Frequently Asked Questions
BUYER / CUSTOMER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If you’re a customer buying from any of the sellers on our website, these FAQs are for your help and information.
The Countryside Store is an exciting new online marketplace that has been designed and built specifically for countryside and rural lifestyle businesses, regardless of size or structure.
You can buy almost anything from the UK on The Countryside Store – we are all about country life and country living. Our unique online platform has been designed to offer a huge range of products and produce to suit gift shoppers but also practical items for the working rural communities.
Buy British, buy local, buy quality support rural businesses and the great British countryside.
The Countryside Store have quickly become a recognisable platform within the countryside sector. Our aim is to support sellers and communities within the countryside as well as shining a spotlight on rural affairs, products and the people within our industry.
The Countryside Store launched in autumn 2020 with 14 retailers, 6 month on and we have 400 sellers offering thousands of incredible gifts, crafts, products and produce.
Buy British, buy local, buy quality support rural businesses and the great British countryside.
The Countryside Store have quickly become a recognisable platform within the countryside sector. Our aim is to support sellers and communities within the countryside as well as shining a spotlight on rural affairs, products and the people within our industry.
We welcome everyone at The Countryside Store, the countryside industry offers such a huge variety of products, gift, food and beverage, trades and holidays that will suit all budgets and preferences.
We welcome buyers from across the globe. We know that our countryside industry is recognisable throughout the world for unique, quality and tailor-made products plus holiday destinations.
Yes, you are fully within your right to return products back to the manufacture/seller, we would ask that you consider carefully when purchasing the products as many of our sellers are small, independent businesses and work on small margins.
There must be a good reason for your return and we would ask that the seller is contacted within 48 hours of receiving the products to then arrange the product been sent back.
The Countryside Store work closely with our sellers to ensure the products you receive meet the required standard and the expectations of the buyers. On the rare occasion there is a dispute between seller and buyer The Countryside Store may intervene.
In this instance the product MUST be sent to The Countryside Store for inspection.
Many of the items found on The Countryside Store are hand made and may differ very slightly to pictures of the seller’s profile, this must be expected with unique, bespoke handmade crafts.
Yes. Unless other arrangements have been made with the seller.
All payments are managed by The Countryside Store through our secure payment platforms.
No, The Countryside Store offer various payment methods.
Each seller will offer their own delivery terms. If your product does not arrive on time please contact the seller.
We would always suggest you use The Countryside Store’s platform to purchase your products, this way we can guarantee safe payments and support if there was an issue further down the line.
The Countryside Store have many brilliant holiday destinations and trade services throughout the UK but, unfortunately, we are unable to visit each one to provide the platforms customers with a review.
We would recommend you research the trade or holiday destination before booking their services or staycation location.
No. The Countryside Store believe in affordable advertising for all trades, traders and holiday destinations. Our platform has been specifically designed to create footfall to these trades without the associated expense.
The Countryside Store would love to hear about your experiences while using our Trade Directory or UK Holiday Finder. This will allow us to recommend these trades and holiday destinations as well as congratulating the individual business if they have done a great job!
If you are dissatisfied with your experience it will allow us to make recommendations to the individual to improve their services.
The Countryside Store have created a cost effective advertising platform for the users of both our Trade Directory and UK Holiday Finder. This will ensure you, as a consumer, get the best deal and the business does not have to pay high commission or booking fees.
By developing the system this way it will allow the consumer to be directed straight to the trade or holiday provider.
SELLER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If you’re a seller, or interested in becoming a seller to sell your products on our website, these FAQs are for your help and information
The Countryside Store is an exciting new online marketplace that has been designed and built specifically for countryside and rural lifestyle businesses, regardless of size or structure.
You can sell almost anything from the UK on The Countryside Store – we are all about country life and country living. Our online platform has been designed to offer a huge range of products and produce to suit gift shoppers but also practical items for the working rural communities.
No problem! We encourage both full and part-time manufacturers to join The Countryside Store.
Or, if you’ve been hiding that hidden talent of yours away in the garden shed, please get it out! Let the Countryside Store community see it and we can help you sell it!
It will work as an advertising platform. You will have full control of your dedicated space on The Countryside Store, as above, with a direct link to your website. The customer will then deal directly with you.
Of course! We have a dedicated area headlined ‘UK Holiday Finder’ within The Countryside Store.
And, if you offer country cottages, B&B’s, glamping, camping, lodges, boating or self-catering accommodation in the UK, we would love to hear from you.
The Countryside Store launched in autumn 2020 with 14 retailers, 6 month on and we have 400 sellers offering thousands of incredible gifts, crafts, products and produce.
We are specifically targeting small and medium sized independent businesses.
Our ethos is to shine a spotlight on our quintessential countryside products, services and their suppliers, offering you a unique approach to selling your products or services under one virtual roof.
We charge a nominal subscription fee (Please check our subscription packages here our subscription fees) and 7% + .30p on each sale transaction to cover administration fees and card payment processes.
We give you full control of your shop! Within the online store, you will have a dedicated space to create your own shop profile to include: your logo, a company summary, your product information, and images – you are encouraged to upload as much detail as you can. We can send you a step-by-step guide to help you. sales@thecountrysidestore.co.uk
We are one of the very few marketplaces that priorities our sellers over recruiting new ones.
.All our sellers now feature on GOOGLE merchants.
.Our “EVERY SALE PLANTS A SPALING “ scheme has proved extremely popular with both sellers and consumers. Every time you sell a product we donate a sapling on your behalf showing YOUR business has green credentials.
.The Countryside Store runs various consumer campaigns through social media and search engines.
.Our yearly shop subscribers are promoted on our social media platforms and our weekly newsletter.
.100% of all profits are reinvested back into generating our retailers more sales.
The Countryside Store does not limit the number of listings. Please check our subscription packages here for a full price list.
We recommend between 3-6 images per product.
Yes, you can add different variations such as colour and size to your products as well as custom variations.
Yes please! We love bespoke! The customer will be able to contact you via our platform to discuss personalisation.
Yes, you can but you must clearly state that the item is used, take additional pictures of condition and damage if there is any.
It is important to explain age and condition in your description.
Only if you are a registered/licensed supplier. No private sales of any guns or ammunition are allowed on this site.
No, The Countryside Store platform is designed to introduce the buyer with the seller.
Sorry, no! We need to be able to track, trace and assist buyers through each order process. However, if you are selling a service rather than a product through The Countryside Store platform then you will take direct control of all transactions and payments.
The Seller is responsible for sending out deliveries to customers. We would recommend you are as clear as possible with delivery times and dates to meet the customer’s expectations.
Once the payment has been accepted you will immediately receive notification by email that an order has been placed with the buyer’s delivery address and requirements. You will receive payment from The Countryside Store within 14 days of the order being placed.
Yes, PayPal will be our main transaction provider however we are exploring additional payment techniques.
Yes, we have set up a 0-5 star rating review system asking all customers to give their feedback on product quality and service.
Yes, please check out our social media feeds and posts to see the large amount of daily advertising we do for our sellers. In addition to paid advertising our website link system will naturally increase traffic to the site.
We also recommend that all sellers use their The Countryside Store profiles to draw customers onto the site.
In addition to this, we have an online community on Facebook, which you can join here to promote your products to our growing customer base. https://www.facebook.com/thecountrysidestore/
Yes, of course. We do not limit you to just our platform.
No but our subscriptions are non-refundable for the period that they were originally signed up for.
Yes, you can close your account at anytime.
We are passionate about the UK countryside and the industries within it. We have a wealth of experience in this sector with an established database of customers.
Our affordable platform offers you the perfect home for your products. It provides you with the ideal place to build or boost your business to an audience that has a natural interest in countryside products and services.
If you have any further questions or suggestions, please get in touch today.
Thank you!
