LEGAL
Terms of Service
IMPORTANT NOTICE
By creating an account on Sosomak or using any Sosomak service, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, you may not use the platform.
1. DEFINITIONS AND PARTIES
Sosomak refers to Sosomak Elektronik Ticaret ve Teknolojileri A.Ş., incorporated in Turkey, operating the Sosomak platform at Sosomak.com.
Buyer refers to any legal entity or individual registering on the platform to source products from Turkish manufacturers.
Manufacturer refers to any Turkish legal entity registered to offer products or manufacturing services to buyers.
Escrow Account refers to the dedicated bank account maintained by Sosomak at an authorised Turkish credit institution, used exclusively to hold buyer funds during active transactions. Sosomak shall be free to work with any Turkish bank or financial institution of its choice.
2. ACCOUNT REGISTRATION AND VERIFICATION
To access full platform features, users must create an account and complete our verification process.
- Buyers must provide a valid company registration from their country of incorporation.
- Manufacturers must have a valid Turkish Trade Registry (MERSİS) entry. Sosomak verifies this automatically.
- False information will result in the immediate termination and deletion of the account.
- One account per legal entity. Multiple accounts for the same entity are prohibited.
3. PLATFORM USAGE RULES
You agree to use Sosomak for legitimate commercial purposes only. The following are strictly prohibited:
- Posting false or misleading product or company information
- Circumventing the escrow system by transacting off-platform for orders originating on Sosomak within 12 months of initial contact
- Harassing or abusing other platform users
- Using the platform for any illegal activity
- Scraping or systematically extracting data without written permission
FACILITATION FEE POLICY
If a buyer and a manufacturer who first make contact through Sosomak engage in any direct purchase, sale, or other transaction with each other within 12 months from the date of such initial contact, a facilitation fee equal to 3% of the total transaction value (with a minimum fee of €500) shall be payable to Sosomak separately by both the buyer and the seller.
By accepting these terms, both parties acknowledge this obligation.
4. RFQ AND QUOTATION PROCESS
Sending an RFQ does not constitute a binding order. An order is only created when a buyer accepts a quote and initiates an escrow payment. Manufacturers are expected to respond to RFQs in good faith and within the stated deadline.
5. ESCROW PAYMENT SERVICE
Sosomak operates an in-house escrow service. The full terms are set out in the Escrow Agreement, incorporated by reference into these Terms. Sosomak shall be free to work with any Turkish bank or financial institution of its choice.
- Funds are held in a dedicated account separate from Sosomak operating funds
- The agreement between the parties shall be shared with Sosomak by both parties. The funds shall be released by Sosomak in accordance with the payment provisions set forth in the agreement entered into by the parties.
- The procedure to be followed in the event of a dispute between the Buyer and the Manufacturer is set forth in the Escrow Agreement.
- Even if the sale is cancelled or the products are returned after the escrow payment has been made, the commission fee collected by Sosomak shall be non-refundable. In the event of cancellation or return, the 2% fee shall be deducted from the amount paid by the Buyer.
- Sosomak is not a bank. Escrow is provided as a commercial intermediary service.
- The Buyer and the Manufacturer acknowledge, represent, and undertake that they shall not be entitled to claim any interest, yield, return, or other additional earnings in respect of any funds held in the escrow account during the period in which such funds remain blocked.
- In the event of a chargeback initiated by the Buyer, suspected fraud, inability to contact the Manufacturer, or any similar circumstance, Sosomak shall be entitled to suspend and block the Manufacturer’s and Buyer’s outstanding balance and account until the relevant investigation has been completed.
6. FEES AND PAYMENT
- Manufacturer subscriptions: €0 (Basic), €99/month (Verified), €249/month (Premium)
- Buyer subscriptions: €0 (Explorer), €149/month (Pro Buyer)
- Escrow fee: 2% (min €50), decreasing to 1.5% after 5 succesfull transactions and 1% after 10 successful transactions
- Inspection commission: 15–20% of inspector fee retained by Sosomak
All fees specified in this Agreement are net fees exclusive of VAT. Sosomak reserves the right to change fees with 30 days' notice.
The subscription will automatically renew at the end of each period.
Membership fees shall be paid in advance on the date of membership and, for each subsequent month, on the same calendar day of each month. No partial or full refund of membership fees shall be made, even if the membership is terminated during the applicable membership period.
Any fees not paid when due shall accrue rediscount interest in accordance with the applicable laws of the Republic of Türkiye.
Upon termination or withdrawal from membership, Sosomak shall be entitled to directly set off and collect any outstanding membership fees and escrow fees from any rights, receivables, or amounts otherwise due to the Buyer or Manufacturer and held by Sosomak.
7. LİMİTATİON OF LİABİLİTY
Sosomak makes no representation, warranty, or undertaking regarding the quality, authenticity, delivery time, conformity, or absence of defects in the products sold in transactions between the Buyer and the Manufacturer, nor does Sosomak provide any warranty or guarantee as to the Manufacturer’s ability or capacity to supply the products.
Sosomak is not a guarantor. Sosomak acts solely as an intermediary, through the Platform, for the establishment of contracts between the Buyer and the Manufacturer. Sosomak does not provide services such as shipping, transportation, loading/unloading, installation, customs clearance, or similar services. Any transactions conducted through the Platform are entered into exclusively between the Buyer and the Manufacturer, and Sosomak is not a party to any such contracts.
Sosomak shall have no liability whatsoever for any failure to deliver the products, delayed delivery, shortages, defects or non-conformities in the products, shipping, transportation, loading/unloading, installation, customs procedures, failure by the Buyer or the Manufacturer to comply with the terms of their agreement, or any other matter arising from or in connection with the transaction. Sosomak shall not be a party to any dispute between the Buyer and the Manufacturer.
The Buyer and the Manufacturer expressly, irrevocably, acknowledge, declare and undertake that, in the event of any dispute arising out of or in connection with the contractual terms, delivery, shipping, transportation, loading/unloading or installation of the products, any shortage, defect or non-conformity in the products, customs procedures, or any other matter whatsoever, they shall make no claim or demand against Sosomak and shall not name, join or otherwise seek to make Sosomak a party to any legal action or proceeding.
Sosomak provides the Platform “as is” and “as available”, without any warranty or guarantee that the Platform will be uninterrupted or error-free. In the event that the Platform is temporarily unavailable or inaccessible for any reason, Sosomak shall have no liability whatsoever arising from or in connection with such unavailability or inaccessibility.
Payments shall be processed through a licensed payment institution. Sosomak shall not be held liable for any issues relating to credit card security or any interruption, malfunction, or failure of the POS infrastructure.
8. REPRESENTATİONS AND UNDERTAKİNGS
The Buyer and the Manufacturer represent and warrant that they own all copyrights, trademark rights, and other intellectual property rights in and to any content uploaded to the Platform and that such content does not infringe upon the rights of any third party.
The Buyer and the Manufacturer acknowledge and agree that, for the operation and promotion of the Platform, they grant Sosomak a worldwide, royalty-free, irrevocable, non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, display, distribute, and otherwise use such uploaded content.
The Manufacturer acknowledges, represents, and undertakes that all products listed on the Platform comply with the Turkish Commercial Code, the Turkish Code of Obligations, customs legislation, and all other applicable laws and regulations, and that the Manufacturer shall not offer for sale any smuggled, counterfeit, prohibited, or otherwise unlawful products.
9. RECOURSE
In the event that Sosomak is subjected to any administrative sanction by administrative authorities (including, but not limited to, the Personal Data Protection Authority (KVKK), the Ministry of Trade, or any other competent authority) as a result of the Buyer’s or Manufacturer’s violation of the Platform rules, or suffers any loss or damage as a result of any claims, actions, or proceedings brought by third parties arising from such violation, Sosomak shall have the right to recourse directly against the Buyer or Manufacturer responsible for the violation for the full amount of such loss or damage, together with any applicable interest, court costs, litigation expenses, and attorneys’ fees.
10. WİTHDRAWAL FROM OR TERMİNATİON OF MEMBERSHİP
Requests for termination of membership shall take effect upon the expiry of the prepaid subscription period.
Sosomak shall have the right to terminate this Agreement and the membership without providing any reason, provided that it gives 30 days’ prior notice.
Sosomak shall have the right, in the event of any of the following circumstances, to temporarily or permanently suspend the membership of the Buyer or Manufacturer, or unilaterally terminate this Agreement and the membership:
· failure to comply with the Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, Escrow Agreement, or any other applicable agreement;
· failure to pay any fees when due;
· determination that false, misleading, or inaccurate information has been provided;
· use of the Platform for the commission of, or in connection with, any criminal offence; or
· where, at Sosomak’s sole discretion, user complaints or conduct warrant termination of membership.
Sosomak shall have the sole discretion to accept or reject applications for membership.
11. DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Türkiye. The courts and enforcement offices of Konya shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any and all disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement.
12. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
In the event of any dispute, the Buyer and the Manufacturer acknowledge and undertake that Sosomak’s own server records, log records, database records, emails, commercial books, invoices, and all other information and documents relating to the Platform shall be accepted as conclusive evidence.
By registering as a member of the platform or by beginning to use the service, the Manufacturer and the Buyer acknowledge and undertake that they shall be bound by these “Terms of Service” and that they have reviewed and approved the provisions herein.
For the purposes of calculating all periods specified as business days in the “Terms of Service,” “Escrow Agreement,” and “Privacy Policy,” Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday shall be considered business days. Saturdays and Sundays shall not be considered business days. All periods shall be calculated accordingly.