Terms of service

Effective Date: September 15, 2025

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of Block Market (the "Platform," "Service"), operated by Bijective Markets, Inc. ("Company," "we," "us," "our"). By accessing or using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

1. PLATFORM DESCRIPTION

1.1 Service Overview

Block Market is a digital platform that facilitates connections between university students for the purpose of transferring mobile order pickup details. We are not a food service provider, restaurant, or food delivery company.

1.2 Platform Function

Our Platform enables:

• Students to request mobile order pickup details
• Students to transfer mobile order pickup details

1.3 Important Distinction

We do not handle, prepare, store, or deliver food. We do not facilitate the buying, selling, or transferring of meal plan credits. We facilitate the transfer of mobile order pickup details placed through third-party services like Grubhub.

2. ELIGIBILITY AND ACCOUNT REQUIREMENTS

2.1 Eligibility

To use our Platform, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a current university student
• Have a valid university email address
• Provide accurate account information

2.2 Account Registration

• Accounts are restricted to university email domains only
• One account per person is permitted
• Creating multiple accounts or circumventing bans is prohibited
• User ID verification prevents duplicate account creation

2.3 Account Types

Users may register as:

• Buyer: Can purchase mobile order pickup details
• Seller: Can transfer mobile order pickup details
• Both: Can perform both functions

3. PLATFORM FEES AND PAYMENTS

3.1 Buyer Fees

• Payment processing fees: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (paid by buyer)
• Fees are charged during deposit and purchase transactions
• Fees are processed by Stripe and not collected by the Platform

3.2 Seller Fees

• Platform fee: Maximum 15% of sale price (subject to change)
• Fee structure may vary based on usage, paid subscriptions, and promotions
• Fee changes will be communicated via in-app notifications and email
• Platform fees are deducted after Stripe processing fees

3.3 Payment Methods

• Deposits: Stripe and its supported platforms
• Withdrawals: Upon request via Venmo only, up to one week after request for review and processing
• Minimum withdrawal: $10.00 (no withdrawal fees)

3.4 Fund Management

• Order amounts are placed on authorization hold until completion
• Failed payments prevent order creation
• Chargebacks and failed post-completion payments trigger account review
• Suspicious payment behavior as identified by Stripe may result in account restrictions

4. ORDER PROCESS AND FULFILLMENT

4.1 Order Placement

• Buyers can request mobile order pickup details, specifying restaurant, items, and pickup times
• Requests can be modified until accepted by a seller
• Special requests can be added during order customization
• Orders expire automatically if not accepted within specified timeframes

4.2 Order Acceptance and Fulfillment

• Sellers can accept any available request
• Upon acceptance, sellers have limited time to upload a screenshot of the mobile order pickup details requested by the buyer
• Buyers can view the mobile order pickup details

4.3 Pickup Responsibility

• Buyers can show the mobile order pickup details to the relevant dining location
• Failure to pick up order does not constitute grounds for refund or dispute
• Restaurant policies govern unclaimed orders
• Platform is not responsible for any food service related issues

5. REFUNDS AND CANCELLATIONS

5.1 Cancellation Policy

• Orders can be cancelled before seller acceptance without penalty
• Funds return to account balance for cancelled orders
• Expired or incomplete orders result in automatic fund return

5.2 Refund Policy

• No refunds to original payment methods
• All transactions are final upon order completion
• Partial refunds may be issued on case-by-case basis through dispute resolution
• Users with too many disputes are subject to suspension by the platform at the discretion of platform moderators
• Site credit may be provided for dispute resolutions

5.3 Failed Transactions

• Authorization holds are released for failed or cancelled orders
• No funds are removed from accounts for incomplete transactions

6. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

6.1 Dispute Timeline

• Users have 48 hours after order completion to file disputes
• Disputes are reviewed manually within 1-2 business days
• Platform administrators and moderators conduct reviews

6.2 Dispute Process

• Disputes require evidence submission (screenshots, photos, etc.)
• Both parties may provide statements and evidence
• Manual review determines dispute outcomes
• No automated decision-making is used

6.3 Dispute Outcomes

• Sellers showing correct order completion evidence win disputes
• Buyers showing incorrect orders or evidence of seller fraud win disputes
• Multiple screenshot usage by sellers results in dispute loss
• Platform funds may supplement dispute resolutions up to 5% of sale amount

6.4 False Dispute Monitoring

• Multiple lost disputes may result in account restrictions
• Pattern of false disputes triggers enhanced account review
• Frivolous disputes may result in account termination

7. PROHIBITED CONDUCT

7.1 System Exploitation

The following activities are strictly prohibited:

• Exploiting ordering systems or platform vulnerabilities
• Manipulation of pricing or matching algorithms
• Circumventing platform fees or payment processes

7.2 Fraudulent Activity

Prohibited fraudulent activities include:

• Providing false order completion evidence
• Using screenshots for multiple orders
• Misrepresenting order contents or fulfillment
• Creating fake accounts or circumventing bans

8. ACCOUNT SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION

8.1 Suspension Grounds

Accounts may be suspended for:

• Violating these Terms of Service
• Engaging in prohibited conduct
• Suspicious payment activity
• Multiple dispute losses

8.2 Suspension Process

• Suspensions require human review
• Suspended users retain login access to view balances
• Suspended users cannot place buy or sell orders
• Account status information is provided during suspension

8.3 Termination and Bans

• Bans may be appealed through [email protected]
• Appeals are unlikely to be reversed
• Banned users cannot create new accounts
• Circumventing bans results in permanent prohibition

8.4 Funds During Suspension/Ban

• Pending orders are cancelled upon account ban
• Available funds are held pending manual review
• Banned users may withdraw confirmed funds at Platform discretion
• Site credits are forfeited upon ban confirmation

8.5 Voluntary Account Deletion

8.5.1 Deletion Requirements

Users may delete their accounts voluntarily, subject to the following requirements:

• No active orders as buyer or seller (pending, accepted, or in-progress)
• All seller account balances must be withdrawn (zero available and pending balance)
• No unresolved disputes or outstanding platform issues
• All payment methods will be automatically removed during deletion

8.5.2 Deletion Process and Effects

When you request account deletion:

• Immediate Effect: Account becomes inactive and inaccessible immediately
• Session Termination: You are signed out and cannot access the Platform
• Data Anonymization: Personal information is anonymized or removed as detailed below
• No New Activity: Cannot create orders, transactions, or access Platform features

8.5.3 Data Handling During Deletion

Immediately Removed or Anonymized:

• Profile information (name, email, phone number)
• Payment method details (Venmo, bank account information)
• Personal notifications and communication preferences
• Account settings and preferences

Retained for Legal/Compliance Purposes:

• Transaction records (required for 7 years under federal financial regulations)
• Tax-related information as mandated by IRS requirements
• Dispute resolution history (required for legal compliance)
• Anti-money laundering (AML) compliance data

8.5.4 30-Day Recovery Period

• Recovery Window: Deleted accounts can be recovered within 30 days
• Recovery Process: Contact [email protected] with original email
• Verification Required: Identity verification required for account recovery
• Partial Restoration: Basic profile restored, payment methods must be re-added
• Data Limitations: Some anonymized data may not be fully recoverable

8.5.5 Permanent Deletion (After 30 Days)

After 30 days, permanent deletion occurs automatically:

• Irreversible: Account cannot be recovered after permanent deletion
• Complete Removal: All recoverable personal information permanently deleted
• Compliance Data: Only anonymized records retained for regulatory requirements
• No Account Recreation: Cannot create new accounts with same email/credentials

8.5.6 Financial Implications of Deletion

Fund Forfeiture:

• Site credits are immediately and permanently forfeited upon deletion
• Referral credits and promotional balances are lost
• No refunds or compensation for forfeited credits

Seller Balances:

• All available balances must be withdrawn before deletion
• Pending balances must be resolved before deletion is allowed
• Accounts with outstanding balances cannot be deleted

Transaction History:

• Historical transaction data preserved for legal compliance
• Personal identifying information in transactions is anonymized
• Financial records retained per federal regulations (7 years)

8.5.7 Platform Obligations During Deletion

The Platform will:

• Process deletion requests within 24 hours of submission
• Confirm deletion completion via email to alternate contact if provided
• Maintain compliance with all applicable privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA)
• Provide clear information about what data is retained and why
• Honor recovery requests made within the 30-day window

9. SITE CREDITS AND REFERRALS

9.1 Site Credit System

• Credits earned through successful referrals ($1 per referral)
• Credits applicable to transaction fees, purchases, and withdrawal fees
• Credits not redeemable for cash
• Credits forfeited upon account deletion or ban

9.2 Referral Program

• Users can refer friends via sharable link or email
• A referral must result in a verified account to earn credit
• The Platform deems an account verified if it has an associated university email and has completed onboarding
• Top referrers eligible for additional rewards
• Referral fraud results in credit forfeiture and account penalties

10. PRIVACY AND DATA PROTECTION

10.1 University Independence

IMPORTANT: Platform operates independently of any named universities:

• Universities have no access to user transaction data
• User privacy from institutional oversight is protected

10.2 Data Collection

• Platform collects necessary transaction and user data
• No third-party analytics services are used
• Data retention periods apply as specified in Privacy Policy
• Users control their personal information

11. COMMUNICATIONS

11.1 Transactional Communications

Required communications include:

• Account-related emails
• Notification of order status change, payments, and payouts via email
• Security alerts and important updates

11.2 Marketing Communications

• Marketing emails are opt-in only
• Users can unsubscribe from promotional content
• Transactional emails cannot be disabled

11.3 SMS Notifications

• Optional SMS notifications for order updates
• Users can opt-out through profile settings
• SMS preferences are user-controlled

12. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

12.1 Platform Rights

• Platform owns all proprietary technology and content
• Users grant Platform license to use submitted content
• Trademark and service mark rights are reserved

12.2 User Content

• Users retain rights to their submitted content
• Platform may use user content for operational purposes
• Users are responsible for content legality and accuracy

13. DISCLAIMERS AND LIMITATIONS

13.1 Food Safety Disclaimer

IMPORTANT: Platform is not responsible for food quality or safety:

• Food safety is responsibility of restaurants and third-party services
• Users assume all risks related to food consumption
• Platform makes no warranties regarding food products

13.2 Service Availability

• Platform availability is not guaranteed
• Maintenance and technical issues may interrupt service
• No warranties regarding uptime or reliability
• Users accept risks of service interruptions

13.3 Third-Party Services

• Platform integrates with third-party payment and restaurant services
• Platform is not responsible for third-party service failures
• Users must comply with third-party terms of service
• Third-party availability affects Platform functionality

14. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

14.1 Damages Limitation

• Platform liability is limited to amount paid by user
• No liability for indirect, consequential, or special damages
• No liability for lost profits or business interruption
• Users assume risks of Platform use

14.2 Indemnification

• Users indemnify Platform against claims arising from their use
• Users responsible for their violations of Terms
• Platform defense rights are reserved
• Indemnification includes legal fees and costs

15. GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTES

15.1 Governing Law

• Terms governed by Florida state law
• Federal law applies where applicable
• Venue for disputes is Florida state courts
• Choice of law excludes conflict of law principles

15.2 Dispute Resolution

• Good faith negotiation required before litigation
• Arbitration may be required for certain disputes
• Class action waivers may apply
• Individual dispute resolution is preferred

16. GENERAL PROVISIONS

16.1 Entire Agreement

• Terms constitute complete agreement between parties
• Previous agreements are superseded
• Modifications require written agreement
• Integration clause applies

16.2 Severability

• Invalid provisions do not affect remaining Terms
• Unenforceable provisions will be modified to be enforceable
• Terms remain in effect despite partial invalidity

16.3 Assignment

• Users cannot assign rights under Terms
• Platform may assign Terms to affiliates or successors
• Assignment notice may be provided through Platform

16.4 Updates to Terms

• Terms may be updated periodically
• Users will be notified via email of material changes
• Continued use constitutes acceptance of updates
• Users should review Terms regularly

16.5 Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, contact us at:

• Email: [email protected]
• Subject Line: Terms of Service Inquiry

16.6 Effective Date and Acknowledgment

These Terms are effective as of the date posted and continue until superseded. By using the Platform, you acknowledge reading, understanding, and agreeing to be bound by these Terms.