Terms & Conditions

Last updated: October 21, 2021

1. Acceptance of the Terms of Conditions

These terms of conditions are entered into by and between you and German American Events, LLC (“German American Events”, “we” or “us”). The following terms and conditions, together with any documents they expressly incorporate by reference (collectively, these “Terms of Conditions” or “Terms”), govern your access to and use of German American Events’ website located at www.christkindlmarket.com and all other digital and online services provided by German American Events (collectively, the “Website”).

Please read these Terms of Conditions carefully before you start to use the Website. By using the Website, you accept and agree to be bound and abide by these Terms of Conditions and our Privacy Policy, located at https://www.christkindlmarket.com/privacy-policy/, incorporated herein by reference (the “Privacy Policy”). If you do not want to agree to these Terms of Conditions or the Privacy Policy, you must not access or use the Website.

By using the Website, you represent and warrant that you are of legal age to form a binding contract with German American Events and meet all other eligibility requirements. If you do not meet all of these requirements, you must not access or use the Website.

2. Changes to the Terms of Conditions 

We may revise and update these Terms of Conditions from time to time in our sole discretion. All changes are effective immediately when we post them and apply to all access to and use of the Website thereafter.

Your continued use of the Website following the posting of revised Terms of Conditions means that you accept and agree to the changes. You are expected to check this page each time you access the Website so you are aware of any changes, as they are binding on you.

3. Use of the Website 

You must be eighteen years old or older to use the Website. While we use all reasonable endeavors to make sure that the Website is available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, we cannot guarantee that your access will be uninterrupted or error-free. Access may be unavailable temporarily without notice in the event of a system failure, maintenance or any reason beyond our control.

Any links to third-party sites appearing on the Website are provided for your convenience only. The links and third-party sites are only recommended by us. Your access of such third-party sites is at your own risk and may be subject to third-party terms of use.

We have the right to end our agreement with you for your use of the Website if you breach these Terms or if we suspect you have breached these terms or are engaged, or are about to be engaged or have been involved in fraudulent or illegal activity in connection with the Website or on the site.

‌When placing an order, you agree that any and all information you give us is accurate and complete. All orders are subject to acceptance and product availability. All prices listed on the Website are correct at the time of entering the information, however, we reserve the right to change prices of any product at any time. The total price of your order, including any sales taxes, will be displayed prior to your purchase confirmation.

No contract for the sale of any product will exist between you and us until we accept your order by emailing the confirmation invoice to the email address given in your order and will detail products ordered, payment method, cost (including P&P) and the shipping method.

You must check all the details on this confirmation invoice are correct and contact us as soon as possible if any details are incorrect.

Discount vouchers, codes and offers cannot be used on sale or already discounted products unless otherwise stated.

4. Payment, charges, transaction fees and taxes 

What forms of payment does our Website accept?

You may purchase products from the Website with the following credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express. All purchases will be charged to your nominated card or account upon submission of your order. All credit and debit cardholders are subject to validation checks and authorization by the card issuer. We use a payment processor called “Square” to process your online transaction on our behalf. If the issuer of your payment card refuses to authorize payment to us, we will not be liable for any delay or non- delivery.

We are sorry that we cannot accept personal checks, cashier’s checks, money orders or direct deposits.

Credit card verification codes

We require you to provide your Credit Verification Value (or CVV) in order to process your payment. The CVV is a number that appears on your credit card that allows us to verify that the person placing the order has direct access to the credit card being used.

Finding the CVV code

For Visa and MasterCard: The three-digit number that appears on the signature panel on the back of the card.  For American Express: The four-digit number that appears in the top right corner on the front of the card.

We take great care with the personal information you provide.  For more information, please see our Privacy Policy located at https://www.christkindlmarket.com/privacy-policy/.

Delivery and delivery charges

The terms set out in this clause apply only in relation to the purchase of physical products through the Website. For more information on delivery, please see our FAQ’s.

Delivery methods and charges

We send your purchased products to you by shipping carriers like UPS, FedEx.

Please ensure that you provide accurate credit card details, CVV code, billing address and other information that we request from you in order to process your payment and check them carefully before you click “pay” as we cannot amend mistakes afterward.  We may not be able to process your payment or deliver your products if the information you provide is incorrect.

It is your responsibility to ensure that the delivery details you provide are accurate and complete. Otherwise, we will not be able to deliver the products you have purchased.

Shipping Charges

Except as set out below, shipping charges will apply for delivery of physical products purchased from the Website. These shipping charges will be notified to you at the time of your purchase. Shipping charges are based on weight and distance. By making a purchase, you agree that you accept the shipping charges that have been notified to you.

Delivery times

If your items are in stock, we will deliver them to you as soon as we can. Upon placing the order, the processing and shipping of your order will take 5-7 Business days.  In the case of pre-orders, we will begin delivering your products starting on November 25th.  Our warehouse will remain closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

5. Returns and refunds, Returns policy 

All sales are final.  We accept returns for refund or exchange, but only for items damaged in transit.

Defective or Damaged Products

If your purchase is in any way defective or damaged, please contact us as soon as possible with proof of purchase (such as a time-stamped photograph) so that we can process your request accordingly. Upon a timely receipt of your request, we will arrange for a replacement product or refund as requested. For partial returns, refund amounts will be calculated against any discounts claimed at the time of ordering (e.g. sale price etc.).

To be eligible for a refund or exchange, please follow the below-listed steps:

• Email us at info@christkindlmarket.com within five (5) calendar days of receiving the defective or damaged item
• To your email, please attach a time-stamped photograph showing the defective or damaged item
• PLEASE DO NOT SEND BACK THE ACTUAL ITEM; the photograph of the defective or damaged item will suffice

Upon receipt of your email, we will ship you a replacement if such a replacement is still available. If a replacement is not available, we will refund the full purchase price of your item.

Returns and refunds are considered on a case-by-case basis, so depending on the circumstances, they may take a variable amount of time to process. Where refunds are granted, payments will be initiated within three (3) business days. Please be aware that these payments can take up to five (5) business days to process and appear on your bank statement.

6. Accessing the Website and Account Security

We reserve the right to withdraw or amend the Website, and any service or material we provide on the Website, in our sole discretion without notice. We will not be liable if for any reason all or any part of the Website is unavailable at any time or for any period. From time to time, we may restrict access to some parts of the Website, or the entire Website, to users, including registered users.

You are responsible for:

• making all arrangements necessary for you to have access to the Website.
• ensuring that all persons who access the Website through your Internet connection are aware of these Terms of Conditions and comply with them.

To access the Website or some of the resources it offers, you may be asked to provide certain registration details or other information. It is a condition of your use of the Website that all the information you provide on the Website is correct, current, and complete. You agree that all information you provide to register with this Website or otherwise, including but not limited to through the use of any interactive features on the Website, is governed by our Privacy Policy located at https://www.christkindlmarket.com/privacy-policy/, and you consent to all actions we take with respect to your information consistent with our Privacy Policy.

7. Intellectual Property Rights

The Website and its entire contents, features, and functionality (including but not limited to all information, text, displays, images, video, and audio, and the design, selection, and arrangement thereof) are owned by German American Events, its licensors, or other providers of such material and are protected by the United States and international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property or proprietary rights laws.

These Terms of Conditions permit you to use the Website for your personal, non-commercial use only. You must not reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, republish, download, store, or transmit any of the material on our Website, except as follows:

• your computer may temporarily store copies of such materials in RAM incidental to your accessing and viewing those materials.
• you may store files that are automatically cached by your Web browser for display enhancement purposes.
• you may print or download one copy of a reasonable number of pages of the Website (or any other German American Events content that is accessible from our Website) for your own personal, non-commercial use and not for further reproduction, publication, or distribution.
• if we provide desktop, mobile, or other applications for download, you may download a single copy to your computer or mobile device solely for your own personal, non-commercial use.

You must not:

• modify copies of any materials from the Website.
• use any illustrations, photographs, video or audio sequences, or any graphics separately from the accompanying text.
• delete or alter any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary rights notices from copies of materials from the Website.

You must not access or use for any commercial purposes any part of the Website or any services or materials available through the Website.

If you print, copy, modify, download, or otherwise use or provide any other person with access to any part of the Website in breach of these Terms of Conditions, your right to use the Website will stop immediately and you must, at our option, return or destroy any copies of the materials you have made. No right, title, or interest in or to the Website or any content on the Website is transferred to you, and all rights not expressly granted are reserved by German American Events. Any use of the Website not expressly permitted by these Terms of Conditions is a breach of these Terms of Conditions and may violate copyright, trademark, and other laws.

8. Trademarks

German American Events’ name, German American Events’ logo, and all related names, logos, product and service names, designs, and slogans are trademarks of German American Events or its affiliates or licensors. You must not use such marks without the prior written permission of German American Events. All other names, logos, product and service names, designs, and slogans on the Website are the trademarks of their respective owners.

9. Prohibited Uses

You may use the Website only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms of Conditions.

You agree not to use the Website:

• in any way that violates any applicable federal, state, local, or international law or regulation (including, without limitation, any laws regarding the export of data or Website to and from the US or other countries).
• for the purpose of exploiting, harming, or attempting to exploit or harm minors in any way by exposing them to inappropriate content, asking for personally identifiable information, or otherwise.
• to send, knowingly receive, upload, download, use, or re-use any material that does not comply with these Terms of Conditions.
• to transmit, or procure the sending of, any advertising or promotional material without our prior written consent, including any “junk mail”, “chain letter”, “spam”, or any other similar solicitation.
• to impersonate or attempt to impersonate German American Events, a German American Events employee, another user, or any other person or entity (including, without limitation, by using email addresses or screen names associated with any of the foregoing).
• to engage in any other conduct that restricts or inhibits anyone’s use or enjoyment of the Website, or which, as determined by us, may harm German American Events or users of the Website or expose them to liability.

Additionally, you agree not to:

• use the Website in any manner that could disable, overburden, damage, or impair the Website or interfere with any other party’s use of the Website, including their ability to engage in real-time activities through the Website.
• use any robot, spider, or other automatic device, process, or means to access the Website for any purpose, including monitoring or copying any of the material on the Website.
• use any manual process to monitor or copy any of the material on the Website or for any other unauthorized purpose without our prior written consent.
• use any device, website, or routine that interferes with the proper working of the Website.
• introduce any viruses, Trojan horses, worms, logic bombs, or other material that is malicious or technologically harmful.
• attempt to gain unauthorized access to, interfere with, damage, or disrupt any parts of the Website, the server on which the Website is stored, or any server, computer, or database connected to the Website.
• attack the Website via a denial-of-service attack or a distributed denial-of-service attack.
• otherwise attempt to interfere with the proper working of the Website.

‌10. Monitoring and Enforcement; Termination

We have the right to:

• take any action with respect to any user contribution that we deem necessary or appropriate in our sole discretion, including if we believe that such user contribution violates the Terms of Conditions, including the Content Standards set forth is Section 6 hereof, infringes any intellectual property right or other right of any person or entity, threatens the personal safety of users of the Website or the public, or could create liability for German American Events.
• disclose your identity or other information about you to any third party who claims that material posted by you violates their rights, including their intellectual property rights or their right to privacy.
• take appropriate legal action, including without limitation, referral to law enforcement, for any illegal or unauthorized use of the Website.
• terminate or suspend your access to all or part of the Website for any or no reason, including without limitation, any violation of these Terms of Conditions.

Without limiting the foregoing, we have the right to cooperate fully with any law enforcement authorities or court order requesting or directing us to disclose the identity or other information of anyone posting any materials on or through the Website. YOU WAIVE AND HOLD HARMLESS GERMAN AMERICAN EVENTS AND ITS AFFILIATES, OWNERS, EMPLOYEES, LICENSEES, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS FROM ANY CLAIMS RESULTING FROM ANY ACTION TAKEN BY ANY OF THE FOREGOING PARTIES DURING, OR TAKEN AS A CONSEQUENCE OF, INVESTIGATIONS BY EITHER SUCH PARTIES OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES.

However, we do not undertake to review all material before it is posted on the Website, and cannot ensure prompt removal of objectionable material after it has been posted. Accordingly, we assume no liability for any action or inaction regarding transmissions, communications, or content provided by any user or third party. We have no liability or responsibility to anyone for performance or nonperformance of the activities described in this section.

9. Reliance on Information Posted

The information presented on or through the Website is made available solely for general information purposes. We do not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. We disclaim all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on such materials by you or any other visitor to the Website, or by anyone who may be informed of any of its contents.

This Website may include content provided by third parties, including materials provided by other users, bloggers, and third-party licensors, syndicators, aggregators, and/or reporting services. All statements and/or opinions expressed in these materials, and all articles and responses to questions and other content, other than the content provided by German American Events, are solely the opinions and the responsibility of the person or entity providing those materials. These materials do not necessarily reflect the opinion of German American Events. We are not responsible, or liable to you or any third party, for the content or accuracy of any materials provided by any third parties.

‌10. Changes to the Website

We may update the content on this Website from time to time, but its content is not necessarily complete or up-to-date. Any of the material on the Website may be out of date at any given time, and we are under no obligation to update such material.

‌11. Information About You and Your Visits to the Website

All information we collect on this Website is subject to our Privacy Policy located at https://www.christkindlmarket.com/privacy-policy/. By using the Website, you consent to all actions taken by us with respect to your information in compliance with the Privacy Policy.

12. Linking to the Website and Social Media Features

You may link to our homepage, provided you do so in a way that is fair and legal and does not damage our reputation or take advantage of it, but you must not establish a link in such a way as to suggest any form of association, approval, or endorsement on our part without our express consent.

The Website may provide certain social media features that enable you to:

• link from your own or certain third-party websites to certain content on the Website.
• send emails or other communications with certain content, or links to certain content, on the Website.
• cause limited portions of content on the Website to be displayed or appear to be displayed on your own or certain third-party websites.

You may use these features solely as they are provided by us and solely with respect to the content they are displayed with and otherwise in accordance with any additional terms and conditions we provide with respect to such features. Subject to the foregoing, you must not:

• establish a link from any website that is not owned by you.
• cause the Website or portions of it to be displayed on, or appear to be displayed by, any other website, for example, by framing, deep linking, or in-line linking.
• link to any part of the Website other than the homepage.
• otherwise take any action with respect to the materials on the Website that is inconsistent with any other provision of these Terms of Conditions.

The website from which you are linking, or on which you make certain content accessible, must comply in all respects with the content standards set out in these Terms of Conditions.

You agree to cooperate with us in causing any unauthorized framing or linking immediately to stop. We reserve the right to withdraw linking permission without notice.

We may disable all or any social media features and any links at any time without notice in our discretion.

‌13. Links from the Website

If the Website contains links to other sites and resources provided by third parties, these links are provided for your convenience only. This includes links contained in advertisements, including banner advertisements and sponsored links. We have no control over the contents of those sites or resources, and accept no responsibility for them or for any loss or damage that may arise from your use of them. If you decide to access any of the third-party websites linked to this Website, you do so entirely at your own risk and subject to the terms and conditions of use for such websites.

‌14. Disclaimer of Warranties

You understand that we cannot and do not guarantee or warrant that files available for downloading from the internet or the Website will be free of viruses or other destructive code. You are responsible for implementing sufficient procedures and checkpoints to satisfy your particular requirements for anti-virus protection and accuracy of data input and output, and for maintaining a means external to the Website for any reconstruction of any lost data.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PROVIDED BY LAW, WE WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE CAUSED BY A DISTRIBUTED DENIAL-OF-SERVICE ATTACK, VIRUSES, OR OTHER TECHNOLOGICALLY HARMFUL MATERIAL THAT MAY INFECT YOUR COMPUTER EQUIPMENT, COMPUTER PROGRAMS, DATA, OR OTHER PROPRIETARY MATERIAL DUE TO YOUR USE OF THE WEBSITE OR ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE OR TO YOUR DOWNLOADING OF ANY MATERIAL POSTED ON IT, OR ON ANY WEBSITE LINKED TO IT.

YOUR USE OF THE WEBSITE, ITS CONTENT, AND ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE WEBSITE, ITS CONTENT, AND ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS, WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. NEITHER GERMAN AMERICAN EVENTS NOR ANY PERSON ASSOCIATED WITH GERMAN AMERICAN EVENTS MAKES ANY WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION WITH RESPECT TO THE COMPLETENESS, SECURITY, RELIABILITY, QUALITY, ACCURACY, OR AVAILABILITY OF THE WEBSITE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, NEITHER GERMAN AMERICAN EVENTS NOR ANYONE ASSOCIATED WITH GERMAN AMERICAN EVENTS REPRESENTS OR WARRANTS THAT THE WEBSITE, ITS CONTENT, OR ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE WILL BE ACCURATE, RELIABLE, ERROR-FREE, OR UNINTERRUPTED, THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, THAT THE WEBSITE OR THE SERVER THAT MAKES IT AVAILABLE ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS, OR THAT THE WEBSITE OR ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE WILL OTHERWISE MEET YOUR NEEDS OR EXPECTATIONS.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PROVIDED BY LAW, GERMAN AMERICAN EVENTS HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

THE FOREGOING DOES NOT AFFECT ANY WARRANTIES THAT CANNOT BE EXCLUDED OR LIMITED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW.

‌15. Limitation on Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PROVIDED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL GERMAN AMERICAN EVENTS, ITS AFFILIATES, OR ITS OR THEIR LICENSORS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OWNERS, OFFICERS, OR DIRECTORS BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, UNDER ANY LEGAL THEORY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE, OR INABILITY TO USE, THE WEBSITE, ANY WEBSITES LINKED TO IT, ANY CONTENT ON THE WEBSITE OR SUCH OTHER WEBSITES, INCLUDING ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PERSONAL INJURY, PAIN AND SUFFERING, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, LOSS OF REVENUE, LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS OR ANTICIPATED SAVINGS, LOSS OF USE, LOSS OF GOODWILL, LOSS OF DATA, AND WHETHER CAUSED BY TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), BREACH OF CONTRACT, OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF FORESEEABLE. THE FOREGOING DOES NOT AFFECT ANY LIABILITY THAT CANNOT BE EXCLUDED OR LIMITED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW.

16. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless German American Events, its affiliates, licensors, and service providers, and its and their respective officers, directors, owners, employees, contractors, agents, licensors, suppliers, successors, and assigns from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, losses, costs, expenses, or fees (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to your violation of these Terms of Conditions or your use of, or inability to use,  the Website, including, but not limited to, your user contributions, and any use of the Website’s content, services, and products or your use of any other information obtained from the Website.

17. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

All matters relating to the Website and these Terms of Conditions and any dispute or claim arising therefrom or related thereto (in each case, including non-contractual disputes or claims), shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Illinois without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Illinois or any other jurisdiction).

Any legal suit, action, or proceeding arising out of, or related to, these Terms of Conditions or the Website shall be instituted exclusively in the federal courts of the United States or the courts of the State of Illinois (although we retain the right to bring any suit, action, or proceeding against you for breach of these Terms of Conditions in your country of residence or any other relevant country). You waive any and all objections to the exercise of jurisdiction over you by such courts and to venue in such courts.

18. Arbitration

At German American Events’ sole discretion, it may require you to submit any disputes arising from the use of these Terms of Conditions or the Website, including disputes arising from or concerning their interpretation, violation, invalidity, non-performance, or termination, to final and binding arbitration in Chicago, Illinois, under the Rules of Arbitration of the American Arbitration Association applying Illinois law.

19. Limitation on Time to File Claims

ANY CAUSE OF ACTION OR CLAIM YOU MAY HAVE ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OF CONDITIONS OR THE WEBSITE MUST BE COMMENCED WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR AFTER THE CAUSE OF ACTION ACCRUES, OTHERWISE, SUCH CAUSE OF ACTION OR CLAIM IS PERMANENTLY BARRED.

20. Waiver and Severability

No waiver by German American Events of any term or condition set out in these Terms of Conditions shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or condition or a waiver of any other term or condition, and any failure of German American Events to assert a right or provision under these Terms of Conditions shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

If any provision of these Terms of Conditions is held by a court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable for any reason, such provision shall be eliminated or limited to the minimum extent such that the remaining provisions of the Terms of Conditions will continue in full force and effect.

21. Entire Agreement

The Terms of Conditions and our Privacy Policy constitute the sole and entire agreement between you and us regarding the Website and supersede all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations, and warranties, both written and oral, regarding the Website.

22. Your Comments and Concerns

This Website is operated by

German American Events, LLC

150 N Michigan Ave 35th Floor,

Chicago, IL 60601

All feedback, comments, requests for technical support, and other communications relating to the Website should be directed to info@christkindlmarket.com.