Terms & Conditions

STER Auctions (sterauctions.com) is an online auction marketplace operated by Sterling Design Ventures LLC, located in Aiken, South Carolina, USA. We provide a platform for buyers to bid on and purchase items listed by approved sellers.

STER Auctions is part of the Sterling Design Ventures ecosystem, which includes SD Marketplace, GameSTER, and the STER token on the Solana blockchain.

To use STER Auctions as a buyer or seller you must meet all of the following requirements:

• You must be at least 18 years of age
• You must be capable of forming a legally binding contract
• You must not be prohibited from using online auction services under applicable law
• You must provide accurate and complete registration information
• You must have a valid payment method on file to place bids

Sterling Design Ventures LLC reserves the right to refuse service, terminate accounts, or cancel bids at its sole discretion.

All bids placed on STER Auctions are binding commitments to purchase. By placing a bid you agree to the following:

• Bids cannot be retracted once placed unless the auction listing contains a material error
• The highest bidder at auction close is obligated to complete the purchase
• Bid amounts are in US Dollars unless otherwise stated on the listing
• STER Auctions uses anti-sniping technology that may extend auction time if a bid is placed in the final moments
• Proxy bidding is available — the system will automatically bid on your behalf up to your maximum amount
• Sellers and administrators may not bid on their own listings

STER Auctions charges a 5% platform fee on all winning bids. This fee is added to the winning bid amount at checkout and is clearly displayed as a separate line item before payment is completed.

Example: A winning bid of $100.00 will have a platform fee of $5.00 applied at checkout for a total payment of $105.00.

The platform fee is non-refundable except in cases where the seller fails to fulfill the order and STER Auctions determines a full refund is warranted.

Listing items on STER Auctions is currently free of charge. There are no listing fees and no seller commissions collected by STER Auctions at this time.

Sellers are responsible for accurately describing their items, setting appropriate starting bids, and fulfilling orders promptly upon auction close. STER Auctions reserves the right to introduce seller fees in the future with advance notice to registered sellers.

STER Auctions accepts the following payment methods:

• PayPal — including Pay Later options where available
• Credit and Debit Cards — processed securely via Stripe
• SOL (Solana cryptocurrency) — via WC Solana Pay

Payment must be completed within 48 hours of auction close. Failure to complete payment may result in the bid being cancelled and the account being suspended. For SOL payments, STER holders may swap STER for SOL on Raydium prior to checkout.

Refund and return policies are determined by individual sellers. Each seller’s refund terms are displayed on their listing pages. STER Auctions is not responsible for enforcing seller refund policies but will make reasonable efforts to mediate disputes.

Items sourced through AppScenic dropshipping are subject to the AppScenic supplier refund policy. Buyers should review seller terms before bidding.

The 5% platform fee is non-refundable except where STER Auctions determines a full refund is warranted due to seller non-fulfillment.

Delivery timelines are set by individual sellers and vary by item and seller location. Estimated delivery times are displayed on each listing. STER Auctions is not responsible for shipping delays caused by carriers, customs, or circumstances beyond our control.

Items fulfilled through AppScenic dropshipping typically ship within 2-5 business days with delivery within 7-21 business days depending on destination. Buyers will receive tracking information by email upon shipment.

In the event of a dispute between buyer and seller, the following process applies:

• The buyer should first contact the seller directly to attempt resolution
• If resolution cannot be reached, the buyer may contact STER Auctions at admin@sterauctions.com
• STER Auctions will review the dispute and make a determination within 5 business days
• STER Auctions reserves the right to issue refunds, cancel transactions, or suspend accounts as appropriate

STER Auctions decisions on disputes are final and binding.

The following are strictly prohibited on STER Auctions:

• Counterfeit, stolen, or misrepresented items
• Items prohibited by federal, state, or local law
• Shill bidding — placing fake bids to artificially inflate prices
• Bid manipulation or collusion between buyers and sellers
• Creating multiple accounts to circumvent bans or restrictions
• Harassment or abusive conduct toward other users or staff

Violations may result in immediate account termination and legal action where appropriate.

STER Auctions integrates with the Sterling Design Token (STER) on the Solana blockchain. STER tokens can be swapped for SOL on Raydium DEX and used to pay for winning bids via the SOL payment option at checkout.

STER token pricing is subject to market fluctuation. STER Auctions makes no guarantee regarding the value of STER tokens. Cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible — please verify all wallet addresses carefully before completing payment.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Sterling Design Ventures LLC shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of STER Auctions, including but not limited to:

• Failed or delayed deliveries by sellers or shipping carriers
• Items not matching their listing description
• Cryptocurrency payment losses or wallet errors
• Unauthorized access to your account
• Technical failures or platform downtime

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of the State of South Carolina, United States of America. Any disputes arising from these terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Aiken County, South Carolina.

STER Auctions reserves the right to modify these Terms and Conditions at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Continued use of the platform following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.