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Terms of Service

Last updated: December 22, 2024

Welcome to Coffee Pals. We're glad you're here.

These terms of service explain the agreement between you and Coffee Pals when you use our platform. We've tried to make them as straightforward and human as possible, but there's still some legal language we need to include.

The basic idea: we provide a platform that matches coffee lovers to exchange beans. You agree to actually send coffee to your matches, be honest and respectful, and follow some reasonable rules. In return, we'll do our best to give you a great experience.

Please read these terms carefully. By using Coffee Pals, you're agreeing to them. If something here doesn't work for you, we'll be sad to see you go, but you shouldn't use the service.

Got questions? Email us at hello@coffeepals.io.

Accepting these terms

By creating an account or using Coffee Pals in any way, you're agreeing to these terms. If you don't agree with any part of them, please don't use Coffee Pals.

We may update these terms occasionally. When we do, we'll update the "Last updated" date at the top and notify you via email or a notice on the platform. If you continue using Coffee Pals after changes take effect, you're agreeing to the new terms.

Who can use Coffee Pals

To use Coffee Pals, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old, or between 13-18 with permission from a parent or guardian
  • Be able to legally receive international shipments in your country (some places restrict food imports - that's on you to know)
  • Provide accurate information when you sign up
  • Not be banned from Coffee Pals for previous violations

If you're under 18, a parent or guardian must supervise your use of Coffee Pals and agree to these terms on your behalf. Parents: please be aware that your teen will be sharing their address with other users and receiving packages from strangers (coffee strangers, but still).

Your obligations (the important part)

By using Coffee Pals, you agree to:

Actually send the coffee

  • When you're matched with someone, you must send them coffee within the timeframe we specify (usually within 2 weeks of matching)
  • If you can't participate in a particular exchange, opt out before matching happens - don't bail after you've been matched
  • If something unexpected comes up and you can't send coffee after matching, communicate with your match and let us know immediately at hello@coffeepals.io

Send quality coffee

  • Send coffee that you'd be happy to receive yourself - no expired beans, stale coffee, or stuff you're trying to get rid of
  • Package it properly so it arrives in good condition
  • The coffee doesn't have to be expensive or exotic, but it should be fresh, sealed properly, and something you'd actually recommend

Provide accurate information

  • Your shipping address must be current and correct - we're not responsible if coffee can't reach you because you put the wrong address
  • Your profile information should be truthful - don't misrepresent your coffee preferences or experience
  • Update your information if it changes - especially your address

Be respectful and honest

  • Leave honest, fair feedback - the rating system only works if people are truthful
  • Don't be mean or abusive in your feedback or communications
  • Don't harass or threaten other users
  • Don't discriminate based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or anything else

What we're NOT responsible for

Here's what we can't control and won't be liable for:

Shipping and delivery

  • Lost, stolen, or damaged packages - shipping is between you and your match. We don't control postal services.
  • Customs issues, import duties, or taxes - international shipping can be complicated. These costs and complications are your responsibility.
  • Delivery times - we can't guarantee when (or if) packages will arrive

The coffee itself

  • Quality of coffee you receive - we expect users to send good coffee, but we can't taste-test every bag. If you get bad coffee, leave honest feedback.
  • Food safety - we trust users to send safe, properly packaged coffee, but we can't verify this. Use your judgment.
  • Allergies or dietary restrictions - if you have concerns about contamination or allergens, communicate with your match directly

User behaviour

  • What users do or don't do - we can ban bad actors, but we can't force someone to send you coffee or control how they behave
  • Disputes between users - we'll try to help mediate, but we can't force resolutions
  • Accuracy of user profiles - we trust users to be honest, but we don't verify every detail

Account termination

We can ban you if:

  • You don't send coffee to your matches
  • You send bad, expired, or inappropriate items
  • You're abusive, harassing, or discriminatory
  • You violate these terms in other ways
  • You're using the platform for fraudulent or illegal purposes

If we ban you, we'll usually tell you why. In some cases (like legal issues), we may not be able to provide details.

Bans may be temporary or permanent depending on the severity. If you're banned, you can't create a new account to get around it.

You can leave anytime

You can delete your account whenever you want through your account settings, or by emailing hello@coffeepals.io.

If you delete your account:

  • You won't be matched in future exchanges
  • Your profile will be anonymized (see our Privacy Policy for details)
  • Your past ratings and feedback will remain (anonymized) so other users maintain their complete reputation history
  • Any ongoing exchanges are still your responsibility - don't delete your account to avoid sending coffee to someone

Limitation of liability

Here's the legal part we have to include:

Coffee Pals is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. We don't guarantee that the service will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Coffee Pals and its team are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including lost profits, lost data, or other intangible losses, resulting from:

  • Your use or inability to use the service
  • Any behaviour of other users
  • Unauthorized access to your account or data
  • Any other matter relating to Coffee Pals

This isn't us trying to dodge responsibility - we take Coffee Pals seriously and will do our best to make things right when problems happen. But we're facilitating exchanges between strangers around the world, and we can't control everything that might go wrong.

Disputes and legal stuff

Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of [your jurisdiction - you'll need to specify this based on where Coffee Pals is legally established], without regard to conflict of law principles.

Dispute resolution

If we have a disagreement, let's try to work it out. Email us at hello@coffeepals.io and we'll do our best to resolve things amicably.

Contact us

Questions about these terms? Want to report a violation? Just want to say hi?

Email us at: hello@coffeepals.io

We're real people who genuinely care about making Coffee Pals a great experience. If something in these terms concerns you or doesn't make sense, let us know. We can't always change things, but we'll always listen.

Thanks for reading all the way to the end. We know terms of service aren't exactly thrilling, but they're important for protecting everyone in the Coffee Pals community.

Now go exchange some great coffee.