Terms and Conditions

1. Introduction

Welcome to our platform. By accessing or using our services, you agree to these Terms and Conditions. Please read them carefully as they govern your rights and responsibilities under EU, US, and other applicable international consumer protection and e-commerce laws.

2. Purpose of the Platform

Our platform helps users start and grow their business by enabling product listings, live user interaction, and real-time communication via a secure and fast chat system. Buyers and sellers can interact instantly using the “Contact Seller” button below any listing—no friend requests or delays required.

3. User Accounts

• Users must be 18+ and provide accurate personal and business information.
• You are responsible for protecting your login credentials and for all activity on your account.

4. Listings and Product Ownership

Users can list products by selecting the correct type and filling out the required form. You are solely responsible for your listings and transactions. Listings must be legal, truthful, and not misleading under laws including the EU Unfair Commercial Practices Directive and the U.S. FTC Act.

5. Real-Time Communication

Buyers can message sellers instantly through our built-in chat. This direct access helps facilitate trust, fast negotiations, and seamless transactions. Misuse of the communication system (spam, abuse, fraud) is prohibited and may lead to suspension or legal action.

6. Trust and Reputation

Users receive ratings for communication, delivery, and other performance indicators. We calculate a Trust Score and assign a level (Brick, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond) that reflects overall reliability. Manipulating ratings or providing fake feedback is strictly forbidden.

7. Profile Requirements

Each user must complete a public profile with the following details:

• Profile image, username, country
• Business name, category, products/services
• Payment preferences, business address, date of birth
• Bio and social media links

8. Posts, Comments, and Networking

Users can publish posts, comment, and reply. The main page features a vendor section, friend feeds, and product updates. This helps users build meaningful business relationships. Offensive or unlawful content is not allowed.

9. Prohibited Activities

• Posting illegal, fraudulent, or misleading content
• Violating others’ privacy or intellectual property rights
• Engaging in hate speech, harassment, or spam

10. Data Privacy

We comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for EU users and applicable U.S. data laws. Please see our Privacy Policy for details about how your information is collected and used.

11. Suspension and Termination

We may suspend or delete accounts that violate these terms, harm other users, or undermine platform integrity.

12. Limitation of Liability

We are not responsible for damages arising from user actions, disputes, product issues, or technical failures. Users must act responsibly and verify listings and sellers before transacting.

15. Payment, Escrow & Payout Policy

15.1 Payment Processing

All payments on Spocnet are processed exclusively through PayPal, a regulated payment service provider. By making or receiving a payment on Spocnet, you agree to PayPal's User Agreement and applicable PayPal policies. Spocnet does not store, process, or have access to your card numbers, bank account details, or any sensitive payment credentials.

15.2 Escrow — Fund Holding

When a buyer completes a purchase on Spocnet, the payment is captured and held in a secure escrow managed through Spocnet's PayPal Commerce Platform account. Funds held in escrow are not accessible to the seller until the release conditions described in Section 15.3 are met. This escrow mechanism exists to protect buyers against non-delivery and to ensure sellers are paid only upon confirmed fulfilment of the order.

By listing a product or completing a purchase on Spocnet, both sellers and buyers expressly acknowledge and agree to this escrow arrangement.

15.3 Payout Release Conditions

Funds held in escrow are released to the seller under the following conditions:

• Automatic release: If the shipment carrier confirms delivery via our logistics integration and no dispute has been opened by the buyer, funds are automatically released to the seller within 2 business days of the confirmed delivery date.
• Buyer-confirmed release: If the buyer confirms receipt of the order through their Spocnet account before the 2-day automatic release period, funds are released immediately — typically within minutes.
• Disputed orders: If a dispute is opened by the buyer, the payout is frozen until the dispute is resolved in accordance with Section 17 (Dispute Resolution). See Section 17 for full details.

15.4 Seller PayPal Requirement

To receive payouts, sellers must have a valid PayPal account in good standing and must register their PayPal email address in their Spocnet seller profile. Spocnet is not responsible for failed payouts resulting from incorrect PayPal details, account limitations imposed by PayPal on the seller, or PayPal's own processing delays.

Sellers are solely responsible for any tax obligations arising from payments received through Spocnet. Spocnet does not provide tax advice and does not withhold taxes on seller payouts unless required to do so by applicable law.

15.5 Fraud Prevention Holds

Spocnet reserves the right to delay or withhold a payout if there are reasonable grounds to suspect fraudulent activity, policy violation, or a risk of financial harm to a buyer or third party. In such cases, Spocnet will notify the affected seller and initiate a review within 5 business days. If no violation is found, the payout will be released promptly.

15.6 Unclaimed or Failed Payouts

If a payout fails due to an invalid or closed seller PayPal account, Spocnet will attempt to notify the seller via their registered email address. The seller has 30 days to provide corrected PayPal details and claim the payout. After 30 days, unclaimed funds may be held pending further verification or, where required by law, treated in accordance with applicable unclaimed property regulations.

16. Subscription Plans, Billing & Refund Policy

16.1 Subscription Plans

Spocnet offers optional paid subscription plans that unlock advanced features for sellers and businesses. Subscription plans are available in two tiers, Standard and Premium, each billed either on a monthly or annual (yearly) basis, as selected at the time of purchase. Current plan details, features, and pricing are displayed on the Spocnet pricing page and within your account settings. All prices are shown in USD and are inclusive of any applicable fees.

16.2 Billing and Automatic Renewal

Subscriptions are billed in advance on a recurring basis — monthly plans on the same calendar date each month, and annual plans on the same date each year. Your subscription will automatically renew unless you cancel it before the renewal date.

All subscription payments are processed by PayPal. By subscribing, you authorize Spocnet to charge the agreed subscription amount to your PayPal account on each billing date.

16.3 Cancellation

You may cancel your subscription at any time from the Subscribed plan card. Cancellation stops all future billing. Cancelling your subscription does not, by itself, end your access immediately and does not, by itself, forfeit or affect any refund you may separately be eligible for under Sections 16.4 and 16.5 below. Refund eligibility is determined solely by the time elapsed since your subscription was activated, as described below, regardless of whether you have cancelled.

16.4 Monthly Subscription Refund Policy

Monthly subscriptions (Standard or Premium) are refundable as follows:

• Within the first 14 days of activation: You may request a refund. The refund amount is calculated proportionally based on the number of unused days remaining in your current monthly billing cycle, ensuring you only pay for the days you actually used and are refunded in full for the days you did not.
• After the first 14 days: No refund is available for that billing cycle. You may still cancel at any time to prevent the next month's renewal charge.

Refund requests are submitted directly through your account's subscription drawer all below the page. Approved refunds are processed via PayPal to your original payment method, subject to PayPal's standard processing timelines.

16.5 Annual Subscription Refund Policy

Annual (yearly) subscriptions (Standard or Premium) are refundable as follows:

• At any time during your annual subscription: You may request a refund for the unused portion of your subscription. The refund amount is calculated proportionally based on the number of unused days remaining in your annual subscription term, ensuring you only pay for the days you actually used and are refunded in full for the days you did not.
• There is no minimum or maximum time limit on when an annual refund may be requested — you are always entitled to the value of the unused portion of your subscription term.

Refund requests are submitted directly through your account's subscription drawer all below the page. Approved refunds are processed via PayPal to your original payment method, subject to PayPal's standard processing timelines.

16.6 General Refund Terms

• Each subscription payment may only be refunded once. A second refund request for the same billing period will be declined.
• Refunds are issued to the original PayPal payment method used for the subscription.
• Refund eligibility and amount are calculated automatically based on the exact time elapsed since your subscription's activation timestamp, not the date you submit your refund request.
• No refund will be issued for a subscription where the account has been suspended or terminated due to a violation of these Terms of Service.

16.7 EU / UK Statutory Right of Withdrawal

For users in the European Union and United Kingdom, you have a statutory right of withdrawal (cooling-off period) under the EU Consumer Rights Directive and UK Consumer Rights Act 2015. Spocnet's refund policy in Sections 16.4 and 16.5 above is designed to meet or exceed this statutory minimum: monthly subscribers may request a full proportional refund of unused time within 14 days of activation at no cost, and annual subscribers may request a proportional refund of unused time at any point during their subscription term, without time restriction.

17. Dispute Resolution Policy

17.1 Raising a Dispute

A buyer may open a dispute against a completed transaction in the following circumstances:

• The item was not received within the estimated delivery window
• The item received is significantly not as described in the listing
• The item arrived damaged due to inadequate packaging by the seller

Disputes must be opened within 3 days of the confirmed or expected delivery date. Disputes submitted after this window may not be eligible for resolution under this policy, except where required by applicable consumer protection law.

17.2 Dispute Process

1. Opening: The buyer opens a dispute through their Spocnet account inside their profiles inside the incoming deliverie and specifically underneath each product card has delivery confirmed by shippo.
2. Freeze: Upon receipt of a valid dispute, any pending payout to the seller for the disputed transaction is immediately frozen.
3. Notification: Both buyer and seller are notified of the dispute within 24 hours and given the opportunity to submit evidence (photos, tracking information, communication records).
4. Review: Spocnet reviews all submitted evidence and makes a decision within 7 business days of receiving complete information from both parties.
5. Resolution: Spocnet communicates the outcome to both parties. The decision is final within the Spocnet platform, subject to any rights the parties may have under applicable law or through PayPal's own dispute resolution.

17.3 Possible Outcomes

• Resolved in buyer's favor: A full or partial refund is issued to the buyer via PayPal to their original payment method. The payout to the seller is cancelled or reduced accordingly.
• Resolved in seller's favor: The frozen payout is released to the seller within 2 business days of the decision.
• Partial resolution: In cases where partial fault is found, Spocnet may issue a partial refund to the buyer and release the remainder to the seller.

17.4 PayPal Buyer Protection

In addition to Spocnet's internal dispute process, buyers may be eligible for PayPal Buyer Protection for qualifying transactions. Buyers may escalate an unresolved dispute directly to PayPal in accordance with PayPal's own resolution procedures. Spocnet will cooperate fully with any PayPal investigation and provide all requested transaction records.

17.5 Chargebacks

If a buyer initiates a chargeback through their payment provider or bank, Spocnet reserves the right to immediately freeze the associated seller account pending investigation. Sellers found to have caused a chargeback through fraud or policy violation may be permanently removed from the platform and may have their outstanding payouts withheld to cover the chargeback amount and any associated fees imposed by PayPal.

17.6 Alternative Dispute Resolution (EU Users)

EU users who are not satisfied with the outcome of a Spocnet dispute may use the European Commission's Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform at ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr. Our contact email for ODR purposes is connect@spocnet.com  |  For faster response, use our Contact Form.

18. Prohibited Items & Restricted Listings

18.1 Absolutely Prohibited Items

The following items and services are strictly prohibited on Spocnet and may not be listed, offered, sold, or promoted under any circumstances. Violations will result in immediate account suspension and may be reported to law enforcement authorities:

• Counterfeit, replica, or unauthorized copies of branded goods
• Weapons, firearms, ammunition, and accessories designed to cause harm
• Illegal drugs, controlled substances, and drug paraphernalia
• Stolen goods or items obtained through fraud or theft
• Items that infringe intellectual property rights, copyrights, or trademarks
• Pornographic or sexually explicit content of any kind
• Content that exploits, harms, or endangers minors in any way
• Human beings, human organs, or human remains
• Hazardous materials, toxic substances, or items prohibited for public sale
• Items that promote or facilitate illegal gambling
• Malicious software, hacking tools, or items designed to compromise computer security
• Currency, financial instruments, or securities not lawfully issued
• Items that promote hate, discrimination, or violence against any group or individual
• Any item whose sale is prohibited by applicable local, national, or international law

18.2 Restricted Items — Requiring Prior Approval

The following categories may only be listed on Spocnet after explicit written approval from Spocnet administration and submission of required documentation:

• Medical devices and pharmaceutical products (requires valid professional license)
• Alcohol and tobacco products (requires compliance with applicable age-verification laws)
• Regulated food products requiring health certification
• Products requiring age verification under applicable law

18.3 PayPal Acceptable Use Policy

In addition to Spocnet's own prohibited items list, all transactions on Spocnet are subject to PayPal's Acceptable Use Policy. Sellers are responsible for ensuring their listings comply with PayPal's requirements. PayPal may independently decline to process payments for items that violate their policies, regardless of whether such items are permitted under Spocnet's rules. See PayPal Acceptable Use Policy.

18.4 Reporting Prohibited Listings

Users who encounter a listing they believe violates this policy are encouraged to report it using the report function on the listing page or by contacting Spocnet support. We review all reports and take appropriate action, which may include removing the listing, suspending the seller account, and notifying relevant authorities where required by law.

19. Seller Responsibilities & Shipping Obligations

19.1 Listing Accuracy

Sellers are solely responsible for the accuracy, completeness, and legality of their product listings. All listings must accurately represent the item being sold, including its condition, quantity, price, and any material defects. Misleading or deceptive listings are strictly prohibited and may result in account suspension and liability for any resulting buyer losses.

19.2 Shipping Timeline

Upon receiving a confirmed and paid order, sellers must arrange shipment within 3 business days unless a different timeline is clearly stated in the product listing. Sellers who are unable to fulfil an order must notify the buyer immediately and contact Spocnet support to initiate a full refund. Repeated failure to ship within the stated timeline may result in account suspension.

19.3 Shipping Labels & Tracking

Spocnet provides an integrated shipping label generation tool powered by Shippo within the seller's product management dashboard. Sellers are strongly encouraged to use this integrated tool to generate tracked shipping labels, as delivery confirmation from the carrier is used to trigger the automatic payout release described in Section 15.3.

Sellers who use external shipping methods must provide valid tracking information within their Spocnet order dashboard within 24 hours of shipment. Failure to provide tracking information may delay the payout release process.

19.4 Packaging & Shipping Responsibility

Sellers are responsible for adequately packaging items to prevent damage during transit. Spocnet is not liable for damage caused by insufficient packaging. Sellers are responsible for filing any shipping insurance claims directly with the carrier in the event of loss or damage during transit.

19.5 Taxes and Legal Compliance

Sellers are solely responsible for determining and fulfilling their own tax, customs, import/export, and regulatory obligations for all transactions conducted through Spocnet. Spocnet does not collect, remit, or advise on seller tax obligations. Sellers operating as businesses are responsible for issuing any legally required invoices or receipts to buyers.

20. Platform Fees & Commissions

20.1 Subscription Fees

Spocnet charges sellers a subscription fee to access advanced selling features on the platform. Subscription plans, pricing, and included features are displayed on the Spocnet subscription drawer. All fees are charged in advance at the start of each billing period and are non-refundable except as described in Section 16 (Refund Policy).

20.2 Platform Commission & Transaction Fees

SpocNet operates on a transparent fee structure designed to maximize seller earnings. We do not charge a commission on the gross sale price. Instead, SpocNet applies a flat 5% platform commission solely on the net amount received after PayPal’s standard transaction fees have been deducted.

How it works:

• Step 1: The buyer pays the full listing price. Funds are held securely by PayPal.
• Step 2: PayPal deducts its standard processing fees from the total. See PayPal Merchant Fees for current rates.
• Step 3: SpocNet calculates its 5% commission based on the remaining net balance.

This "commission-on-net" model is part of our commitment to fair pricing, ensuring sellers retain the maximum possible revenue from every transaction.

20.3 Subscription & Infrastructure

To maintain a ad-free, high-performance environment, SpocNet relies on a subscription-based revenue model. Your subscription supports our enterprise-grade infrastructure, including secure global hosting via Google Cloud Platform, real-time data synchronization, and advanced fraud protection systems.

SpocNet does not currently display third-party advertisements. We reserve the right to introduce non-intrusive promotional content in future updates to further support platform sustainability, but core commerce features will always remain prioritized for subscribers.

20.4 Shipping & Third-Party Costs

Shipping label costs generated through our integrated Shippo partner are charged directly to the seller’s Shippo account. These are independent logistics costs governed by Shippo’s terms and are not subject to SpocNet commissions.

20.5 Buyer Fees

SpocNet charges zero platform fees to buyers. The price displayed on a listing is exactly what the buyer pays at checkout, plus any shipping costs explicitly set by the seller.

13. Modifications

We may revise these Terms at any time. We will notify users of major updates. Continued use of the platform means you accept the latest version.

14. Business Verification and Eligibility

Verification Process:
Users applying for a business or commercial plan (including B2B and B2C tiers) must submit valid proof of business identity. Accepted documents include a company registration certificate, business license, or government-issued identification of the business owner. These materials are used solely to confirm authenticity and eligibility for commercial features.

Review and Approval:
Submitted documents are manually reviewed by our verification team. We reserve the right to approve or reject applications based on completeness, authenticity, or clarity of the information provided. Users will be notified of the outcome through their account dashboard or registered email.

Data Handling:
All documents are stored securely in encrypted form and are accessible only to authorized administrators for verification purposes. We do not share or publish these materials. In compliance with applicable data protection laws (including GDPR and CCPA), documents may be deleted after the verification process is completed.

False or Invalid Information:
Providing false, misleading, or invalid documents will result in rejection of the verification request. Verified accounts found to intentionally misuse their verified status may lose access to commercial features and could be reported to relevant authorities if required by law.

Ongoing Compliance:
We may occasionally request updated documentation to ensure that business information remains accurate and compliant with applicable commercial or tax regulations.

14. Contact

If you have questions or concerns, please fill out the form below. We'll get back to you as soon as possible.