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Terms of Service

Clear, fair terms that protect both users and business owners in our local directory community.

Last updated: August 30, 2025 • Effective: Immediately

What You Need to Know

What You Can Do

Browse businesses, leave reviews, create listings, and connect with the local community.

What's Not Allowed

Spam, fake reviews, harassment, or any content that violates community standards.

Our Commitment

Maintain a safe, reliable platform that supports authentic local business discovery.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using BuyLocal Bay Area ("we," "our," or "us"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you disagree with any part of these terms, you may not access the service.

These Terms apply to all visitors, users, and others who access or use the service, including business owners who create listings.

2. User Accounts and Registration

Account Creation

  • • You must provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
  • • You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
  • • You must be at least 18 years old to create an account
  • • One person or business may maintain only one account

Account Security

You are solely responsible for all activities under your account. Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use.

3. Acceptable Use Policy

✅ Encouraged Use

  • • Share honest, helpful reviews of local businesses
  • • Create accurate business listings with complete information
  • • Engage respectfully with other community members
  • • Report inappropriate content or violations
  • • Support local businesses through the platform

❌ Prohibited Activities

  • • Post false, misleading, or fake reviews
  • • Upload copyrighted content without permission
  • • Harass, threaten, or abuse other users
  • • Spam or post unsolicited promotional content
  • • Attempt to hack, scrape, or disrupt the platform
  • • Create fake business listings or impersonate others

Violation Consequences: Accounts that violate these terms may be warned, suspended, or permanently banned at our discretion.

4. Content and Intellectual Property

Your Content

  • • You retain ownership of content you post (reviews, photos, business information)
  • • You grant us a license to use, display, and distribute your content on our platform
  • • You represent that you have the right to post the content you submit
  • • We may remove content that violates these terms or community guidelines

Our Content

The BuyLocal Bay Area platform, including its design, features, and original content, is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, or distribute our content without permission.

5. Business Listings and Reviews

Business Owner Responsibilities

  • • Provide accurate business information (hours, contact details, services)
  • • Keep listings updated with current information
  • • Respond professionally to customer reviews and inquiries
  • • Comply with all applicable laws and regulations
  • • Honor any promotions or offers posted on your listing

Review Guidelines

  • • Reviews must be based on genuine experiences
  • • No compensation for positive or negative reviews
  • • Keep reviews constructive and relevant
  • • We reserve the right to remove reviews that violate guidelines

6. Platform Availability and Modifications

We strive to keep our platform available 24/7, but we cannot guarantee uninterrupted service. We may modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of our service at any time, with or without notice.

Service Updates: We regularly improve our platform. Major changes that affect your use will be communicated in advance when possible.

7. Payment Terms and Premium Features

Free Services

Basic directory browsing, business discovery, and standard listings are free for all users.

Premium Features

  • • Enhanced business listings with additional photos and features
  • • Priority placement in search results
  • • Advanced analytics and customer insights
  • • Direct messaging and promotional tools

Billing: Premium features are billed monthly or annually. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period.

8. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

Service Disclaimer

BuyLocal Bay Area is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee the accuracy of business information, reviews, or availability of services listed on our platform.

  • • Business hours, contact information, and services may change
  • • Reviews reflect individual opinions, not our endorsements
  • • We are not responsible for interactions between users and businesses

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, BuyLocal Bay Area shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or revenues.

9. Third-Party Integrations

GoHighLevel Integration

Our platform integrates with GoHighLevel CRM to enhance business management capabilities. By using these features:

  • • You consent to data synchronization between platforms
  • • You agree to GoHighLevel's terms of service
  • • You understand that integrated features may have different availability
  • • You can opt-out of integration features at any time

Other Third-Party Services

We may integrate with mapping services, payment processors, and analytics providers. Your use of these services is subject to their respective terms and privacy policies.

10. Account Termination

Your Right to Terminate

  • • Delete your account at any time through settings
  • • Cancel premium services before the next billing cycle
  • • Request complete data deletion within 30 days

Our Right to Terminate

  • • Suspend accounts that violate these terms
  • • Remove content that doesn't meet community standards
  • • Terminate service for repeated violations

11. Dispute Resolution

We encourage resolving disputes through direct communication. For formal disputes:

  • • Contact our support team first for informal resolution
  • • Disputes will be governed by California state law
  • • Venue for legal proceedings is San Francisco County, California
  • • Both parties waive the right to jury trial for covered disputes

12. Changes to These Terms

We may revise these terms from time to time. Material changes will be communicated through:

  • • Email notification to registered users
  • • Prominent notice on our platform
  • • Updated "Last modified" date on this page

Continued use of our service after changes constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

13. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us:

  • Email: legal@buylocalbayarea.com
  • Address: BuyLocal Bay Area, San Francisco, CA 94102
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 6 PM PST

Ready to Support Local Business?

Now that you understand our terms, join thousands of Bay Area residents discovering amazing local businesses.

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