Refund policy
REFUND & WITHDRAWAL POLICY
The Leather Project
Last updated: 11 August 2026
HOW THIS POLICY IS STRUCTURED
This policy covers three different situations. They exist side by side and are independent of one another:
1. Your statutory right of withdrawal - you may return any item within 14 days without giving reasons. This is a right granted by law and is set out in Section 1 below.
2. Your statutory rights if an item is defective - these apply for two years from delivery, are entirely separate from the 14-day withdrawal right, and are set out in Section 4 below. They are not affected by, and do not depend on, this returns policy or any time limit in it.
3. Voluntary returns as a gesture of goodwill - where we choose to accept a return that we are not legally obliged to accept. Any such arrangement is made case by case and does not limit points 1 or 2 above.
SECTION 1 - WITHDRAWAL INSTRUCTION (WIDERRUFSBELEHRUNG)
RIGHT OF WITHDRAWAL
If you are a consumer, you have the right to withdraw from this contract within fourteen (14) days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period is fourteen (14) days from the day
- on which you, or a third party other than the carrier designated by you, have taken possession of the goods; or
- where you have ordered several goods in a single order which are delivered separately: on which you, or a third party other than the carrier designated by you, have taken possession of the last item; or
- where goods are delivered in several part-consignments or pieces: on which you, or a third party other than the carrier designated by you, have taken possession of the last part-consignment or piece.
To exercise your right of withdrawal, you must inform us:
The Leather Project
Owner: Hannes-Torben Döll
Bahnhofstraße 2
12159 Berlin
Germany
Email: info@theleather-project.com
Phone: +4915221338706
of your decision to withdraw from this contract by means of a clear statement (for example, a letter sent by post or an email). You may use the model withdrawal form set out at the end of this policy, but this is not obligatory.
You can also exercise your right of withdrawal online at https://shopify.com/87615471949/account . If you use this online function, we will send you without undue delay, on a durable medium (for example by email), an acknowledgement of receipt containing the content of your withdrawal declaration together with the date and time of its receipt.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
CONSEQUENCES OF WITHDRAWAL
If you withdraw from this contract, we shall reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (with the exception of the supplementary costs resulting from your choice of a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us), without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will carry out such reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or until you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earlier.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to us without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired.
You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. Our items can be returned by ordinary post.
You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
RETURN ADDRESS
Please send returns to:
The Leather Project
Bahnhofstraße 2
12159 Berlin
Germany
We recommend that you use a trackable shipping method and retain proof of postage. This is a recommendation only and is not a condition of your right to withdraw or to be reimbursed.
We bear the risk of the return shipment. If a returned parcel is lost or damaged in transit, that risk is ours, not yours (Section 355(3) sentence 4 of the German Civil Code, BGB).
SCOPE OF THE RIGHT OF WITHDRAWAL
The right of withdrawal applies to all goods offered in our online shop. We do not offer goods made to your specifications or clearly personalised goods, so the statutory exception in Section 312g(2) no. 1 of the German Civil Code (BGB) does not apply to our range.
SECTION 2 - TRYING ITEMS ON
You are entitled to examine, inspect and try on the goods to the extent necessary to establish their nature, characteristics and functioning - as you would be able to do in a shop. This does not affect your right of withdrawal or your reimbursement.
You are only liable for a diminished value where you have handled the goods beyond what is necessary for that examination - for example by wearing an item outdoors, altering it, washing it, or removing tags in a way that cannot be reversed.
SECTION 3 - VINTAGE AND SECOND-HAND ITEMS
Our products are vintage, pre-owned and second-hand items. Almost every piece is unique.
Due to their age and previous use, these products show signs of wear, ageing, patina and variation in material. Taking into account the nature of the goods, characteristics of this kind that are usual for goods of the same age and type do not constitute a defect (Section 434(3) sentence 1 no. 2 BGB).
Where an individual item has a specific characteristic that departs from what would otherwise be expected of goods of that kind - for example a tear, a hole, a stain, a repair, an alteration, a missing or replaced component, or a functional limitation - we describe that characteristic and, where possible, photograph it in the product listing. Before you place your order you are asked to confirm separately that you have been informed of that characteristic and that you agree it as part of the agreed condition of the goods (Section 476(1) sentence 2 BGB).
Vintage sizing frequently differs from modern sizing standards. Where we state measurements, these are taken with the item laid flat and are subject to a tolerance of plus or minus 2 cm. Please use the stated measurements rather than the original size label.
Your statutory rights in respect of defective goods remain unaffected by anything in this section.
SECTION 4 - DEFECTIVE OR INCORRECT ITEMS (STATUTORY GUARANTEE OF CONFORMITY)
These rights are separate from your right of withdrawal and are not limited to 14 days.
We are liable for defects in accordance with the statutory provisions on liability for defects (Sections 434 et seq. BGB).
Time limit: claims in respect of defects become time-barred two (2) years after delivery (Section 438(1) no. 3 BGB). We do not shorten this period for second-hand goods, although German law would permit us to do so.
Burden of proof: if a defect becomes apparent within one (1) year of delivery, it is presumed that the goods were already defective on delivery, and it is for us to prove otherwise (Section 477(1) BGB).
Your remedies: you may in the first instance require repair or, where possible, a replacement item (Section 439 BGB). If that fails, is impossible, is refused or is not carried out within a reasonable period, you may reduce the purchase price or withdraw from the contract, and claim damages where the statutory conditions are met (Sections 437, 440, 475d BGB).
Return costs: where you exercise statutory rights because an item is defective or incorrect, we bear the cost of returning it (Section 439(2) BGB).
Commercial guarantee: we do not give any commercial guarantee (Garantie) of our own in addition to your statutory rights, unless a guarantee is expressly stated for an individual item.
If you believe you have received an incorrect item, or an item with a defect that was not disclosed and agreed as part of its condition, please contact us at:
Email: info@theleather-project.com
Phone: +4915221338706
Please include your order number and, where helpful, photographs showing the issue, so that we can review your request quickly. We will acknowledge your message without undue delay and aim to respond substantively within 14 days.
Nothing in this policy limits or excludes your mandatory statutory rights.
SECTION 5 - VOLUNTARY RETURNS
Beyond your statutory rights, we may agree to accept a return as a gesture of goodwill in individual cases. Any such arrangement is agreed with you case by case, is entirely voluntary on our part, and does not limit, replace or affect your statutory right of withdrawal (Section 1) or your statutory rights where goods are defective (Section 4).
MODEL WITHDRAWAL FORM
(Complete and return this form only if you wish to withdraw from the contract. Use of this form is not obligatory.)
To:
The Leather Project
Hannes-Torben Döll
Bahnhofstraße 2
12159 Berlin
Germany
Email: info@theleather-project.com
Phone: [TO BE COMPLETED: TELEPHONE NUMBER]
I/We (*) hereby give notice that I/We (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*):
____________________________________________________________
Ordered on (*) / received on (*):
____________________________________________________________
Name of consumer(s):
____________________________________________________________
Address of consumer(s):
____________________________________________________________
Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper):
____________________________________________________________
Date:
____________________________________________________________
(*) Delete as appropriate.