Privacy, Terms & Fraud Policy

Privacy Policy

Sniff NZ is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it, and the steps we take to keep it safe. By using Sniff you agree to the practices described here.

Data We Collect

Information you give us

• Your name (legal name for sellers, display name for buyers), email address and phone number
• Payment information processed securely by Stripe. We do not store raw card numbers at any point
• Seller payout details including your bank account number and account name
• Profile information such as your display name, bio, age, city and profile photos
• Communications you send us through support tickets

Information collected automatically

• IP address, browser type, and device information when you access the platform
• Pages you visit, listings you view, and how long you spend on them
• Session data stored in cookies to keep you logged in
• Transaction metadata including timestamps, item categories and order values

Seller verification data

As part of onboarding, sellers are asked to complete a short live verification step. This involves your webcam capturing a single image that is assessed automatically. The image is not stored on our servers after assessment. No identity documents are required unless a seller reaches 50 completed sales, at which point a one-time ID check is requested. Any documents submitted for this check are deleted immediately after verification.

How We Use Your Data

• To process orders and facilitate payments between buyers and sellers
• To release seller payouts after a successful delivery window has passed
• To verify sellers and maintain platform safety
• To detect and prevent fraud, abuse and policy violations
• To respond to support requests and resolve disputes
• To send transactional emails such as sale notifications, shipping updates and payout confirmations
• To improve the platform based on how people use it

Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal data. We share limited information only in the following situations:

• Stripe receives payment information to process transactions. Stripe is PCI-DSS compliant and operates under its own privacy policy
• Shipping carriers receive only the buyer's delivery address when a label is generated. Sellers never see buyer email addresses or phone numbers
• Buyers never receive seller personal information. Sellers operate under a display name and are never directly identifiable to buyers through the platform
• New Zealand law enforcement may receive information if we are legally required to disclose it. We will notify you where permitted by law
• Internal Sniff staff may access order data only when necessary to resolve a dispute, investigate fraud, or respond to a support ticket

Your Rights

Under New Zealand's Privacy Act 2020, you have the right to:

• Request access to the personal information we hold about you
• Ask us to correct information that is inaccurate or out of date
• Request deletion of your account and associated data, subject to legal and financial record obligations
• Ask how your information is being used

To exercise any of these rights, contact us via the support page. We will respond within 10 working days. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

We retain transaction records for up to 7 years to comply with New Zealand tax and financial obligations. Other personal data is deleted within 30 days of an account closure request unless retention is required by law.

Buyer Terms

By placing an order on Sniff you agree to the following terms. These exist to ensure a fair experience for everyone on the platform and to protect you as a consumer.

Payments & Billing

All transactions on Sniff are processed in New Zealand Dollars (NZD) via Stripe. Payments may also be made using supported cryptocurrency options at checkout where available.

• Your card or payment method is charged at the time you place your order, not when the item ships
• Your billing statement will show the charge as SNIFF NZ
• Sniff does not store your full card number. All payment data is handled by Stripe
• Cryptocurrency payments are converted and settled in NZD. Exchange rates are locked at the time of payment

Refunds & Disputes

Shipping window

Sellers are required to dispatch your order within their stated dispatch time, which is always displayed on the listing before you buy. The maximum dispatch time any seller can set is 5 days. If an item has not been shipped within 5 days of your order, an automatic refund is issued to your original payment method. No action is required from you.

Item not as described

If the item you receive is materially different from the listing description or photos, you may open a dispute through your order page within 3 days of the delivery confirmation date. We will review the case and respond within 3 business days.

What we cannot refund

• Orders where delivery has been confirmed and no dispute has been opened within the 3-day window
• Change of mind after an item has been dispatched
• Items where the listing clearly disclosed the condition and the buyer accepted it at purchase

Buyer Fraud Policy

Sniff takes fraudulent buyer behaviour seriously. The following actions are considered fraud and will result in immediate account suspension and may result in referral to New Zealand Police.

Chargeback fraud

Filing a chargeback with your bank or card provider after receiving an order is considered fraudulent. Chargebacks should only be raised for genuine unauthorised transactions. If you have a concern with an order, you must open a dispute through Sniff first. Abuse of the chargeback process will result in your account being permanently banned and potential legal action to recover costs.

False dispute claims

Claiming an item was not received when tracking confirms delivery, or claiming an item was not as described when evidence does not support this, is considered a false dispute. We investigate all disputes and may request supporting evidence from both parties. Submitting false evidence is a serious offence.

Identity fraud

Creating accounts using another person's identity or payment methods is a criminal offence under New Zealand law. We use IP tracking, device fingerprinting and payment verification to detect this and share evidence with authorities where appropriate.

• Accounts identified as fraudulent are banned immediately without notice
• Any funds associated with fraudulent activity are frozen pending investigation
• We reserve the right to recover losses through legal proceedings

Seller Terms

By creating a seller account on Sniff you agree to operate honestly, fulfill orders promptly and represent your items accurately. These terms protect both you and your buyers.

Listings & Conduct

Accurate representation

Every listing must accurately describe the item. Photos must be of the actual item being sold. You must not use stock images, images of other people's items, or images that misrepresent what the buyer will receive.

What you can sell

Sniff is a pre-worn intimates marketplace. Permitted categories are:

• Worn Socks and Footwear including ankle socks, crew socks, knee-highs, fuzzy socks, worn sneakers and slide insoles
• Intimates and Lingerie including thongs, silk panties, lace sets, bralettes, cotton underwear and bikini briefs
• Nylons, Tights and Hosiery including sheer pantyhose, fishnets, nude tights, thigh-high stockings and knee highs
• Activewear and Gym Sets including spandex leggings, biker shorts, sports bras, seamless sets and gym shorts

What is not permitted

• Items you do not own or have no right to sell
• New, unworn items listed as worn or used
• Items belonging to another person listed without their knowledge
• Any item that falls outside the permitted categories above
• Soliciting buyers to transact off-platform in any listing, message or profile bio

Off-platform solicitation

Attempting to move a buyer off Sniff to complete a transaction elsewhere is a serious violation. This includes sharing personal contact details, social media handles for the purpose of completing a sale, or directing buyers to external payment platforms. A first offence results in a listing removal and warning. A second offence results in permanent account suspension.

Payouts & Fees

How payouts work

Funds are held by Sniff until the buyer's shipping window has passed and no dispute has been opened. Once cleared, your earnings are available for withdrawal.

• Withdrawals are processed Monday to Friday between 8am and 10pm NZST
• Payouts are sent to your registered New Zealand bank account
• Sniff deducts a 30% platform fee from each sale before funds are released
• The remaining 70% is what you receive
• Shipping costs charged to the buyer are passed through to you in full if you used Sniff's label generation system

Payout requirements

• You must have a valid New Zealand bank account registered on your account to receive payouts
• Bank details must be in your name. Third party accounts are not accepted
• We are not responsible for delays caused by your bank's processing times, which typically take 1 to 2 business days

Tax obligations

Sniff does not manage your tax obligations. If you earn income through Sniff you are responsible for declaring this to Inland Revenue as required. We may provide transaction summaries on request to assist with your record keeping.

Seller Fraud Policy

The following behaviours are considered fraud or serious violations and will result in immediate suspension and potential referral to New Zealand Police.

Non-fulfillment

Accepting payment for an order and failing to ship within your stated dispatch window without a valid reason is considered non-fulfillment. Consistent non-fulfillment is treated as fraud. Your account will be suspended and any funds held will be refunded to buyers.

Misrepresentation

Listing items you do not own, using photos that are not of your actual item, or describing a condition that does not match what is sent to the buyer is misrepresentation. A single confirmed case of intentional misrepresentation results in permanent account suspension.

Payout fraud

Providing false bank account details, registering a payout account not in your name, or attempting to manipulate payout records is considered financial fraud. We report these cases to relevant New Zealand authorities including the Serious Fraud Office where warranted.

Fake verification

Attempting to pass identity verification using another person's identity, using pre-recorded video, or any other method of deceiving the verification process is a criminal offence. Detected attempts result in an immediate permanent IP ban and referral to police.

• All seller accounts linked to a banned account are also suspended
• Frozen funds from fraudulent accounts are not released
• Sniff actively cooperates with New Zealand Police investigations relating to fraud on the platform

Platform Rules

These rules apply to everyone who uses Sniff regardless of whether you are buying or selling.

Age requirement

You must be 18 years or older to use Sniff in any capacity. This applies to both buyers and sellers. If we determine that an account belongs to someone under 18, it will be closed immediately and any pending orders will be cancelled and refunded.

One account per person

Each person may hold one buyer account and one seller account. Creating multiple accounts to circumvent a ban or to manipulate platform systems is prohibited.

Prohibited content

• Content involving or depicting minors in any way
• Content that promotes violence, hatred or illegal activity
• Content that impersonates another person
• Spam, bulk messaging or automated activity

Platform integrity

You may not attempt to scrape, reverse-engineer, or interfere with the Sniff platform in any way. Any attempt to manipulate listing rankings, review systems, or payout calculations is prohibited.

Enforcement

Sniff investigates all reported violations and fraud cases. We use a tiered enforcement approach:

• Warning for first-time minor violations with no financial harm
• Listing or content removal for policy-violating listings or profiles
• Temporary suspension for repeated or more serious violations
• Permanent ban for fraud, misrepresentation, or serious violations
• Referral to New Zealand Police or the Serious Fraud Office for criminal conduct

If your account is suspended and you believe this was in error, you may contact our support team to request a review. We aim to respond to suspension appeals within 5 business days.

Questions & Contact

If you have questions about this policy, want to exercise your privacy rights, or need to report a fraud concern, please get in touch through our support system.

• Open a support ticket from your account dashboard
• Email us directly at [email protected]

For urgent fraud or safety concerns, contact us immediately and we will prioritise your case. We do not tolerate abuse of the platform and take all reports seriously.