1. Introduction
Welcome to MerchPatrol ("App", "we", "us", "our", or "MerchPatrol LLC"). By using our iOS application and marketplace, you agree to comply with and be bound by the following Terms of Service and Acceptable Use Policy. Please review these terms carefully.
2. Platform Role & Marketplace Functionality
MerchPatrol operates as a communication platform and marketplace venue allowing users to list, discover, buy, and trade physical items such as vinyl records, CDs, apparel, and accessories.
- No Holding of Funds: MerchPatrol never holds, processes, or secures transaction funds. We act strictly as an intermediary for communication and discovery.
- Merchant of Record: In any transaction, the seller is the Merchant of Record. Users make payments directly to one another.
- Fulfillment: The seller (or trading partner) is solely responsible for fulfilling the order, shipping the item, and managing delivery.
3. Safe Trading Practices & Transactions
To ensure a safe environment, all payments and monetary exchanges must be conducted via PayPal Goods & Services (G&S).
- Trade Protection: When trading items, both users must send each other a fair and equal value matching the fair market value of the items via PayPal G&S. Do not accept less money than your item's market value, as this exposes you to significant risk.
- Zero Protection Warning: Never use "Friends & Family" or alternative unprotected payment methods for transactions. Doing so voids buyer/seller protection.
- Documentation: Users are highly encouraged to document everything. Take clear photos of your item being packaged and retain tracking number receipts.
- In-App Communication: Keep all transaction and trade conversations within the MerchPatrol Deal Room. Having a clear chat history is vital in the event of a dispute.
4. Disputes & Liability
Disclaimer of Liability
MerchPatrol LLC is strictly a hosting platform for communication. We are not responsible for any trades, disputes, lost funds, undelivered goods, or fraudulent activity. All financial transactions are purely between the two interacting users and PayPal.
If a dispute arises (e.g., undelivered items or items not as described):
- You must open a dispute directly within your PayPal account's Resolution Center.
- You are responsible for providing all chat screenshots, tracking numbers, and proof of agreement to PayPal.
- MerchPatrol cannot refund money or reverse transactions.
5. Acceptable Use Policy & Moderation
MerchPatrol maintains strict moderation tools to monitor activity. Users who violate our rules are subject to warnings, account suspension, or permanent bans.
Prohibited Actions:
- Scamming & Fraud: Attempting to defraud other users, failing to ship completed trades, or intentionally misrepresenting items.
- Prohibited Items: Listing illegal items, counterfeit goods, stolen property, or items unrelated to the allowed categories (music, apparel, accessories).
- Off-Platform Circumvention: Pressuring users to use unprotected payment methods (e.g., PayPal Friends & Family, Venmo, CashApp, Zelle) to bypass buyer protections.
- Harassment: Using abusive language, threatening, or harassing other users in the Deal Room.
If you encounter a scammer or a user violating these terms, please report them immediately to MerchPatrol via the app's support form so our team can investigate and take appropriate disciplinary action.
6. Changes to Terms
We reserve the right to modify these Terms of Service at any time. We will indicate changes by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the App following any changes signifies your acceptance of the new terms.
7. Contact Us
For questions regarding our terms, moderation, or to report a user, please contact us:
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