Refund Policy

1. General Philosophy

At SmartCooking, we are committed to providing high‑quality culinary education and resources. We want you to be satisfied with your purchase. This Refund Policy outlines the circumstances under which you may be eligible for a refund or credit for our various products and services. Please read this policy carefully before making a purchase.

Due to the digital nature of most of our offerings and the limited capacity of live events, our refund policies vary by product type. We encourage you to review the specific sections below that apply to your purchase.

2. Online Cooking Courses (Individual Purchase)

If you are not satisfied with a single‑purchase online course, you may request a full refund within 14 days of the purchase date, provided that you have completed less than 25% of the course content. To determine course progress, we rely on our platform's tracking of video views and module completion.

Refunds requested after 14 days or after completing more than 25% of the course are not eligible. We encourage you to preview course samples and read detailed descriptions before enrolling.

To request a refund for a course, please contact us at info@smartcooking-courses.com with your order number and the reason for your request. Refunds will be processed to the original payment method within 5–10 business days after approval.

3. Membership and Video Library Subscription

3.1 Monthly Subscriptions

Monthly membership subscriptions can be canceled at any time through your account settings. Upon cancellation, you will retain access to the member library until the end of your current billing period. Monthly subscription fees are non‑refundable except as required by law. No partial refunds or credits will be issued for unused days within a billing cycle.

3.2 Quarterly and Annual Subscriptions

If you cancel a quarterly or annual subscription within 7 days of the initial purchase or renewal date, and you have not consumed significant content (as determined by our usage logs), you may be eligible for a full refund. After the first 7 days, quarterly and annual subscriptions are non‑refundable, but you may cancel auto‑renewal at any time to avoid future charges.

3.3 Automatic Renewal

All membership subscriptions automatically renew at the end of each billing period unless canceled prior to the renewal date. You will receive a reminder email before each renewal. If you are charged for a renewal you did not intend to continue, you must request a refund within 48 hours of the charge. After 48 hours, renewal charges are non‑refundable.

4. Live Virtual Masterclasses

Due to limited seating and the advanced preparation required for live masterclasses, cancellations and refunds are subject to the following schedule:

• More than 14 days before the event: Full refund or credit toward a future masterclass.
• 7–14 days before the event: 50% refund or full credit toward a future masterclass.
• Less than 7 days before the event: No refund; however, you may transfer your registration to another person (name and email must be provided at least 24 hours in advance).
• No‑show: No refund or credit.

If SmartCooking cancels or reschedules a masterclass, you will receive the option of a full refund or a credit toward a future event. We will notify registered participants as soon as possible of any changes.

If you experience technical difficulties that prevent you from participating in a live session, please contact us immediately. We will evaluate technical issues on a case‑by‑case basis and may offer access to the recorded session or a partial credit.

5. Meal Prep and Weekly Menu Programs

Meal prep programs are digital subscription products delivering weekly content. You may cancel your subscription at any time, and you will continue to receive the weekly menus until the end of your paid period. Payments for meal prep programs are non‑refundable once the first week's materials have been accessed or delivered.

If you encounter an issue with the content or delivery, please contact us within 5 days of receipt, and we will work to resolve the issue or provide a replacement menu week.

6. Corporate and Team Events

Corporate and team cooking events are governed by individual service agreements and event contracts. Generally, the following terms apply:

• Cancellation more than 30 days before the event: Full refund of deposit or payment, less any non‑recoverable expenses incurred.
• Cancellation 14–30 days before the event: 50% refund of total event fee.
• Cancellation less than 14 days before the event: No refund; however, we will work with you to reschedule the event for a future date, subject to availability and a rescheduling fee.

Any custom terms agreed upon in writing will supersede the general terms above. For corporate event inquiries, please contact our corporate events team directly.

7. Specialty Cooking Programs

Specialty programs often involve cohort‑based learning, live sessions, and personalized feedback. Refunds for specialty programs are available under the following conditions:

• Requests made within 7 days of the program start date and before the second session/module is released: Full refund.
• Requests made after the second session/module is released: No refund, but you may receive credit toward a future program at our discretion.

Due to the intensive nature and limited enrollment of these programs, we encourage you to carefully review the program syllabus and prerequisites before enrolling.

8. Digital Products (E‑books, Guides, PDFs)

All sales of digital products are final and non‑refundable. Once a digital file has been downloaded or accessed, we cannot revoke access. We encourage you to read the product description carefully before purchasing. If you experience technical difficulties downloading or accessing a digital product, please contact us, and we will assist you promptly.

9. Promotional and Bundle Purchases

Courses or products purchased as part of a promotional bundle or at a discounted rate are subject to the refund policy of the primary product in the bundle. If any component of a bundle is accessed or partially completed, the entire bundle purchase becomes non‑refundable. Refunds for gift purchases will be issued to the original purchaser using the original payment method.

10. How to Request a Refund

To request a refund or to inquire about eligibility, please email us at info@smartcooking-courses.com with the following information:

• Your full name and the email address associated with your account
• Order number or purchase date
• Name of the product or service (course title, masterclass date, etc.)
• Reason for the refund request

We will review your request and respond within 3–5 business days. Approved refunds will be processed to the original payment method. Please allow up to 10 business days for the credit to appear on your statement, depending on your financial institution.

11. Chargebacks and Disputes

We encourage you to contact us directly to resolve any billing concerns before initiating a chargeback or dispute with your bank or credit card company. If a chargeback is filed, we reserve the right to suspend your account and access to all Services pending resolution. If the chargeback is resolved in our favor, you may be responsible for any fees incurred, and we may pursue collection of the original amount plus applicable fees.

12. Exceptions and Discretion

We understand that exceptional circumstances may arise. SmartCooking reserves the right to grant refunds or credits outside of this stated policy on a case‑by‑case basis at our sole discretion. Any such exception does not create an obligation to provide similar exceptions in the future.