Terms of Service — YardScout

1. Agreement to Terms
These Terms of Service ("Terms") are a legally binding agreement between you ("User," "you," or "your") and YardScout, Inc. ("YardScout," "we," "our," or "us") governing your access to and use of the YardScout mobile application and website (the "Platform").

By creating an account, downloading the app, or using any feature of YardScout, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, you must not use the Platform.

You must be at least 18 years of age (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction) to use YardScout. By using the Platform, you represent that you meet this requirement.

2. Description of the Platform
YardScout is a local marketplace platform that connects hosts of garage sales, estate sales, yard sales, and moving sales ("Hosts") with buyers interested in attending those sales and purchasing items. YardScout provides tools for listing sales, discovering nearby events, messaging between parties, processing payments, and managing transactions.

YardScout is a platform intermediary. We are not a party to any transaction between buyers and sellers, and we do not own, inspect, or guarantee any items listed on the Platform.

3. Account Registration
3.1 You must create an account to access most features of the Platform. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to keep your account information updated.

3.2 You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials. You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account. Notify us immediately at support@yardscout.app if you suspect unauthorized access.

3.3 You may not create more than one personal account, impersonate another person, or create an account on behalf of someone else without their authorization.

3.4 We reserve the right to refuse registration or suspend any account at our sole discretion.

4. User Conduct & Community Standards
By using YardScout, you agree not to:

Harass, threaten, intimidate, stalk, or discriminate against any user based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any protected characteristic
Post false, misleading, or deceptive listings, descriptions, or photos
Attempt to defraud, scam, or deceive other users
Use automated bots, scrapers, crawlers, or scripts to access or collect data from the Platform
Post hate speech, abusive, pornographic, or offensive content
Violate any other user's privacy or share their personal information without consent
Engage in price-gouging, bid manipulation, or shill bidding
Create fake reviews, manipulate ratings, or incentivize positive reviews
Reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to access the Platform's source code
Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose
Circumvent any security or access control measures
Interfere with the Platform's operation or infrastructure
Violations may result in immediate account suspension or permanent ban.

5. Seller Responsibilities
5.1 Accuracy: You must accurately describe all items and conditions. Photos must represent the actual item being sold.

5.2 Ownership: You represent and warrant that you own all items you list or have the legal right to sell them.

5.3 Legality: You represent that all items listed comply with applicable local, state, and federal laws.

5.4 Tax Responsibility: You are solely responsible for determining and fulfilling any applicable tax obligations (including sales tax, income tax, or other taxes) arising from your sales. YardScout does not provide tax advice and is not responsible for your tax compliance.

5.5 Sale Conduct: As a Host, you are responsible for the safety of your sale event, including maintaining a safe environment for attendees, accurate address information, and honoring advertised hours and conditions.

5.6 Acknowledgment: To list a sale on YardScout, sellers must complete the Seller Responsibility Acknowledgment confirming that items are legal, not stolen, and that the seller owns them. This acknowledgment is recorded and binding.

6. Prohibited Items
You may not list, offer, sell, or facilitate the sale of the following items on YardScout:

Illegal items of any kind, including controlled substances or drug paraphernalia
Firearms, ammunition, explosives, or regulated weapons (knives sold as collectibles with proper disclosure may be permitted — contact us)
Stolen, counterfeit, or fraudulently obtained goods
Hazardous materials, chemicals, or toxic substances
Live animals
Adult content or sexually explicit material
Items that infringe on third-party intellectual property rights (trademarks, copyrights, patents)
Prescription medications or medical devices requiring a prescription
Alcohol, tobacco, or vaping products where prohibited by law
Human remains, organs, or body parts
Items that require special federal, state, or local licenses to sell without holding such licenses
Recalled products or products banned by consumer safety agencies (e.g., CPSC recall list)
YardScout reserves the right to remove any listing at its sole discretion.

7. Buyer Responsibilities
7.1 You are responsible for verifying the condition, authenticity, and suitability of any item before purchasing or agreeing to purchase.

7.2 All sales are "as-is" unless explicitly stated otherwise by the seller. YardScout does not guarantee the quality or condition of any item.

7.3 You are responsible for arranging and completing pickup at the agreed time and location. Repeated no-shows may result in account restrictions.

7.4 You agree to pay for items you commit to purchasing and not to initiate chargebacks for legitimate transactions without first attempting to resolve the dispute with the seller.

8. Payments & Transactions
8.1 Payment Processor: Payments on YardScout are processed by Stripe, Inc. By using YardScout's payment features, you agree to Stripe's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. YardScout does not store, transmit, or have access to your full payment card details.

8.2 Transaction Finality: Once a payment is confirmed, it is considered final. Refunds are subject to the seller's agreement and YardScout's dispute resolution process.

8.3 Chargebacks: Initiating an unjustified chargeback with your bank or card issuer — without first contacting YardScout for dispute resolution — is a violation of these Terms and may result in account suspension, recovery of disputed amounts, and legal action.

8.4 Payout to Sellers: Sellers who set up Stripe Connect accounts will receive payouts according to Stripe's standard payout schedule. YardScout is not responsible for delays caused by Stripe, banks, or incorrect payout information entered by the seller.

8.5 Platform Fees: YardScout may charge service fees for transactions conducted through the Platform. Any applicable fees will be disclosed before you complete a transaction.

9. Premium Subscriptions
9.1 YardScout offers optional premium subscription plans ("Premium," "Yearly," or "Lifetime") that unlock additional features including unlimited sale viewing, advanced search, and priority notifications.

9.2 Billing: Subscriptions are billed on a recurring basis (monthly or annually) through the payment method on file. You authorize YardScout to charge the applicable fee at the start of each billing period.

9.3 Cancellation: You may cancel your subscription at any time in Account Settings → Manage Subscription. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period — you retain Premium access until then.

9.4 No Refunds for Partial Periods: Subscription fees are non-refundable except as required by applicable law or as expressly stated at purchase.

9.5 Price Changes: YardScout may change subscription prices. We will provide at least 30 days' notice before price changes take effect for existing subscribers.

9.6 In-App Purchases: If you purchase a subscription through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, the purchase is subject to that platform's terms, and any billing disputes must be directed to Apple or Google.

10. Verified Seller Program
10.1 The Verified Seller program is entirely voluntary. Enrollment requires you to submit a government-issued photo ID for identity verification.

10.2 You must be 18 years of age or older to enroll.

10.3 You must provide genuine, valid identification. Submitting false, fraudulent, or altered identification is a material violation of these Terms and may result in immediate permanent account termination and referral to law enforcement.

10.4 Verified status confirms identity only — it does not constitute an endorsement, guarantee of conduct, or warranty of item quality by YardScout.

10.5 YardScout reserves the right to revoke Verified status at any time if Terms are violated, if verification information becomes invalid, or if suspicious behavior is detected.

11. Ratings & Reviews
11.1 You may only submit a rating or review for a user with whom you have had a verified transaction or direct interaction on the Platform.

11.2 You may not: rate yourself or your own sale, submit duplicate ratings for the same interaction, pay or incentivize others to submit positive reviews, or submit reviews in retaliation for negative feedback received.

11.3 Reviews must be honest, relevant to your actual experience, and non-defamatory. Reviews containing threats, hate speech, or false statements of fact may be removed.

11.4 YardScout reserves the right, but not the obligation, to remove reviews that violate these Terms, following our moderation process.

11.5 Review data (aggregate ratings and public-facing comments) may remain on the Platform after an account is deleted, in anonymized form.

12. Dispute Resolution Between Users
12.1 Disputes between buyers and sellers are primarily the responsibility of the parties involved. YardScout encourages users to resolve disputes directly through the in-app messaging system.

12.2 YardScout provides a dispute reporting mechanism (Report Issue) as a courtesy. Submission of a dispute report does not guarantee resolution or any particular outcome.

12.3 YardScout's involvement in user-to-user disputes is discretionary and does not create a legal obligation on our part.

13. ARBITRATION AGREEMENT & CLASS ACTION WAIVER
PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY — IT AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS.

13.1 Binding Arbitration: Except for claims that may be brought in small claims court, you and YardScout agree that any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the use of the Platform — including disputes about the validity or applicability of this arbitration clause — shall be resolved exclusively through final and binding arbitration, rather than in court.

13.2 Waiver of Jury Trial: You waive your right to a jury trial.

13.3 Class Action Waiver: You waive your right to bring or participate in any class action, collective action, or representative action against YardScout. All arbitrations must be conducted on an individual basis only.

13.4 Arbitration Rules: Arbitration shall be conducted by JAMS or the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under their applicable consumer arbitration rules. The arbitration will take place in Fort Dodge, Iowa, or via video conference.

13.5 Costs: YardScout will pay the arbitrator's fees for claims under $10,000 unless the arbitrator finds your claim frivolous. Each party bears their own attorney's fees unless applicable law provides otherwise.

13.6 30-Day Opt-Out: You may opt out of this arbitration agreement within 30 days of first accepting these Terms by emailing legal@yardscout.app with subject "Arbitration Opt-Out." If you opt out, disputes will be governed by Section 14.

13.7 Small Claims Exception: Either party may bring qualifying claims in small claims court in Webster County, Iowa.

13.8 IP Exception: Either party may seek injunctive or equitable relief in court to protect intellectual property rights.

14. Governing Law & Venue
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Iowa, USA, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. For disputes not subject to arbitration, you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Webster County, IA.

15. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability
15.1 "AS IS" Disclaimer: THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE.

15.2 No Warranty on Transactions: YARDSCOUT DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE QUALITY, SAFETY, LEGALITY, OR AUTHENTICITY OF ANY ITEM LISTED. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONDUCT, RELIABILITY, OR ACTIONS OF ANY USER.

15.3 Limitation of Liability: TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, YARDSCOUT'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR THE PLATFORM SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF: (A) $100.00 USD, OR (B) THE TOTAL FEES PAID BY YOU TO YARDSCOUT IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM.

15.4 Exclusion of Consequential Damages: IN NO EVENT SHALL YARDSCOUT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, LOSS OF DATA, PERSONAL INJURY, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

15.5 Indemnification: You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless YardScout, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from: (a) your use of the Platform; (b) your listings or items; (c) your violation of these Terms; or (d) your violation of any third-party rights.

16. Intellectual Property
16.1 YardScout's IP: The YardScout name, logo, platform design, code, and all original content created by YardScout are owned by YardScout and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without our written permission.

16.2 Your Content: You retain ownership of content you post (photos, descriptions, listings). By posting content, you grant YardScout a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable license to use, display, reproduce, adapt, publish, and distribute your content for the purposes of operating, promoting, and improving the Platform.

16.3 DMCA: If you believe your copyrighted work has been infringed on the Platform, please send a DMCA takedown notice to legal@yardscout.app with: (a) description of the copyrighted work, (b) URL of the infringing content, (c) your contact information, and (d) a statement of good faith belief and accuracy under penalty of perjury.

17. Account Suspension & Termination
17.1 YardScout may suspend or permanently terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, for:

Violation of these Terms
Fraudulent, illegal, or abusive behavior
Listing prohibited items
Repeated negative ratings or reports
Inactivity for extended periods
Any other reason at our sole discretion
17.2 Upon termination, your right to use the Platform immediately ceases. YardScout is not liable for any damages resulting from termination.

17.3 You may delete your own account at any time in Account Settings. Deletion is permanent and data will be removed per our Privacy Policy.

18. Safety Guidelines
YardScout strongly recommends the following safety practices:

Meet buyers/sellers in well-lit, public locations (parking lots, community centers)
Bring a trusted friend or family member when possible
Inspect and verify all items before completing payment
Do not share sensitive financial information (bank account, SSN) in messages
Do not invite strangers to your home address outside of an advertised sale event
Trust your instincts — cancel or leave any interaction that feels unsafe
Report suspicious users or listings immediately via the Report feature
YardScout is not responsible for personal safety during transactions. Users assume all personal risk.

19. Modifications to Terms
YardScout may update these Terms at any time. We will notify you of material changes by posting a notice in the app and/or sending an email. Continued use of the Platform after the effective date of updated Terms constitutes your acceptance. If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you must stop using the Platform.

20. Miscellaneous
20.1 Entire Agreement: These Terms, along with our Privacy Policy and Community Guidelines, constitute the entire agreement between you and YardScout.

20.2 Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

20.3 No Waiver: Failure to enforce any right under these Terms does not waive that right.

20.4 Assignment: You may not assign your rights under these Terms without our written consent. YardScout may assign its rights freely.

20.5 Force Majeure: YardScout is not liable for failures due to events beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, cyberattacks, or infrastructure failures.

21. Contact Information
General Support: support@yardscout.app Legal / Terms Questions: legal@yardscout.app Privacy Inquiries: privacy@yardscout.app DMCA Notices: legal@yardscout.app

YardScout, Inc. 1631 N 26th St Fort Dodge, IA 50501 USA

Last Updated: March 24, 2026

Note: These documents are comprehensive and production-ready, but I recommend having a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction review them before final App Store submission, particularly the arbitration clause and CCPA/GDPR sections depending on your user base. Would you like me to update the in-app versions of these pages with this full content?