Local Marketplace Community Guidelines

Pre-production draft. Recommend licensed attorney review before major scaling. Not legal advice.

Last updated: [LAST UPDATED DATE — see docs/legal/ENTITY.md]

These Community Guidelines are incorporated into our Terms of Service. They explain what belongs on Local Marketplace and what happens when rules are broken.

Local Marketplace is for local deals — neighbor-to-neighbor pickup, not a national shipping marketplace.

Part A — Listing standards (commerce rules)

*Inspired by marketplace "commerce policies": what a valid listing looks like.*

Every listing must

RuleDetail
Physical itemsTangible goods you can hand off at a meetup
Local pickupNo shipping-only sales
Honest presentationYour photos, accurate title/description, honest condition
One item focusNo duplicate spam for the same item across many posts
Legal to sellYou must have the right to sell the item

Listing quality (like major marketplaces expect)

  • Cover photo: Show the actual item, well lit, not a stock image
  • Title: Specific (e.g., "IKEA desk lamp" not "Stuff for sale")
  • Description: Mention flaws, size, or pickup notes
  • Price: The listed price is the meetup price — no bait-and-switch

    • Listing lifecycle

  • Listings expire after 21 days (standard) or 2 months (Premium); deleted 7 days after expiry
  • Mark items sold when gone so buyers are not misled

    • Part B — Prohibited items and content

    *Grouped like common commerce policy categories — not an exhaustive legal list.*

    Never allowed

    CategoryExamples
    Weapons & violenceFirearms, ammo, explosives, weapons marketed as weapons
    Drugs & controlled substancesIllegal drugs, paraphernalia, prescription meds
    Alcohol & tobaccoBeer, wine, vape, cigarettes
    Stolen or counterfeitStolen property, fake designer goods, pirated media
    AnimalsLive animals
    Digital & intangibleGame codes, accounts, downloads, services, "tasks"
    Adult contentPornographic or sexually explicit material
    Scams & fraudWire fees, gift-card payments, fake giveaways, phishing links
    Shipping-only"Ships nationwide" — use a platform that supports shipping

    We may remove content that is unsafe, deceptive, or harmful even if not listed above.

    Part C — Conduct and community behavior

    *Inspired by platform "community standards": how users treat each other.*

    Do

  • Be respectful in messages and meetups
  • Report suspicious listings or users
  • Use Block if someone makes you uncomfortable
  • Leave honest reviews after genuine interactions
  • Meet in public places when possible

    • Don't

  • Harass, threaten, hate speech, or discriminate
  • Spam, duplicate junk listings, or keyword stuffing
  • Circumvent a ban with new accounts
  • Extort sellers/buyers with fake reviews
  • Share others' private info (addresses, phone) without consent
  • Use Local Marketplace for romance scams, pyramid schemes, or off-platform payment traps

    • Part D — Messages and contact

  • Messages are for listing-related buyer–seller contact
  • No unsolicited marketing blasts
  • Deal acceptance may be required before phone/contact unlock — follow in-app prompts
  • We may review messages reported for abuse

    • Part E — Paid features (Boost, Premium)

  • Paid visibility does not exempt you from these Guidelines
  • Fake clicks, impression fraud, or misleading claims about paid features violate policy

    • Part F — Enforcement

    *Similar to marketplace enforcement ladders: escalating consequences.*

    StageWhat we may do
    1 — ReminderRemove or edit a listing; send a warning
    2 — RestrictionPause listings (`paused_pending_review`); limit posting
    3 — SuspensionTemporary ban from posting or messaging
    4 — Permanent banAccount terminated; evasion accounts banned

    Automated signals: Many reports in a short period may auto-pause a listing until a human reviews it.

    We are not obligated to provide warnings before action when safety or law requires immediate removal.

    Part G — Reporting and appeals

    Report

    Tap Report on any listing or profile. Include accurate details. False reports may lead to action on your account.

    Appeal

    If you believe we made a mistake, email support@yourdomain.com with:

  • Your username
  • Listing or report ID (if known)
  • Why you believe the action was wrong

    • We will review when possible but do not guarantee reinstatement.

    Part H — Changes

    We may update these Guidelines. Continued use of Local Marketplace means you follow the current version posted in-app and on our website.

    Related: Terms of Service · Meetup Safety · Privacy Policy