Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Kneadgawn marketplace platform (“Platform”), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”). If you do not agree, do not use the Platform. These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Kneadgawn LLC (“Kneadgawn,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).

2. Platform Description

Kneadgawn is a hyperlocal recommerce coordination platform. We connect buyers and sellers of secondhand and surplus items, provide optional item delivery through approved independent carrier contractors, and coordinate item removal through approved independent hauler contractors.

3. Eligibility

You must be 18 years of age or older to use the Platform. By using the Platform, you represent and warrant that you meet this requirement and have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement. The Platform is not available to minors under any circumstances, including under parental supervision.

4. Account Registration and Security

To access certain features, you must create an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
• Maintain and update your account information as needed
• Keep your account credentials secure and confidential
• Accept responsibility for all activity that occurs under your account
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account

One account per phone number. Phone number verification is required at signup via SMS. Accounts found to be duplicates or created to circumvent bans may be permanently suspended without notice.

5. Code of Conduct

Kneadgawn is a community built on mutual respect. All users — Sellers, Buyers, Carriers, Haulers, and anyone else who interacts through the Platform — are expected to behave professionally and decently at all times. The following conduct is strictly prohibited and may result in immediate permanent ban without warning:

5.1 Harassment and Threatening Behavior

• Sending threatening, intimidating, or abusive messages to any user
• Repeated unwanted contact after a user has indicated they do not wish to continue communicating
• Sharing another user’s personal information without their consent
• Making false reports or abuse reports against other users in bad faith

5.2 Sexual and Inappropriate Conduct

• Sending sexually explicit or suggestive messages through any Platform communication channel
• Using the contact-sharing feature (unlocked after a deal is agreed) for any purpose other than coordinating the transaction
• Soliciting or attempting to solicit any sexual or romantic interaction through the Platform
• Listing items with sexually explicit photos or descriptions

5.3 Discriminatory Conduct

• Refusing to complete a transaction based on a buyer’s or seller’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic
• Using discriminatory language in messages, listings, or any other Platform communication

5.4 Enforcement

Kneadgawn reserves the right to remove any user, cancel any listing, and ban any account at its sole discretion for conduct that violates this Code of Conduct or that Kneadgawn deems harmful to the Platform community. Bans for Code of Conduct violations may be permanent and are not subject to appeal. Law enforcement will be contacted when conduct may constitute a criminal offense.

6. Seller Terms

6.1 Payment Method on File

When posting a listing, Sellers must provide a valid credit or debit card to keep on file. This card is not charged at listing time. It is held to cover potential charges that may arise from hauler show-up fees and misdescription fees as defined in the violation section below. Sellers are notified before any charge is made, and charges are processed automatically if a fee is assessed and not disputed within 48 hours.

6.2 Listing Requirements

Sellers agree to:

• Accurately describe all items including condition, size, weight, and any defects
• Provide accurate photos representing the item’s current condition
• Accurately describe pickup access including floor level, stairs, narrow doorways, and long carries
• Respond to offers and inquiries within 24 hours
• Honor agreed-upon deals and confirmed pickup windows
• Ensure the item is present, accessible, and matches the listing at pickup time

6.3 Prohibited Listings

• Weapons, firearms, or ammunition
• Hazardous materials including chemicals, asbestos, or biohazardous waste
• Stolen or illegally obtained property
• Counterfeit or fraudulently described items
• Items requiring special permits or licenses to transfer
• Living animals
• Any item whose sale is prohibited under applicable federal, state, or local law

6.4 Seller Platform Fee

Kneadgawn charges 5% of the final sale price, capped at $25 per transaction. This fee is deducted automatically at transaction completion.

6.5 Automated Violation System — Sellers

Violations are tracked and enforced automatically by the Platform. No manual admin action is required to apply a violation. Admin reviews are reserved for permanent ban decisions and appeals.

Sellers receive email notification of each violation with the reason, evidence reference, and any charges applied. Sellers may appeal permanent bans by contacting support@kneadgawn.com within 30 days. All violation records are stored permanently.

7. Buyer Terms

7.1 Offers and Negotiation

Buyers may submit offers within the seller’s defined discount range. Negotiation is limited to three rounds maximum. Each offer or counteroffer expires automatically after 24 hours with no response. Buyers may withdraw an offer before seller acceptance.

7.2 Payment

Payment is collected at checkout via Stripe or PayPal. By submitting payment, Buyers authorize the full charge including item price, applicable platform fee, and delivery fee if requested.

7.3 Delivery Receipt

Buyers may refuse delivery only for legitimate documented reasons: visible damage caused during transport, wrong item delivered, or safety concern with carrier behavior. All delivery refusals must be documented through the Platform at the time of refusal.

7.4 Automated Violation System — Buyers

8. Carrier Terms

8.1 Independent Contractor Status — Critical Protections

Carriers are independent contractors. To protect this status and comply with applicable law, Kneadgawn operates as follows:

• Carriers are free to accept or decline any available job without penalty — browsing available jobs creates no obligation
• Carriers are not required to maintain any minimum availability, hours, or acceptance rate
• Carriers may work for any other platform, company, or client simultaneously — no exclusivity
• Kneadgawn does not set the method or manner of delivery — only the outcome (item delivered safely and intact)
• Carriers are responsible for their own vehicle expenses, fuel, maintenance, and insurance
• Carriers receive IRS Form 1099-NEC for payments exceeding $600 in a calendar year

Carriers are not employees of Kneadgawn. Kneadgawn does not provide workers’ compensation, unemployment benefits, health insurance, minimum wage guarantees, or any other employee benefits.

8.2 Capability Commitment

At signup, Carriers self-report their vehicle type, maximum item weight capacity, and maximum item dimensions. When accepting a job, Carriers confirm they have reviewed the full job details — item description, size, weight, and access conditions at both pickup and delivery — and that the job is within their stated capability. Accepting a job that exceeds a Carrier’s stated capability is considered an illegitimate refusal if abandoned at pickup.

Note: Capability matching criteria will be refined over time as platform data identifies common mismatch patterns.

8.3 Responsibility for Items in Transit

By accepting a delivery job, Carriers take full responsibility for items from pickup through delivery confirmation. Carriers acknowledge Kneadgawn is not liable for damage, loss, or injury during transport. Carriers are strongly encouraged to carry commercial auto insurance with adequate liability coverage.

8.4 Carrier Platform Fee

Kneadgawn retains 10% of the delivery fee, capped at $15 per job. The remaining amount is paid to the Carrier via Stripe Connect within the standard payout schedule.

8.5 Invoice Generation

Carriers may generate a PDF invoice for any completed job from their dashboard. Invoices include job date, pickup and delivery addresses, item description, total delivery fee, Kneadgawn platform fee, and net payout amount. This feature is available for Carriers who bill commercial clients directly or need records for their own accounting.

8.6 Commitment Rules

Once a job is accepted, Carriers are committed. Abandoning a job after acceptance without documentation is a violation. Legitimate refusal at pickup is permitted only for documented reasons:

• Item significantly larger, heavier, or different than described
• Item does not match listing photos or description
• Multiple items listed when only one was agreed
• Job genuinely exceeds carrier’s stated capability (vehicle size, weight limit, personnel required)
• Safety hazard — hazardous materials, biohazard, structural safety risk, threatening situation
• Sanitation issue — severe odor, pest infestation

All pickup refusals require documentation through the app before leaving: photos, reason code, and written description. Carriers who leave without documenting will not be protected in any resulting dispute.

8.7 Photographic Chain of Custody — Carriers

Carriers are required to upload photos at the following stages. Photos must be taken in real time — uploading from camera roll is not permitted. Each photo is timestamped and GPS-tagged automatically.

Failure to provide required photos does not automatically assign fault but will prejudice the carrier’s position in any dispute.

8.8 Automated Violation System — Carriers

8.9 Insurance Requirement and Reinstatement

Carriers are strongly encouraged to maintain active commercial auto insurance. If an insurance lapse is detected by our verification provider:

• Account is automatically suspended immediately
• All pending jobs are removed from the carrier’s queue and reassigned
• Carrier receives email notification with instructions
• To reinstate: carrier must obtain new coverage and submit proof through the Platform
• Proof is re-verified by our insurance verification provider (Axle) — this is not automatic upon purchase
• Account is reactivated only after re-verification passes
• Prior performance history and violation records are preserved
• Carrier’s account does not reset — this is not a fresh start

Repeated insurance lapses are noted in the carrier’s record and may result in permanent removal at admin discretion.

9. Hauler Terms

9.1 Independent Contractor Status

Haulers are independent contractors. The same protections described in Section 8.1 for Carriers apply to Haulers. Haulers are not employees of Kneadgawn, are free to accept or decline any job, and may work for any other platform or client simultaneously.

9.2 Types of Hauler Jobs

9.3 Intent to Keep or Dispose

When accepting a paid removal job, haulers may optionally indicate their intent: Keep/Resell or Dispose. If a hauler indicates intent to keep or resell, the Platform will suggest a reduced fee range to the seller, who may factor this into their decision. Some sellers prefer their belongings go to someone who will use them rather than to a landfill — this feature supports that preference. Indicating intent is not binding, but misrepresenting intent to reduce fees may be considered a conduct violation.

9.4 Hauler Platform Fee

Kneadgawn retains 10% of the haul fee, capped at $25 per job. Minimum haul job price is $75 — no haul job posts below this amount. Free pickup jobs have no platform fee.

9.5 Invoice Generation

Same as carriers (Section 8.5). Haulers may generate a PDF invoice from their dashboard for any completed job.

9.6 Photographic Chain of Custody — Haulers

Haulers are required to upload photos at the following stages. Real-time photos only — no camera roll uploads. Each photo is automatically timestamped and GPS-tagged.

9.7 Automated Violation System — Haulers

Same structure as carriers (Section 8.8). Insurance lapse policy also the same (Section 8.9).

10. Photographic Chain of Custody — General

Photos are a core feature of the Platform, not optional extras. The photo record is the primary evidence in disputes. Photos must be:

• Taken in real time using the Platform’s in-app camera — uploading from camera roll is not permitted
• Submitted at the required transaction stage before proceeding
• Clear, well-lit, and showing the relevant subject matter

Photos are stored on Kneadgawn servers, linked to the specific order record, and are permanently retained for dispute and legal purposes. Timestamps and GPS coordinates are embedded automatically. In disputes, the photo chain is reviewed first and forms the primary basis of the resolution decision.

11. Platform Data and Analytics

Kneadgawn collects aggregated, anonymized data about transaction types, item categories, job types, and geographic patterns. This data is used to improve the Platform, identify service gaps, recruit Carriers and Haulers in underserved areas, and improve matching. No personally identifiable information is shared externally. Users consent to this data collection by using the Platform.

12. Payment Processing

Payments are processed through Stripe and PayPal. Funds are held pending transaction completion. Kneadgawn fees are deducted automatically. Sellers receive payment via Stripe Connect after transaction confirmation. Kneadgawn does not hold funds indefinitely and releases payment upon confirmation or dispute resolution.

13. Cancellation Policy

14. Dispute Resolution

• Either party files a dispute — reason code and description required
• Order locked immediately — no money moves
• Other party has 48 hours to submit evidence
• Admin reviews complete case file: photos, chat history, order timeline, both accounts
• Admin decision is logged with admin ID, timestamp, and notes
• All decisions are final subject to applicable law

Kneadgawn may issue platform credits (maximum $25, one-time per user) as goodwill. Credits are not cash and have no cash value.

15. Prohibited Conduct

• Providing false, misleading, or fraudulent information in any context
• Sharing personal contact information through the Platform chat before a deal is agreed
• Using contact information obtained through a transaction for any purpose other than completing that transaction
• Harassing, threatening, or abusing other users — see Code of Conduct (Section 5)
• Manipulating reviews, ratings, or the violation system
• Using the Platform for any illegal purpose
• Creating multiple accounts to evade violations or bans
• Attempting to reverse engineer or interfere with Platform operations

16. Intellectual Property

All Platform content including logos, design, text, and software is owned by Kneadgawn LLC. Users retain ownership of content they submit but grant Kneadgawn a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute that content in connection with Platform operations.

17. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Platform is provided “as is” without warranties of any kind. Kneadgawn makes no warranties regarding the quality, safety, or legality of items listed or the conduct of any user.

18. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Kneadgawn shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages. Our total liability shall not exceed the greater of fees paid by you in the 12 months preceding the claim or $100.

19. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Kneadgawn LLC, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses arising out of your use of the Platform, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any third-party rights.

20. Alabama Marketplace Facilitator

Once Kneadgawn’s Alabama marketplace sales exceed $250,000, Kneadgawn will register for and remit the Alabama Simplified Sellers Use Tax (SSUT) at the flat 8% rate on applicable taxable retail sales. Sellers are relieved of Alabama sales and use tax obligations on transactions where Kneadgawn collects and remits SSUT.

21. Modifications to Terms

Kneadgawn reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email or Platform notification at least 14 days before taking effect. Continued use constitutes acceptance.

22. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Alabama, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes not resolved through the Platform’s dispute process shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of courts in Madison County, Alabama.