Terms of service

Terms of Service

Last updated: August 15, 2026

These Terms of Service apply to purchases, services, and use of the website operated by The Thoughtful Tinkerer. By using this website, placing an order, or purchasing a service, you agree to these terms.

If you have any questions before placing an order, please contact me at derevas@thethoughtfultinkerer.com.

1. Products and Services

The Thoughtful Tinkerer designs and sells aftermarket automotive accessories, replacement components, conversion parts, and related products. Many products are designed for specific vehicle models, configurations, or aftermarket components.

I make reasonable efforts to clearly describe product compatibility, included components, materials, installation requirements, and known limitations.

Because vehicles may have been modified, repaired, or fitted with non-original components during their lifetime, I cannot guarantee compatibility with every individual vehicle or aftermarket configuration unless specifically stated.

If you are unsure whether a product will work with your vehicle or equipment, please contact me before ordering or modifying the product.

2. Aftermarket Product Disclaimer

Products sold by The Thoughtful Tinkerer are aftermarket products and are not manufactured, sponsored, endorsed, or approved by the original vehicle manufacturer unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Vehicle manufacturer names, model names, trademarks, and other identifying terms may be used solely to describe product compatibility.

Customers are responsible for determining whether an aftermarket modification is appropriate for their vehicle and complies with any laws, regulations, inspection requirements, warranty terms, or other requirements applicable to them.

3. Installation and Use

Many products are designed for installation by a vehicle owner using common tools. Installation difficulty may vary depending on the vehicle, its condition, previous modifications, and the components being installed.

Installation instructions, videos, photographs, or other guidance are provided for informational purposes.

If you encounter unexpected resistance, poor fitment, interference, or another installation concern, please stop and contact me before cutting, drilling, sanding, grinding, heating, bending, or otherwise modifying the product.

The Thoughtful Tinkerer is not responsible for damage caused by improper installation, misuse, unauthorized modification, use outside the product's intended purpose, or failure to follow provided instructions.

Nothing in these terms excludes responsibility that cannot legally be excluded under applicable law.

4. Product Appearance and Manufacturing

Many products are manufactured using additive manufacturing processes such as 3D printing.

Minor cosmetic characteristics associated with the manufacturing process may occur, including layer lines, small surface variations, support-interface marks, seams, or slight differences between production runs. These characteristics do not necessarily indicate a defect.

Product photographs are intended to represent the item as accurately as reasonably possible. Minor differences in appearance, texture, or color may occur because of manufacturing variations, material batches, lighting, or display settings.

5. Orders

Submitting an order does not guarantee acceptance.

The Thoughtful Tinkerer reserves the right to cancel or decline an order when reasonably necessary, including situations involving:

Incorrect pricing or product information.
Suspected fraudulent activity.
An item that cannot be produced or supplied.
A compatibility issue identified before fulfillment.
An order containing information that is incomplete or clearly incorrect.

If a paid order is canceled by The Thoughtful Tinkerer before fulfillment, the appropriate payment will be refunded.

6. Pricing and Payment

Prices are displayed in the currency shown on the website and may change without notice.

The price charged for an order will generally be the price displayed when the order is submitted, except when there is an obvious pricing, technical, or listing error.

Applicable taxes, shipping charges, and other costs will be displayed during checkout when required.

Orders must be paid using an accepted payment method before fulfillment unless another arrangement has been agreed to in writing.

7. Processing and Shipping

Processing times shown on the website are estimates rather than guaranteed delivery dates.

Some products may be produced after an order is placed, while others may be fulfilled from available inventory.

Once a shipment has been transferred to the shipping carrier, actual transportation and delivery timing may be outside the direct control of The Thoughtful Tinkerer.

Customers are responsible for providing a complete and accurate shipping address.

Additional shipping terms may be described in the Shipping Policy.

8. Returns, Refunds, and Fitment Concerns

Returns, refunds, defective items, fitment concerns, and products damaged during shipping are governed by the Return and Refund Policy available on this website.

Customers experiencing a fitment or installation problem should contact me before permanently modifying the product whenever reasonably possible.

9. Personalized and Custom Products

Products created specifically for an individual customer, including personalized items or specially modified designs, may not be eligible for ordinary change-of-mind returns.

This does not prevent a customer from contacting me regarding a defect, unresolved fitment problem, shipping damage, or another issue covered by the Return and Refund Policy.

10. Custom CAD and Design Services

Custom CAD, modeling, prototyping, or design work may be offered on a case-by-case basis.

Before paid custom work begins, the project scope should be agreed upon in writing. Depending on the project, this may include:

The requested design or problem to be solved.
Files, measurements, photographs, or reference materials supplied by the customer.
Expected deliverables.
Price and payment terms.
Included revisions.
Estimated timeline.
Intellectual property or usage rights.
Any project-specific refund or cancellation terms.

Once custom design work has begun, payments for that work may become non-refundable when the work performed substantially meets the agreed project requirements.

Additional revisions or changes outside the original project scope may require additional payment.

11. Customer-Supplied Measurements and Information

For custom products, adaptations, or design work, I may rely on measurements, photographs, CAD files, specifications, or other information supplied by the customer.

The customer is responsible for providing reasonably accurate information.

The Thoughtful Tinkerer is not responsible for incompatibility or design errors directly caused by inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading measurements or information supplied by the customer.

If an issue can reasonably be corrected, I will make a good-faith effort to work with the customer toward a solution.

12. Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise stated, original product designs, CAD models, photographs, written instructions, videos, graphics, logos, product descriptions, and other original content created by The Thoughtful Tinkerer remain the intellectual property of The Thoughtful Tinkerer.

Purchasing a physical product does not automatically transfer ownership of the underlying design or digital files.

Products may not be digitally reproduced, scanned for commercial reproduction, copied for resale, manufactured for resale, or represented as another seller's original design without permission.

Digital design files, when specifically sold or provided, may be subject to additional licensing terms.

13. Customer Content and Feedback

Customers may voluntarily provide photographs, videos, reviews, installation feedback, or other materials.

I will not assume commercial usage rights to customer-supplied photographs or videos solely because they were sent to me.

If I would like to use customer-provided media for advertising, product listings, social media, or other promotional purposes, I may request permission first.

Ideas, suggestions, fitment feedback, or general product-improvement recommendations may be used to improve products without creating an obligation to compensate the person providing the feedback unless another agreement has been made in writing.

14. Website Information

I make reasonable efforts to keep product descriptions, photographs, prices, compatibility information, and other website content accurate.

Occasional typographical, technical, pricing, or informational errors may occur.

The Thoughtful Tinkerer reserves the right to correct errors and update website information when discovered.

15. Third-Party Products and Services

Some products sold or demonstrated by The Thoughtful Tinkerer may be designed to work with third-party headlights, fog lights, switches, vehicles, hardware, or other components.

Compatibility references do not imply sponsorship, endorsement, partnership, or affiliation with those manufacturers unless specifically stated.

Third-party products remain subject to their manufacturer's own warranties, instructions, and terms.

16. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, The Thoughtful Tinkerer will not be responsible for indirect, incidental, or consequential losses resulting from improper installation, misuse, unauthorized modification, or use of a product outside its intended purpose.

Nothing in these Terms of Service limits or excludes any warranty, remedy, liability, or consumer right that cannot legally be limited or excluded.

17. Prohibited Use

The website, products, services, digital files, and other materials provided by The Thoughtful Tinkerer may not be used for unlawful purposes.

Users may not attempt to interfere with the operation or security of the website, misuse customer or business information, engage in fraudulent transactions, or use The Thoughtful Tinkerer's intellectual property in violation of these terms.

18. Changes to These Terms

These Terms of Service may be updated as products, services, business practices, or legal requirements change.

The version posted on this website at the time of an order will generally govern that transaction unless applicable law requires otherwise.

19. Governing Law

These Terms of Service are governed by the laws applicable in the State of Michigan, United States, without limiting any consumer protections or other rights that may apply based on the customer's location.

20. Severability

If any provision of these Terms of Service is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply to the extent permitted by law.