Terms of Service

1. About us

"Art by the Passenger" is the trading name of Bao Han, an independent artist operating as a sole trader. "We", "us", and "our" refer to Bao Han personally. You can reach us at artbythepassenger@gmail.com.

2. Original artwork purchases

2a. How purchases work

All original paintings are sold by personal arrangement over email. A sale is confirmed only when both parties have agreed on the price, shipping terms, and payment method in writing. No payment creates a binding obligation until we have confirmed availability and provided an invoice.

2b. One-of-a-kind works

Every original painting is unique. Once sold, the physical work cannot be re-sold by us. If a piece you enquire about has already been sold, we will let you know promptly.

2c. Pricing

Prices listed on the site are in USD and are subject to change without notice. The price that applies to your purchase is the price confirmed in writing when your sale is finalised.

2d. Shipping

Shipping costs and timelines for original paintings are confirmed during the purchase process. We pack originals carefully, but we cannot be held responsible for damage or delays caused by postal carriers once the work has left our hands. If your work arrives damaged, contact us immediately with photographs and we will work with you to find a resolution.

2e. Returns

Because originals are one-of-a-kind, all sales are final unless the work arrives significantly damaged or materially different from what was described. Refund or replacement requests must be made within 7 days of delivery, with photographic evidence. We handle each case personally and in good faith.

2f. Customs and import duties

International buyers are responsible for any customs duties, import taxes, or fees levied by their country. We have no control over these charges and cannot predict or reimburse them.

3. Message from Universe Mail Club subscription

3a. What you receive

Each month, active subscribers receive one physical envelope containing: a handwritten letter from Han, sealed with wax and addressed by hand. The letter carries the message of the month — a reflection, noticing, or contemplation from the studio. A print of the month's painting is also included.

Exact contents may vary slightly month to month; we reserve the right to adjust the format while maintaining the spirit of the subscription.

3b. Pricing and billing

• Monthly plan: USD $8.00 per month, billed monthly.
• Yearly plan: USD $80.00 per year, billed annually (equivalent to two months free).

Prices are listed in USD. Where Stripe checkout is active, your card will be charged by Stripe on our behalf. Until Stripe is live, billing is arranged personally by email and payment is made before your first issue ships.

We reserve the right to adjust subscription prices. Existing subscribers will receive at least 30 days' notice before any price change takes effect.

3c. Dispatch schedule

Letters are dispatched in the first week of each calendar month. If you subscribe after the dispatch date for a given month, your first letter will ship in the following month. Exact delivery times depend on your location and local postal services; typical delivery is 1–3 weeks worldwide.

3d. Worldwide shipping

Shipping is included in both plans, to any country where regular letter post is available. We are not responsible for delays or losses caused by postal services, customs, or circumstances outside our control. If a letter is returned to us undeliverable, we will contact you to confirm your address before resending.

3e. Cancellation — monthly plan

You may cancel your monthly subscription at any time by emailing us. Cancellations received before the next billing date will stop future charges. There are no cancellation fees and no minimum commitment. We do not issue refunds for partially elapsed billing periods.

3f. Cancellation — yearly plan

The yearly plan is non-refundable once the first letter of your subscription year has been dispatched. You may still cancel to prevent auto-renewal, and you will continue to receive letters for the remainder of the year you paid for. If you cancel before any letter has been sent, we will issue a full refund at our discretion.

3g. Address changes

It is your responsibility to notify us of any change of address before the monthly dispatch date. Notify us at artbythepassenger@gmail.com. We cannot reroute or replace letters already dispatched to an outdated address.

3h. Gift subscriptions

You may gift a subscription to someone else. Email us with the recipient's name and postal address, your chosen plan, and whether you would like the first letter to include a note from you. Gift subscriptions are subject to the same terms as regular subscriptions; cancellation and billing rights belong to the purchaser.

4. Intellectual property

All artwork, photographs of artwork, written letters, and other creative content on this website and in the Message from Universe Mail Club mailings are the original work of Bao Han and are protected by copyright law.

Purchasing an original painting or receiving a subscription print grants you ownership of that physical object only. It does not transfer copyright or any reproduction rights. You may not:

• Reproduce, scan, photograph, or copy any artwork for commercial purposes.
• Use any artwork, letters, or images from this site in advertising, merchandise, or derivative works.
• Claim authorship of any work created by Bao Han.

Personal, non-commercial sharing (e.g., photographing your letter for your own social media with credit) is welcomed and appreciated. If in doubt, ask.

5. Website use

You may browse this website for personal, non-commercial purposes. You may not scrape, copy, or republish any content from this site in bulk, or use it to train machine-learning models, without our written permission. (See the /llms.txt file for our policy on AI crawlers.)

We make reasonable efforts to keep information on this site accurate, but we cannot guarantee it is always up to date. Artwork listed as "available" may have been sold before the listing was updated.

6. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Art by the Passenger is not liable for:

• Loss or damage to mail caused by postal services, customs authorities, or events outside our control (including but not limited to strikes, natural disasters, or war).
• Indirect, incidental, or consequential loss of any kind arising from your use of this website or purchase from us.
• Delays in delivery due to incorrect addresses provided by the subscriber.

Nothing in these terms limits or excludes any liability that cannot be limited by law in your jurisdiction (for example, liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, or statutory consumer rights).

7. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of Australia. Any disputes that cannot be resolved informally will be subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Australia. If you are a consumer in another jurisdiction, you may also have rights under the laws of your own country that these terms cannot override.

8. Changes to these terms

We may update these terms from time to time. We will post any changes here with a revised effective date. For material changes affecting active subscribers, we will also send notice by email at least 14 days before the change takes effect.

9. Contact

Questions about these terms? Write to artbythepassenger@gmail.com. We handle everything personally and aim to respond within a few days.