SOUTHERN COUTURE AUTHENTICATION SERVICE

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Updated: June 1, 2026

By purchasing, submitting an item for, or otherwise using Southern Couture’s authentication services, you (“Customer”) acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to the following Terms & Conditions.

1. AUTHENTICATION SERVICE

Southern Couture provides independent luxury goods authentication services using Entrupy, a third-party technology-based authentication service.

Depending on the item and service selected, Entrupy uses microscopic imaging, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and its proprietary database to analyze characteristics of an item and determine whether the item meets Entrupy’s authentication criteria.

Southern Couture facilitates the authentication process by receiving the item, collecting the information required for authentication, performing the Entrupy scanning process, and communicating the authentication result to the Customer.

Southern Couture is an independent reseller and authentication service provider and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or authorized by any luxury designer brand, including but not limited to Hermès, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Gucci, Prada, Fendi, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Celine, or other brands submitted for authentication.

2. ITEMS ELIGIBLE FOR AUTHENTICATION

Authentication is available only for brands, product categories, materials, styles, and items currently supported by Entrupy.

Not every item produced by a supported brand can necessarily be authenticated through Entrupy.

Southern Couture reserves the right to decline an authentication request if:

• The brand or item is not supported by Entrupy.

• The item cannot be adequately scanned or examined.

• Required identifying features are missing, altered, damaged, obscured, or inaccessible.

• The condition of the item prevents a reliable authentication process.

• The item has been substantially modified, repaired, reconstructed, or altered.

• Southern Couture or Entrupy determines that the item is otherwise unsuitable for authentication.

If Southern Couture determines before beginning the paid authentication process that an item cannot be authenticated through Entrupy, the Customer will be notified.

3. AUTHENTICATION RESULTS

Authentication results are determined by Entrupy and may include, depending on the applicable service:

• Authentic

• Unidentified / Unable to Authenticate

• Additional information or images required

• Another result or status provided by Entrupy

Southern Couture does not independently alter or override Entrupy’s determination.

An authentication result represents the determination made using Entrupy’s technology and authentication standards based upon the item and information presented at the time of examination.

4. CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY

When an item successfully receives an Authentic determination and the applicable Entrupy service includes certification, the Customer will receive an Entrupy Certificate of Authenticity or access to the applicable digital certificate.

The certificate applies only to the specific item that was examined.

Certificates may not be transferred, duplicated, altered, edited, or represented as applying to another item.

Southern Couture is not responsible for fraudulent use, alteration, reproduction, or misuse of an authentication certificate after it has been provided to the Customer.

5. AUTHENTICATION FEES

Authentication fees are based on the authentication tier selected at checkout.

Current pricing will be displayed on the Southern Couture website at the time the authentication order is placed.

The Customer is responsible for selecting the correct authentication tier for the brand being submitted.

If an incorrect tier is purchased, Southern Couture may require payment of the difference before authentication is performed.

Prices may change at any time; however, price changes will not affect authentication services already purchased and paid for unless the Customer changes the service requested.

6. PAYMENT

Payment is due in full before authentication is performed unless Southern Couture has expressly agreed otherwise in writing.

Authentication fees compensate Southern Couture for the authentication service, Entrupy authentication cost, equipment use, processing, handling, administration, and related services.

Once authentication processing has begun, authentication fees are non-refundable, regardless of the authentication result.

This includes items determined to be counterfeit/not authentic or items for which Entrupy is unable to reach a conclusive determination, except where Southern Couture expressly agrees otherwise or where a refund is required by applicable law.

7. INCONCLUSIVE OR UNABLE-TO-AUTHENTICATE RESULTS

In some circumstances, Entrupy may be unable to reach a definitive authentication determination.

This can occur because of factors including, but not limited to:

• Item age

• Wear or damage

• Repairs or alterations

• Missing identifying characteristics

• Unusual materials

• Limited reference data

• Insufficient or inaccessible areas for scanning

• Entrupy system requirements

• The particular model, production period, or item not being adequately supported

An inconclusive or unidentified result does not automatically mean that an item is counterfeit.

If Entrupy requests additional scans or information, Southern Couture may make reasonable attempts to provide them.

If Entrupy ultimately cannot authenticate the item, Southern Couture does not guarantee that a Certificate of Authenticity will be issued.

8. NO GUARANTEE OF A PARTICULAR RESULT

Payment for authentication purchases the authentication service, not a particular outcome.

Southern Couture cannot guarantee that an item will be determined Authentic.

The Customer agrees that dissatisfaction with the authentication result does not, by itself, entitle the Customer to a refund.

9. CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIONS

By submitting an item, the Customer represents that:

• The Customer owns the item or has lawful authority to submit it for authentication.

• The item is not stolen or unlawfully obtained.

• Information provided regarding the item is accurate to the best of the Customer’s knowledge.

• The Customer has disclosed any known repairs, alterations, modifications, or replaced components when requested.

• The Customer has the authority to authorize Southern Couture to possess and examine the item.

Southern Couture reserves the right to refuse service when there is reasonable concern regarding ownership, legality, safety, fraud, or misrepresentation.

10. COUNTERFEIT OR NOT-AUTHENTIC RESULTS

If an item does not receive an Authentic determination, Southern Couture will communicate the applicable result to the Customer.

Southern Couture does not confiscate items solely because they fail authentication unless required to do so by law or lawful governmental authority.

The Customer remains responsible for complying with all laws regarding the possession, sale, advertisement, shipment, or distribution of counterfeit goods.

Southern Couture will not knowingly provide documentation representing a failed or unidentified item as authentic.

11. SHIPPING ITEMS TO SOUTHERN COUTURE

When mail-in authentication is offered, the Customer is responsible for properly packaging and shipping the item to Southern Couture.

Customers are strongly encouraged to use:

• Tracking

• Adequate shipping insurance

• Secure packaging

• Signature confirmation for high-value items

The Customer bears the risk of loss or damage while the item is in transit to Southern Couture.

Southern Couture is not responsible for an item that is lost, stolen, misdelivered, or damaged before confirmed delivery to Southern Couture.

12. RETURN SHIPPING

Unless specifically included in the authentication service purchased, return shipping is the Customer’s responsibility.

The Customer is responsible for providing an accurate and complete return shipping address.

Where Southern Couture purchases or arranges the return shipping label, the Customer may be required to pay applicable shipping and insurance charges before the item is returned.

Once an item has been properly transferred to the shipping carrier for return delivery, carrier-related loss, theft, delay, or damage will be subject to the carrier’s terms, available insurance, and applicable law.

Southern Couture will reasonably assist the Customer with an eligible carrier claim when appropriate.

13. ITEMS LEFT WITH SOUTHERN COUTURE

Customers must respond to requests concerning return shipping, pickup, additional information, or unpaid balances within a reasonable period.

Items that remain unclaimed for an extended period may be subject to storage fees or other remedies permitted by applicable Texas law.

Southern Couture will make reasonable attempts to contact the Customer using the contact information provided with the authentication order before treating an item as abandoned or taking any action permitted by law.

14. ITEM CONDITION

Southern Couture will exercise reasonable care when handling items submitted for authentication.

The authentication process may require handling, opening, manipulating, positioning, photographing, or scanning various portions of the item.

The Customer acknowledges that pre-owned and vintage luxury goods may already have weakened materials, loose stitching, deteriorating coatings, fragile leather, cracking, peeling, oxidation, hardware wear, or other age-related conditions.

Southern Couture is not responsible for deterioration resulting from pre-existing defects, ordinary handling reasonably necessary to perform authentication, or inherent deterioration of aged materials, except to the extent caused by Southern Couture’s negligence or as otherwise required by law.

15. PHOTOGRAPHS AND DIGITAL IMAGES

The Customer authorizes Southern Couture to photograph or digitally image the submitted item as reasonably necessary to perform the authentication service, communicate with Entrupy, document the item's condition, maintain business records, or resolve disputes.

Customer-identifying information will not intentionally be included in public marketing materials without permission.

16. TURNAROUND TIMES

Any turnaround time stated on the Southern Couture website or communicated to the Customer is an estimate unless expressly guaranteed in writing.

Authentication may be delayed because of:

• Entrupy review times

• Requests for additional scans

• Technical issues

• Holidays or business closures

• Shipping delays

• High submission volume

• Circumstances outside Southern Couture’s reasonable control

Southern Couture does not guarantee that authentication will be completed by a specific resale deadline, marketplace deadline, return deadline, travel date, or other Customer deadline unless expressly agreed to in writing.

Customers should submit items sufficiently in advance of any time-sensitive transaction.

17. THIRD-PARTY MARKETPLACES AND BUYERS

An Entrupy authentication result does not guarantee that another business, marketplace, payment processor, reseller, buyer, auction house, or authentication company will reach the same conclusion.

Southern Couture is not responsible if a third party—including a resale platform—rejects an item despite an Entrupy authentication result.

Customers should review the authentication requirements of any marketplace or third party before purchasing Southern Couture’s authentication service.

18. NO APPRAISAL OR VALUATION

Unless expressly purchased as a separate service, authentication does not constitute:

• A monetary appraisal

• A resale valuation

• A condition report

• A guarantee of market value

• A guarantee of future resale value

• A guarantee that an item will be accepted by another reseller or marketplace

An Authentic determination relates to authenticity only.

19. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Southern Couture’s liability arising from the authentication service will be limited to direct damages caused by Southern Couture’s negligence or breach of these Terms.

Southern Couture will not be responsible for indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, punitive, or consequential damages, including lost profits, lost resale opportunities, marketplace account actions, lost transactions, loss of business, or changes in an item’s perceived market value resulting from an authentication determination.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited under applicable law.

20. THIRD-PARTY AUTHENTICATION TECHNOLOGY

Entrupy is an independent third-party authentication provider.

Southern Couture does not own or control Entrupy’s proprietary technology, algorithms, databases, authentication criteria, certificate system, or authentication decisions.

Entrupy may change its supported brands, categories, policies, technology, procedures, pricing, or authentication criteria at any time.

Southern Couture is not responsible for changes made by Entrupy that are outside Southern Couture’s reasonable control.

21. CHARGEBACKS AND PAYMENT DISPUTES

Customers should contact Southern Couture first regarding any concern with an authentication order.

Initiating a payment dispute or chargeback solely because an item did not receive the authentication result the Customer expected does not change the fact that the authentication service was performed.

Southern Couture reserves the right to provide the payment processor or financial institution with documentation showing the Customer’s acceptance of these Terms, authentication submission, Entrupy processing, authentication result, shipping information, communications, and other relevant transaction records.

Nothing in this section limits any legitimate rights the Customer may have under applicable consumer protection or payment laws.

22. REFUSAL OR CANCELLATION OF SERVICE

Southern Couture reserves the right to refuse or discontinue an authentication request when reasonably necessary, including because of:

• Unsupported items

• Safety concerns

• Suspected fraud

• Ownership disputes

• Abusive or threatening conduct

• Failure to provide required information

• Failure to pay required fees

• Violations of these Terms

If Southern Couture cancels an order before authentication processing begins, any refund due will be handled according to the circumstances of the cancellation and applicable law.

23. PRIVACY

Customer information collected for authentication orders may include names, addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers, payment information, item information, photographs, shipping information, and authentication records.

Information will be used as reasonably necessary to process the order, communicate with the Customer, perform authentication, facilitate payment and shipping, prevent fraud, maintain business records, and comply with applicable legal obligations.

Information may be shared with service providers such as Entrupy, payment processors, ecommerce providers, and shipping carriers when necessary to provide the requested service.

24. GOVERNING LAW

These Terms & Conditions and authentication services provided by Southern Couture will be governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflict-of-law principles, except where applicable federal or other law provides otherwise.

Any dispute arising from the authentication service will be handled in a court of competent jurisdiction as permitted by applicable law.

25. SEVERABILITY

If any provision of these Terms is determined to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.

26. CHANGES TO THESE TERMS

Southern Couture may update these Terms & Conditions periodically.

The version in effect at the time the Customer submits and pays for an authentication order will generally govern that transaction.

27. CUSTOMER ACKNOWLEDGMENT

By submitting an authentication order and completing payment, the Customer acknowledges and agrees that:

• They have read and accepted these Authentication Service Terms & Conditions.

• They understand that Southern Couture uses Entrupy as a third-party authentication provider.

• They understand that payment is for the authentication service and does not guarantee an Authentic result.

• They understand that authentication fees are generally non-refundable once authentication processing has begun.

• They understand that an Entrupy determination does not guarantee acceptance by every marketplace, reseller, buyer, or other authentication provider.

• They authorize Southern Couture to handle, photograph, scan, and examine the item as reasonably necessary to perform the authentication service.

Southern Couture
Frisco, Texas
Luxury Resale & Authentication Services

Entrupy and the names of designer brands referenced in connection with the authentication service are trademarks of their respective owners. Southern Couture is an independent business and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by those brands.