Cancellation and Refund Policy

Effective Date: June 28, 2025

This policy governs all cancellations, refunds, replacements, and corrections for services provided by Synsto Publishing ("Synsto", "we", "our", "us"), including digital publishing, manuscript processing, and physical book printing and delivery services.

By submitting a manuscript or making a payment, you confirm that you have read, understood, and accepted this policy in full. Failure to read this policy does not exempt you from its terms.

1. Manuscript Withdrawal

1.1 Free Withdrawal Window

Authors may withdraw a submitted manuscript within 3 calendar days of submission at no charge, provided the manuscript has not yet entered the review or verification process. A full refund of any fees paid will be issued in this case.

1.2 Rejection After Review

If a manuscript is rejected by Synsto after editorial review — due to quality, content, or compliance issues — a full refund of the submission fee will be issued.

1.3 Withdrawal After Process Begins

If an author withdraws a manuscript after the editorial or verification process has commenced, or declines to revise or resubmit when requested, no refund will be applicable. The costs incurred for editorial, verification, and processing work are non-recoverable.

1.4 Plagiarism or Copyright Violation

If a manuscript is rejected or removed at any stage due to detected plagiarism, copyright infringement, false declarations of originality, or any other legal violation, no refund will be issued under any circumstances. The author bears sole legal and financial liability for such violations as stated in our Terms and Conditions.

2. After Publication, ISBN Assignment, or Indexing

2.1 No Refund After Publication

Once a work has been published, assigned an ISBN, or submitted for indexing, refunds are not permitted regardless of the reason, including change of mind, dissatisfaction with sales, or personal circumstances.

2.2 Removal Due to Legal or Copyright Issues

If a published work is removed from the platform due to plagiarism, copyright infringement, defamation, legal dispute, or any violation of our policies, no refund will be issued. Any unpaid royalties or earnings will be withheld pending resolution of the matter.

2.3 Post-Publication Corrections

After a work has been published or assigned an ISBN, corrections to the content are not permitted as part of the original service. Any changes requested after this point will be treated as a new service and will incur additional charges at the prevailing rate.

3. Physical Book Printing and Delivery

3.1 Industry-Standard Print Variations — Not Eligible for Refund

Physical book printing involves mechanical and chemical processes that may result in minor variations between copies and between the digital proof and the printed output. The following are considered industry-standard tolerances and are not eligible for refund, replacement, or compensation:

• Colour variation: Slight differences in colour tone, saturation, or brightness between the digital file and the printed copy, or between different print runs. Screens display colours in RGB while printing uses CMYK — an exact colour match is not guaranteed and is not a defect.
• Fading or ink density: Minor variations in ink density, slight fading of colours, or differences in vibrancy between copies are normal characteristics of offset and digital printing processes. These are machine tolerances, not defects.
• Paper tone: Paper whiteness, texture, and weight may vary slightly between batches from the same paper specification. This is an industry-standard variation.
• Trimming: Printed books may have minor trimming variations of up to 3mm from the specified dimensions. This is within acceptable industry tolerances.
• Binding: Minor variations in spine width or binding tightness within standard tolerances are not considered defects.
• Contrast and sharpness: Slight differences in image sharpness or contrast that fall within acceptable print quality standards.

Authors are strongly advised to review and approve the digital proof carefully before authorising print production. Proof approval is final acceptance of the expected print output. Claims based on colour fading, ink variation, or paper tone that fall within industry tolerances will not be entertained after proof approval.

3.2 Eligible Cases for Replacement or Refund

Replacements or refunds for physical copies will only be considered in the following verified cases:

• Incorrect book or wrong product delivered (different title or edition than ordered).
• Significant printing defect clearly beyond industry tolerance — such as entirely blank pages, severe misprinting affecting readability across the entire book, or pages printed out of order.
• Physical damage caused during transit — such as torn covers, severely damaged binding, or water damage — where the item is unusable.

3.3 How to Report a Physical Copy Issue

To be eligible for a replacement or refund under Section 3.2, the following conditions must be met:

• The issue must be reported within 48 hours of delivery.
• You must provide clear photographic or video evidence of the defect, including the packaging, shipping label, and the defective item.
• Reports submitted after 48 hours or without adequate evidence will not be accepted.

Submit your report to: info@synsto.com with the subject line "Physical Copy Issue — [Order Number]".

3.4 Return and Inspection

Synsto may require the defective item to be returned for inspection before approving a replacement or refund. Return shipping instructions will be provided if applicable. Items must be returned in the condition they were received.

4. Digital Content Purchases (Ebooks and Audiobooks)

Due to the nature of digital content, all ebook and audiobook purchases are final and non-refundable once the content has been accessed or downloaded.

A refund may be considered only if:

• The content is technically inaccessible due to a verified platform error on Synsto's side, and the issue cannot be resolved within a reasonable time.
• The purchase was made in clear error (e.g., duplicate purchase of the same title) and reported within 24 hours before the content is accessed.

To request a review, contact info@synsto.com within 24 hours of purchase.

5. Payments, Refund Methods, and Timelines

5.1 Approved Refunds

Once a refund is approved by Synsto, it will be processed within 10–15 working days. Refunds will be credited to the original payment method used at the time of purchase.

5.2 Incorrect or Excess Payments

If an incorrect or excess payment is made, it must be reported within 2 working days of the transaction. Verified excess payments will be refunded within 3 weeks.

5.3 Refund Mode

Refunds are issued to the original payment method (credit card, debit card, UPI, net banking, or wallet) wherever technically possible. For international payments, refunds are subject to currency conversion rates at the time of processing and may take additional time due to cross-border banking procedures. Delays caused by banks or payment providers are beyond Synsto's control and are not grounds for additional compensation.

5.4 Non-Refundable Fees

The following fees are non-refundable under all circumstances:

• ISBN registration fees once assigned.
• Editorial, formatting, or design service fees once work has commenced.
• Submission processing fees where the process has begun.
• Any fees for services already delivered or partially delivered.

6. Conduct and Misuse

All users and authors are expected to act in good faith. Synsto reserves the right to reject refund or replacement requests and restrict or terminate accounts in cases of:

• Repeated, false, exaggerated, or fraudulent claims.
• Submitting fabricated evidence or misrepresenting facts.
• Abuse of the refund or replacement process.
• Filing claims for variations that fall within standard industry tolerances.

7. Disputes and Liability

7.1 Dispute Resolution

In the event of a dispute regarding a refund or cancellation, Synsto may at its discretion offer reasonable solutions including partial corrections or replacements where applicable. To raise a dispute, contact info@synsto.com. We aim to respond to all disputes within 7 working days.

7.2 Final Decision

All refund and replacement decisions made by Synsto are final, subject to applicable law. Synsto's decisions are based on this policy, documented evidence, and applicable industry standards.

7.3 Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Synsto's total liability for any claim arising under this policy is limited to the amount actually paid by the user for the specific service in question. Synsto is not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages, including lost profits, loss of business, or reputational harm.

8. Governing Law

This policy is governed by the laws of India. Any disputes arising from or related to this policy shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in New Delhi, India. International users consent to this jurisdiction by using our Services.

9. Changes to This Policy

Synsto may update or modify this policy at any time to reflect legal, operational, or business changes. The version applicable to your transaction will be the version in effect at the time of your submission or payment. Updated policies will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.

10. Contact Us

For any questions or concerns regarding cancellations, refunds, or replacements:

General enquiries: info@synsto.com
Editorial and submissions: editorial@synsto.com
Website: www.synsto.com