Terms of Service

1. Platform Description

GolfTradr LLC is a peer-to-peer trading platform that connects golf enthusiasts to buy, sell, and trade golf equipment directly with each other. GolfTradr acts as a neutral intermediary to facilitate safe and fair trades between users. We are not a dealer, retailer, or marketplace operator - we provide the technology and framework for users to conduct their own trades.

2. User Eligibility

Age Requirement: You must be at least 18 years old to use GolfTradr. If you are under 18, you may only use our platform with the explicit consent and supervision of a parent or legal guardian who agrees to be bound by these Terms of Service.

Account Responsibility: You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You must provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration.

3. Listing Requirements

Accurate Descriptions: All listings must include accurate and complete descriptions of the items being offered for trade. This includes brand, model, condition, specifications, and any defects or issues.

Authentic Photos: You must upload actual photos of the items you are listing. Stock photos or images from other sources are not permitted.

Prohibited Items: You may not list counterfeit items, stolen goods, or items that violate any applicable laws or regulations.

3b. Prohibited Conduct

Users may not:

• Create fake accounts or impersonate others
• Engage in shill bidding or price manipulation
• Harass or threaten other users
• Attempt to conduct transactions outside the platform to evade membership
• Submit false dispute claims
• Use automated tools to scrape or interact with the platform

4. Trade Agreement Enforcement

Digital Agreement: When both parties sign the Digital Trade Agreement, it becomes a legally binding contract. The agreement outlines shipping requirements, inspection windows, and dispute resolution procedures.

Enforcement: GolfTradr reserves the right to enforce trade agreements through various means, including charging penalties to users who violate terms, suspending accounts, and cooperating with law enforcement when necessary.

4b. Membership and Billing

GolfTradr is a subscription service. There are no per-trade fees or commissions on the value of traded items. Access to messaging, trade proposals, seller profiles, watchlists, and dispute protection requires an active membership.

Pricing: Membership is offered on three plans - $10.00 USD per month (monthly), $25.00 USD per three-month period (quarterly), or $60.00 USD per year (annual). All amounts are USD.

Promotional Pricing: From time to time GolfTradr offers promotional rates (for example, the current "early access" 50% off discount applied via coupon at checkout). Promotional rates apply for the entire active life of the subscription started during the promotion. Once the subscription is canceled, any new subscription started afterward will be billed at the standard rate then in effect or any then-active promotion. Promotional rates do not apply retroactively to subscriptions started before the promotion was offered.

Price Changes: GolfTradr reserves the right to change pricing for new subscriptions at any time. For existing active subscriptions, GolfTradr will provide at least 30 days' notice (via email and/or in-app notification) before any price change takes effect. If you do not agree to a price change you may cancel before the effective date.

Free Trial: New subscribers receive a 3-day free trial at signup. A valid payment method (credit or debit card) is required to begin the trial. No charge is made during the trial period.

Auto-Renewal: Unless you cancel before the trial ends, your subscription automatically converts to a paid plan on day 3 at the price of the selected plan. Paid subscriptions auto-renew for additional monthly or annual periods at the then-current rate until canceled. By starting a trial you authorize GolfTradr (via Stripe) to charge your payment method on a recurring basis.

Cancellation: You may cancel at any time from your subscription page, which opens the Stripe Customer Portal. If you cancel during the 3-day trial, no charge is ever made. If you cancel after the trial, your access continues until the end of the current billing period, after which the subscription ends and no further charges are made.

Refunds: Paid membership periods are non-refundable, including partial months or years following cancellation. Billing disputes may be raised within 30 days of the charge by contacting support@golftradr.com.

Re-subscription: Users who have used a free trial previously are not eligible for a second trial. Resubscribing after cancellation results in an immediate charge for the selected plan.

Failed Payments: If a payment method fails, your subscription is placed in a past-due state and access is paused until billing information is updated through the Stripe Customer Portal. GolfTradr may cancel the subscription if the past-due state persists beyond 30 days.

4c. Secure Trade Deposits

When Secure Trade mode is enabled, both parties agree to deposit the estimated item value. Deposits are held in escrow and released upon mutual confirmation of delivery. In the event of a confirmed dispute, deposits may be used to compensate the affected party at GolfTradr's sole discretion.

4d. Referral Program

Each member is issued a unique referral link visible on the profile page. When a new user signs up through that link and starts a paid subscription, the referrer and the referred user each receive one free month, applied as a 30-day extension to the current_period_end on their respective subscription rows. The reward is never paid out as cash, credit balance, or refund. Limit one referral conversion per referred user; rewards do not stack for re-subscriptions or re-referrals. GolfTradr reserves the right to suspend referral rewards if self-referral, fraud, or abuse is detected.

4e. Listing Bump

A listing bump is a one-time $1.99 USD payment, processed by Stripe, that resets a listing's bumped_at timestamp so it surfaces at the top of browse and search results. Bumps are subject to a 24-hour cooldown per listing. A bump is not a guarantee of visibility, impressions, views, or trade offers; it only refreshes ordering. Bumps are non-refundable once paid.

4f. Featured Listing

A featured listing is a one-time $4.99 USD payment, processed by Stripe, that places the listing in the homepage hero carousel for thirty (30) consecutive days. The featured period begins when the Stripe payment intent settles. Featured listings auto-expire at the end of the 30-day period. Featured listing fees are non-refundable once the placement begins, including if the underlying listing is paused, deleted, or marked sold.

4g. Early Access Pricing

GolfTradr is currently offering a promotional rate (commonly referred to as "early access" pricing) that discounts the standard plan rates by approximately 50% via the auto-applied GOLFR coupon at checkout. The promotional rate applies for the entire active life of the subscription started during the promotion. If you cancel and later resubscribe after the promotion has ended, your new subscription will be billed at the standard rate then in effect or any then-active promotion. The promotional rate does not apply retroactively to subscriptions started before the promotion was offered.

5. Shipping Requirements

Carriers: All shipments must be made through USPS, UPS, or FedEx with tracking and insurance required.

Timeline: Items must be shipped within 5 business days of signing the trade agreement.

Packaging: Sellers are responsible for proper packaging to prevent damage during transit.

6. Inspection Window Policy

48-Hour Window: Upon delivery confirmation, buyers have 48 hours to inspect items and report any issues.

Finality: After the 48-hour inspection window expires, the trade is considered final and no disputes will be accepted.

Misrepresentation: If an item is materially different from its listing description, the buyer must report it within the 48-hour window with photo evidence.

7. Dispute Resolution Process

Mediation: GolfTradr may act as a mediator in disputes between trading parties at our sole discretion.

Evidence: Both parties must provide evidence to support their claims, including photos, tracking information, and communication records.

Decisions: GolfTradr's dispute resolution decisions are final and binding on both parties.

8. Card on File Policy

Subscription Billing: By starting a free trial or subscribing you authorize GolfTradr, through our payment processor Stripe, to store your payment method and charge it on a recurring basis per Section 4b.

Trade Accountability: Membership requires a valid card on file. This serves as financial accountability for completed trades and may be used, in connection with a confirmed dispute, to charge penalties or reimburse the affected party for violations of trade agreements such as misrepresentation or failure to ship.

Processing: All payment processing is handled by Stripe (stripe.com). GolfTradr does not store or have access to full card numbers - we retain only the last four digits and a Stripe customer ID for identification and billing.

8b. Identity Verification via Stripe Identity

The GT Verified badge is issued via Stripe Identity. By initiating identity verification you consent to Stripe collecting, processing, and verifying a government-issued identity document (driving license, passport, or national ID card) and a selfie image. Identity documents and selfies are uploaded directly to and stored by Stripe; GolfTradr only receives a verification outcome (verified / requires_input / canceled) via the Stripe Identity webhook. GolfTradr does not see or store your document images. Stripe Identity processing is governed by Stripe's privacy policy at https://stripe.com/privacy.

8c. Phone Verification via Firebase

The Trusted badge is issued via Firebase Authentication phone sign-in (a Google service). By initiating phone verification you consent to Firebase / Google receiving your phone number and a reCAPTCHA token and dispatching an SMS verification code to that number. GolfTradr receives a Firebase ID token whose phone_number claim is read server-side and written to the profiles.phone_number column. Firebase's processing of your phone number is governed by Google's privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

8d. Image Storage via Google Cloud Storage

Listing photos, avatars, trade ship photos, dispute evidence photos, and any other images you upload are stored in Google Cloud Storage in a bucket controlled by GolfTradr. Image URLs are served as time-limited (seven-day) signed URLs. GolfTradr may move stored content between storage providers in the future; the underlying ownership and licensing terms in Section 15 are unaffected by the choice of storage provider.

9. Account Suspension Policy

Violations: GolfTradr reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts for violations of these Terms of Service.

Warnings: Minor violations may result in warnings. Repeated violations may lead to permanent suspension.

Appeals: Suspended users may appeal suspension decisions within 30 days of notification.

9b. Account Deletion

Users may request account deletion by contacting support@golftradr.com. Upon deletion, active trades must be completed or cancelled first. Personal data will be deleted within 30 days subject to legal retention requirements.

10. Limitation of Liability

Neutral Platform: GolfTradr is a neutral platform that facilitates user-to-user trades. We are not responsible for the condition, authenticity, or value of traded items.

No Warranty: GolfTradr makes no warranties or representations about the quality, safety, or legality of items listed on our platform.

Maximum Liability: Our total liability for any claim arising from your use of the service shall not exceed the amount of fees you have paid to GolfTradr in the six months preceding the claim.

11. Governing Law

These Terms of Service are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising from these terms shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Connecticut.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless GolfTradr LLC, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your use of the platform, your listings, your trades, or your violation of these terms.

13. Arbitration

Any dispute arising from these Terms shall be resolved through binding arbitration in Connecticut under AAA rules rather than in court, except for claims eligible for small claims court. You waive the right to participate in class action lawsuits against GolfTradr.

14. Modifications

GolfTradr reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Users will be notified of material changes via email or platform notification at least 30 days before changes take effect. Continued use of the platform constitutes acceptance of modified terms.

15. Intellectual Property

Users retain ownership of their listing photos and content but grant GolfTradr a non-exclusive license to display this content on the platform. Users may not list items that infringe on third-party intellectual property rights.

16. Force Majeure

GolfTradr shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance resulting from causes beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, pandemic, war, terrorism, internet outages, third-party service failures (including Stripe, Supabase, Firebase, Google Cloud, Resend, Vercel, or Cloudinary), government actions, or any other circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

18. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and GolfTradr regarding your use of the platform and supersede all prior agreements.

19. Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of those rights.

20. Assignment

You may not assign your rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent. GolfTradr may assign its rights and obligations without restriction.

21. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at: support@golftradr.com