Terms & Conditions

1. Acceptance of Terms & Eligibility

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the GroomAra mobile application (available on Android, iOS coming soon), GroomAra Partner application (available on Android, iOS coming soon), and our online platform (collectively, the "Platform"), operated by GroomAra Technologies ("GroomAra", "we", "us", or "our").

By creating an account, clicking "Accept", or booking any service through the Platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to be legally bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must immediately cease using the Platform.

You must be at least 18 years of age and legally competent to enter into binding contracts under applicable laws to register and use GroomAra.

2. User Accounts & Verification

To access bookings and special offers, you must register an account using a valid mobile phone number and email address. You agree to provide accurate, complete, and updated information.

• You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and OTPs.
• You agree to notify GroomAra immediately of any unauthorized access or security breach regarding your account via groomara.support@gmail.com.
• GroomAra reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts that provide false information, violate platform safety, or engage in promotional coupon abuse.

3. In-Shop Salon & Parlour Bookings

GroomAra acts as a digital discovery and reservation technology intermediary connecting clients with independent salons, barbershops, and spas.

• Punctuality: Clients are expected to arrive at the salon at least 5 minutes prior to the booked time slot. Salons reserve the right to release reserved chairs if the client is delayed by more than 15 minutes without prior notice.
• Service Modifications: Additional services requested in-shop beyond the digital booking must be billed through the GroomAra app or added with the salon's approved rate card.

4. Doorstep At-Home Grooming Services & In-Home Hygiene Standards

When booking or delivering an at-home grooming service:

• Mandatory Sanitized Toolkits: Service providers must bring professional, autoclaved/sterilized equipment and unseal fresh single-use blade cartridges and spatulas strictly in the customer's presence.
• Zero-Mess Floor Protection: Providers must place an expansive disposable floor sheet prior to commencing and conduct a complete sweep/cleanup post-service leaving the premises spotless.
• Courteous & Respectful Interaction: Service professionals must maintain polite, respectful, and dignified conduct, honoring client privacy and household boundaries at all times.
• Client Environment: A safe, well-lit, and hygienic indoor environment with access to a standard electrical outlet and clean water supply.
• Workspace & Seating: A secure seating chair for the recipient and suitable space for the stylist’s sanitized tool station.
• Pet Separation: Restraint or separation of household pets during the service session to prevent accidental injury.
• Accurate Directions: Accurate doorstep address and landmark instructions to facilitate real-time GPS arrival.

5. Dermatology & Skin Clinic Consultations

GroomAra facilitates scheduling with licensed medical dermatologists and clinical skin centers.

Medical Disclaimer: GroomAra is a technology platform and does not practice medicine. Medical consultations, skin diagnosis, hair loss assessments, and prescriptions are provided solely by independent, licensed healthcare practitioners exercising independent medical judgment. In case of acute medical emergencies or severe allergic reactions, seek emergency medical care immediately.

6. Rescheduling, Cancellations & Refund Policy

We understand schedules change. Our transparent cancellation rules are as follows:

• Free Cancellation Window: You may cancel or reschedule any appointment free of charge up to 2 hours before the scheduled start time.
• Late Cancellations: Cancellations made within less than 2 hours of the scheduled time or after a doorstep stylist has commenced travel may incur a nominal cancellation fee (up to 30% of booking value) to compensate the partner's travel and allocated slot.
• Refund Processing: Approved refunds for prepaid bookings are initiated immediately and credited back to the original source (UPI, Card, Netbanking, or Wallet) within 3 to 5 business days.

7. Pricing, Billing & Promotional Coupons

All service prices displayed on the Platform are inclusive of applicable goods and services taxes unless explicitly broken down in the pre-checkout summary.

• Transparent Bill Summary: You will always see an itemized bill breakdown inside the app before confirming any booking.
• Promotional Codes: Promo codes and referral credits are subject to specific campaign rules, minimum order values, and single-use per customer/household restrictions. GroomAra reserves the right to void discounts obtained through fraudulent means.

8. Code of Conduct & Zero-Tolerance Safety

GroomAra maintains a strict Zero Tolerance Policy for harassment, discrimination, verbal abuse, physical misconduct, or inappropriate behavior towards our salon partners, home stylists, or customer care representatives.

Service professionals reserve the right to immediately terminate a session and depart if they experience unsafe, abusive, or hostile conditions, with full session forfeiture.

9. Intellectual Property

All trademarks, logos, brand names ("GroomAra", "GroomAra Partner"), software code, visual designs, UI graphics, and proprietary algorithms are the exclusive property of GroomAra Technologies. You may not copy, reverse engineer, scrape, reproduce, or redistribute any part of our Platform without express written authorization.

10. Limitation of Liability & Governing Law

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, GroomAra Technologies shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from the use of services provided by independent salon partners or stylists.

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. Any disputes arising hereunder shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.

11. Mandatory Tool Verification & Platform Access Gating

To maintain luxury quality, safety, and brand trust across India, GroomAra enforces strict equipment gating for all service providers, including independent sole proprietors, freelance stylists, beauty parlour staff, and unisex salon professionals:

• Mandatory Service-to-Tool Compliance: For every service category registered by a partner on the GroomAra Partner application (including haircuts, shaving, waxing, facials, skin cleanups, hair botox, or bridal makeovers), the partner MUST possess and maintain certified, professional-grade equipment matching the published standard.
• Platform Access Denial for Missing Tools: Account creation alone does not entitle a partner to accept bookings. Service categories without verified professional toolkits will be restricted, locked, or denied access until physical or digital toolkit inspection is approved.
• Prohibition of Substandard or Unlabelled Supplies: Partners are strictly prohibited from using unbranded, diluted, or unhygienic cosmetic products, dull scissors, or unsterilized extractors. Violation results in immediate suspension of booking privileges.

12. In-Home Service Hygiene & Professional Etiquette Standards

Any salon, beauty parlour, or sole proprietor partner accepting in-home or doorstep appointments through GroomAra must strictly adhere to the following mandatory hygiene and conduct code:

• Pre-Service Sanitization: Tools must be sanitized with medical-grade disinfectant in front of the customer prior to contact. Single-use items (blades, wax spatulas, neck strips) must be visibly unsealed before the client.
• Immaculate Premises Guarantee: Partners must lay down disposable floor protection sheets and thoroughly clean the service area post-service. No stray hair, wax residue, or cosmetic trash may be left behind.
• Professional Attire & Verification: Partners must wear clean GroomAra-branded aprons/attire and display their verified Partner QR Photo ID badge.
• Courteous Customer Interaction: Partners must treat every customer with utmost courtesy, professionalism, and dignity. Unsolicited entry into unauthorized areas of the home, personal phone calls during service, aggressive upselling, or disrespectful language will lead to immediate account termination.
• Cashless Transparency: Service starts only upon in-app Start OTP validation. Offline cash renegotiation, hidden surcharges, or demanding unauthorized tips is strictly forbidden.