Terms of Service

By accessing and using FrothMonkey ("the Service"), you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and provision of this agreement. If you do not agree to abide by the above, please do not use this service.

FrothMonkey is a local marketplace that connects buyers and sellers through AI-powered matching, with optional auction functionality. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of our website and services.

You must create an account to list items, make contact, or participate in auctions. You are responsible for:

• Providing accurate and complete information
• Maintaining the security of your account credentials
• All activities that occur under your account
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized use

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account and use the Service.

FrothMonkey is currently free for all users. There are no listing fees, no final value fees, and no transaction fees.

If we introduce fees in the future, we will notify all registered users in writing via email to their registered account email address at least 30 days before any fees take effect. You will always have the option to close your account before any new fees apply to you.

FrothMonkey facilitates connections between users but does not process payments directly. Payment and pickup arrangements are made between buyers and sellers.

• Buyers and sellers are expected to communicate promptly to arrange pickup or delivery
• Sellers are responsible for item condition and accurate representation
• Disputes should be resolved between parties first
• FrothMonkey may assist in dispute resolution but is not responsible for transaction outcomes

Auctions are one of several ways to trade on FrothMonkey and are not the main focus of the platform. The following rules apply only when you choose to use auction functionality.

Good-faith commitment

When a buyer wins an auction and a seller's reserve (if any) is met, both parties are expected to honour their side of the deal in good faith. This is a community commitment, not a legally binding contract. Failing to follow through without a valid reason may affect your account standing.

Bidding

• Bids should reflect your genuine intent to purchase
• Reserve prices may apply and will be disclosed when met
• Anti-sniping protection may extend auction end times

Buy Now

• Buy Now allows immediate purchase at a fixed price
• Buy Now is disabled once a reserve price is reached

Listing Items

• You must own the items you list
• Descriptions must be accurate and complete
• Photos should fairly represent the item's condition

Valid reasons to void an agreement

A buyer or seller may step away from a winning auction, without penalty to account standing, if any of the following happen:

• The item is materially different from its description or photos (e.g. unlisted damage, missing parts, wrong model, wrong size)
• The other party is unreachable or fails to communicate within a reasonable time
• The other party is uncooperative about pickup or delivery
• The other party no-shows at an agreed pickup
• Any safety concern arises during the exchange

If a deal falls through for any of these reasons, please let us know via the contact form so we can help resolve the situation.

You agree not to:

• List illegal, stolen, or counterfeit items
• Manipulate auctions through shill bidding or false accounts
• Harass, threaten, or abuse other users
• Use automated systems to place bids or scrape data
• Violate any applicable laws or regulations

Item restrictions

FrothMonkey uses a combination of automated review and human moderation to ensure items listed on the platform comply with Canadian law and our community guidelines. Items are categorised into tiers based on their legal status and safety considerations:

• Prohibited items — Items that are illegal to sell in Canada or violate our platform policies (e.g. cannabis, handguns, prohibited weapons, counterfeit goods). These items are blocked from the marketplace.
• Restricted items — Items that are legal with conditions, such as licensing or age requirements (e.g. non-restricted firearms, ammunition, tobacco products). These require seller acknowledgment and are only visible to registered users.
• Caution items — Items that are legal but carry safety or regulatory considerations (e.g. used car seats, used helmets, live animals). An advisory notice is shown to buyers.

For a full breakdown of item categories, the rules that apply, and the reasoning behind each, view our complete item restriction guide.

You retain ownership of content you post but grant FrothMonkey a license to use, display, and distribute it for service operation.

You represent that you have rights to all content you post and that it does not infringe on third-party rights.

FrothMonkey is provided "as is" without warranties. We are not responsible for:

• Item authenticity, condition, or description accuracy
• User conduct or transaction disputes
• Service interruptions or data loss
• Damages arising from platform use

Our liability is limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

We may terminate or suspend accounts for violations of these Terms or for any reason at our discretion.

You may close your account at any time, but remain responsible for any outstanding obligations.

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last modified" date.

Continued use of the service after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.