TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Effective date: 12 August 2026
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern purchases made through the Grape Empire online store available at grape-empire.com (the “Website”).
By placing an order through the Website, the Customer acknowledges that they have read and accepted these Terms and Conditions.
1. SERVICE PROVIDER
The operator and seller of the Grape Empire online store is:
Business name: Horváth Balázs, Sole Proprietor
Trading name: Grape Empire
Registered office and postal address: 7000 Sárbogárd, Tinódy utca 156., Hungary
Registration number: 60529273
Tax number: 91132981-1-27
Commencement of business activity: 10 June 2025
Email: info@grape-empire.com
Website: grape-empire.com
Hereinafter referred to as the “Seller”.
Customer service is provided primarily by email.
2. SCOPE OF THESE TERMS
These Terms apply to purchases made through the Grape Empire online store between the Seller and customers purchasing products through the Website.
The Website primarily offers live grapevine plants and related horticultural products.
The Website currently accepts orders for delivery to the following countries:
Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania and Italy.
Orders through grape-empire.com are currently not available for delivery to Hungary or to countries not listed above.
The Seller reserves the right to modify the list of available delivery countries. The countries currently available for delivery are displayed during checkout.
3. APPLICABLE LAW AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
These Terms and contracts concluded through the Website are governed by Hungarian law, including applicable Hungarian and European Union consumer protection and e-commerce legislation.
Where the Customer qualifies as a consumer and resides in another Member State of the European Union, the choice of Hungarian law shall not deprive the Customer of any mandatory consumer protection rights granted by the law of their country of habitual residence.
Nothing in these Terms shall limit or exclude any mandatory consumer rights that cannot legally be limited or excluded.
4. LANGUAGE OF THE CONTRACT
The primary and governing language of these Terms and Conditions is English.
The Website and these Terms may also be made available in other languages for the convenience of customers.
Where translations are provided and there is a discrepancy between the English version and a translated version, the English version shall be used for interpretation to the extent permitted by applicable mandatory consumer law.
5. PRODUCTS
The main products sold through the Website are live grapevine plants.
The essential characteristics, variety, price and other relevant information relating to each product are displayed on the applicable product page.
Because plants are living products, their appearance may naturally vary depending on the season, stage of development, weather conditions, storage and other biological factors.
Product photographs are intended to represent the relevant variety but may be illustrative. Natural variations in size, colour, foliage, root development and general appearance do not necessarily constitute a defect.
The Seller makes reasonable efforts to ensure that product descriptions and photographs are accurate and that the grapevine varieties supplied correspond to the varieties ordered.
6. PLANT HEALTH AND PLANT PASSPORTS
Where required under applicable European Union plant health legislation, plants supplied by Grape Empire are accompanied by the appropriate plant passport or other legally required plant-health identification.
Customers must comply with any plant-health, cultivation or import requirements applicable in the country where the plants are delivered.
The Seller may refuse or cancel an order if applicable plant-health legislation or other legal restrictions prevent the lawful delivery of the plants to the requested destination.
7. PLACING AN ORDER
Customers may purchase products through the Website without creating a registered user account.
Registration is optional.
To place an order, the Customer:
selects the desired product(s) and quantity;
adds the products to the shopping cart;
reviews the contents of the cart;
provides the required billing and delivery information;
selects the available delivery and payment method;
reviews the order details; and
submits the order using the button indicating that the order creates an obligation to pay.
Before submitting the order, the Customer has the opportunity to identify and correct data-entry errors.
The Customer is responsible for providing accurate and complete billing, contact and delivery information.
The Seller shall not be responsible for delays or additional costs resulting from incorrect or incomplete information provided by the Customer.
8. MINIMUM ORDER REQUIREMENTS
The Seller may apply a minimum order quantity and/or minimum order value.
Any applicable minimum order requirement will be clearly displayed on the Website or during checkout before the Customer places the order.
The Seller may modify minimum order requirements for future orders at any time.
Changes shall not affect orders already submitted and accepted.
9. CONCLUSION OF THE CONTRACT
Submitting an order constitutes an offer by the Customer to purchase the selected products.
After receiving the order, the Seller sends an automatic confirmation email acknowledging receipt of the order.
The automatic confirmation of receipt does not necessarily constitute acceptance of the order.
The contract is concluded when the Seller confirms acceptance and/or processing of the order.
If the Customer does not receive confirmation within a reasonable period, they should contact the Seller at:
info@grape-empire.com
The Seller may refuse or cancel an order where, for example:
the product is unavailable;
the delivery address is outside the supported delivery area;
the information provided by the Customer is incomplete or clearly incorrect;
delivery cannot legally be carried out;
a manifest pricing or technical error has occurred; or
there is reasonable evidence of fraudulent or abusive activity.
Where an order is cancelled by the Seller, the Customer will be informed by email.
10. PRICES
Product prices displayed on the Website are shown primarily in euros (EUR) unless otherwise indicated.
Prices displayed to consumers include applicable taxes where required by law.
Delivery charges are not included in the product price unless expressly stated otherwise.
The applicable delivery charge is displayed before the order is submitted.
Where Cash on Delivery is available and currency conversion is required by the applicable delivery service, the amount payable on delivery may be collected in EUR or in a supported local currency.
The Seller reserves the right to change prices at any time. Changes do not affect orders already accepted by the Seller.
11. OBVIOUS PRICING ERRORS
Despite reasonable care, incorrect prices may occasionally appear on the Website as a result of technical or administrative errors.
If a price is obviously incorrect, including a clearly unrealistic price resulting from a technical error, the Seller is not required to supply the product at the erroneous price where applicable law permits.
The Seller will inform the Customer and offer the possibility of purchasing the product at the correct price or cancelling the order.
12. PAYMENT
The payment methods available to the Customer depend on the delivery country.
For orders delivered to Romania, Croatia, Slovakia and Slovenia, the following payment methods are available:
- online card payment; and
- Cash on Delivery (COD).
For orders delivered to Austria and the Czech Republic, payment is available exclusively by online card payment. Cash on Delivery is not available for deliveries to these countries.
Where Cash on Delivery is selected, payment is made in connection with the delivery of the parcel. Depending on the destination country and the services available from the carrier, the amount due may be collected in EUR or in a supported local currency.
For online card payments, payment is processed through the payment service provider made available during checkout.
The payment methods applicable to the Customer’s selected delivery country are displayed during checkout before the order is submitted.
13. DELIVERY
Orders are delivered by GLS or, where operationally necessary, a GLS network partner.
Delivery is currently available to:
- Austria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
Delivery to Hungary or to countries not listed above is currently not available through this Website.
Once an order has been handed over to GLS, the estimated delivery time is generally:
Romania, Croatia, Slovakia and Slovenia: 1–2 business days
Austria and Czech Republic: 2–3 business days
Delivery times are estimates and do not constitute a guaranteed delivery deadline unless expressly agreed otherwise.
The Seller cannot guarantee delivery at a specific hour.
Delivery may be affected by weekends, public holidays, weather conditions, seasonal demand, plant-health requirements, transport disruptions and other circumstances outside the Seller’s reasonable control.
The Customer is responsible for providing an address at which the parcel can reasonably be delivered and for cooperating with the carrier in receiving the shipment.
14. DELIVERY CHARGES
The standard delivery charge is €17.10 per order for all currently supported destination countries.
The applicable delivery charge is displayed to the Customer during checkout before the order is submitted.
Unless expressly stated otherwise during a promotional campaign, the delivery charge applies regardless of the selected supported destination country.
The Seller may offer promotional or free delivery from time to time. Any such offer and its applicable conditions will be clearly displayed on the Website.
15. CANCELLATION BEFORE DISPATCH
Customers may request cancellation of an order before the parcel has been handed over to GLS for delivery.
Cancellation requests should be sent as soon as possible to:
info@grape-empire.com
Once the parcel has been handed over to the carrier, ordinary order cancellation may no longer be operationally possible.
This provision does not limit any statutory right of withdrawal or other mandatory consumer right.
16. RECEIVING LIVE PLANTS
Because the products are living plants, Customers are encouraged to open and inspect the parcel as soon as reasonably possible after delivery.
The plants should be removed from the packaging and handled appropriately after delivery.
Customers should follow any care or planting instructions provided with the products or published on the Website.
Natural seasonal characteristics — including lack of leaves during dormancy, differences in shoot development or other normal biological variations — do not by themselves indicate that a plant is defective or dead.
17. SHIPPING DAMAGE AND CONDITION ON ARRIVAL
The Seller takes reasonable measures to package live plants securely for transportation.
If a parcel or plant arrives visibly damaged, broken, severely dehydrated or otherwise appears to have suffered damage during transportation, the Customer should contact:
info@grape-empire.com
as soon as possible and preferably within 24 hours of delivery.
The Customer is requested to provide:
the order number;
a brief description of the problem;
photographs of the affected plant(s);
photographs of the packaging; and
where relevant, photographs showing damage to the parcel.
The 24-hour notification period is intended to enable the Seller to investigate transportation damage quickly and efficiently.
Failure to report the issue within 24 hours does not deprive a consumer of any mandatory statutory rights available under applicable law.
Where a valid claim is established, the Seller will provide an appropriate remedy in accordance with applicable law, which may include replacement, price reduction or refund depending on the circumstances.
18. STATUTORY CONSUMER RIGHTS AND DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS
Consumers are entitled to the mandatory legal remedies provided by applicable European Union and national consumer law where products are defective, damaged or do not conform to the contract.
Nothing in these Terms limits such statutory rights.
A plant shall not be considered defective merely because its appearance naturally changes after delivery due to season, dormancy, planting conditions, weather, watering, soil conditions, improper storage or cultivation.
Claims concerning incorrect varieties, products damaged before or during delivery, or other non-conformity will be handled in accordance with applicable consumer law.
EU rules provide consumers with statutory remedies for goods that are faulty or do not correspond to what was advertised.
19. RIGHT OF WITHDRAWAL
Where the Customer qualifies as a consumer under applicable law, the Customer generally has the right to withdraw from a distance contract within 14 days, without giving a reason, unless a statutory exception applies.
For goods, the withdrawal period generally begins when the Customer or a third party designated by the Customer, other than the carrier, receives the goods.
The Customer may notify the Seller of withdrawal by sending an unambiguous statement to:
info@grape-empire.com
or by using any electronic withdrawal function made available on the Website.
The notification must be sent before the applicable withdrawal period expires.
19.1 Exceptions
The statutory right of withdrawal may not apply in circumstances specified by applicable law, including certain goods that are liable to deteriorate or expire rapidly.
Because Grape Empire sells living plants, the applicability of a particular statutory exception may depend on the characteristics and condition of the product and the applicable law.
Nothing in these Terms shall be interpreted as excluding a statutory right of withdrawal where such right applies.
19.2 Returning products after withdrawal
Where the Customer validly exercises the right of withdrawal and a return is required, the Customer must return the products without undue delay and no later than 14 days after notifying the Seller of the withdrawal, unless otherwise provided by applicable law.
Unless the Seller agrees to bear the cost, the direct cost of returning the products is borne by the Customer, where permitted by law. Consumers must be informed of this condition before purchase.
Products should be packaged appropriately for return transport.
Cash-on-delivery return parcels will not be accepted unless expressly agreed in advance.
19.3 Refund following withdrawal
Where withdrawal is valid, the Seller will refund the payments required by applicable law, including the cost of the least expensive standard delivery method offered by the Seller where legally required.
The Seller may withhold reimbursement until the returned goods have been received or until the Customer provides evidence that the goods have been sent back, whichever occurs first, where permitted by applicable law.
Where the original payment was made by online card payment, refunds will generally be processed using the original payment method, where possible.
Where the original payment was made by Cash on Delivery, the Seller may request the Customer’s bank account details or another suitable method for processing the refund.
20. CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITY AFTER DELIVERY
Living plants require appropriate handling and care.
After delivery, the Customer is responsible for providing appropriate conditions for the plants, including suitable storage, watering, planting and protection against inappropriate temperatures or weather conditions.
The Seller cannot be responsible for deterioration caused after delivery by circumstances outside the Seller’s control, including:
improper planting;
incorrect watering;
frost or extreme heat;
unsuitable soil;
physical damage occurring after delivery;
improper storage;
plant disease or pests introduced after delivery; or
failure to follow reasonable care instructions.
This section does not affect the Customer’s statutory rights relating to defects or non-conformity that existed at the time required under applicable law.
21. COMPLAINTS
Customers may submit complaints relating to products, orders, delivery or the Seller’s services by email:
info@grape-empire.com
or by post:
Horváth Balázs, Sole Proprietor 7000 Sárbogárd, Tinódy utca 156. Hungary
The Customer should provide sufficient information to identify the order and investigate the complaint.
The Seller will investigate consumer complaints and respond within the time limits required by applicable law.
22. CONSUMER DISPUTE RESOLUTION
The Seller aims to resolve complaints directly with Customers wherever possible.
Consumers may also have the right to contact the competent consumer protection authority, alternative dispute resolution body or court in their country of residence.
Where applicable, Hungarian consumers and consumers entitled to use Hungarian alternative dispute resolution mechanisms may contact the competent Hungarian conciliation body.
Nothing in these Terms restricts a consumer’s right to seek remedies before a competent authority or court under applicable law.
23. LIABILITY
The Seller shall be responsible for performing its obligations in accordance with the contract and applicable law.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Seller shall not be responsible for loss or damage caused by circumstances outside its reasonable control.
Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where such exclusion or limitation is prohibited by law, including liability arising from intentional misconduct, gross negligence, or damage to life, physical integrity or health where applicable.
24. FORCE MAJEURE
The Seller shall not be responsible for delays or failure to perform caused by events outside its reasonable control, including but not limited to:
extreme weather;
natural disasters;
transport disruption;
epidemics;
government restrictions;
border closures;
plant-health restrictions;
strikes;
carrier disruptions; or
other comparable circumstances.
Where such an event materially affects an order, the Seller will make reasonable efforts to inform the Customer and find an appropriate solution.
25. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The content of the Website, including its texts, graphics, logos, photographs, product descriptions, design elements and other materials, may be protected by copyright, trademark or other intellectual property rights.
Unless otherwise permitted by law, such materials may not be reproduced, distributed, commercially exploited or otherwise used without the prior written consent of the relevant rights holder.
Use of the Website for ordinary personal shopping purposes is permitted.
26. PRIVACY AND PERSONAL DATA
Personal data collected in connection with orders and use of the Website is processed in accordance with the Grape Empire Privacy Policy.
Customers should review the Privacy Policy before placing an order.
27. AMENDMENTS TO THESE TERMS
The Seller may amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time, including where necessary because of changes to the Website, delivery arrangements, business operations or applicable law.
The version applicable to an order is the version in force when the Customer places the order.
Changes to these Terms shall not retroactively modify contracts already concluded unless required by law or agreed with the Customer.
28. SEVERABILITY
If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in effect to the extent permitted by law.
The invalid provision shall be interpreted or replaced, where possible, in a manner that most closely reflects its lawful purpose.
29. CONTACT
For questions regarding these Terms and Conditions, orders, complaints, returns or consumer rights, please contact:
Grape Empire
Horváth Balázs, Sole Proprietor
7000 Sárbogárd, Tinódy utca 156.
Hungary
Email: info@grape-empire.com
Website: grape-empire.com
Effective date: 12 August 2026