Refund Policy

Overview

The C4 Institute offers four categories of products. Refund eligibility varies by product type and is described in full below. All inquiries should be directed to [email protected].

1. Intelligence Archives — Cleared Operative Status ($49.99)

All sales are final. Upon payment confirmation, you receive immediate, lifetime access to the complete C4 prediction database, real-time The Architect telemetry, classified mission dossiers, and the Sentinel update feed. Because this digital content is delivered instantly and cannot be "returned," no refunds are issued.

Before purchasing, you may explore the free tier of the Mission Dashboard — including the Strategic Forecast, Verification Matrix, and crowd-sourced voting system — to evaluate the quality of the research.

Technical issues: If your access is not granted after a confirmed payment, contact us immediately. We will restore access or resolve the problem. Technical support does not constitute a refund.

2. The C4 Codex — Technical Reference Document ($29.99)

All sales are final. The C4 Technical Codex (v11.0, Obsidian Master) is a permanent digital download delivered immediately upon purchase. A full preview is available before purchase so you can evaluate the document's scope and depth.

If you experience a technical failure during download or cannot access your file, contact [email protected] and we will re-issue your download link.

3. Narrative Simulations — Echo Cycle Book Series

Books in the Echo Cycle Series (by J. Orion Fell) are fulfilled by Amazon and major distributors. The C4 Institute does not process book orders directly. All returns, refunds, and exchange requests for physical or digital book purchases are governed by Amazon's return policy or the policy of the retailer from which you purchased.

4. Physical Artifacts — Black Box & Atlas Campaign

Physical merchandise (apparel, posters, mission patches, and collectibles) may be returned within 30 days of delivery if the item arrives damaged or defective. To initiate a return:

1. Email [email protected] with your order number and a photo of the damage.
2. We will issue a prepaid return label within 3 business days.
3. Upon receipt of the returned item, a replacement or full refund will be processed within 5 business days.

Returns are not accepted for undamaged items, items returned after 30 days, or items that have been used or altered.

Unauthorized Charges

If you believe you were charged in error or did not authorize a purchase, contact [email protected] immediately. We will investigate and work with Stripe (our payment processor) to resolve unauthorized transactions.

Chargebacks

If you initiate a chargeback through your credit card company without first contacting us, your access to digital products will be immediately suspended and the matter referred to Stripe's dispute resolution process. Chargebacks for delivered digital content may result in permanent account suspension.

We strongly encourage you to contact our support team before disputing a charge. In most cases, we can resolve concerns quickly and maintain your access.

Questions or Concerns

For all refund inquiries, please contact:
The C4 Institute
Email: [email protected]

We are committed to providing high-quality research and ensuring you have a positive experience with our platform.