Posting Guidelines

To help make the Product and Services experience enjoyable for everyone, please follow these guidelines when posting items.

We may remove content that violates these guidelines. In cases of severe or repeated violations, we may suspend or cancel an account or take other action. For more information, please see our Terms of service. Per Terms of Service Agreement, user acknowledges that Helptimize will not be responsible for any revenue loss should the platform become unavailable for any reason. Helptimize will work hard at those times to restore services as quickly as possible.

Accounts

Helptimize is a way to connect with your local community and beyond. Use your true identity and honestly represent yourself. Please:

·       Use one account per user.

·       Don’t use a throw-away email address. This signals to us that you might not be here for the right reasons.

·       Don’t create accounts designed to impersonate someone else.

·       Don’t use emulators or third-party sites to post on Helptimize. You must be the owner of your item.

·       Represent yourself in a neighborly way when creating your account and custom profile link.

Images

To allow buyers to get a true feel for the items you’re selling or describing, please:

·       Always include an image of the item. Posts on the Product side with no image, including those with a photo containing only text, aren't allowed. Photos containing text is also not allowed while posting Jobs under Services.

·       Include high-quality, well-lit photos.

·       Keep photo clean by not adding extra stickers or text. Make sure photo accurately helps describe the service needed or product being sold.

·       Post an image of the actual item, not a catalog or stock photo.

·       Use your own photos. Don't use photos that infringe on the intellectual property rights of others.

Duplicate posts

Multiple posts showing identical items/services needs from the same user can be confusing to people bidding, and difficult to manage. Even if you have more than one of the same item, please list one at a time. Don't post the same item in more than one listing or in multiple categories.

Posting location

Please list an accurate geographic location so your local bidders can arrange to meet you for pickup/service needs. At this time we are only offering to sell items locally for pickup/drop off but users can ask others on the services side to ship your items. Nationwide selling/shipping will be forthcoming on the Helptimize platform but currently not offered at this time

Titles, descriptions, & prices

Titles and descriptions should give users a clear, honest, and accurate description so they can tell if the item/service is what they're looking for. Some things to avoid:

·       Don't add keywords or price points intended to manipulate search results.

·       Do not set prices that are clearly inflated above standard market value.

·       Don't link to websites or post URLs.

·       Don't provide personal information, such as a phone number or email address.

·       Don't solicit risky payment methods such as Western Union or Moneygram.

NOTE: In response to COVID-19, ALL hand sanitizer, toilet paper, and disinfecting wipes are prohibited to be sold. Face masks are allowed, however, N-95, surgical face masks, medical-grade masks, or similar respiratory masks are not allowed for sale on Helptimize.

Messaging & communication

Helptimize communications offers you to negotiate through text, voice or video with other users without sharing personal information or leaving the app. Remember, the use of in-app messaging to circumvent prohibited/illegal items or posting rules isn't allowed. By no means should this communication center be used for illegal activity or nudity.

Prohibited items for Sale

Most items are allowed on Helptimize, but there are a few types of items that aren’t permitted. Some may present legal issues or be dangerous, while others may be offensive or not in line with the spirit of our community. Read the prohibited items guidelines below for details.

Fee avoidance

Sometimes fees may be incurred when posting certain kinds of items/services or making cashless transactions. Any action by a user to avoid paying a fee is strictly prohibited. It's important to remember that if you don't pay these fees, whether intentionally or by mistake, your listings may be removed. 

Help keep our community strong

If you notice posts that don't meet these guidelines, please report them to us for investigation by using the contact us button on Helptimize landing page.

Although most things can be sold on Helptimize, certain items aren't allowed. Some present legal risks or may pose health and safety issues. We've also chosen not to allow items that we feel are inappropriate for our community or could be considered offensive.

Before posting your items, please read the guidelines below to ensure that they are OK to sell on Helptimize. Also please review our Posting rules above and Community guidelines below.

The following items are not allowed for sale:

1.     Alcohol, drugs & tobacco

2.     Adult & mature content

3.     Animals

4.     Wildlife products

5.     Counterfeit and replica items

6.     Dangerous items

7.     Recalled items

8.     Gift cards

9.  Illegal items or encouraging illegal activity

10.  Intangible items

11.  Medical & healthcare items

12.  Offensive materials

 

Alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and related products are often subject to regulatory restrictions and are illegal for sale in some cases. Because we can't enforce these laws and regulations, we don't allow these items for sale, including:

·       Alcohol

·       Prescription drugs

·       Drugs, narcotics, or controlled substances (even those that are legal in some states)

·       Items marketed for the purpose of intoxication

·       Drug paraphernalia such as bongs, vaporizers, and pipes

·       Tobacco and related products, including e-cigarettes, e-juice, vaporizers, mods, hookahs, and hookah accessories

·       Cannabis and cannabis-derived products, such as CBD

·       Growing or cultivation equipment for cannabis and cannabis-derived products

 

Helptimize strives to be an open marketplace but understands that not all people want to see explicit sexual content. Items intended for adult use or that contain explicit sexual content are not allowed on Helptimize, such as:

·       Explicit sexual content or nudity

·       Pornography

·       Adult toys

 

Our policy around animals and wildlife products represents Helptimize’s commitment to improving animal welfare in our own communities and in helping to protect threatened and endangered animals around the world.   

You can certainly post many types of animal products. However, live animals are never allowed for sale, including:

·       Pets

·       Farm animals and livestock

·       Insects

·       Marine life

For more information, see our detailed list of Animals below:

 

Our policy around animals and wildlife products represents Helptimize’s commitment to improving animal welfare in our own communities and in helping to protect threatened and endangered animals around the world.   

Live animals are never allowed to be sold on the platform, including but not limited to:

• Cats

• Dogs

• Fish

• Marine mammals

• Reptiles such as lizards or snakes

• Horses or ponies

• Hamsters, gerbils, rabbits or other pets

• Farm animals such as chickens, goats, pigs, or cows

• Insects

You can certainly post many types of animal products. However, wildlife products that were sourced illegally or are being traded in contravention of any law are prohibited.  Examples of prohibited live wildlife and their products include, but are not limited to: 

• Bears (e.g. Asiatic Black Bear, Giant Panda, Sloth Bear, Sun Bear)

• Birds (e.g. African Grey Parrot, Falcons, Eagles, Helmeted Hornbill and some other Parrots)

• Cetaceans (e.g. Dolphins, Porpoises, Whales)

• Corals (Elkhorn, Staghorn)

• Elephants

• Marine Turtles

• Otters (e.g. European River Otter, Giant Otter, California Sea Otter)

• Pangolins (All)

• Primates (e.g. Bonobo, Chimpanzee, Gorilla, Monkeys, Orangutan)

• Reptiles & Amphibians (e.g. Ploughshare Tortoise, Iranian Spotted Newt, Indian Rock Python)

• Rhinoceros

• Sharks, Sawfishes, Manta & Devil Rays (e.g. Great White Shark, Basking Shark, Whale Shark, Smalltooth Sawfish)

• Tibetan Antelope (also known as Chiru and shawls known as Shahtoosh)

• Wild Cats (e.g. Cheetah, Jaguar, Leopard, Lion, Ocelot, Tiger)

The sale of bootlegs, counterfeits, fakes, and unauthorized or pirated copies of items is illegal and not allowed on Helptimize, including:

·       Counterfeits, fakes, and replicas of brand-name items, including items “inspired” by a brand without permission of the owner

·       Bootlegged or unauthorized recordings

·       Pirated copies of any copyrighted materials

·       Use of a trademark or other implied affiliation with a brand

Shipping and counterfeit items

For more information, see our Intellectual property policy.

Helptimize is committed to ensuring that our online and mobile community is a trusted place to do business and we respect the rights of intellectual property owners. This policy is part of our Terms of Service.

 

If you believe your work has been copied in a way that constitutes intellectual property infringement, please submit your complaint by using the Contact Us on Helptimize landing page. We strive to respond quickly to reports from approved rights owners by removing or disabling access to the allegedly infringing material.

You’ll receive notification from Helptimize once your submission is reviewed by our legal firm and we have taken action based on your report.

Sellers are responsible for making sure any item they post for sale on Helptimize is authentic and its listing description doesn't infringe on the rights of others.

If your post was removed by Helptimize based on an intellectual property report. You should have received an email with information on why your item was reported and who to contact in case of questions or concerns.

Examples of infringements

• Items that bear rights owner's trademark—such as a logo—but weren't made by the rights owner

• Unauthorized use of a rights owner's images and/or text in a listing

 

Items that pose health and safety concerns or that are regulated or illegal are not allowed on Helptimize. These include but are not limited to:

·       Firearms, no exceptions

·       Knives primarily used as weapons or for self-defense. Note: Cutlery, kitchen, and utility knives are generally permitted

·       Mace, pepper spray, bear spray, tasers, and other weapons used to subdue humans or animals

·       Paintball guns, BB guns, guns that fire blanks, Airsoft Guns, and all related ammunition and accessories

·       Sporting weapons such as bows and arrows, crossbows, and archery items

·       Swords, if sharpened or functional. Note: Decorative blunt swords are generally permitted

·       Weapon parts and accessories, including any item that attaches to a firearm, ammunition, bullets, clips, arrows, and bolts

·       Body armor, including Kevlar and other tactical and protective vests, except protective clothing for sporting activities

·       Regulated chemicals, poisons, or substances

·       New or used airbags sold separately from a vehicle

·       Hazardous materials such as:

·       Fireworks

·       Explosives

·       Items deemed to pose significant health or safety risks to others

·       Recalled items (see below)

 

Items that are subject to a recall, typically because they are deemed unsafe or defective by federal regulators, are not allowed on Helptimize. These items present a unique risk because the harm they present is often not visibly apparent.  Items recalled in the past include:

·       Samsung Galaxy Note 7 cell phones

·       Fisher-Price Rock N’ Play infant sleepers

·       Drop-side cribs

·       Other items listed on the U.S. CPSC list of recalls

You should avoid selling or buying any recalled item or product. If you end up selling or buying a recalled item, you should contact the manufacturer as they may offer a refund, replacement, or voucher in exchange for surrendering the recalled item. For more information on recalled consumer products generally, visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website.

 

The sale of homemade prepared food is subject to regulatory guidelines and often requires a permit. If you are selling food make sure the proper license/permits have been obtained prior to listing these on Helptimize. Examples:

·       Most perishable goods, including meat, seafood, dairy, and cut fruits or vegetables

·       Homemade shelf products, such as jams, jellies, and pickles

·       Homemade meals or baked goods

·       Eggs sold outside of the seller's farm

A Cottage Food Permit allows a resident of Washington State to make food that is not potentially hazardous such as baked goods, candies, jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butters, dry spice blends, or dry tea blends in their primary residential kitchen.  If selling these items please add your permit to your Credentials under the settings tab of the Helptimize application. Please note you cannot sell prepared foods from your home without the proper permits and some states don’t allow the sale of home canned foods altogether. Make sure before you start selling products as per the terms and services any illegal activity is the responsibility of each user and can be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Exceptions to this policy include:

·       Whole, uncut fruits and vegetables

·       Eggs sold directly on the seller's farm

·       Unopened and packaged commercially sold food goods (canned soup, packages of cookies, etc.) as long as the packaging has not been tampered with and the items are sold before their expiration date

 

Gift cards and reloadable cards are not allowed due to the risk for buyers. The balance can't always be verified, and sometimes the card balance can be used or cancelled by the original purchaser.

 

Any item that is illegal or that encourages illegal activity is not allowed, including but not limited to:

·       Items with sensitive information such as IDs, passports, and social security cards

·       Fake or forged documents (such as licenses, IDs, diplomas, and government-issued documents)

·       Items received through Government Assistance

·       Offers to trade for illegal goods

·       Police badges or security uniforms, as these can be used to impersonate an officer or gain access to secure areas

·       Locked phones or devices, for example blacklisted, activation, iCloud or similar locks

·       Current vehicle license plates or plates that were valid in the last 5 years

·       License plate tags

·       TV streaming devices

·       Cars without titles

·       Canisters or cylinders of pressurized gas (such as CO2 or nitrous oxide)

·       Stolen or found goods

·       Rideshare signs

 

Helptimize is intended for the sale of individual, tangible items and for services needed in a community. Items must exist and be available for immediate sale. Examples of things that are not allowed include:

·       Links to or information about flea markets, yard sales, and garage sales

·       URLs, links, or redirecting to other websites

·       Rentals and timeshares

·       Multi-level marketing schemes and related promotional materials

·       Lost pet ads

·       Solicitations

·       Digital account transfers

·       Items planned for future purchase from another retailer, wholesaler, distributor, or manufacturer

·       Items of unknown contents such as “mystery boxes” or “grab bags”

·       Items/services where the photo does not match the title or description

 

Due to health and safety, privacy, and regulatory concerns, certain medical and healthcare items are not allowed for sale on Helptimize, including but not limited to:

·       Devices, drugs, and medications that require a prescription from a licensed medical practitioner (such as a dentist, doctor, optometrist, or veterinarian)

·       Listings that claim the item can diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent a disease or viruses, including COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus)

·       Ventilators and other respiratory equipment

·       Cannabis and cannabis-derived products, such as CBD

·       Pills, vitamins, and supplements

·       Contact lenses

·       Used cosmetics

·       Used makeup sponges and applicators

·       Needles and items containing needles (such as syringes or tattoo equipment)

 

Helptimize is an inclusive community that welcomes users from all backgrounds. To build a respectful mobile marketplace, posts that contain foul language or that promote hatred, violence, or discrimination are not allowed. This includes posts that support hate or discrimination toward others based on age, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, disability, or sexual orientation, or items that promote or glorify organizations with such views. Examples:

·       Posts containing racial slurs

·       Posts promoting intolerance or discrimination

·       Items that promote, support, or commemorate groups with views of hatred or intolerance (for example Nazi, Neo-Nazi, or KKK

groups)

·       Items that depict or glorify violence against people or animals

·       Items that reflect people of color through offensive or dehumanizing caricatures, including historic, antique, or memorabilia items

 

If you see a prohibited item on Helptimize, please report it in the app using Contact Us and our legal firm will review and respond. 

For additional restrictions on behavior such as profanity and harassment, please see Community guidelines.

Posts that violate any of our guidelines, policies, or terms may be removed at our discretion. Additional actions may be taken for severe or repeat offenses.

Helptimize is committed to maintaining an inclusive and respectful community. Here are a few tips to help foster an enjoyable experience for everyone:

• Be courteous.

• If you change your mind on an offer, politely let the other user know so they can repost.

• If you're running late to meet someone, keep the other person updated.

• We know it can be frustrating when things go wrong. Although it's uncommon, if you have a problem with an item after a sale/service, try to work it out with the user in a calm, respectful way. In most cases, they'll be open to finding a solution.

In addition, when using Helptimize and interacting with buyers, sellers, or employees, please refrain from any of the behaviors below, in your post or in messages.

The following types behaviors are not allowed:

1. Disrespectful behavior

2. Harassment

3. Spam or unsolicited offers

4. Displaying prohibited profile content

5. Fraudulent or illegal activity

 

Disrespectfulness, such as:

• Profanity or hate speech

• Threats of violence or actual violence

• Offensive or vulgar posts or messages

 

Harassment, such as:

• Targeting another person with complaints about items that were not purchased or expressing opinions about items with no intent to purchase

• Pressuring a user to make a purchase

• Other comments not related to the service/product.

• Comments related to another person’s looks, relationship status, etc.

• Any form of harassment including but not limited to hateful, obscene, offensive, profane, racist, sexual or sexually suggestive, defamatory, or violent language

 

Spam and unsolicited offers, such as:

• Unsolicited messages sent to potential buyers, including those of a commercial nature

• Impersonation of another buyer, seller, Helptimize employee, or other entity in communications

• Any other misleading, fake, or malicious communication

• Misrepresenting yourself, or the products you’re selling

• Harvesting information about our users or directing our users to external websites or apps to collect their information

 

Use of disallowed content in your public profile or custom profile link, such as:

• Offensive or vulgar profile names, links, or photos, or those that infringe on the intellectual property rights of others. Check out our complete list of username guidelines below.

• Use of the Helptimize name or image

• Inclusion of personal contact details

• Posting another person's private information, including contact information

 Username Guidelines

Create a username that:

• Isn't offensive, profane, violent, threatening, or sexually explicit.

• Isn't deliberately deceptive, confusing, or intentionally similar to other usernames or businesses. It should not impersonate or falsely represent you as someone else.

• Doesn’t imply the intent to harass, advertise, phish, or spam other users.

• Doesn’t include personal information such as your phone number.

We may remove content that violates these guidelines. In cases of severe or repeated violations, we may suspend or cancel an account.  For more information, please see our Terms of service.Fraudulent or illegal activity, such as:

• Falsifying information

• Using Helptimize for any fraudulent purpose 

• Violating any law or regulation while using Helptimize

We may remove content that violates these guidelines. In severe cases or where there are  repeated violations, we may suspend or cancel an account or take other action. For more information, please see our Terms of service.