Refund policy
Cancellation, Returns & Refund Policy
All PAPER ME notebooks — whether a DIY NOTEBOOK customized by you or a SIGNATURE NOTEBOOK pre-curated by PAPER ME — are made to order and individually produced only after an order is received.
Accessories and packaging items (ACC) are pre-stocked products and are subject to the standard withdrawal period of 7 days after receipt.
This policy is governed by the Act on the Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce, Etc. and other applicable laws and regulations.
1. Right of Withdrawal — General Rule and Exception for Made-to-Order Products
As a general rule, customers may withdraw from a purchase within 7 days of receiving the product.
However, PAPER ME notebooks are individually made according to each customer’s order. Once production has begun, cancellations or refunds due to a simple change of mind may therefore be restricted in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Act and its Enforcement Decree.
For defective, damaged, incorrect, or misdelivered products, please refer to Section 4 below.
If a product differs from its description or advertising, or if the order has not been fulfilled according to the terms of the contract, the customer may exercise the right of withdrawal within 3 months of receiving the product, or within 30 days of becoming aware, or reasonably being able to become aware, of the discrepancy.
2. Restrictions on Withdrawal for Notebooks (DIY · SIGNATURE)
PAPER ME notebooks are individually produced according to each customer’s order. Allowing withdrawal after production has begun may result in significant and irrecoverable loss to the seller.
Accordingly, once production has begun, cancellation or refund due to a simple change of mind may be restricted under the applicable provisions of the Act on the Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce, Etc. and its Enforcement Decree.
This restriction applies only when the customer has been clearly informed of it before placing the order and has separately agreed to the restriction. PAPER ME provides this notice and requests the customer’s consent immediately before the order is placed.
When production begins
PAPER ME begins production as soon as payment and the order have been confirmed.
An order confirmation email is automatically sent once the order has been confirmed, and the time at which this email is sent will be regarded as the start of production.
Separate updates on production progress are not provided.
Orders cannot be unilaterally cancelled without first confirming with PAPER ME whether production has begun.
If you wish to cancel your order, please contact us first by email at paper.me.seoul@gmail.com or by phone at 070-4821-4257.
Cancellation is possible only if PAPER ME confirms that production has not yet begun.
3. Right of Withdrawal for Accessories & Packaging Items (ACC)
ACC items are pre-stocked products and may be returned due to a change of mind within 7 days of receipt.
However, once an order has entered the shipping process, including preparation for dispatch, it cannot be cancelled before shipment.
If you wish to cancel, please contact us before the shipping process begins. If the order has already been shipped, please receive the item first and then follow the return procedure within the 7-day withdrawal period.
For returns due to a change of mind, return shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer as described in Section 5 below. If the original order qualified for free shipping, both the original outbound shipping cost and the return shipping cost will be charged.
Returns and refunds may be restricted in the following cases where the product can no longer reasonably be resold:
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The individual packaging has been opened or damaged to the extent that the item cannot be restored to its original saleable condition.
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Stickers, labels, films, or similar items have been used or attached.
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Accessories such as pen holders have been attached to a notebook.
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The product’s value has been significantly reduced through use or partial consumption by the customer.
For products sold in sealed packaging — including certain writing instruments such as pencils and individually packaged items — returns may be restricted once the packaging has been opened and the product can no longer be resold. Where applicable, this restriction will be clearly stated on the relevant product page.
Some writing instruments, including certain pencils, may be supplied pre-sharpened due to the nature of the product. This does not constitute a defect.
However, simply opening packaging for the purpose of inspecting the contents does not in itself constitute grounds for restricting withdrawal where the product remains otherwise returnable.
4. Cases Where Withdrawal Is Not Restricted — Exchanges & Refunds
Regardless of whether production or shipping has begun, an exchange or refund is available in the following cases:
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The product is defective or damaged.
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The product received differs from the order.
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The wrong product was delivered.
In these cases, PAPER ME will bear the return shipping costs and other reasonable costs associated with the return. Under the Act, return costs arising from goods that differ from the description, advertising, or contractual terms are borne by the seller.
5. Shipping Costs for Returns Due to a Change of Mind
For withdrawals due to a simple change of mind — including changes in preferred size or color — the customer is responsible for return shipping costs.
If the original order qualified for free shipping, the customer will also be responsible for the original outbound shipping cost paid by PAPER ME. In practice, this means that round-trip shipping costs will be deducted from the refund.
Free shipping does not mean that no shipping cost was incurred; it means that PAPER ME paid the original shipping cost on the customer’s behalf.
Domestic shipping examples
Order for which shipping was originally paid:
Return shipping — KRW 4,000
Order that received free shipping:
Round-trip shipping — KRW 8,000
(KRW 4,000 outbound + KRW 4,000 return)
For Jeju Island, the applicable amount is KRW 4,500 each way.
For remote areas, islands, and international orders, shipping charges will be calculated based on the actual costs incurred.
International round-trip shipping can amount to tens of thousands of Korean won, so please review your order specifications carefully before completing your purchase.
Applicable shipping costs will be deducted from the refund amount.
If the return is due to a defect, incorrect item, or other reason attributable to PAPER ME, PAPER ME will cover all shipping costs regardless of the provisions above.
6. Exchange & Refund Procedure
If any of the circumstances described above apply, please contact us by email at paper.me.seoul@gmail.com within 7 days of receiving the product.
For defects or discrepancies, please contact us within the applicable statutory period. Where the product differs from its description or contractual terms, the statutory withdrawal period may extend to 3 months from receipt or 30 days from becoming aware, or reasonably being able to become aware, of the issue.
To help us process your request quickly, please include your order number and photographs clearly showing any defect, damage, incorrect item, or delivery issue.
After review, we will arrange either an exchange or a refund.
For made-to-order notebooks, an exchange will normally be handled by producing a replacement notebook in the same specifications as the original order.
7. Refund Timing & Method
Once a withdrawal or refund has been approved and the returned product has been received, PAPER ME will issue the refund, or submit the refund request to the relevant payment provider, within 3 business days.
The actual time required for the refund to appear may vary depending on the policies and processing times of the payment provider or credit card company.
8. Other Circumstances Where the Right of Withdrawal May Be Restricted
The right of withdrawal may also be restricted where:
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The value of the product has been significantly reduced due to the customer’s use or partial consumption.
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The value of the product has significantly decreased over time to the extent that resale has become difficult.
9. Seller Information & Dispute Resolution
Seller
Design Whale (Brand: PAPER ME)
Representative
Cho Young In
Business Registration No.
105-17-46309
Address
108 Changdeokgung-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Mail-Order Business Registration No.
2026-Seoul Jongno-1028
Customer Service
070-4821-4257
Tue–Sat 12:00–19:50
Matters not specifically addressed in this policy will be governed by the Act on the Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce, Etc., other applicable laws and regulations, and the Consumer Dispute Resolution Standards issued by the Korea Fair Trade Commission.