Terms of Service

You must be at least 18 years old to use Merchased. Creating an account is free. To browse, you only need to sign in; to bid or sell, you must verify a mobile phone number. We allow one account per verified number — this keeps the marketplace real and discourages fake or duplicate accounts. You’re responsible for activity on your account, so keep access to your phone and email secure.

When you place a bid, you are making a binding commitment to buy the item at that price if you win. Bids are in whole U.S. dollars and must exceed the current high bid. If you have the highest bid when the auction closes, you win and are expected to complete the pickup and pay the seller.

Sellers may not bid on their own listings, and you may not manipulate bidding (for example, with shill bids or coordinated accounts). Doing so can result in removal from Merchased.

Every bid is time-stamped and permanently locked the moment it’s placed. Bids cannot be edited or deleted by anyone — not buyers, not sellers, and not us. This tamper-proof ledger is what makes Merchased auctions fair and dispute-proof.

Merchased does not process payments. In this version of the service:

• The winning buyer and the seller arrange a time, and payment and the item handoff happen in person at pickup.
• We’re free during our founding period — no fees, and sellers keep 100% of the sale price.
• Pickups are confirmed in the app using a rotating QR code at handoff, which updates each person’s reputation.

Because the exchange happens in person, please use good judgment: meet in a safe, public place and inspect the item before you pay.

By using Merchased, you agree not to:

• List illegal, stolen, counterfeit, unsafe, or prohibited items, or misrepresent an item’s condition.
• Harass, threaten, scam, or abuse other neighbors in messages or at pickup.
• Create fake accounts, evade a suspension, or interfere with bidding.
• Use Merchased for anything unlawful or against these terms.

We may suspend or remove accounts and listings that violate these terms or harm the community.

Merchased is a venue that connects neighbors. We do not own, inspect, or guarantee any item, and we’re not a party to the transaction between buyer and seller. The service is provided “as is” without warranties of any kind. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Merchased is not liable for the quality, safety, legality, or delivery of items, for the conduct of any user, or for any indirect or consequential damages arising from your use of the service.

We may update these terms; we’ll change the date at the top when we do, and continued use means you accept the updates. Questions about these terms? Email us at the address below.