Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account or using Adopt A Hobby (“Platform”, “we”, “us”), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 13 years old to use the Platform. By using it you represent that you meet this requirement. If you are under 18 you must have parental or guardian consent.

3. Platform Purpose

Adopt A Hobby facilitates peer-to-peer exchanges of hobby gear and equipment. The Platform is a venue — we are not a party to any exchange, and we do not take ownership, possession, or responsibility for any items listed or exchanged. All exchanges are between users directly.

4. User Accounts

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. Notify us immediately at support@adoptahobby.com if you suspect unauthorised access. You may not create multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions or bans.

5. Acceptable Use

You agree to use the Platform only to:

• List genuine hobby items you own and are willing to exchange
• Communicate honestly and respectfully with other users
• Complete exchanges you agree to in good faith

6. Prohibited Content & Conduct

The following are strictly prohibited and will result in immediate content removal and may result in account suspension:

• Offensive items — Items that promote hatred, discrimination, or violence based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics
• Illegal items — Weapons, controlled substances, counterfeit goods, stolen property, or any item whose listing or exchange violates applicable law
• Misleading listings — False descriptions, fraudulent valuations, or misrepresentation of item condition
• Offensive language — Harassment, threats, slurs, or abusive communication directed at other users or our team
• Spam & manipulation — Duplicate listings, artificial reputation inflation, or coordinated inauthentic behaviour
• Scraping & automation — Automated access to the Platform without our express written permission

7. Exchange Rules

When you accept an exchange offer, you enter a binding agreement with the other user to complete the swap as described. You are responsible for:

• Packaging and shipping or delivering your item safely and promptly
• Accurately representing the item's condition before exchange
• Communicating any delays or issues to the other party in advance
• Providing truthful feedback after the exchange is complete

Adopt A Hobby does not guarantee the quality, safety, or legality of items. Exchanges are conducted at your own risk. We encourage users to review each other's reputation scores before agreeing to a swap.

8. Dispute Resolution

If a dispute arises with another user, follow this process:

1. Direct resolution (required first step) — Contact the other user through the Platform's messaging system and attempt to resolve the issue within 7 days.
2. Report to Adopt A Hobby — If direct resolution fails, submit a dispute report via disputes@adoptahobby.com with evidence (photographs, messages, shipping tracking).
3. Review & decision — We will review submitted evidence and issue a non-binding recommendation within 10 business days. We may adjust reputation scores and restrict accounts based on our findings.

Adopt A Hobby's dispute decisions are final regarding reputation and account status. We cannot compel item returns or monetary compensation — those remedies must be pursued through applicable consumer protection or small claims processes.

9. Account Suspension & Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or permanently terminate accounts that:

• Violate these Terms or our community guidelines
• Engage in fraudulent or deceptive exchanges
• Repeatedly fail to complete agreed exchanges without valid cause
• Harass or threaten other users or staff
• Post prohibited content after receiving a warning

For minor first-time violations we will typically issue a warning before suspending. For serious or repeated violations we may act immediately without warning. Suspended users may appeal by emailing appeals@adoptahobby.com within 14 days of the suspension notice. Our decision on appeal is final.

You may delete your own account at any time from your profile settings. See our Privacy Policy for data retention details following deletion.

10. Intellectual Property

By posting content (item photos, descriptions, profile information) on the Platform, you grant Adopt A Hobby a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to display, store, and distribute that content solely for the purpose of operating the Platform. You retain ownership of your content. You represent that you have the right to post any content you submit.

11. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability

The Platform is provided “as is” without warranties of any kind. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Adopt A Hobby is not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Platform, including losses from failed or unsatisfactory exchanges. Our total liability to you for any claim is limited to USD $50 or the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim, whichever is greater.

12. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, USA, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any dispute not resolved through the process in Section 8 shall be subject to binding arbitration under JAMS rules, conducted in English.

13. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated Terms with a new date and, where appropriate, by email. Continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

14. Contact

Questions about these Terms? Contact us at legal@adoptahobby.com.