Returns and Refunds Policy

At Old Transvaal Leather, we take pride in supplying quality leather goods, leather skins, bags, tools, zips, accessories, and leatherworking supplies.

We want our customers to be happy with their purchases while also protecting our products from misuse and unreasonable returns.

1. Return Periods

Different products have different return periods based on the nature of the product.

30-Day Returns

The following products may be returned within 30 days of delivery for a change of mind:

Leather bags.
Finished leather products.
Other unused finished leather goods.

7-Day Returns

The following products may be returned within 7 days of delivery for a change of mind:

Sheep leather skins.
Bovine leather skins.
Leather hides.
Leather scraps and offcuts.
Zips.
Buckles, clips, hardware, and other fittings.
Leatherworking tools.
Leatherworking accessories.
Other craft and leatherworking supplies.

2. Strict Conditions for Change-of-Mind Returns

All change-of-mind returns must be returned unused, undamaged, unaltered, and in their original condition.

The product must:

Be completely unused.
Be free from scratches, stains, marks, tears, cuts, or other damage.
Not have been modified, altered, repaired, or personalised.
Not have been cut, punched, stitched, glued, dyed, painted, treated, or conditioned where applicable.
Be clean and in a condition suitable for resale.
Include the original packaging, tags, accessories, and components where applicable.
Include valid proof of purchase.

Products that are damaged, used, altered, or no longer in a resalable condition will not qualify for a change-of-mind return, where permitted by applicable law.

3. Leather Bags and Finished Leather Products

Leather bags and finished leather products may be returned within 30 days of delivery, provided they are unused and undamaged.

A bag cannot be returned for a change of mind if it has been used, carried, worn, scratched, stained, marked, exposed to water or chemicals, modified, repaired, or otherwise damaged.

The product must be returned in the same condition in which it was received.

4. Leather Skins and Hides

Sheep and bovine skins are natural products and may contain natural variations in colour, grain, texture, thickness, shape, markings, scars, and wrinkles.

These natural characteristics are not automatically considered defects.

Leather skins and hides may be returned within 7 days of delivery, provided they are completely unused, undamaged, uncut, and unaltered.

Once a leather skin or hide has been cut, punched, stitched, dyed, painted, glued, treated, conditioned, stretched, or otherwise worked on, it cannot be returned for a change of mind.

Customers should inspect the leather carefully before cutting or working with it.

5. Leather Scraps and Offcuts

Leather scraps and offcuts may vary in size, shape, colour, thickness, grain, and texture.

They may be returned within 7 days of delivery, provided they are unused, undamaged, and unaltered.

Once scraps or offcuts have been cut, treated, dyed, glued, stitched, punched, or otherwise used, they cannot be returned for a change of mind.

6. Zips, Hardware and Accessories

Zips, buckles, clips, rivets, fittings, and other accessories may be returned within 7 days of delivery, provided they are unused, undamaged, and in their original condition.

Products that have been installed, cut, modified, used, or damaged cannot be returned for a change of mind.

7. Leatherworking Tools

Leatherworking tools may be returned within 7 days of delivery, provided they are unused, undamaged, unmodified, and in their original condition.

Tools that have been used, sharpened, adjusted, modified, damaged, or otherwise altered cannot be returned for a change of mind.

8. Custom and Specially Prepared Products

Custom-made, personalised, cut-to-size, specially prepared, or modified products are not eligible for change-of-mind returns once preparation or production has started.

9. Damaged or Incorrect Products

If your order arrives damaged, defective, or contains an incorrect product, please contact us as soon as reasonably possible.

Please provide your order number, a description of the issue, and clear photographs of the product and packaging.

Do not cut, use, modify, repair, treat, or otherwise alter a product that you believe is defective before contacting us.

We will assess the issue and, where applicable, provide an appropriate remedy in accordance with applicable South African consumer protection law.

10. Change-of-Mind Return Shipping

For approved change-of-mind returns, the customer is responsible for the cost of returning the product to Old Transvaal Leather.

Original delivery charges are generally non-refundable for change-of-mind returns.

We recommend using a tracked shipping service when returning an item.

11. Return Inspection

Every returned product will be inspected when received.

A change-of-mind return will only be accepted if the product is unused, undamaged, unaltered, and in a resalable condition.

If the product has been used, damaged, cut, altered, modified, or otherwise made unsuitable for resale, the change-of-mind return may be rejected where permitted by applicable law.

12. Refunds

Approved refunds will be processed after the returned product has been received and inspected.

Refunds will generally be made using the original payment method where possible.

The time for the refund to reflect may depend on the payment provider or financial institution.

13. Exchanges

Where stock is available, we may offer an exchange instead of a refund.

The same return conditions apply to exchanges.

14. How to Request a Return

To request a return, please contact Old Transvaal Leather with:

Your order number.
The product you wish to return.
The reason for the return.
Photographs of the product where requested.

Please do not send a product back without first contacting us and receiving return instructions.

15. Genuine Leather Variations

Genuine leather is a natural material. Variations in colour, grain, texture, thickness, markings, scars, wrinkles, and surface appearance are normal.

These natural characteristics are not automatically considered defects and do not qualify as a change-of-mind return simply because the customer expected the leather to look different.

16. Consumer Rights

This policy applies to our change-of-mind returns and general return procedures.

Nothing in this policy is intended to exclude, restrict, or limit any rights or remedies available to customers under applicable South African consumer protection law.

Where applicable law provides a customer with rights that differ from this policy, the applicable law will take precedence.