Quick summary: These terms explain how EduThrifties may be used for school lost and found, QR item recovery, thrift store listings, parent/student accounts, payments, collections and platform support in South Africa.
EduThrifties (Pty) Ltd
Last Updated: May 2026
Welcome to EduThrifties (Pty) Ltd (“EduThrifties”, “we”, “us” or “our”). These Terms and Conditions govern your access to and use of our website, ecommerce platform, QR lost-and-found services, account features, listing tools, payment facilities and any related services offered through the EduThrifties platform.
By accessing or using this website, registering an account, listing an item, purchasing an item, scanning a QR code, reporting a found item or using any EduThrifties service, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
If you do not agree with these Terms, you must not use this website or our services.
1. About EduThrifties
EduThrifties is a digital platform designed to support schools, universities, parents, students and educational communities through:
The buying and selling of pre-owned educational goods, school items, uniforms, textbooks, sports equipment, learning resources and related products.
QR-based lost-and-found item identification and recovery services.
The creation, registration and management of digital item records.
Optional digital tools linked to item identification, item ownership and item recovery.
Any additional ecommerce, technology or support services made available through the platform from time to time.
EduThrifties may operate as a direct seller, technology provider, service provider, facilitator, platform operator or marketplace intermediary, depending on the specific service or transaction.
2. Definitions
In these Terms:
“Account” means a registered user profile created on the EduThrifties platform.
“Buyer” means a person who purchases or attempts to purchase goods through the platform.
“Seller” means a person, school, university, parent, student, organisation or authorised representative who lists goods for sale on the platform.
“Goods” means any item listed, sold, purchased, recovered or managed through the platform, including but not limited to uniforms, books, stationery, school bags, sports equipment, learning materials, educational devices and related items.
“QR Service” means the QR code identification and lost-and-found service offered by EduThrifties.
“User” means any person accessing or using the website, including buyers, sellers, parents, students, school representatives, university representatives and visitors.
“Platform” means the EduThrifties website, systems, ecommerce environment, QR system, mobile-accessible services and related digital infrastructure.
3. Eligibility and Use of the Platform
You may use the EduThrifties platform only if you are legally able to enter into binding agreements or if you are using the platform with the consent and supervision of a parent, guardian, school, university or authorised representative.
Where a minor uses the platform, the parent, guardian or authorised representative remains responsible for the minor’s use of the platform, purchases, listings, communications and any information submitted.
You agree to use the platform lawfully, honestly and only for its intended purpose.
4. User Accounts
To access certain features, you may be required to create an account.
You agree that:
All information provided by you must be accurate, current and complete.
You are responsible for keeping your login details confidential.
You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account.
You must notify EduThrifties immediately if you suspect unauthorised access to your account.
EduThrifties may suspend or terminate your account if false, misleading, abusive, unlawful or suspicious activity is detected.
EduThrifties is not responsible for losses caused by your failure to protect your account details.
5. Marketplace Listings
Where EduThrifties allows users to list goods for sale, the seller is responsible for ensuring that:
The listed item is legally owned by the seller or the seller has authority to list it.
The item description is accurate and not misleading.
The item condition is clearly disclosed.
Any defects, damage, missing parts, wear and tear or limitations are disclosed.
Images uploaded are a fair representation of the actual item.
The item does not infringe the rights of any third party.
The item is not stolen, counterfeit, unsafe or prohibited.
EduThrifties may remove, edit, suspend or reject any listing that it considers inappropriate, inaccurate, unlawful, unsafe, misleading or harmful to the platform community.
6. Prohibited Items
Users may not list, sell, purchase or promote any item that is unlawful, unsafe, age-restricted, counterfeit, stolen, offensive or unsuitable for an educational community environment.
Prohibited items may include, but are not limited to:
Stolen goods.
Counterfeit branded goods.
Weapons or dangerous items.
Alcohol, tobacco, vaping products or controlled substances.
Adult content or inappropriate material.
Items that violate school, university or legal policies.
Items that infringe intellectual property rights.
Any item EduThrifties considers unsuitable for the platform.
EduThrifties reserves the right to remove prohibited items without notice.
7. Condition of Second-Hand Goods
Many goods sold on the platform may be pre-owned or second-hand.
Buyers acknowledge that second-hand items may show reasonable signs of use, wear, ageing or cosmetic imperfections.
Sellers must disclose the condition of goods honestly. Buyers are encouraged to review item descriptions, photos and seller information carefully before purchasing.
Where EduThrifties acts only as a marketplace facilitator, EduThrifties does not guarantee the quality, condition, authenticity or suitability of user-listed goods unless expressly stated in writing.
8. Prices and Payments
All prices listed on the platform are displayed in South African Rand unless otherwise stated.
Prices may include or exclude VAT depending on the seller, product type or service offering. Where VAT applies, this should be clearly indicated.
Payments may be processed through third-party payment providers. By making payment, you agree to comply with the terms and conditions of the relevant payment provider.
EduThrifties is not responsible for delays, declines, errors or failures caused by banks, payment gateways or third-party payment systems.
9. Orders
An order is only confirmed once payment has been successfully received and the order has been accepted by EduThrifties or the relevant seller.
EduThrifties may cancel an order if:
Payment is not received.
The item is no longer available.
The item was incorrectly priced or listed.
Fraud or suspicious activity is suspected.
Delivery or collection cannot reasonably be completed.
The order violates these Terms.
Where an order is cancelled after payment, EduThrifties will arrange the appropriate refund, subject to these Terms and applicable law.
10. Delivery, Collection and Handover
Delivery or collection options may vary depending on the item, seller, school, university, geographic area and service availability.
Where delivery is offered, estimated delivery timelines are provided as estimates only and may be affected by courier delays, public holidays, incorrect addresses, payment delays or other factors outside our control.
Where collection is arranged, buyers and sellers are responsible for ensuring that collection arrangements are safe, practical and properly confirmed.
EduThrifties may provide system-based communication or order updates but does not accept liability for failed private arrangements between buyers and sellers unless EduThrifties directly managed the transaction, delivery or collection process.
11. Returns, Refunds and Cancellations
EduThrifties will handle returns, refunds and cancellations in accordance with applicable South African consumer protection laws, including the Consumer Protection Act and the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act where applicable.
Under South African consumer law, consumers may have rights relating to defective, unsafe or incorrectly described goods, and online purchases may also carry specific cooling-off protections in certain circumstances.
Refunds or returns may be considered where:
The item is materially different from the description.
The item is defective and the defect was not disclosed.
The wrong item was supplied.
The item was not delivered, where delivery was part of the transaction.
Applicable law requires a refund or return.
Returns may not be accepted where:
The buyer simply changes their mind, unless required by law or permitted by the stated return policy.
The item was accurately described as second-hand, used or worn.
The buyer was informed of defects before purchase.
The item was damaged after delivery or collection.
The item is customised, personalised or linked to a registered QR service, unless defective or incorrectly supplied.
The item has been used, altered, damaged or is no longer in the condition received.
Refunds will be processed through the original payment method where possible.
EduThrifties may require proof of purchase, photographs, item inspection or seller confirmation before approving a refund or return.
12. QR Lost-and-Found Services
EduThrifties may offer QR code services that allow registered items to be identified when scanned or searched.
The QR Service may assist with:
Registering item ownership.
Linking an item to a user or account.
Reporting a found item.
Notifying the registered owner or responsible party.
Supporting the recovery of lost school, university or personal items.
The QR Service is designed to assist with identification and recovery, but EduThrifties does not guarantee that any lost item will be found, returned or recovered.
Users must not misuse the QR Service to harass, impersonate, track, threaten, defraud or unlawfully contact another person.
EduThrifties may suspend QR records or accounts where misuse is suspected.
13. Ownership Records and Item Recovery
Registration of an item on the EduThrifties platform does not create legal proof of ownership by itself.
EduThrifties may rely on account details, item registration data, supporting documents, school or university verification, item descriptions or other reasonable information when assisting with lost-and-found recovery.
Where ownership is disputed, EduThrifties may pause the release of information or item handover until the dispute is resolved by the relevant parties, school, university, lawful authority or other appropriate process.
14. Schools, Universities and Institutions
EduThrifties may provide services to or in cooperation with schools, universities, colleges, educational institutions, parent bodies, student bodies or related organisations.
Where an institution uses or promotes the platform, the institution remains responsible for its own policies, internal approvals, communications, permissions and user guidance.
EduThrifties is not responsible for institutional decisions, disciplinary processes, internal disputes, campus policies or school/university rules unless expressly agreed in writing.
15. User Conduct
You agree not to:
Use the platform for unlawful purposes.
Upload false, harmful, offensive or misleading content.
List stolen, counterfeit or prohibited goods.
Misrepresent your identity or authority.
Interfere with the operation or security of the platform.
Attempt to access another user’s account.
Scrape, copy, reverse engineer or exploit the platform.
Harass, threaten or abuse other users.
Use the QR Service for tracking or surveillance.
Damage the reputation, integrity or safety of EduThrifties or its users.
EduThrifties may suspend, restrict or terminate access where misconduct is suspected.
16. User Content
Users may upload listings, images, descriptions, item records, comments, documents or other content.
By uploading content, you confirm that:
You have the right to upload and use the content.
The content is accurate and lawful.
The content does not infringe any third-party rights.
The content does not contain harmful, offensive or unlawful material.
You grant EduThrifties a non-exclusive right to use, display, store, process and publish your content for purposes connected to the operation of the platform.
EduThrifties may remove content at its discretion.
17. Personal Information and Privacy
EduThrifties processes personal information in accordance with applicable South African privacy laws, including the Protection of Personal Information Act. POPIA sets minimum conditions for lawful processing of personal information by public and private bodies in South Africa.
Personal information may be collected and processed for purposes including:
Account registration.
Order processing.
Payment processing.
Delivery or collection arrangements.
QR item registration.
Lost-and-found notifications.
Customer support.
Fraud prevention.
Platform security.
Legal and regulatory compliance.
Service improvement and communication.
EduThrifties will take reasonable steps to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, alteration or disclosure.
A separate Privacy Policy may apply and should be read together with these Terms.
18. Communication and Notifications
By using the platform, you agree that EduThrifties may communicate with you through email, SMS, WhatsApp, platform notifications or other reasonable communication channels.
Communications may relate to:
Account activity.
Orders and payments.
QR item recovery.
Lost-and-found notifications.
Service updates.
Policy changes.
Support queries.
Marketing, where permitted by law.
You may opt out of marketing communications where applicable, but operational and transactional messages may still be sent where necessary.
19. Intellectual Property
All platform technology, designs, branding, logos, graphics, software, databases, workflows, QR systems, content structures and related materials belong to EduThrifties or its licensors unless otherwise stated.
You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, modify, reverse engineer, resell or exploit any part of the platform without written permission.
Use of the platform does not transfer ownership of any intellectual property rights to users.
20. Third-Party Services
EduThrifties may integrate with third-party services, including payment providers, courier companies, communication platforms, hosting providers, analytics tools or school/university systems.
EduThrifties is not responsible for the acts, omissions, failures, terms, policies or security practices of third-party providers.
Your use of third-party services may be subject to separate terms and conditions.
21. Platform Availability
EduThrifties aims to keep the platform available and functional, but we do not guarantee uninterrupted, error-free or continuous access.
The platform may be unavailable due to:
Maintenance.
Updates.
Technical failures.
Hosting interruptions.
Security incidents.
Internet service disruptions.
Events beyond our control.
EduThrifties will not be liable for losses caused by temporary platform unavailability.
22. Disclaimers
The platform is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis.
EduThrifties does not guarantee that:
The platform will always be available.
Every lost item will be recovered.
Every buyer or seller will complete a transaction.
All user-listed items are accurate, authentic or fit for purpose.
All descriptions provided by users are complete or error-free.
The platform will be free from all technical errors or security risks.
Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded under applicable law.
23. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, EduThrifties will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential or economic loss, including loss of profit, data, goodwill, opportunity, reputation or business.
EduThrifties will not be liable for:
User-to-user disputes.
Misdescribed items listed by third-party sellers.
Failed private collection arrangements.
Lost items not being recovered.
Incorrect information submitted by users.
Third-party payment or courier failures.
Unauthorised use of a user account caused by user negligence.
Delays outside our reasonable control.
Where EduThrifties is found liable, liability will be limited to the amount paid by the user for the specific transaction or service giving rise to the claim, unless the law requires otherwise.
24. Indemnity
You agree to indemnify and hold EduThrifties harmless against any claim, loss, damage, liability, cost or expense arising from:
Your breach of these Terms.
Your misuse of the platform.
Your unlawful conduct.
False or misleading information supplied by you.
Your listing, sale or purchase of goods.
Your infringement of third-party rights.
Your misuse of the QR Service.
Any dispute between you and another user.
25. Suspension and Termination
EduThrifties may suspend, restrict or terminate your access to the platform if:
You breach these Terms.
You misuse the platform.
Fraud or suspicious activity is detected.
You list prohibited or unlawful goods.
You abuse other users or staff.
Your account creates risk for EduThrifties or other users.
We are required to do so by law or authority.
Termination does not affect any rights, obligations or liabilities that arose before termination.
26. Changes to These Terms
EduThrifties may update these Terms from time to time.
The updated version will be published on the website with the revised date.
Continued use of the platform after changes are published means you accept the updated Terms.
27. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
Any dispute arising from these Terms, the platform or EduThrifties services will be dealt with in accordance with South African law.
28. Dispute Resolution
If a dispute arises, users are encouraged to contact EduThrifties first so that the matter can be reviewed and resolved where possible.
EduThrifties may attempt to resolve disputes through communication, account review, transaction records, platform logs, item evidence or other reasonable means.
Where a dispute cannot be resolved informally, either party may pursue remedies available under South African law.
29. Contact Information
For questions, support, complaints or legal notices, please contact:
EduThrifties (Pty) Ltd
Email: support@eduthrifties.co.za
Website: www.eduthrifties.co.za
30. Acceptance
By using the EduThrifties platform, you confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to these Terms and Conditions.
You also confirm that any information you provide is accurate and that you will use the platform responsibly, lawfully and in accordance with these Terms.