Frequently Asked Questions

Artos is Kingdom First Commerce: a curated marketplace where anyone can buy products from trusted Eastern Orthodox Christian sellers. Every purchase supports Orthodox makers, businesses, families, parishes, and monasteries.

No. Anyone can shop on Artos. The Guild requirements apply to sellers, not buyers. Artos shops are operated by eligible Orthodox makers, businesses, parishes, monasteries, and other organizations.

Icons, books, incense, liturgical items, handmade goods, food, gifts, everyday essentials, and digital downloads. Browse by category, search for specific items, or follow your favorite shops.

Start with this FAQ, visit our contact page, or open a support request when signed in. You can also message sellers directly about specific orders.

Browse and add items to your cart as a guest. To complete checkout, you'll need to sign in or create an account. Your cart items will be waiting for you when you do.

Save products to wishlists for later. Create multiple lists, organize items, and share public wishlists with friends and family.

After purchase, downloadable files are available in your account under Account → Downloads. Access them anytime-you don't need to hunt through your email.

Yes. Use our built-in messaging to ask questions about products or orders. All conversations are saved in your account for easy reference.

Everything is in your Account area. Track orders, manage addresses, update payment methods, view downloads, check messages, and adjust notification preferences.

Each shop sets a default return policy, and some products may show their own policy or final-sale terms. For issues, message the seller first. If you cannot resolve things directly, open a dispute from your order page or contact support for help. Digital downloads are generally final once accessed or downloaded, unless required otherwise by law or Artos resolves a specific issue.

Membership applications are open to baptized or chrismated Eastern Orthodox Christians in good standing, including individual makers and authorized representatives of businesses, parishes, monasteries, and other organizations. The Guild verifies eligibility using the parish and priest information supplied by the applicant. Members admitted to the Guild may operate shops in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

Create an Artos account and begin the Guild membership application from your account. You’ll provide your Orthodox affiliation, agree to the Guild Bylaws, consent to the required religious-data processing, and describe the shop you propose to operate. If admitted, complete payout and storefront setup before opening your shop. Stripe Tax remains optional unless you choose to use it.

After admission, complete payment setup, shipping profiles, and required storefront details for your proposed shop. Once the required commercial setup is complete, your shop can go live and begin listing products.

For most sellers, Artos charges a 10% Artos fee when you make a sale. There are no listing fees and no required monthly plan for the base marketplace. Verified custom-domain orders have a 5% Artos fee, and the optional Custom Domain Storefront costs $14.99 per month after a 30-day free trial. Payment-processing fees are separate and come out of your payout automatically. Share & Save links and other eligible programs may reduce your Artos fee further.

Share tracked links for your shop and products. When buyers purchase through those links, eligible orders can receive a reduced Artos fee. This rewards sellers who bring trusted buyers into the marketplace.

Custom domains let you connect your own web address to your Artos storefront for a branded shopping experience. The optional add-on costs $14.99 per month after a 30-day free trial. Orders placed through a verified, active custom domain have a 5% Artos platform fee instead of the standard marketplace rate. Eligible Artos fee reductions stack and may lower it further, with a 0% floor. Payment-processing fees remain separate. Your custom-domain storefront is still powered by Artos, so checkout, accounts, and marketplace systems continue to run through Artos.

Connect your bank account through our payment provider during setup. Payouts deposit directly to your account on a regular schedule. Track everything in Dashboard → Finance.

Dashboard → Finance shows your balance, payout history, tax reports, and important documents so you can track earnings and stay organized for tax season.

Physical items such as icons, books, liturgical supplies, handmade goods, food, gifts, and everyday essentials. Digital downloads like e-books and printables are supported too. Products should be Orthodox-made or otherwise fit Artos marketplace standards and the life of the Church.

Upload files to your product listings. After purchase, buyers access downloads from their account-no shipping required. You can attach different files to different variants (like size or format).

Go to Dashboard → Products. Add photos, write descriptions, set prices, manage inventory, and create variants (like sizes or colors). You can save drafts and publish when ready.

Eligible sellers can offer fine art prints, posters, framed prints, canvas, ceramic mugs, T-shirts, sweatshirts, stickers, cards, notebooks, badges, hardcover books, softcover books, and magazines. Artos sends approved production files and order details to Prodigi for white-label printing and shipping while the Artos shop remains the customer-facing seller. Hats, caps, phone cases, small home goods, and a special religious-icon print-on-demand type are not part of this catalog.

At checkout, Artos obtains a destination-specific supplier quote and withholds the quoted production and shipping cost plus a 5% risk reserve from seller proceeds. The reserve covers normal supplier price variance and is not refunded. If a larger overrun occurs, Artos records it transparently and may recover it from future proceeds or pause new print-on-demand orders until it is resolved.

Shipping profiles define your rates and delivery options. Set your domestic rate for your home country, then add zones for other countries you ship to. You can charge per item, by total shipment weight, or by order subtotal, and include standard and express options if you like. Create them in Dashboard → Settings → Shipping.

Dashboard → Orders shows new orders. Prepare postage or a shipping label, pack the order, then mark it shipped. Add tracking when you have it; regular post without tracking is supported.

Message the buyer right away to explain the situation. If needed, you can issue a full refund from the order page. Communication is key.

Set your return policy in Dashboard → Settings → Shop so buyers know what to expect. When returns happen, communicate clearly and process refunds through the order page.

Manage orders, products, and inventory. Message buyers, handle reviews, and resolve disputes. Track finances, use Share & Save links, and customize your shop settings. Some features unlock after you complete setup.

Go to Dashboard → Settings → Shop. Enable Vacation Mode and set a message for visitors. Your shop remains visible but cannot receive new orders until you reactivate.

Yes, in Dashboard → Settings → Shop. Note: Your shop URL will not change automatically.

Yes, within our supported markets (US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand). Set up shipping zones for the countries you want to reach. Buyers see prices in their local currency automatically.

Sales tax on Artos follows a mixed model. In some jurisdictions, Artos calculates, collects, and remits applicable sales tax as the marketplace facilitator. In other jurisdictions, sellers remain responsible for registering, filing, and remitting applicable taxes. Stripe Tax is optional; set it up only if you want Stripe to calculate and collect tax automatically for the places where you are registered. Use Dashboard → Finance → Tax Reports to review the taxes your shop is responsible for. Tax rules and filing obligations vary by jurisdiction, so consult a tax professional for advice specific to your business.

Usually yes. You will likely need to register in your home state or country. Depending on your sales volume, you may need to register in other places too. Rules vary, so check with a tax professional for your specific situation.

Start where your business is based. You may also need to register in other states based on your sales activity there, sometimes called economic nexus. Artos tax reports can help you monitor activity, but registration, filing, and reporting obligations vary by jurisdiction, so confirm the rules that apply to your business with a tax professional.

File directly with each state or country where you are responsible for remitting tax. Dashboard → Finance → Tax Reports is designed to help you review seller-remitted taxes for your own filing workflow. Taxes remitted by Artos in marketplace-facilitator jurisdictions may be excluded from those seller totals. Because reporting rules vary by jurisdiction, check the requirements that apply to your business or work with a tax professional.

You could face penalties, interest, and back taxes from tax authorities. Keep your registrations current and accurate. When in doubt, talk to a tax professional who understands online selling.