Terms & Conditions

Last updated: April 2026

1. About Us

This website (deeptimefossils.co.uk) is operated by Deep Time Fossils ("we", "us", "our"). For any questions about these terms or your order, contact us at james@deeptimefossils.co.uk.

2. These Terms

These terms apply to your use of our website and any purchase you make through it. By placing an order you confirm that you accept these terms and that you are at least 18 years old. We may update these terms from time to time; the version in force at the time of your order will apply to that order.

3. Our Products

• Real fossils are clearly labelled as such. Items marked "exact specimen" are the actual item photographed — you will receive that specific piece.
• Replicas and casts are clearly labelled as replicas. They are reproductions and not natural fossils.
• Fossils are natural objects. Minor variations in colour, matrix, repair, or restoration are normal and noted in the product description where significant.
• Photographs are taken under controlled lighting; colours may vary slightly due to your screen calibration.
• Dimensions and weights are approximate.

4. Authenticity, Sourcing & Natural Variation

This clause sets out exactly how we describe the items we sell and how we source them. It applies to every order.

4.1 Real vs Replica labelling

• Real fossils are genuine, naturally formed specimens. Every real fossil listing carries a "Real Fossil" badge.
• Replicas and casts are clearly labelled as replicas in the title, badge, and description. They are reproductions cast from genuine specimens and are never sold or implied to be real fossils.
• If a listing combines real elements with restored or reconstructed sections (for example, a real tooth set in a sculpted jaw), this is disclosed in the product description before purchase.

4.2 Ethical & legal sourcing

• All fossils are sourced from established commercial suppliers, long-standing UK and international dealers, or known commercial collecting localities.
• We do not knowingly buy or sell fossils that have been removed from protected sites, scientifically significant localities, or in breach of any country's heritage, conservation, or export laws (including but not limited to Moroccan, Brazilian, Chinese, Mongolian, and US Federal land restrictions).
• Where required, our suppliers provide export documentation and we keep records of provenance for our own due diligence. We are happy to share what we know about a specimen's chain of custody on request, within the limits of supplier confidentiality.
• If credible evidence emerges that a specimen we have sold was sourced unlawfully, we will work with the buyer in good faith to resolve the matter, including a refund and return where appropriate.

4.3 Origin claims

• Country of origin, geological formation, age, and species are stated based on supplier information and accepted scientific literature.
• Where the exact quarry or locality cannot be independently verified, we describe the geological formation rather than naming a single site, and we say so plainly.
• Ages are given as standard geological ranges (e.g. "Lower Jurassic, ~190 million years"), not precise figures.

4.4 Natural variation, repair & restoration

• Fossils are natural objects. Minor differences in colour, matrix, mineralisation, surface detail, and weight between specimens of the same listing are expected and not considered defects.
• "Exact specimen" listings show the actual item you will receive. "Choose your specimen" listings let you pick the exact piece. "Standard" listings use a representative photograph — your specimen will be similar but unique.
• Any significant repair (e.g. a re-glued break), restoration (e.g. infilled matrix or sculpted missing parts), or composite assembly is disclosed in the product description. We never present restored areas as original without saying so.
• Photographs are taken under controlled lighting and are intended to be accurate. Slight differences in colour due to your screen calibration are not grounds for return on natural variation alone, but if you receive a specimen that materially differs from its description, your rights under section 10 (Faulty or Misdescribed Goods) apply in full.

5. Pricing & Payment

All prices are shown in GBP and include UK VAT where applicable. We reserve the right to change prices at any time, but changes will not affect orders we have already accepted. If a pricing error is obvious and unmistakable, we may cancel the order and refund any payment taken. Payment is taken at checkout via Stripe; we accept major credit and debit cards.

6. Order Acceptance

Your order is an offer to buy. Our acceptance happens when we send you a dispatch confirmation, at which point a contract is formed. We may decline an order if the item is unavailable, payment is declined, we cannot deliver to your address, or we suspect fraud. If we decline, we will refund any payment in full.

7. Delivery

We aim to dispatch orders within 2 working days. Framed, mounted, or made-to-order pieces take 1 additional working day. UK standard delivery is free on orders over £50; otherwise a flat rate of £3.95 applies. International shipping is calculated at checkout.

Risk of loss or damage passes to you when the parcel is delivered to the address you provided. If your parcel arrives damaged, please contact us within 7 days with photos so we can resolve it.

8. Your Right to Cancel (Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013)

If you are a consumer in the UK or EU, you have the right to cancel your order for any reason within 14 days of receiving the goods. To cancel, email us at james@deeptimefossils.co.uk with your order number. You then have a further 14 days to return the goods.

Goods must be returned in their original condition and packaging. You are responsible for the cost of return postage unless the item arrived damaged or faulty. We recommend using a tracked, insured service — fossils are fragile and we cannot refund items lost or broken in transit back to us.

We will refund the price of the goods plus the standard outbound delivery cost within 14 days of receiving the returned items, using the original payment method.

9. Returns Beyond 14 Days

As a goodwill gesture, we accept returns up to 30 days from receipt for a full refund of the goods, provided they are in their original condition. See our Shipping & Returns page for details.

10. Faulty or Misdescribed Goods

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods must be as described, fit for purpose, and of satisfactory quality. If an item is faulty, damaged on arrival, or significantly differs from its description, contact us within 30 days for a full refund, or within 6 months for a repair, replacement, or partial refund. This does not affect your statutory rights.

11. Stock Availability

"Exact specimen" items are unique. Stock is updated automatically, but in the rare event an item becomes unavailable after you order, we will contact you and refund in full or offer an alternative.

12. Promotional Codes

Discount codes are subject to their own terms (minimum order value, expiry date, single-use, etc.). Codes cannot normally be combined and have no cash value.

13. Use of Our Website

You agree not to use the website for any unlawful purpose, to attempt to gain unauthorised access, to scrape pricing or content for commercial use, or to abuse our forms or contact channels. We may suspend accounts that breach these terms.

14. Intellectual Property

All content on this site — including text, photographs, logos, and design — is owned by Deep Time Fossils or our licensors and is protected by copyright. You may not reproduce, redistribute, or use our content commercially without written permission.

15. Limitation of Liability

Nothing in these terms limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud, or for any other liability that cannot be excluded under English law (including your statutory rights as a consumer). Subject to that, we are not liable for indirect or consequential losses, loss of profit, or losses that were not reasonably foreseeable. Our total liability for any order is limited to the price you paid for that order.

16. Privacy

How we handle your personal data is set out in our Privacy Policy.

17. Events Outside Our Control

We are not liable for delays or failures caused by events outside our reasonable control, including courier delays, severe weather, strikes, or interruptions to our suppliers.

18. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These terms and any dispute arising from them are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Disputes are subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales. If you are a consumer resident in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may also bring proceedings in your local courts.

19. Contact

Deep Time Fossils
Email: james@deeptimefossils.co.uk