Terms of service

Effective Date: August 17, 2026

1. Overview

This website is operated by Minato Market. Throughout these Terms of Service, the terms “Minato Market,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Minato Market.

These Terms of Service govern your access to and use of our website, online store, products, communications, local delivery services, local pickup services, promotions, and any other services we provide through or in connection with our website.

Our online store is hosted by Shopify, which provides the e-commerce platform that allows us to offer products and services to you. Purchases made through this website are transactions between you and Minato Market.

By visiting our website, creating an account, submitting an order, purchasing a product, participating in a promotion, or otherwise using our services, you agree to these Terms of Service and all policies referenced in them, including our:

  • Shipping & Local Delivery Policy

  • Refund & Cancellation Policy

  • Privacy Policy

  • Any product-specific, promotional, gift card, custom-order, or B2B terms presented to you

If you do not agree to these terms, you should not use our website or place an order.

2. Eligibility

You must be legally capable of entering into a binding agreement to place an order through our website.

If you are under the age of majority in your place of residence, you may use our website only with the involvement and permission of a parent or legal guardian.

You may not use our website, products, or services for any unlawful, fraudulent, abusive, or unauthorized purpose.

3. Website Information and Availability

We make reasonable efforts to keep the information on our website accurate and current. However, product descriptions, images, availability, pricing, weights, quantities, delivery schedules, and other content may occasionally contain errors or become outdated.

We may update, correct, suspend, or discontinue any part of the website or our services at any time. We do not guarantee that the website will always be available, uninterrupted, secure, or error-free.

Information on the website is provided for general informational and shopping purposes. It should not be relied upon as medical, nutritional, dietary, food-safety, or professional advice.

4. Products, Natural Variations, and Product Images

Our seafood and specialty products may be seasonal, auction-sourced, imported, limited in quantity, or available only during certain ordering periods.

Seafood is a natural product. Actual products may vary from photographs or descriptions in:

  • Color

  • Shape

  • Size

  • Fat content

  • Texture

  • Marbling

  • Trim

  • Count

  • Packaging

  • Exact weight

  • Country, region, port, farm, or harvest location, where permitted and accurately disclosed

Product images are provided as visual references. Differences caused by seasonality, natural variation, processing, packaging, lighting, photography, or display settings are not necessarily defects.

Weights and counts described as “approximately,” “about,” “average,” or similar language are estimates. Minor commercially reasonable variations do not entitle the customer to a refund unless the item materially differs from its description.

Product-specific descriptions, labels, storage instructions, and warnings form part of these Terms.

5. Weekly Ordering Schedule

Our typical weekly ordering schedule is:

  • The weekly selection opens on Sunday evening.

  • Whole fish and uni pre-orders close on Saturday at 4:59 PM Pacific Time. Orders for all other products close on Wednesday at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.

  • Products are generally scheduled to arrive in the San Francisco Bay Area on Friday.

  • Local delivery and pickup are arranged based on location, route availability, product arrival, and the delivery or pickup information provided for that week.

This schedule is an estimate and not a guaranteed delivery appointment.

Availability and timing may be affected by seafood auction results, supplier availability, catch conditions, weather, airline schedules, cargo handling, customs clearance, government inspections, transportation delays, or other circumstances outside our reasonable control.

The delivery or pickup date stated at checkout, in your order confirmation, or in a later notification applies to your order.

6. Orders and Acceptance

Submitting an order constitutes an offer to purchase the selected products under these Terms.

An automated order confirmation acknowledges that we received your order. We may still decline, limit, or cancel an order before fulfillment for reasons including:

  • Product unavailability

  • Supplier or auction changes

  • Pricing or listing errors

  • Payment authorization problems

  • Suspected fraud

  • Address or delivery-area problems

  • Import, legal, regulatory, or food-safety concerns

  • Quantity limitations

  • Events outside our reasonable control

If we cancel an item or order after payment has been collected, we will refund the applicable amount to the original payment method, subject to payment processor timing.

We may limit quantities per customer, household, account, address, payment method, business, or geographic area.

7. Preordered and Specially Sourced Products

Many of our products are purchased, imported, or reserved specifically in response to confirmed customer orders.

Because sourcing may begin shortly after an order is accepted, confirmed orders for seafood, perishable products, auction products, preorder products, and custom-sourced products are generally final.

Your ability to cancel, change, return, or obtain a refund for an order is governed by our Refund & Cancellation Policy and applicable law.

8. Product Availability and Substitutions

Seafood availability may change after an order is placed because of auction results, quality inspection, harvest conditions, supplier decisions, transportation delays, or import restrictions.

If a product becomes unavailable or does not meet our quality requirements, we may:

  • Offer a comparable alternative

  • Offer a different size, grade, origin, or presentation

  • Delay the affected item

  • Issue a store credit, if accepted by the customer

  • Refund the unavailable item

  • Cancel and refund the affected order

We will not charge you more for a materially different substitute without your approval.

You are not required to accept a materially different substitution unless the product listing clearly states that substitutions are permitted.

9. Pricing and Tax-Inclusive Prices

Unless clearly stated otherwise, product prices displayed on our website are intended to include applicable sales tax.

Delivery charges, service charges, optional tips, special handling charges, custom-order charges, or other fees may be displayed separately at checkout.

The total displayed at checkout before you submit payment is the amount you authorize us to charge, subject to any clearly disclosed later adjustment that you expressly approve.

Prices may change from week to week based on auction prices, exchange rates, supply, seasonality, transportation costs, and product availability. A price shown during one ordering period does not guarantee the same price during a later ordering period.

We reserve the right to correct obvious pricing, calculation, unit, weight, or description errors. If an error materially affects your order, we may contact you for approval or cancel and refund the affected item rather than charge an additional amount without authorization.

10. Payment

You agree to provide accurate, complete, and current billing, payment, contact, and account information.

By submitting payment information, you represent that:

  • You are authorized to use the selected payment method.

  • The information you provide is accurate.

  • You authorize Minato Market and its payment providers to charge the total shown at checkout.

  • You are responsible for any charges imposed by your bank or payment provider.

Payment may be processed by Shopify Payments or another third-party payment provider. We do not directly control the processing times, security procedures, approval decisions, holds, or refund timelines of third-party payment providers.

We may cancel or hold an order if payment cannot be verified or if we reasonably suspect unauthorized activity or fraud.

11. Local Delivery

Local delivery is available only to eligible addresses within our current delivery area.

Customers are responsible for providing a complete and accurate:

  • Recipient name

  • Delivery address

  • Apartment or suite number

  • Phone number

  • Email address

  • Gate code

  • Call box information

  • Building access instructions

  • Parking or entrance instructions

  • Authorized drop-off instructions

Unless an unattended drop-off is specifically authorized, the driver will generally attempt to hand the order to the customer or another person at the delivery address.

By authorizing an unattended drop-off, you accept responsibility for the order after it has been delivered to the instructed location.

Minato Market is not responsible for theft, tampering, pests, weather exposure, building access issues, delayed retrieval, spoilage, temperature changes, or damage occurring after an authorized unattended drop-off has been completed according to your instructions.

Additional terms regarding delivery attempts, route timing, address changes, missed deliveries, and drop-offs are contained in our Shipping & Local Delivery Policy.

12. Local Pickup

When local pickup is offered, you must wait until you receive confirmation that the order is ready.

You are responsible for collecting the order:

  • At the designated location

  • On the designated date

  • During the designated pickup window

  • In accordance with any identification or pickup instructions

Because the products are perishable and may have been sourced specifically for you, failure to collect an order on time may result in loss of product quality and may not qualify for a refund.

We are not responsible for deterioration occurring after the order has been transferred to you or your authorized pickup person.

13. Delivery and Pickup Risk

Responsibility for proper storage and handling transfers to the customer when:

  • The order is handed directly to the customer or another person at the delivery address;

  • The order is left at an unattended location authorized by the customer; or

  • The order is collected from the pickup location.

You should inspect and refrigerate or freeze perishable products promptly after receiving them.

Delivery notifications, photographs, driver records, timestamps, signatures, GPS information, or other reasonable delivery records may be used to confirm that delivery or pickup occurred.

14. Perishable Food Storage and Inspection

Seafood and other perishable products require prompt and appropriate temperature control.

After receiving your order, you are responsible for:

  • Inspecting the order promptly

  • Following all product labels and storage instructions

  • Refrigerating or freezing products without unnecessary delay

  • Preventing cross-contamination

  • Using clean utensils and food-contact surfaces

  • Consuming products within the recommended period

  • Discarding products that appear unsafe or have been improperly stored

Do not consume a product if its packaging appears compromised, if it has been stored improperly, or if you reasonably suspect that it may be unsafe.

Please contact us promptly if an order arrives missing, incorrect, damaged, or in an unacceptable condition. We may require your order number, clear photographs, packaging, product labels, temperature information, and delivery details to evaluate the issue.

15. Raw or Undercooked Seafood

Some products sold by Minato Market may be used by customers for sushi, sashimi, ceviche, or other raw or lightly cooked preparations.

Consuming raw or undercooked seafood can increase the risk of foodborne illness. Freezing, sourcing, quality grading, or a product’s intended culinary use does not eliminate every potential food-safety risk.

Pregnant individuals, young children, older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and others at increased risk of foodborne illness should avoid raw or undercooked seafood or seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

The customer is responsible for deciding how to prepare and consume the product after delivery. Minato Market does not provide medical advice or guarantee that consuming any product raw is appropriate for a particular individual.

16. Allergies and Cross-Contact

Our products may contain or come into contact with fish, crustacean shellfish, molluscan shellfish, soy, wheat, sesame, eggs, milk, tree nuts, peanuts, or other allergens.

Customers with food allergies or sensitivities must:

  • Review the product description

  • Read the product label

  • Review the ingredient and allergen statement

  • Contact us before ordering if additional information is needed

Unless we expressly state otherwise for a specific product, we do not represent that a product was prepared, packaged, stored, or transported in an allergen-free environment.

Do not rely solely on website photographs, product names, translations, or general category descriptions when evaluating allergens.

17. Returns, Refunds, and Cancellations

Seafood and other perishable products generally cannot be returned.

Because products may be specially sourced for each customer, confirmed orders are generally final and cannot be canceled, returned, exchanged, or refunded merely because of:

  • A change of mind

  • Personal taste or preference

  • Natural variation

  • Failure to retrieve an authorized drop-off promptly

  • Failure to attend a scheduled delivery or pickup

  • Incorrect delivery information supplied by the customer

  • Improper storage or handling after delivery

  • A request made after sourcing or fulfillment has begun

This does not limit any rights that cannot legally be waived.

Refunds or other remedies may be available when required by law or when we determine that an item was unavailable, materially incorrect, missing, damaged before transfer, or unacceptable at the time of delivery.

Our Refund & Cancellation Policy controls the procedures and eligibility requirements for claims.

18. Gift Cards, Discounts, Rewards, and Promotions

Gift cards, discount codes, store credits, referral rewards, social-media rewards, and promotional offers may be subject to additional terms.

Unless expressly stated otherwise:

  • Promotions cannot be combined.

  • Discounts cannot be applied retroactively.

  • Promotional value has no cash value.

  • Store credit and gift cards are not redeemable for cash except where required by law.

  • Lost, stolen, duplicated, altered, or fraudulently obtained codes may be rejected.

  • Promotions may be limited by customer, household, account, order, product, date, or geographic area.

  • We may cancel rewards obtained through fraud, fake engagement, duplicate submissions, unauthorized accounts, or violation of promotional rules.

We may modify or end a promotion prospectively, but we will honor valid rewards already earned as required by the applicable promotion terms and law.

19. Custom Orders and B2B Orders

Custom orders, restaurant orders, catering orders, event orders, wholesale orders, and other B2B transactions may require separate pricing, deposits, minimum quantities, timelines, delivery terms, or written agreements.

Where a separate quote, invoice, purchase order, or written agreement conflicts with these Terms, the separately agreed terms control for that transaction.

A custom-order inquiry does not guarantee availability or pricing. A custom order is not confirmed until we accept it and any required payment or deposit has been received.

20. Customer Accounts

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for activity occurring through your account.

You agree to notify us promptly if you suspect unauthorized use of your account.

We may suspend or close an account where we reasonably believe there has been fraud, abuse, unauthorized access, repeated policy violations, or conduct that may harm Minato Market, our customers, our suppliers, or our service providers.

21. Electronic Communications

By providing an email address or phone number, you agree that we may send transactional communications relating to:

  • Order confirmations

  • Payment

  • Product availability

  • Delivery or pickup

  • Route status

  • Account security

  • Customer service

  • Refunds

  • Product safety or recalls

These operational communications are part of providing your order.

Marketing emails or promotional text messages are governed by the consent choices presented when you subscribe. You may unsubscribe from marketing communications using the method provided in the message, but you may still receive necessary transactional communications.

Message and data rates may apply to text messages.

22. Reviews, Photographs, and Customer Content

You retain ownership of photographs, reviews, comments, messages, and other content you create.

When you voluntarily submit content to us for publication, a reward claim, a promotion, or reposting, you represent that:

  • You created the content or have permission to use it.

  • The content does not violate another person’s rights.

  • The content is accurate and not misleading.

  • The content does not contain unlawful, abusive, defamatory, or harmful material.

You grant Minato Market a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, resize, translate, display, and repost the submitted content for operating and promoting Minato Market, including on our website, email, and social-media channels.

Where reasonably practicable, we may credit the social-media account or name associated with the submission.

You may contact us to request that we stop using customer content in future materials. Removal from previously printed, archived, or already distributed materials may not always be possible.

23. Intellectual Property

The website and its content, including the Minato Market name, logos, graphics, photographs, product descriptions, layouts, text, videos, icons, and original designs, are owned by or licensed to Minato Market and are protected by applicable intellectual-property laws.

You may use the website only for personal or authorized business purchasing purposes.

You may not copy, reproduce, scrape, republish, sell, modify, distribute, impersonate, or commercially exploit our website content without written permission.

Nothing in these Terms grants you ownership of the Minato Market brand or intellectual property.

24. Prohibited Uses

You may not use the website or services to:

  • Violate any applicable law or regulation

  • Submit false or misleading information

  • Commit fraud or make unauthorized purchases

  • Interfere with website security or operation

  • Upload malware or harmful code

  • Scrape, crawl, or harvest data without permission

  • Attempt to access another customer’s account

  • Harass or harm another person

  • Infringe intellectual-property or privacy rights

  • Resell promotional benefits obtained through fraud

  • Abuse discounts, refunds, chargebacks, rewards, or delivery claims

  • Misrepresent your identity or affiliation with Minato Market

We may restrict access or cancel affected transactions when prohibited activity is reasonably suspected.

25. Third-Party Services and Links

Our website may use or link to third-party services, including Shopify, payment processors, delivery-routing providers, mapping providers, messaging services, social-media platforms, analytics providers, and external websites.

Third-party services may have separate terms and privacy policies. We are not responsible for the independent acts, omissions, content, availability, or security practices of third parties outside our reasonable control.

The inclusion of a third-party link does not necessarily constitute an endorsement.

26. Privacy

Our collection, use, retention, and disclosure of personal information are described in our Privacy Policy.

By using the website, you acknowledge that information may be processed by Shopify and other service providers as necessary to operate the store, process payments, prevent fraud, communicate with customers, and complete delivery or pickup.

27. Disclaimers

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the website and online services are provided on an “as available” basis.

We do not guarantee that:

  • The website will be uninterrupted or error-free.

  • Every product shown will be available.

  • Product photographs will exactly match natural products.

  • Auction, import, customs, airline, or delivery schedules will remain unchanged.

  • A particular product will be appropriate for every dietary, medical, or culinary purpose.

  • Third-party services will always operate without delay or error.

Nothing in these Terms excludes any warranty, guarantee, remedy, or consumer right that cannot legally be excluded.

28. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Minato Market will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, punitive, or consequential damages arising from use of the website, delay, loss of opportunity, loss of data, or circumstances outside our reasonable control.

For claims relating to a specific product or order, our total liability will not exceed the amount paid for the product or order giving rise to the claim, except where a different remedy is required by law.

These limitations do not apply to liability that cannot legally be limited or excluded, including liability resulting from fraud, willful misconduct, gross negligence, or personal injury where applicable law prohibits limitation.

29. Indemnification

To the extent permitted by law, you agree to indemnify and hold Minato Market harmless from third-party claims, damages, liabilities, and reasonable expenses arising from:

  • Your unlawful use of the website or services

  • Your violation of these Terms

  • Your infringement of another person’s rights

  • Content you submit

  • Fraudulent or unauthorized activity conducted through your account

This section does not require you to indemnify Minato Market for our own unlawful conduct, gross negligence, or willful misconduct.

30. Events Outside Our Control

We are not responsible for delay or failure caused by circumstances outside our reasonable control, including:

  • Severe weather

  • Natural disasters

  • Fire

  • Power or internet outages

  • Labor interruptions

  • Airline or cargo disruption

  • Customs or inspection delays

  • Government actions

  • Import restrictions

  • Supplier failure

  • Transportation accidents

  • Public-health emergencies

  • Cyberattacks

  • Failure of third-party platforms

When practical, we will communicate material changes and provide the remedy described in the applicable product, shipping, or refund policy.

31. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Subject to any rights you may have under applicable consumer law, disputes relating to these Terms or purchases from Minato Market will be brought in the state or federal courts located in Santa Clara County, California.

Before filing a formal claim, you and Minato Market agree to make a reasonable effort to resolve the issue by contacting the other party and providing relevant order information.

32. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, that provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted or removed to the minimum extent necessary.

The remaining provisions will continue in effect.

33. Waiver

A failure by Minato Market to enforce a provision of these Terms does not waive our right to enforce that provision later.

Any waiver must be made in writing to be effective.

34. Assignment

You may not transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms without our written permission.

We may transfer these Terms in connection with a merger, acquisition, restructuring, sale of assets, or transfer of the business, subject to applicable law.

35. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our published policies, applicable product descriptions, checkout disclosures, and any separately agreed custom-order or B2B terms, constitute the agreement between you and Minato Market concerning the applicable transaction.

If a product-specific or separately signed agreement conflicts with these general Terms, the more specific agreement controls for that transaction.

36. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms to reflect changes to our services, business practices, technology, or legal obligations.

The updated Terms will be posted on this website with a revised effective date. Changes apply prospectively from the stated effective date unless applicable law requires otherwise.

Your continued use of the website after updated Terms become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

37. Contact Information

Questions about these Terms of Service may be sent to:

Minato Market
Email: shopminatomarket@gmail.com

You may also contact us through the Contact page on our website.