Western Boot World Terms of Service

1. What Western Boot World is (and isn't)

Western Boot World ("WBW," "we," "us") is a community marketplace where people who love western boots can list boots for sale, browse listings, and connect with each other. We are a venue, not a party to any sale. We do not own the boots listed, we do not process payments, we do not hold funds, and we do not ship anything. Every transaction is arranged and completed directly between the buyer and the seller. You are responsible for exercising your own judgment when you buy from or sell to another member.

2. Who can use the site

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account or transact here. You may keep one account per person. Sellers must verify a real, personal phone number before posting listings. Providing false account information, using a disposable identity, or creating multiple accounts to evade a restriction is a violation of these terms.

3. Listing rules

• List only western boots and closely related items you actually possess and have the right to sell.
• Describe items honestly: condition, flaws, sizing, and materials. Use your own photos of the actual item.
• Identify materials truthfully. Selling embossed or printed leather as genuine exotic skin is misrepresentation and grounds for removal and banning.
• Exotic skins: you are solely responsible for ensuring any exotic-skin boots you list (alligator, python, sea turtle, elephant, and similar) comply with all applicable wildlife laws, including CITES, the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the Lacey Act, and your state's laws. Some materials are legal only as documented pre-ban or vintage items; some may not be sold across certain state lines. If it isn't legal to sell, don't list it.
• Mark items as sold when they sell, and keep your listings current.
• International shipping: know the destination country's import rules before you agree to ship abroad. In particular, Mexico treats pre-owned boots as used textiles — shipments may be seized or returned. When in doubt, ship domestic only.

4. Prohibited conduct — zero tolerance

The following will get content removed and accounts suspended or permanently banned, at our sole discretion, with or without prior warning:

• Adult or sexually explicit content of any kind, anywhere on the site (listings, photos, profiles, chat, or usernames). This is a boots community; it stays family-friendly.
• Scams and fraud: fake listings, taking payment without shipping, misrepresenting items, bait-and-switch, phishing, off-platform payment tricks, or any deceptive scheme targeting members.
• Counterfeits: selling replica or counterfeit boots as authentic.
• Stolen goods: listing items you do not lawfully own.
• Illegal wildlife products: listings that violate wildlife-protection laws (see Section 3).
• Harassment, hate, or threats toward any member, in any channel.
• Spam and manipulation: bulk junk listings, fake accounts, review or engagement manipulation, scraping, or interfering with the site's operation or moderation systems.

We may remove any content and suspend or terminate any account at any time to protect the community. Banned members may not create new accounts. If we believe unlawful activity has occurred, we may report it to law enforcement and cooperate with investigations.

5. Payments and disputes between members

Buyers and sellers agree on payment and shipping directly. We strongly recommend payment methods with built-in buyer/seller protection (for example, PayPal Goods & Services), especially for high-value pairs, and keeping records of your conversation and the listing. Because we are not a party to the transaction, disputes are between the buyer and the seller. We don't mediate, refund, or guarantee any transaction, though we do act on reports of fraud by removing bad actors.

6. Your content

You keep ownership of the photos and text you post. By posting, you give WBW a non-exclusive license to display, resize, and distribute that content as needed to operate and promote the site (for example, showing your listing in search results or link previews). Don't post content you don't have rights to. To report content that infringes your intellectual property, contact us at the address below and include the listing link and proof of ownership; we will remove infringing content promptly.

7. Moderation and automated tools

We use a combination of automated tools (including AI-based content moderation of listing text and images) and human review to enforce these rules. Automated tools aren't perfect; if your content was removed in error, contact us and a human will take a look.

8. Affiliate disclosure

WBW is free to use and charges no listing fees or commissions. The site may earn revenue from clearly marked affiliate links to outside retailers. We will never disguise affiliate content as member listings.

9. Disclaimers and limitation of liability

The site is provided "as is" and "as available," without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We do not guarantee the accuracy of listings, the identity or conduct of members, the authenticity or legality of items, or uninterrupted operation of the site. To the maximum extent permitted by law, WBW and its operators are not liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages, or for losses arising from transactions between members. Where liability cannot be excluded, it is limited to the greater of $50 or the amount you paid us in the past 12 months (which, for a free site, is $0).

10. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold WBW and its operators harmless from claims arising out of your listings, your transactions, your content, or your violation of these terms or of any law — including wildlife-trade laws applicable to items you list.

11. Changes and contact

We may update these terms as the site grows; the "Last updated" date above will change, and continued use after an update means you accept the new terms. These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee and applicable U.S. federal law, and any dispute with WBW will be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Tennessee.

Questions, reports, or appeals: nolen.nerren@cstg.ai.