintain only one active account. Business accounts must be registered by an authorized representative of the company.

4. Platform Use

The Platform serves as a business-to-business matchmaking service that connects Buyers and Suppliers. We do not participate in, process, or guarantee any transactions between Users. All negotiations, agreements, and transactions are conducted directly between Buyers and Suppliers. The Platform provides tools for product listing, inquiry submission, quotation requests, and direct messaging between businesses. We do not verify the quality, safety, legality, or accuracy of products listed on the Platform. Users are responsible for conducting their own due diligence before entering into any business relationship.

5. Prohibited Activities

You agree not to: (a) use the Platform for any illegal purpose or in violation of any applicable laws; (b) post false, misleading, or fraudulent content; (c) impersonate any person or entity; (d) harvest or collect personal information of other Users without consent; (e) interfere with the proper operation of the Platform; (f) attempt to gain unauthorized access to other accounts or Platform systems; (g) use automated tools, bots, or scrapers without written permission; (h) distribute spam, malware, or harmful content; (i) list products that are illegal, counterfeit, or infringe upon intellectual property rights; (j) manipulate ratings, reviews, or any Platform metrics; (k) engage in price manipulation or anti-competitive behavior.

6. Intellectual Property

All Platform content, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, icons, images, software, and design elements, is the property of TurkMerchants or its licensors and is protected by Turkish and international intellectual property laws. Users retain ownership of content they upload but grant TurkMerchants a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute such content on the Platform. Users are solely responsible for ensuring that their content does not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of third parties.

7. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by Turkish law, TurkMerchants shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Platform. We are not responsible for any disputes, losses, or damages arising from transactions or interactions between Users. The Platform is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee uninterrupted access, error-free operation, or that the Platform will meet your specific requirements. Our total liability for any claims shall not exceed the amounts paid by you to TurkMerchants in the twelve months preceding the claim.

8. Transactions Between Users

TurkMerchants acts solely as a matchmaking platform to facilitate connections between Buyers and Suppliers. We do not process payments, manage orders, handle shipping, or act as an intermediary in any commercial transaction. Any agreements, contracts, or transactions between Users are solely between those parties. We strongly recommend that Users verify business credentials, conduct due diligence, use secure payment methods, and maintain proper documentation for all business dealings conducted through connections made on the Platform.

9. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, if you violate these Terms or engage in activities that harm the Platform or other Users. You may close your account at any time by contacting our support team. Upon termination, your right to use the Platform ceases immediately. Content you have uploaded may be retained in accordance with our data retention policies and applicable legal requirements. Any outstanding obligations or liabilities incurred prior to termination shall survive.

10. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Turkey. Any disputes arising from or related to these Terms or your use of the Platform shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Istanbul, Turkey. This choice of law and jurisdiction applies regardless of where you access the Platform from. If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. These Terms are subject to Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102, Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6098, and the Electronic Commerce Law No. 6563.

11. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective upon posting to the Platform. Your continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the modified Terms. We will make reasonable efforts to notify Users of significant changes through email or Platform notifications. It is your responsibility to review the Terms periodically for updates.

12. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us through the Platform help center or via the contact information provided on our website. We aim to respond to all inquiries within 5 business days.