Yes. Because Happy Cruising is an online South African store selling physical car/road-trip accessories, your policy needs to account for both the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA) and the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (ECTA). In particular, qualifying online purchases generally carry a 7-day cooling-off right, while defective goods have stronger statutory protection for six months. Government of South Africa

Below is a fairly seller-protective version designed for Happy Cruising without trying to contract out of rights that South African law makes mandatory. I would use this as your Shopify Return & Refund Policy. For maximum legal certainty, have a South African consumer-law attorney review it before launch.

HAPPY CRUISING – RETURNS & REFUND POLICY

Last updated: 5 October 2026

At Happy Cruising, we want you to be satisfied with your purchase. This Returns & Refund Policy explains when products may be returned, exchanged or refunded.

This policy is subject to the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (“CPA”), the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (“ECTA”), and other applicable South African law. Nothing in this policy is intended to exclude, restrict or waive any consumer right that cannot lawfully be excluded.

1. Online Purchase Cooling-Off Period

Where section 44 of ECTA applies, you may cancel an eligible online purchase without giving a reason and without penalty within 7 days after receiving the goods. SAFLII

If you exercise this right:

• You must notify Happy Cruising of your cancellation within the applicable 7-day period.
• You are responsible for the direct cost of returning the product to us.
• The product must be returned to Happy Cruising.
• You should take reasonable care of the product while it is in your possession and return it, where reasonably possible, with its original packaging, accessories, manuals, labels and other items supplied with it.
• Where section 44 applies, Happy Cruising will refund the amount required by law within 30 days of cancellation. SAFLII

No administration, cancellation or restocking penalty will be imposed where doing so would conflict with ECTA.

The ECTA cooling-off right is subject to the exclusions contained in section 42 of ECTA. These include, where applicable, goods made to the customer's specifications, clearly personalised goods, goods that by their nature cannot be returned, and goods likely to deteriorate or expire rapidly. SAFLII

2. Change-of-Mind Returns Outside a Statutory Right

Except where a customer has a right to return a product under the CPA, ECTA or another applicable law, Happy Cruising does not automatically accept returns simply because a customer has changed their mind, ordered the wrong product, no longer wants the product, found the product cheaper elsewhere, or decided that the product does not suit their personal preference.

This does not affect the 7-day ECTA cooling-off right where it applies.

Any return voluntarily accepted by Happy Cruising outside a statutory return right will be considered at our discretion and may be subject to reasonable conditions communicated to the customer before the return is accepted.

3. Defective, Unsafe or Poor-Quality Products

All products supplied by Happy Cruising are subject to the statutory rights and implied warranty of quality provided by the CPA.

Where applicable, goods must be reasonably suitable for the purposes for which they are generally intended, be of good quality and in good working order, be free of defects, and be reasonably usable and durable having regard to the circumstances.

If a product fails to meet the applicable requirements of the CPA, the customer may, within six months after delivery, return the product to Happy Cruising without penalty and at our risk and expense and, where section 56 applies, choose to have the product repaired, replaced or refunded, subject to the CPA. Government of South Africa

Happy Cruising may inspect and/or test a returned product to determine the nature and cause of the reported defect. Inspection does not remove or limit a customer's statutory rights.

4. What Is Not Normally Considered a Defect

Subject always to applicable law, a product will generally not be considered defective merely because of:

• normal wear and tear;
• damage caused by misuse, abuse, negligence or an accident;
• incorrect installation, fitting, assembly or use;
• use contrary to instructions, warnings or the product's intended purpose;
• unauthorised alterations, modifications or repairs;
• damage caused by another product or vehicle;
• failure to properly maintain or care for the product;
• cosmetic deterioration resulting from ordinary use;
• damage caused after delivery by the customer, a child, pet or other third party; or
• a customer's personal preference regarding colour, size, appearance or design where the product supplied materially matches what was ordered and advertised.

Where the alleged problem results from one of the above rather than a defect covered by law, Happy Cruising may decline the defect claim to the extent permitted by law.

The CPA's statutory warranty cannot simply be excluded by a store's terms, which is why this section distinguishes genuine defects from damage caused after supply rather than trying to impose a blanket “no refunds” rule. Government of South Africa

5. Incorrect Products or Orders

If Happy Cruising sends you a product that is materially different from the product you ordered, please contact us as soon as reasonably possible.

Where Happy Cruising is responsible for the error, we will arrange an appropriate remedy in accordance with applicable law, which may include replacement with the correct product or a refund.

Where a return is required because of an error by Happy Cruising, the customer will not be required to pay return delivery costs where the law places those costs on us.

6. Products Damaged During Delivery

Please inspect your order as soon as reasonably possible after delivery.

If a product appears to have been damaged during delivery, please contact us promptly and provide:

• your order number;
• a description of the damage;
• photographs or video showing the product and damage; and
• photographs of the packaging where reasonably available.

Providing this information helps us investigate the matter with the courier and process your claim faster.

Failure to provide photographs does not remove any statutory right you may have under South African law.

7. Products Used by Children

Some Happy Cruising products are intended to assist with comfort, entertainment, storage or organisation while travelling with children.

Parents, guardians and other responsible adults remain responsible for supervising children and for ensuring that products are installed and used appropriately and in accordance with any supplied instructions and warnings.

Products must not be installed or used in a manner that interferes with seat belts, child restraints, airbags, vehicle controls, driver visibility or any other safety equipment.

Normal damage caused by misuse, inappropriate installation, excessive force or use contrary to instructions is not considered a manufacturing defect, subject to applicable law.

8. Hygiene and Safety-Sensitive Products

Where permitted by law, certain opened or used products may not be eligible for a voluntary change-of-mind returnwhere resale would create legitimate hygiene or safety concerns.

However, this provision does not exclude a return where the customer has a statutory right under the CPA, ECTA or other applicable law.

9. Personalised or Custom Products

Products made to your specifications or clearly personalised may be excluded from the ECTA cooling-off right where section 42 applies. SAFLII

Custom or personalised products therefore generally cannot be returned merely because you have changed your mind.

This does not affect your rights where a custom product is defective, unsafe, materially different from what was agreed, or otherwise returnable under applicable law.

10. Return Condition

Where reasonably applicable to the type of return, please return products with:

• all components and accessories;
• manuals and instructions;
• promotional items supplied specifically with the product; and
• original packaging, where still available.

Products should be packaged appropriately to prevent unnecessary damage while being transported back to us.

These requirements will not be applied in a manner that unlawfully restricts a customer's rights under the CPA or ECTA.

11. Return Shipping Costs

Who pays for return shipping depends on why the product is being returned.

For a qualifying change-of-mind cancellation under section 44 of ECTA, the customer may be responsible for the direct cost of returning the goods. SAFLII

For a qualifying defective product returned under section 56 of the CPA, the return is at the supplier's risk and expense. Government of South Africa

Where Happy Cruising supplied the wrong product or another statutory remedy requires us to bear the return cost, Happy Cruising will do so.

12. Refunds

Once a return has been received, we may inspect the product to confirm the nature of the return and whether the applicable return conditions have been met.

Approved refunds will normally be made using the original payment method where reasonably possible.

Where ECTA section 44 applies, the legally required refund will be made within the statutory period, currently within 30 days of cancellation. SAFLII

Bank and payment-provider processing times are outside Happy Cruising's control once a refund has been processed.

Nothing in this section allows Happy Cruising to delay or refuse a refund where applicable law requires otherwise.

13. Exchanges

Where Happy Cruising voluntarily offers an exchange and the replacement product costs more than the original product, the customer must pay the difference.

If the replacement costs less, any applicable difference will be dealt with as agreed with the customer and subject to applicable law.

An exchange remains subject to stock availability.

This does not replace a customer's statutory right to select a repair, replacement or refund where the CPA gives the customer that choice.

14. Sale and Promotional Products

Products purchased on sale, promotion or using a discount code are subject to the same statutory consumer rights as other products.

A discounted price does not remove a customer's rights regarding defective, unsafe or non-compliant goods.

However, a product will not ordinarily be considered defective merely because of a specific imperfection that was expressly disclosed to the customer before purchase, where applicable law permits this.

15. Product Images, Colours and Measurements

We make reasonable efforts to display products accurately.

Actual colours may vary slightly depending on screen settings, lighting and manufacturing variations. Minor differences that do not materially affect the nature, quality or intended functionality of the product will not necessarily constitute a defect.

Where dimensions are provided, customers should check them before ordering, particularly for products intended to fit particular vehicles, seats, storage areas or devices.

Nothing in this section excludes liability where a product has been materially misrepresented or does not comply with applicable consumer law.

16. Compatibility

Where a product is advertised as universally fitting or compatible with specified vehicles, devices or equipment, Happy Cruising will stand behind those representations as required by law.

Where compatibility depends on information supplied by the customer, the customer is responsible for providing accurate information and checking published measurements and compatibility information before ordering.

A product not fitting because the customer selected an incorrect size or ignored clearly stated compatibility requirements will not necessarily constitute a defect.

17. Abuse of the Returns Process

Happy Cruising reserves the right, to the extent permitted by law, to investigate and reject fraudulent or abusive return claims, including returns involving products not purchased from Happy Cruising, deliberately damaged products, substituted products, or materially false information.

We may request reasonable proof of purchase or information necessary to verify a claim.

This provision will never be used to deny a legitimate statutory consumer right.

18. How to Request a Return

Before returning a product, please contact:

Happy Cruising
Email: happycruising@gmail.com
Website: happycruising.co.za

Please provide your:

Name, order number, product, reason for return, and photographs where relevant.

We will provide the appropriate return instructions and, where applicable, a return address or courier arrangement.

Please do not send products to an address that has not been confirmed as our returns address.

19. Limitation of This Policy

Nothing in this Returns & Refund Policy is intended to exclude, restrict or waive any right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded under South African law.

If any provision of this policy conflicts with a mandatory provision of applicable South African consumer law, the mandatory law will prevail and the remaining provisions of this policy will continue to apply to the extent permitted.