Terms and conditions

Thank you for visiting this RNLI website. Please read our terms and conditions carefully before using our website.

These Terms were last updated: 20 September 2024

These are the terms and conditions on which we agree to supply products to you. These terms and conditions tell you who we are, how we will provide products to you, how you and we may change or end the contract, what to do if there is a problem and other important information. If you think that there is a mistake in these terms and conditions or they require any changes, please contact us to discuss.

Our website is hosted by a third party, Shopify Inc, who provides us with an online e-commerce platform that allows us to sell our products to you. We also use a third party, Mosaic Fulfilment Solutions (company number 6891662), to provide call centre, and pick, pack and dispatch services. Please note that any  tracking information for your order may list the sender as Mosaic Fulfilment Solutions. Please see the Delivery section for information on delivery.

Prior to placing an order you must click Accept to indicate that you agree to use our website shopping platform in accordance with these terms and conditions and the underlying statements contained herein.
If you want to use our website or buy products from us you can only do so in accordance with these terms and conditions. Please read these terms and conditions carefully before using this website and/or ordering products from this website. The Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, Returns Policy, Delivery Information and Promotions Policy also form part of these terms and conditions (together referred to as "Terms") and should be read also.

IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS (NOTE IN PARTICULAR THE DISCLAIMERS AND LIMITATIONS SET OUT BELOW) PLEASE DO NOT USE OR ORDER FROM OUR WEBSITE. IF YOU VISIT OR USE THE WEBSITE AND/OR PLACE ANY ORDERS YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS.

1. Who We Are

Welcome to the website of RNLI (Sales) Limited (VAT Number 256 4406 04) (also trading as RNLI Shop) whose registered office is at West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ. RNLI (Sales) Ltd is a trading subsidiary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution ("RNLI"). For further information about us see the About Us section of our website. For the purposes of these Terms, "we" or "us" or "our" refer to RNLI (Sales) Ltd and "you" or "your" refer to you the user of this website and/or the customer purchasing products from this website.
Should you have any questions about these Terms or wish to contact us for any reason whatsoever, please use the contact details set out below:

By Post:
RNLI (Sales) Ltd.
West Quay Road
Poole
Dorset
BH15 1HZ

Telephone:
From the UK: 0300 300 9916
From outside the UK: +44 2038 327234

Our helplines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday 8am to 6pm, excluding Bank Holidays.
E-mail: online_shop@rnli.org

Our VAT registration number is 256440604

2. Changes

2.1. We may change the format and content of the website from time to time. You should refresh your browser each time you visit the website to ensure that you access the most up to date version of the website.

2.2. Please note that we may change these Terms at any time without prior consultation, in which case the amended Terms will be posted on this website. The amended Terms will apply from the date we post them on the website. Any orders that we have already accepted from you before the new Terms are posted will continue to be subject to the Terms in force when your order was accepted. Please check these Terms on each occasion you use the website. If you continue to use our website you will be bound by the latest Terms.

3. Accessing and using this website

3.1. We reserve the right in our sole discretion to deny any user access to this website or any part of it without prior notice.

3.2. You agree to only use this website in a manner that complies with all applicable laws and regulations and is consistent with the Terms and does not infringe the rights of any third party, nor restrict or inhibit their use and enjoyment of this website.

4. Privacy

We take your privacy very seriously and will treat all of your personal information in accordance with all applicable data protection laws in England and Wales. We use, store and process information in accordance with our Privacy Policy. By using our website, you consent to such use, storage and processing. Please read our Privacy Policy.

5. Ordering Products

Please see the Delivery section for information on delivery.

Please see the Promotions section for information on any promotions that we are running including ordering and delivery of products that are part of our promotions.

5.1. All orders that you place on this website will be subject to acceptance in accordance with these Terms.

5.2. All orders for products are subject to availability and we reserve the right to refuse to supply to any individual or company.

5.3. Your submission of an order represents an offer to purchase the products indicated by you, and is not binding on us until we have accepted your order. This means that if a product is shown on the website but becomes unavailable, is incorrectly priced, incorrectly described or if we are unable to arrange delivery to your country or region, we will have no legal obligation to sell you that product.

5.4. Shortly after we receive your order, we will send you an acknowledgement via email. This email is issued automatically and does not mean that your order has been accepted.

5.5. Acceptance of your order and completion of the contract between you and us will occur at the point at which we dispatch the product to you. Any products on the same order which we have not dispatched to you do not form part of that contract.

5.6. If we cannot accept your order for any reason, we will contact you to explain why, and we will re-credit your credit or debit card with the full amount of any sums debited in respect of any part of the order we have not accepted.

5.7. We do not warrant that the quality of any products, services, information, or other material purchased or obtained by you will meet your expectations, or that any errors in the Service will be corrected.

5.8. We do not file details of your order for you to subsequently access direct from this website, so please print out these Terms and the order acknowledgement for your own records.

6. Age-restricted Products

6.1. We will not sell age-restricted products to people under the age of 18.

6.2. Where products on this website are age-restricted, we will identify these on the product page.

6.3. If you add any age-restricted products to your basket then, before proceeding through the checkout process, we will ask you to confirm that both you and the recipient of your order (if different to you) are aged 18 years or over. If you do not provide this confirmation then the checkout process will not continue until the age-restricted items have been removed from your basket.

6.4. If your order contains age-restricted items then it is your responsibility to ensure that the recipient of your order is aged 18 years or over.

6.5. If we are not satisfied that the person placing or having placed an order containing age-restricted products or the recipient of an order containing age-restricted products is aged 18 years or over then we may, at our discretion, cancel your order or part of your order. If you have already paid for the products, you will receive a full refund for the cancelled part of your order. Please read our Returns Policy for further details.

6.6. We are unable to accept orders containing age-restricted products where the payment or delivery address is outside the United Kingdom.

7. Lifesaving Gifts (virtual gifts) and Donations

7.1. RNLI Lifesaving Gifts are virtual gifts which help to equip our lifeboat crews and lifeguards with everything they need to save lives at sea. If you order any of our virtual gift cards you will be making a donation of the amount you have selected to RNLI. Neither you, nor the recipient of your virtual gift card (if someone other than you), will receive the item described on your chosen virtual gift card.
7.2. We have two types of virtual gift available, the donations for which will be restricted as explained in clause 7.3:

(a) Lifeguards: This virtual gift will help fund our lifeguard service on over 249 beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. This includes the cost of supervising beaches, providing and maintaining rescue equipment, running and maintaining lifeguard units, and providing essential lifeguard training and kit; and

(b) Lifeboats: This virtual gift will help fund our lifeboat search and rescue service. This includes the cost of providing essential kit, training and operational support for our lifeboat crews across the UK and Ireland who are ready to launch 24/7. It also includes the cost of running and maintaining the lifeboat stations, lifeboats and launching equipment they need to save lives at sea.

7.3. Depending on the type of virtual gift chosen by you (as described in clause 7.2 above), your donation will be paid to RNLI and used to help the RNLI to fund its Lifeguards or Lifeboats services generally. The specific item shown on the virtual gift card is an indication only of how your donation will be used.
7.4. When you proceed through the checkout process you will be asked if you would like to make a donation to RNLI whilst making your purchase. This is not mandatory and will not affect your purchase in any way. You may proceed through the checkout process without making any donation if you wish.
7.5. All donations received by RNLI (Sales) Ltd during the checkout process will be paid to RNLI and will go into the RNLI’s general funds, to help save lives at sea across the UK and Ireland. Supporters will not be able to request for their donation to go towards a specific station, lifeboat or project.
7.6. We are unable to refund any donations received by RNLI or RNLI (Sales) Ltd. For further details please see the Return Restrictions section of our Returns Policy.
7.7. If you have any questions about RNLI Lifesaving Gifts or about making a donation to RNLI generally then please contact customer services on 0300 300 9990, or on 1800 991802 if calling from outside of the UK. Our helplines are open Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm.

8. Specifications

8.1. All sizes and dimensions of products as indicated on this website are approximate but we make every effort to make sure they are as accurate as possible. 

8.2. We have made every effort to display as accurately as possible the colours of the images that appear on the website. However, as the actual colours you see will depend on your monitor, we cannot guarantee that your monitor's display of any colour will accurately reflect the colour of the product on delivery.

9. Price and Payment

9.1. Prices of products listed on our website are inclusive of any VAT which may be payable by you. All prices displayed on the website are quoted in UK Pounds Sterling. Delivery charges are quoted separately and the amount of delivery charge payable will be shown as part of the order form before you complete your order. Delivery charges are available in the Delivery section. If the products are to be delivered outside the UK, you agree to be responsible for any additional fees incurred including any applicable customs duties or taxes in that country.

9.2. We reserve the right to change prices listed without giving prior notice.

9.3. The price you pay is the price displayed on this website at the time we receive your order, except in instances in which an error has occurred in displaying the price. Whilst we make every effort to ensure that all prices on our website are accurate, errors may occur. If we discover an error in the price of products you have ordered we will inform you as soon as possible and give you the option of reconfirming your order at the correct price or cancelling it. If we are unable to contact you we will treat the order as cancelled. If you cancel and you have already paid for the products, you will receive a full refund.

9.4. We accept credit and debit cards or PayPal payments for orders via this website.

9.5. Your credit or debit card details will be encrypted and may be held within our system to help in the event of a problem with your order or if you request a refund.

9.6. We will charge your account for payment at the time that the order is placed.

10. Delivery and Availability

10.1. This website is only for delivery of products to customers in those countries set out on our Delivery page.

10.2. We make every effort to deliver products within the estimated timescales, however delays are occasionally inevitable. If you do not receive your goods within the time quoted, please contact customer services on 0300 300 9916, or on +44 2038 327 234 if calling from outside of the UK. Our helplines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 8am to 6pm. If we fail to deliver your order within 30 days we will notify you of the reason for the delay and you may cancel your order and we will provide you with a refund for the products not delivered. The RNLI will have no other liability to you in the event of delay in delivery.

10.3. Deliveries of orders are fulfilled by our delivery partner Mosaic Fulfilment Solutions (company number 6891662). We use a number of different couriers depending on the size, weight and destination of your order. Please note that any tracking information on your parcel may list the sender as Mosaic Fulfilment Solutions.

10.4. All deliveries will be made to you at the address specified by you in the order. We may, at our discretion and expense, deliver parts of your order separately. You will be responsible for the products as soon as they are delivered.

10.5. If we are unable to deliver the products to you at the address you have specified for any reason (other than when we are at fault), we will notify you and store the products for up to 30 days.

10.6. You will become the owner of the products you have ordered when the products have been delivered to you.

11. Cancellations and Returns

11.1. Orders may be cancelled and products returned in accordance with our Returns Policy.

12. Intellectual Property Rights

12.1. You acknowledge and agree that all copyright, trademarks and all other intellectual property rights on this website and all photographs, designs, images, text, graphics, software, music, sound, data and other material in this website or generated by this website are owned by us or our licensors.

12.2. You are permitted to use this website and this material only as expressly authorised by us or our licensors.

12.3. You acknowledge and agree that the material and content contained within this website is made available for your personal non-commercial use only and that you may only use and download such material and content for the purpose of using this website as a shopping resource. You further acknowledge that any other use of the material and content of this website is strictly prohibited and you agree not to (and agree not to assist or facilitate any third party to) copy, reproduce, transmit, publish, display, distribute, commercially exploit or create derivative works of such material and content. In particular, material in this website may not be incorporated in any other work or publication, whether in hard copy or electronic form and commercial use or publication of any material on this website is strictly prohibited.

12.4. The photographic, text and other graphic images within any products supplied to you are copyright works and none of them may be copied, reproduced, licensed or otherwise exploited.

12.5. The RNLI name and logo are registered trademarks of the RNLI. Other logos and names used on this website may also be the trademarks of the RNLI or their respective owners. No permission is granted by us in respect of the use of any trademarks, names or logos and such use may constitute an infringement of the holder's rights.

13. Disclaimers and Limitations

13.1. The products which are sold via this website have been designed to comply with the statutory legal requirements and relevant safety standards of the United Kingdom. We can therefore make no representation or warranty that any product provided via or referred to in this website is compliant with health, safety or other legal requirements which apply outside the United Kingdom or are otherwise suitable for use outside of the United Kingdom. You may not access this website from countries where their contents are illegal or unlawful. If you do access this website from locations outside the United Kingdom you do so at your own risk and are responsible for compliance with local laws.

13.2. We may make changes to the material on our website, or to the products and prices described in them, at any time without notice.

13.3. We shall take reasonable care to ensure that all orders, donations and subsequent transactions are conducted via a secure link. However, the security of information and payments transmitted via the Internet cannot be guaranteed and as we are not responsible for the operation of the secure link we will not, except where the RNLI have acted negligently, be liable for any loss you may suffer if a third party obtains unauthorised access to any information you provide.

13.4. We do not warrant that the functions contained in this website will be uninterrupted or error free, that defects will be corrected, or that this site or the server that makes it available are free of viruses or bugs or represent full functionality, accuracy or reliability of the materials. We will not be liable for any loss, disruption or damage to your data or your computer system or any other damages (including amongst other losses, loss of profit or loss of use) arising out of your use or delay or inability to use the site, its content or any link to another website arising in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise except in the case of death or personal injury caused by our negligence. Nothing in this disclaimer applies to any products which you purchase from the website.

13.5. We do not limit in any way our liability by law for fraud or death or personal injury caused by our negligence or breach of duty or any other liability which cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.

13.6. We will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by us or our employees or agents in circumstances where:-

13.6.1. Loss or damage was not reasonably foreseeable to both you and us when you commenced using the website or when a contract for the sale of products by us to you was formed;

13.6.2. Loss or damage was not caused by any breach by us, our employees or agents; or

13.6.3. Any consequential loss where the loss or damage relates to business and/or non-consumers (including but not limited to loss of profits, revenue, contracts, anticipated savings, data, goodwill or wasted expenditure).

14. Third Party Links

14.1. Certain content, products and services available via our Service may include materials from third-parties.

14.2. Our website uses third-party applications for data backup purposes and to display customer feedback on the products and services available via our Service. Third-party links on this site may direct you to third-party websites that are not affiliated with us.

14.3. Once you have placed your order we may forward your email address to a third party, Feefo Holdings Limited, who may contact you to ask for feedback about your shopping experience with us. For further details please visit our Privacy Policy.

14.4. We are not responsible for examining or evaluating the content or accuracy of third party links or emails and we do not warrant any third-party materials or websites, or any other materials, products, or services of third-parties.

15. Disclaimer of Warranties; Limitation of Liability

15.1. We do not guarantee, represent or warrant that your use of our Service will be uninterrupted, timely, secure or error-free.

15.2. We do not warrant that the results that may be obtained from the use of the service will be accurate or reliable.

15.3. You agree that from time to time we may remove the Service for indefinite periods of time or cancel the service at any time, without notice to you.

15.4. You expressly agree that your use of, or inability to use the service is at your sole risk. The service and all products and services delivered to you are (except as expressly stated by us) provided 'as is' and 'as available' for your use, without any representation, warranties or conditions of any kind, either express or implied, including all implied warranties or conditions of merchantability, merchantable quality, fitness for a particular purpose, durability, title, and non-infringement.

15.5. In no case shall RNLI (Sales) Ltd., its directors, officers, employees, affiliates, agents, contractors, interns, suppliers, service providers or licensors be liable for any injury, loss, claim, or any direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, special, or consequential damages of any kind, including, without limitation lost profits, lost revenue, lost savings, loss of data, replacement costs, or any similar damages, whether based in contract, tort (including negligence), strict liability or otherwise, arising from your use of any of the service or any products procured using the service, or for any other claim related in any way to your use of the service or any product, including, but not limited to, any errors or omissions in any content, or any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of the service or any content (or product) posted, transmitted, or otherwise made available via the service, even if advised of their possibility. If a jurisdiction does not allow the exclusion or the limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, in such jurisdictions, our liability shall be limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

16. Indemnification

16.1. You agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless RNLI (Sales) Ltd. and its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, officers, directors, agents, contractors, licensors, service providers, subcontractors, suppliers, interns and employees, harmless from any claim or demand, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, made by any third-party due to or arising out of your breach of these Terms & Conditions or the documents they incorporate by reference, or your violation of any law or the rights of a third-party.

17. Severance

17.1. If any of these Terms should be determined to be illegal, invalid or otherwise unenforceable by reason of the laws of any state or country which apply to these Terms, then to the extent (within that jurisdiction) that the Term (in part or in whole) is illegal, invalid or unenforceable, it shall be severed and deleted from these Terms and the remaining terms shall survive, remain in full force and effect and continue to be binding and enforceable.

18. Waiver

18.1. If you breach these Terms and we take no action, we will still be entitled to use our rights and remedies in any other situation where you breach these Terms. The failure of us to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms & Conditions shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

18.2. These Terms & Conditions and any policies or operating rules posted by us on this site or in respect to the Service constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between you and us and govern your use of the Service, superseding any prior or contemporaneous agreements, communications and proposals, whether oral or written, between you and us (including, but not limited to, any prior versions of the Terms & Conditions).

19. Events Beyond our Control

19.1. We will not be liable to you for any delay in delivering your order or breach of our obligations, if the delay or breach is due to acts of God, civil commotion, riots, strikes, malicious damage, floods, drought, fire, flood, legislation, failure of ISP or telecommunications provider or other cause beyond our reasonable control. This does not affect your statutory rights.

20. RNLI's Rights

20.1. You agree that RNLI (Sales) Ltd and/or the Royal National Lifeboat Institution shall be entitled to directly enforce the provisions of these Terms, and to take the benefit of any rights or any limitation or exclusion of liability in these Terms.

21. Law, Courts and Language

21.1. These Terms, use of this website and the supply of products by us are governed by and shall be interpreted in accordance with English law. In the event of any dispute arising in relation to these Terms, use of this website or in relation to the supply of any products by us the English courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the dispute. These Terms and this website are provided in the English language only.