Terms of Service
The Curious Octopus
Website Terms & Conditions
Last updated: August 2026
Welcome to The Curious Octopus. These Terms & Conditions explain the rules that apply when you visit our website, purchase products from us or use any of the services available through our website.
Please read these terms carefully before placing an order. By using our website or placing an order with us, you agree to these Terms & Conditions.
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1. About Us
The Curious Octopus is a UK-based family business selling a range of products including fidget toys, squishies, sensory products, stationery, collectibles, blind boxes and other gifts and accessories.
Business name: The Curious Octopus
Email:info@thecuriousoctopus.co.uk
If you need to contact us regarding an order or these Terms & Conditions, please contact us using the details above.
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2. Using Our Website
You may use our website for personal and lawful purposes.
You must not:
Use our website for fraudulent or unlawful purposes.
Attempt to gain unauthorised access to our website or systems.
Introduce viruses, malicious software or other harmful material.
Copy or reproduce website content without permission.
Use our website in a way that could damage or interfere with its operation.
We reserve the right to suspend or restrict access to our website where reasonably necessary.
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3. Our Products
We aim to describe and photograph our products as accurately as possible.
However, colours and appearance may vary slightly depending on your device or screen settings.
Many of our products, particularly squishies, sensory products and handmade or individually decorated items, may also have small variations in colour, shape, texture, finish or decoration.
These variations do not necessarily mean that a product is faulty.
Product packaging may occasionally differ from photographs shown on our website.
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4. Product Safety & Age Recommendations
Some products sold by The Curious Octopus may contain small parts and may not be suitable for children under three years old.
Customers should always check the product packaging, safety information and recommended age before giving a product to a child.
Children should use products under appropriate adult supervision.
Products should only be used for their intended purpose.
Squishies, slime, sensory products and similar items are not food and must not be eaten, even where they resemble food or have a fragrance.
Please stop using a product if it becomes damaged, torn or broken and presents a potential safety risk.
Where a manufacturer provides specific warnings or safety instructions, these should always be followed.
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5. Placing an Order
When you place an order through our website, you are making an offer to purchase the products in your basket.
After placing an order, you should receive an order confirmation.
A contract between you and The Curious Octopus is formed when we accept your order and confirm that it is being processed or dispatched.
We reserve the right to refuse or cancel an order where reasonably necessary, including where:
A product is unavailable.
There has been an obvious pricing or product description error.
We are unable to authorise or verify payment.
We suspect fraudulent activity.
Delivery is not available to the address provided.
If we cancel an order after payment has been taken, we will refund the amount paid for the cancelled products.
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6. Prices
All prices displayed on our website are in Pounds Sterling (£ GBP).
Prices may change from time to time.
The price you pay will normally be the price displayed when your order is placed, except where there is an obvious pricing error.
Delivery charges, where applicable, will be shown during checkout before you complete your purchase.
Where VAT is applicable, prices will be displayed in accordance with UK requirements.
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7. Payment
Payment must be made using one of the payment methods available at checkout.
Your order will not be dispatched until payment has been successfully authorised.
We do not store full payment card information ourselves where payments are processed securely by a third-party payment provider.
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8. Discount Codes & Promotions
From time to time, The Curious Octopus may offer discount codes, competitions, special offers or promotions.
Unless otherwise stated:
Discount codes cannot be exchanged for cash.
Only one discount code may be used per transaction.
Discount codes may have expiry dates.
Certain products may be excluded.
Promotional offers may be withdrawn or amended where reasonably necessary.
Any specific terms supplied with a promotion will also apply.
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9. Delivery
We aim to prepare and dispatch orders within the timescales stated on our website.
Delivery times are estimates unless we specifically state otherwise.
Delays can occasionally occur due to circumstances outside our reasonable control, including postal or courier delays, severe weather and busy seasonal periods.
Customers are responsible for providing a complete and accurate delivery address.
Please contact us as soon as possible if you notice an error in your delivery details.
Further information can be found in our Delivery Policy.
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10. Your Right to Cancel
If you are purchasing as a consumer online, you will normally have a legal right to change your mind and cancel your order within 14 days of receiving your goods, subject to certain exceptions under UK consumer law.
You must inform us that you wish to cancel within the applicable cancellation period.
After notifying us, you will normally have a further 14 days to return the goods.
Unless the item is faulty, incorrect or otherwise required by law, customers may be responsible for the cost of returning unwanted products.
Products should be returned in a condition that allows us to assess and, where appropriate, resell them. We may be entitled to reduce a refund where goods have been handled beyond what would reasonably be permitted when examining them in a shop.
Certain products may be excluded from cancellation rights where permitted by law, including some sealed products where the seal has been broken and hygiene considerations apply.
Nothing in these Terms & Conditions affects your statutory rights.
Please see our Returns & Refunds Policy for full details.
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11. Faulty, Damaged or Incorrect Products
We want you to be happy with your Curious Octopus order.
If an item arrives damaged, faulty or you receive the wrong product, please contact us as soon as possible and provide:
Your name.
Your order number.
A description of the problem.
Photographs of the product and packaging where appropriate.
We will deal with faulty products in accordance with your rights under UK consumer law.
Depending on the circumstances, you may be entitled to a repair, replacement, refund or other remedy.
Your statutory rights are not affected.
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12. Blind Boxes & Mystery Products
Some products sold by The Curious Octopus may be supplied as blind boxes, mystery products or randomly selected designs.
Unless specifically stated otherwise, the exact character, colour, style or design inside a blind or mystery product cannot be selected.
Receiving a duplicate or a particular design that you did not hope to receive does not make the product faulty.
This does not affect your legal rights where the product itself is faulty, damaged or not as described.
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13. Sensory & Fidget Products
Fidget and sensory preferences vary significantly between individuals.
Descriptions such as “calming”, “satisfying”, “sensory”, “stress relieving” or similar wording describe the intended experience or common use of a product and do not constitute medical claims or guarantees.
Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition.
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14. Availability
All products are subject to availability.
Occasionally, an item may become unavailable after an order has been placed.
If this happens, we will contact you and either offer an appropriate alternative, where you agree to one, or provide a refund for the unavailable item.
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15. Gift Cards & Vouchers
Gift cards or vouchers issued by The Curious Octopus are subject to any terms displayed when they are purchased or issued.
Unless required otherwise by law, gift cards:
Cannot normally be exchanged for cash.
Must be used before any stated expiry date.
Cannot be replaced if lost or stolen unless we are able to verify and cancel the original voucher.
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16. Intellectual Property
The Curious Octopus name, branding, logos, illustrations, characters, website design, photographs, graphics and original written content are owned by or licensed to The Curious Octopus unless otherwise stated.
They must not be copied, reproduced, distributed, modified or used commercially without our prior permission.
Third-party product names, characters, trademarks and brands remain the property of their respective owners.
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17. Social Media & Customer Content
If you tag The Curious Octopus or send us photographs, reviews or other content, we may ask for permission to share that content through our website or social media channels.
We will not knowingly use customer photographs for promotional purposes where permission is required without obtaining appropriate permission.
Extra care will be taken where photographs include children.
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18. Website Information
We make reasonable efforts to ensure information on our website is accurate and up to date.
However, occasional errors may occur.
We may update product descriptions, prices, availability and website content when necessary.
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19. Our Responsibility to You
Nothing in these Terms & Conditions excludes or limits liability where doing so would be unlawful.
We are responsible for foreseeable loss or damage caused by our breach of these terms or our failure to use reasonable care and skill.
We are not responsible for business losses where you purchase products wholly for personal consumer use.
Nothing in these terms affects your statutory consumer rights.
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20. Privacy & Personal Information
We take your privacy seriously.
Personal information collected through our website will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable UK data protection law.
Please see our Privacy Policy for information about how we collect, use and protect your personal information.
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21. Cookies
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to operate the website, remember preferences, understand how visitors use the site and, where applicable and with appropriate consent, support advertising or marketing.
Further information can be found in our Cookie Policy.
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22. Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms & Conditions occasionally to reflect changes to our business, website, services or legal requirements.
The latest version will always be published on our website with the date it was last updated.
The terms applying to your purchase will generally be those in force when your order was placed.
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23. Governing Law
These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
If you are a consumer resident elsewhere in the United Kingdom, you may also benefit from mandatory consumer protections applicable where you live.
Any dispute will be dealt with by the appropriate courts in accordance with applicable UK law.
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24. Contact Us
Questions about these Terms & Conditions or an order can be sent to:
The Curious Octopus
info@thecuriousoctopus.co.uk
We will always aim to deal with customer queries fairly and as quickly as possible.
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© 2026 The Curious Octopus. All rights reserved.