Refund policy

Customer and Strategic Test Scandinavia AB ("STS") agree that all purchases of STS hardware products (the "Products"), including the Ka-Ro Computer-on-Modules of the TX and QS families and the related Development Kits and accessories, are made under these Returns & Refund Terms together with the STS Terms and Conditions of Sale. STS sells exclusively to professional buyers, engineering organisations and resellers on a business-to-business basis. The fourteen-day consumer right of withdrawal under EU Directive 2011/83/EU does not apply, and STS SHALL NOT BE BOUND BY CUSTOMER'S ADDITIONAL OR DIFFERENT TERMS. By placing an order, Customer accepts this policy.

  1. SCOPE. This policy governs the inspection, return, repair, replacement and refund of Products supplied by STS. It is read together with the STS Terms and Conditions of Sale and with the General Terms and Conditions of our principal manufacturer, Ka-Ro electronics GmbH, Aachen, Germany, the latter of which apply to all returns and inspections performed by Ka-Ro electronics and are incorporated herein by reference (karo-electronics.com — Terms and Conditions).
  2. DELIVERY, TRANSFER OF RISK AND INSPECTION. All shipments are made Ex Works (EXW Aachen, Germany) under the Incoterms current at the time of order. Title and risk in the Products pass to Customer no later than when the first carrier takes delivery of the consignment. All Products are produced in Germany; the applicable customs classification is HTS 84718000, ECCN 5A992C (STMicroelectronics and NXP-based modules) or 3A991A2 (Renesas RZ/G2L-based modules). ANY TARIFFS, IMPORT DUTIES, CUSTOMS CLEARANCE COSTS, BROKERAGE FEES, AND DESTINATION-COUNTRY VAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE IMPORTER OF RECORD. Customer shall inspect every delivery on arrival and shall notify STS in writing at info@strategic-test.com of any transport damage, short or wrong delivery, or visible manufacturing defect within seven (7) calendar days of receipt. After seven days the delivery shall be deemed accepted and such claims shall no longer be available.
  3. LIMITED MANUFACTURING WARRANTY. Ka-Ro TX-family modules, QS-family modules and Development Kits supplied by STS are warranted by the manufacturer against defects in materials and faulty manufacture for a period of twelve (12) months from the date STS ships the Products to Customer (the "Delivery Date"). This warranty period matches clause 7 of the Ka-Ro electronics General Terms. The warranty covers failures arising from defective components, soldering, assembly or other manufacturing fault attributable to Ka-Ro electronics, occurring under normal specified operating conditions as published in the Product datasheet. THE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER damage caused by handling, shipping, storage or installation outside specification; damage from electrostatic discharge, over-voltage, reverse-polarity, over-current, exposure to liquids, dust or contaminants; operation outside the published temperature, voltage, mechanical or environmental limits; modifications, rework, de-soldering, mechanical alteration, application of conformal coating, or repairs performed by anyone other than Ka-Ro electronics; normal wear and tear or cosmetic marks that do not affect function; or any consequential, indirect or economic loss of any kind (including lost profits, downtime, recall costs, or board-level damage), to the extent permitted by applicable law. The warranty is non-transferable beyond the original purchasing entity and is voided by tampering with module markings, serial numbers or factory seals.
  4. LONG-TERM PRODUCT AVAILABILITY. Separately from the warranty in clause 3, STS and Ka-Ro electronics provide a long-term availability commitment for the TX and QS families. Product availability is guaranteed for AT LEAST TEN (10) YEARS, and in practice this commitment is often fulfilled for FIFTEEN (15) YEARS OR MORE. This long-term availability commitment is a supply-continuity assurance — it covers the continued manufacture and sale of the part for the life of the Customer's industrial product programme — and does not extend the defect-coverage period set out in clause 3.
  5. RMA PROCESS. Any return of Products to STS, whether under warranty or otherwise, requires a Goods Return Authorization ("RMA") number issued by STS in advance. Products returned without a valid RMA number will be refused on receipt and returned to sender at Customer's expense. To request an RMA, Customer shall e-mail info@strategic-test.com with the original purchase order or invoice number, the Product part number and serial or batch number, a written fault description with the operating conditions and observed symptoms, and where possible a short test report demonstrating the failure mode. STS will issue an RMA number within five (5) working days of a properly substantiated request, together with shipping instructions and the return address. The RMA number is valid for thirty (30) calendar days. Returns are shipped DIRECTLY TO KA-RO ELECTRONICS IN GERMANY (address provided with the RMA) and NOT to STS; Customer shall mark the RMA number clearly on every package and on customs paperwork, pack the modules in ESD-safe packaging equivalent to the original packaging, ship via a trackable courier and provide STS with the tracking number, and bear the cost and risk of shipment until signed delivery at Ka-Ro electronics. For consignments outside the European Union, Customer shall complete customs documentation as a "return for repair / inspection" so the goods are not re-imported as a fresh commercial shipment. Ka-Ro electronics will inspect the returned Products; inspection typically takes four to six (4–6) weeks. If the fault is confirmed as faulty manufacture within the warranty period, STS will, at Ka-Ro electronics' sole discretion, replace the affected item with an equivalent module, repair the unit, or issue a credit note to the original invoice, in each case at no additional cost to Customer; STS will bear the return-shipping cost from Ka-Ro electronics back to Customer in such case. If no fault is found, or if the fault is determined to fall outside the warranty terms set out in clause 3, the Products will be returned to Customer at Customer's expense, and STS may charge an inspection and handling fee payable in advance of return shipment.
  6. RETURNS OF NON-DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS. Ka-Ro electronics' standard delivery terms state that ALL ORDERS ARE NON-CANCELLABLE AND NON-RETURNABLE at the wholesale level. STS is therefore unable to return non-defective stock to its principal manufacturer, and any goodwill exception made sits entirely at STS's own commercial cost. Non-defective returns are accepted only at STS's sole discretion and only where (a) the request is made in writing within fourteen (14) calendar days of delivery, (b) the Products are unopened, in original ESD-safe packaging with all seals, labels and accessories intact, and have not been programmed, soldered or installed in any way, and (c) the Products are standard catalogue items. Custom configurations, custom firmware, special-order variants (including /HIREL pseudo-SLC eMMC programming), evaluation samples, socketed module variants, discontinued or legacy items, and reel-quantity orders (multiples of 500 pieces shipped on complete reels) are NON-RETURNABLE in any circumstance other than confirmed manufacturing defect or DOA under clause 7. Where a non-defective return is approved, a RESTOCKING FEE OF TWENTY PERCENT (20%) of the net invoice value shall apply, plus a handling charge of fifteen euros (€15) for orders with a net value below two hundred and ninety-nine euros (€299), and Customer shall pay return shipping in all cases.
  7. DEAD ON ARRIVAL. A Product is "Dead on Arrival" or "DOA" if it fails to function on first power-up and the failure is reported to STS in writing within fourteen (14) calendar days of delivery, with the original packaging intact and all serial numbers legible. Confirmed DOA units are replaced under priority RMA in accordance with clause 5, and STS shall pay the return-shipping cost to Ka-Ro electronics for confirmed DOA cases.
  8. QUOTES, ORDER ACCEPTANCE AND CANCELLATIONS. Quotations issued by STS are valid for TEN (10) WORKING DAYS unless otherwise stated in writing, in line with the binding period applied by Ka-Ro electronics; prices outside that window are subject to re-quote. An order becomes binding when STS confirms it in writing, and an order acknowledgement, invoice or dispatch notification is each treated as a binding acceptance. Consistent with the Ka-Ro standard delivery terms, ONCE AN ORDER IS ACCEPTED IT IS NON-CANCELLABLE AND NON-RETURNABLE. Cancellation requests will only be considered as a matter of goodwill and require STS's prior written consent. Where consent is given, a cancellation or liquidated-damages fee of UP TO TWENTY PERCENT (20%) of the gross order value may be charged to cover non-recoverable production, material and allocation costs, mirroring clause 9 of the Ka-Ro electronics General Terms. Custom or special-order items, framework-agreement call-offs, /HIREL programmed parts, and any module already in production or on a reel run, are NOT CANCELLABLE IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE once production has started; reel orders (multiples of 500 pieces) are not cancellable once the reel has been allocated to Customer. Where there is a material increase in the cost of memory (DRAM, eMMC), printed circuit boards, freight, packaging or other supply inputs between the date of the quote and the date of dispatch, STS reserves the right to adjust pricing accordingly, with prior written notice to Customer, consistent with clause 2 of the Ka-Ro electronics General Terms.
  9. REFUNDS. Where a refund is due — for example, a cancelled order before dispatch, an approved non-defective return, or a credit note issued under the manufacturing warranty — STS shall issue the refund to the original payment method used by Customer (bank transfer, card, or PayPal). Card and PayPal refunds typically settle within five to ten (5–10) working days after STS authorises them; bank-transfer refunds may take longer depending on Customer's bank. Refunds reflect the net price actually paid less any applicable restocking fee, handling charge or non-recoverable shipping cost. STS does not issue cash refunds and does not refund original outbound shipping charges except where the return is the result of STS's own error or a confirmed manufacturing defect.
  10. SHIPPING COSTS FOR RETURNS. Outbound shipping on the original order is not refundable except as set out below. Where the return is a CONFIRMED WARRANTY DEFECT, Customer initially pays the return shipment to Ka-Ro electronics and is reimbursed on confirmation of the defect, and STS pays the return shipping back to Customer. Where the return is a DEAD ON ARRIVAL case, STS pays the return shipment to Ka-Ro electronics and pays the return shipment back to Customer. Where the return is due to STS's own error (wrong item shipped), STS refunds the original outbound shipping and pays the return shipping in both directions. Where the return is an APPROVED NON-DEFECTIVE RETURN under clause 6, Customer pays the return shipping and the original outbound shipping is not refunded. Where Products are inspected by Ka-Ro electronics and NO FAULT IS FOUND, Customer pays the return shipping in both directions and may be charged an inspection and handling fee.
  11. RELATED COMMERCIAL TERMS. The following commercial terms — passed through from the Ka-Ro electronics wholesale conditions — are particularly relevant when Customers consider returns, cancellations or refunds and form part of this policy by reference. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, invoices are payable within THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS FROM SHIP DATE. Where Customer enters a framework agreement or volume commitment with price-protection, STS reserves the right to require a THIRTY PERCENT (30%) DOWN PAYMENT on the contract value before any allocation is held; such down payments secure memory and component pricing for the agreed call-off horizon and are non-refundable except where STS fails to deliver the agreed volumes. STS reserves the right to demand an appropriate price adjustment from Customer where extraordinary and material increases occur in the cost of DRAM, eMMC, printed circuit boards, freight, packaging or other supply inputs after order acceptance, including increases driven by component allocation, tariffs or international supply disruption. Goods remain the property of STS until the corresponding invoice is paid in full, including any ancillary claims, in line with clause 5 of the Ka-Ro electronics General Terms. A handling fee of fifteen euros (€15) applies to orders with a net value below two hundred and ninety-nine euros (€299). All pricing is Ex Works, exclusive of packaging, freight, insurance and statutory VAT. STS and Ka-Ro electronics reserve the right to make non-material technical changes to Products without notification, provided the intended use is not impaired.
  12. STATUTORY RIGHTS NOT AFFECTED. Nothing in this policy limits any mandatory statutory rights of Customer that cannot lawfully be excluded or varied. Where any provision of this policy is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
  13. GOVERNING LAW. Sales by STS are governed by Swedish law. The application of the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) is excluded. The exclusive place of jurisdiction is Stockholm, Sweden, except where mandatory consumer-protection or other law provides otherwise. The Ka-Ro electronics General Terms (Aachen, Germany) apply to the inspection and warranty handling of modules returned to Ka-Ro electronics and form an integral part of this policy by reference.
  14. CONTACT. Strategic Test Scandinavia AB, Kungsbro Strand 29, 112 26 Stockholm, Sweden. Telephone: +46 8 559 22 298. E-mail and RMA enquiries: info@strategic-test.com.

This policy may be revised from time to time. The version published on the Strategic Embedded website at the moment of order placement is the version that applies to that order.

``` It's also saved as a file in your workspace if you'd prefer to copy from there: [Returns_and_Refund_Policy.html](computer:///Users/robertgiblett/CoWork/Adwords%20Embedded/Adwords%20Embedded/Returns_and_Refund_Policy.html)