Terms & Conditions

1. Introduction

   1. State Trading Organization Plc and its affiliated organisations (collectively referred to as “STO”, “we”, “us” or “our”) provide website features and other products and services to you (collectively “Customers”, each a “Customer”) when you visit. STO Smart Store mobile application (“STO Smart Store App”); or use software provided by STO in connection with any of the foregoing (collectively, “STO Smart Store Services”).
   2. These Terms and Conditions (“T&Cs”) govern your use of STO Smart Store Services and your relationship with STO. We welcome customers to use STO Smart Store Services for entry into our unmanned stores (“STO Smart Stores”). It is important that you go through these T&Cs and understand them before registration. This set of T&Cs will help you understand how STO operates and ensures that we serve you fairly and properly. Only Customers with a registered account are able to enter STO Smart Stores. We highly encourage you to download the STO Smart Store App through Apple or Google Play store.

2. Acceptance of terms

   1. Please read these T&Cs carefully. By using STO Smart Store Services, you agree to these T&Cs, and you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal data as described in these T&Cs. If you do not agree to these T&Cs, you must discontinue the use of STO Smart Store Services. Your use of STO Smart Store Services shall be deemed to be your agreement to be bound by each of the terms set forth herein. STO may revise these T&Cs at any time by posting updated T&Cs on STO Smart Store Services or by sending registered Customers an email notice of the changes. If any modification is unacceptable to you, you shall cease using STO Smart Store Services immediately. If you do not cease using STO Smart Store Services, you will be deemed to have accepted the change.
   2. You are expected to check these T&Cs from time to time to take notice of any changes STO has made as they are binding on you.

3. Account Registration

   1. To enter STO Smart Stores, you must first establish an account with STO. Registration provides a unique identification for each Customer, and allows us to trace any order in event of queries.
   2. Registration must only be done by individuals who can form legally binding contracts under Maldivian law; who are at least 18 years of age; and are not barred from using STO Smart Services under any applicable laws.
   3. To register for an account, you must provide a valid mobile number and particulars of your payment method. Upon successful registration, a unique QR code will be generated (“QR Code”). The QR Code will be used for your entry to STO Smart Stores. In addition, or in the alternative, you may use the facial recognition function on STO Smart Store App to enter STO Smart Stores. Entry by way of facial recognition is applicable to a single location, unless selected otherwise. Your account is tagged directly to your STO Smart Store App and all purchases will be charged to the payment method which you have linked to your account.
   4. You are responsible for: (i) maintaining the security and confidentiality of your account and your QR Code; (ii) restricting access to your account; (iii) be responsible for any purchases and activities that are submitted under your QR Code; (iv) ensuring that all details provided during registration or any other time are correct and complete.
   5. You agree to immediately notify STO of any unauthorised use of your QR Code or account or any other breach of security by contacting us via the Feedback Form located within the app.
   6. STO reserves the right to refuse, suspend or terminate registration of any account and/or the use of STO Smart Store services at any time for any reason, including and not limited to the following:
      • accounts of Customers that have been dormant for more than 60 days; and
      • accounts of Customers that we suspect have been compromised or used in breach of these T&Cs.
   7. You acknowledge and agree that STO may, to the extent permitted by applicable laws, access, preserve, and/or disclose your account information, all communications to and from you and all information relating to your use of STO Smart Store services, if STO is required to do so by law or legal process or if STO determines, in its sole discretion, that such action is necessary to protect the rights of STO, third parties, and other users of STO Smart Store services or for purposes of responding to your request for customer service.

4. Intellectual Property

   1. You acknowledge that STO Smart Store services contains information, data, software, photographs, graphics, typefaces, music, sounds and other material (collectively "Content") that are protected by copyrights, trademarks, database and other intellectual property rights owned by us or our suppliers.
   2. You shall not modify, reproduce, copy or distribute any of the Content on STO Smart Store services for commercial purposes without our prior written consent.

5. Restrictions on use of STO Smart Store services

   1. You may access and use STO Smart Store services only in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations and with these T&Cs. You acknowledge and agree that STO, in its sole discretion and without notice or any further obligation to you, may temporarily suspend or permanently discontinue and refuse any and all current and future, access to or use of STO Smart Store services.
   2. You further agree that you will not use STO Smart Store services for any or all of the following purposes:
      • disseminate any unlawful, libellous, abusive, threatening, harmful, vulgar, obscene, or otherwise objectionable material;
      • transmit material that encourages conduct that constitutes a criminal offence or results in civil liability or otherwise breaches any relevant laws, regulations or code of practice;
      • gain unauthorised access to other computer systems;
      • interfere with any other person's use of STO Smart Store services;
      • interfere or disrupt networks or web sites connected to STO Smart Store services;
      • make, transmit or store electronic copies of materials protected by copyright without written permission of STO;
      • resell or make commercial use of STO Smart Store services or content therein;
      • modify, distribute, transmit, display, perform, reproduce, publish, license, create derivative works of, transfer, or sell any content;
      • collect or use any product listings or descriptions;
      • use any data mining, robots, or similar data gathering and extraction methods from STO Smart Store services;
      • other than for your use of STO Smart Store services as expressly permitted in these T&Cs, access or attempt to access any systems or servers on which STO Smart Store services are hosted or modify or alter STO Smart Store services in any way;
      • forge headers, create a false identity or otherwise manipulate identifiers in order to deceive others or disguise the origin of any content or other information transmitted to or via STO Smart Store services;
      • use, frame or utilize framing techniques to enclose any trademark, logo or other proprietary information of STO (including the images found on STO Smart Store services, the content of any text or the layout/design of any page or form contained on a page) without STO’ express written consent; or
      • use any meta tags or any other “hidden text” utilizing a name, trademark, or product name of STO without STO’ express written consent.
   3. Any unauthorised use of STO Smart Store services will terminate the permission or license granted by these T&Cs, and will result in you being barred from use of STO Smart Store services.

6. Personal Data Protection Policy

   1. We take protecting your personal data very seriously and will always take all reasonable steps to make sure your information is safe. Personal Data Protection Policy (“PDP Policy”) of STO is accessible at https://sto.mv/Legal/Privacy and it applies to all personal data you provide to us, or that we may collect about you. Please do not provide any personal data to us if you do not accept the PDP Policy.
   2. If you have any feedback or issues in relation to your personal data, or about the PDP Policy, or wish to make a complaint to us, you may contact STO hotline.
   3. We may update the PDP Policy from time to time without notice to you, to comply with applicable laws or as we update our data usage and handling processes. The amended PDP Policy will take effect when made available at https://smartstore.sto.mv/privacy-policy.html

7. Use of STO Smart Store App

   1. STO Smart Store App store and process personal data that you have provided to us for purposes set out in the PDP Policy. It is your responsibility to keep your mobile device and access to STO Smart Store App secure, including but not limited to the following: we do not recommend that you remove any software restrictions and limitations imposed by the official operating system of your mobile device (including but not limited to unlocking, rooting, and/or jailbreaking your device) as that could make your mobile device vulnerable to malware, viruses and other malicious programs, and that could also compromise your mobile device’s security features and compromise the proper functioning of STO Smart Store App.

8. Limitations of STO Smart Store services

   1. Whilst all attempts will be made to ensure STO Smart Store services are available all the time, occasionally STO Smart Store services may undergo repairs, maintenance or the introduction of new services which may render the unavailability of access to STO Smart Store services.

9. Third Party Sites

   1. There may be occasions when information or materials on or of third parties are provided on STO Smart Store services.
   2. STO is not responsible for the content or activities of any other sites linked from and/or outside STO Smart Store services. Your visit or use of any third party site linked from STO Smart Store services is entirely at your own risk. A link to another website does not mean that STO endorses or accepts any responsibility for the content displayed on the other website.

10. Product Information & Billing

    1. Whilst every effort is made to display your purchases accurately in terms of price, size, weight, and/or description of the product(s) on STO Smart Store services, errors may occur and we do not guarantee that the pricing, size, weight, product description and/or promotional information provided on STO Smart Store services will be accurate, current, updated, or complete.
    2. STO takes great care to accurately display the colours of our products that appear on STO Smart Store services. However, as the actual colours you see will depend on your monitor, we cannot guarantee that your monitor’s display of any colour will be a true reflection of the actual colours of the products.
    3. In the event of any price difference between your order made via STO Smart Store services and the final bill rendered, whether arising from substitutions, daily price changes, promotions, special price, mislabelling or mispricing etc, STO reserves the right to adjust the final bill even after the online bill is presented to you.
    4. Upon confirmation of transaction, customer will be provided with an online transaction receipt through the mobile app which customer can view at anytime. It is advised that customer retains a copy of the transaction receipt by any means necessary apart from the one available within STO Smart Store App.

11. Promotions

    1. STO may, from time to time, offer discounts or run promotions. Promotions shall be effective only for the applicable promotional period and on a “while stocks last” basis. STO reserves the right to modify, cancel or discontinue them at any time, without any notice to you.
    2. Promotional codes or coupons (“Coupon”), if made available to you, are not transferable and not redeemable for cash. Each Coupon has its own qualifying terms. It is void where prohibited by law.
    3. In the event of suspected fraud or misuse of any Coupon or breach of the terms herein, we reserve the right to reject or cancel the use of a Coupon. We also reserve the right to charge you partially or in full the value of the benefit received using your payment method, without further notice to you.
    4. Where you are permitted to return any product to us for a refund/credit and such product was originally purchased under a promotion or discount (including use of Coupon), you will only be refunded the amount that you originally paid for such product. Where the promotion or discount had applied to the entire purchase, we will refund you the selling price of the returned product less the promotion or discount applied to the returned product on a pro-rata basis.
    5. Any decision by STO relating to promotions, use of Coupon and other rewards is final and binding.

12. Return Policy

    1. Where you have purchased a defective product, you may get in touch with our Customer Service Representative in-app within 7 days from date of purchase via the following method:
       • Select My Orders, followed by tapping on the order where the defective product was purchased.
       • Scroll to the bottom of the page and select Click To Appeal
       • Provide the name of the product and describe the issue found
       • Tap on Submit. Our Customer Service Representative will get back to you as soon as possible.
       • You may follow-up on your appeal by tapping on My Account, followed by Feedback.
    2. Unless we inform you otherwise, all products must be returned with all of its original packaging. We apologise that we are unable to exchange medical and hygiene sensitive items to ensure the safety and health of our customers. Please also note that we do not allow exchange/refund for mistakenly-purchased products.
    3. For defective products that are under warranty, please approach the brand’s local authorized service centre for assistance.

13. Payment

    1. Payment information is transmitted through a secure payment channel using our secure server and Secure Socket Layer. Payment for all purchases will be made to the payment mode which you have linked to your account.
    2. STO accepts payment by way of VISA and MasterCard credit or debit cards at all of our Unmanned Stores.
    3. STO reserves the right to change the mode or method of payment for products offered at any time by announcement through STO Smart Store services, email blasts and any other means of communications.

14. Security Capabilities and Policy for transmission of payment card details

    1. STO do not store users' sensitive information. Credit card information is entered and authorized only on the page provided by the payment company. STO has no access to any of the user operation on this page provided by the payment company.
    2. STO only stores the authorized payment credentials token given to STO by the payment company, and they will only be used for payment.
    3. The network transmission between the payment company and STO is encrypted using HTTPS

15. Warranties

    1. To the fullest extent permitted by law, STO excludes all warranties, descriptions, representations or advice rendered as to the fitness or suitability for any purpose, tolerance to any conditions, similarity to sample, merchantability or otherwise of any product supplied at STO Smart Stores.
    2. No agent or representative of STO is authorised to make any warranty, representation or statements given as to the fitness or suitability for any purpose, tolerance to any condition, similarity to sample, merchantability or otherwise of any product supplied.

16. Limitation of Liabilities

    1. STO shall not be liable for any consequential, indirect or special damages or loss of whatever arising. To the extent that STO is liable in contract, tort or otherwise for any loss, damage or injury arising directly or indirectly from any defect in or non-compliance of a product or any other breach of STO' obligations hereunder, such liability shall not in any event exceed an amount equivalent to the price of the product(s) giving rise to such liability.
    2. STO will not be held responsible for any damages or loss of products after purchase. You shall not use our products in any manner and/or for any purpose for which they are unsuited for and shall be responsible for using all necessary skill and care in handling and using the products. You expressly agree that STO assumes no obligation or liability for any advice or information given with the products and STO assumes no responsibility for any inaccuracy or misstatement of any such information. You assume all risks connected with the use and storage of the products.
    3. You unreservedly acknowledge and agree that you assume all risk in connection with the use of STO Smart Store services. STO shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential or punitive damage or loss of profits or loss of revenue however arising from the use of, or access to STO Smart Store services. Without limitation to the foregoing, STO Smart Store services and all information contained herein is provided on a “as is” basis without any implied or express warranty including any implied warranty as to title, quality, merchantability, fitness for purpose, or non-infringement. Before acting on the information found on STO Smart Store services, you may wish to confirm the facts that are important to your decision making. Product information listed on STO Smart Store services may be different from information listed on the products for a variety of reasons including such things as manufacturers’ updates and changes. STO reserves the right to change or update information of any product on STO Smart Store services at any time without prior notice. To the fullest extent permitted by law, STO shall not be liable for any error or omission in the content of STO Smart Store services including any damage or injury arising out of or in connection with any access or use of STO Smart Store services whether such damage/injury is caused by failure of performance, error, omission, defect, delay in operation, computer virus, theft etc.

17. Termination

    1. If you violate any of these T&Cs, your permission to use STO Smart Store services and/or your account may be suspended or revoked, and we reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access to, and use of, STO Smart Store services at any time.

18. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

    1. These T&Cs shall be construed in accordance with the applicable laws of Maldives. Depending on the nature of the dispute, any claim or disagreement arising out of or in connection with these T&Cs and/or use of STO Smart Store services (“Dispute”) shall be submitted to STO through contact information provided below. If the Dispute cannot be resolved through the communication, interaction and negotiation between STO and customer, such Dispute shall be referred to the competent courts of Maldives, as the case may be, for resolution and adjudication.

Contact Us

You may contact us at 1422 or email us at smart.store@sto.mv if you have any questions or need any assistance.

For any technical assistance, please submit a query via the Feedback Form found within the STO Smart Store App, by selecting My Account at the bottom right-hand corner of the screen, followed by Feedback.