RETURN, EXCHANGE & REFUND POLICY

4.1 General

We want OPTIMA customers to receive products that are safe, correctly supplied and of appropriate quality.

However, because OPTIMA products are consumable nutritional products, strict hygiene, contamination and product-integrity requirements apply.

Nothing in this Return & Refund Policy removes or limits any consumer right that cannot legally be excluded.

4.2 IMPORTANT – OPENED PRODUCTS CANNOT BE RETURNED FOR CHANGE OF MIND

Due to the nature of OPTIMA products as consumable nutritional products, we cannot accept returns, exchanges or refunds for products that have been opened, unsealed, used or had their tamper-evident seal broken where the return is based on a change of mind, taste preference, flavour preference, personal preference or individual tolerance.

For health, hygiene, contamination and product-integrity reasons, once an OPTIMA product has been opened, we are unable to safely place that product back into stock or resell it.

This applies where a customer:

  • does not like the flavour;
  • finds the product too salty;
  • finds the product too sweet;
  • does not like the texture;
  • changes their mind after opening it;
  • decides they no longer want it;
  • has already consumed part of the product;
  • experiences a personal preference issue; or
  • experiences an individual tolerance issue that is not caused by a genuine product defect.

Opened products will therefore not qualify for a change-of-mind refund.

The above does not affect a customer’s statutory rights where the product is genuinely:

  • defective;
  • contaminated;
  • unsafe;
  • incorrectly manufactured;
  • incorrectly supplied; or
  • otherwise subject to a mandatory legal remedy.

4.3 Unopened Change-of-Mind Returns

Where permitted by law, OPTIMA may accept a change-of-mind return if:

  • the product remains completely unused;
  • the product remains unopened;
  • the original tamper-evident seal remains intact;
  • the product remains in its original packaging;
  • the product remains in a condition suitable for resale;
  • proof of purchase is provided; and
  • OPTIMA is contacted within 7 days of delivery.

Returned products will be inspected before a refund is approved.

4.4 Cooling-Off Rights

Where a statutory cooling-off right applies to an online transaction, OPTIMA will honour that right in accordance with applicable South African law.

Where legally permitted, the customer may be responsible for the direct cost of returning an item following a voluntary cancellation.

Any legal exclusions that apply to particular consumable goods will remain applicable.

4.5 Defective, Unsafe or Contaminated Products

If an OPTIMA product is genuinely:

  • defective;
  • unsafe;
  • contaminated;
  • materially damaged before delivery;
  • incorrectly manufactured; or
  • otherwise fails to meet applicable legal quality standards,

please contact us promptly.

Customers retain all statutory remedies that apply under South African consumer law.

4.6 Opened Products With a Genuine Defect

An opened product may still qualify for an appropriate remedy where there is a genuine:

  • manufacturing defect;
  • safety problem;
  • contamination issue;
  • undeclared or incorrect ingredient issue;
  • broken seal before first opening;
  • foreign object; or
  • other legitimate product-quality concern.

OPTIMA may request reasonable evidence before approving a claim, including:

  • photographs;
  • proof of purchase;
  • batch or lot number;
  • expiry date information;
  • remaining product;
  • original container; and
  • packaging.

Customers should not dispose of a product that is the subject of a quality complaint until we advise whether it needs to be retained for investigation.

4.7 Taste and Flavour

Taste is subjective.

A product is not considered defective solely because a customer:

  • does not like the flavour;
  • finds it too salty;
  • finds it too sweet;
  • prefers another flavour;
  • dislikes the texture; or
  • expected it to taste different.

Once opened, a product cannot be returned merely because the customer does not enjoy the taste or flavour.

4.8 Personal Tolerance and Digestive Response

Different individuals may react differently to nutritional ingredients.

An individual experiencing:

  • bloating;
  • gas;
  • loose stools;
  • stomach discomfort;
  • dislike of an ingredient;
  • sensitivity; or
  • another individual tolerance issue

does not by itself establish that a product is defective.

For this reason, an opened product cannot ordinarily be returned solely because it does not personally agree with the customer.

However, if the customer reasonably believes the reaction is caused by:

  • contamination;
  • incorrect formulation;
  • an undeclared ingredient;
  • product spoilage; or
  • another genuine safety issue,

the customer should discontinue use and contact OPTIMA so that the matter can be investigated.

4.9 Incorrect Use or Storage

A return or refund may be declined to the extent permitted by law where the problem resulted from:

  • use contrary to clear instructions;
  • deliberate misuse;
  • excessive consumption;
  • incorrect storage;
  • exposure to excessive heat or moisture after delivery;
  • failure to close the container appropriately;
  • contamination after opening;
  • alteration of the product;
  • removal of batch information; or
  • damage occurring after delivery.

4.10 Broken Seal on Delivery

Do not consume an OPTIMA product if the tamper-evident safety seal is already broken or appears compromised when you first receive it.

Please contact us promptly and provide photographs.

Where appropriate, OPTIMA will arrange a replacement or other suitable remedy.

4.11 Wrong Product Supplied

If we send you the wrong product, please contact us as soon as possible.

If the product remains unopened, please do not open it.

Where the mistake was made by OPTIMA, we will arrange an appropriate correction without additional cost to you.

4.12 Damaged Product

If a product arrives materially damaged, photograph:

  • the courier packaging;
  • the product;
  • the damage;
  • the shipping label; and
  • any affected safety seal.

Please contact us promptly so that we can investigate.

4.13 How to Request a Return or Refund

Please contact:

Email: info@getoptima.co.zaProvide:

  • your full name;
  • order number;
  • product name;
  • reason for the request;
  • photographs where relevant;
  • batch number where relevant; and
  • proof of purchase.

4.14 Do Not Send Products Back Without Contacting Us

Please contact OPTIMA before sending a return so that we can provide the correct return instructions.

This helps prevent returned products being lost or sent to an incorrect location.

This requirement does not remove any statutory consumer right.

4.15 Return Delivery Costs

Where OPTIMA supplied:

  • a defective product;
  • an unsafe product;
  • the wrong product; or
  • a product for which OPTIMA is otherwise legally responsible,

return costs will be dealt with in accordance with applicable law.

For an eligible voluntary change-of-mind return, the customer may be responsible for return delivery costs where permitted by law.

4.16 Inspection of Returns

Returned products may be inspected to confirm:

  • product identity;
  • seal condition;
  • batch number;
  • condition;
  • claimed defect;
  • level of use; and
  • eligibility for the requested remedy.

This inspection process will not be used to unreasonably deny a valid statutory claim.

4.17 Refund Method

Approved refunds will ordinarily be made using the original payment method unless another method is agreed or reasonably required.

Once OPTIMA has successfully processed a refund, the time taken for the funds to appear may depend on the relevant bank or payment provider.

4.18 Promotional Products and Bundles

Where products are purchased through:

  • bundles;
  • promotional discounts;
  • buy-one-get-one offers;
  • discount codes; or
  • similar promotions,

any approved refund will take into account the actual amount paid for the relevant products.

Where a full promotional purchase is returned, free promotional products may also need to be returned where legally permissible.

4.19 Fraudulent Claims and Return Abuse

OPTIMA reserves the right to investigate suspected fraudulent claims, including:

  • falsified photographs;
  • deliberately damaged products;
  • replacement of product contents;
  • false non-delivery claims;
  • manipulated batch information;
  • fraudulent chargebacks; or
  • repeated abuse of the return process.

Nothing in this section prevents a customer from making a legitimate claim or exercising lawful consumer rights.