Collector's Chest - Terms of Service
Effective Date: [DATE]
Welcome to Collector's Chest (the "Service"), a comic book collection management and marketplace platform operated by [LEGAL BUSINESS NAME], a [STATE] limited liability company ("Company," "we," "us," or "our"). The Service is accessible via our website at collectors-chest.com and our mobile application (collectively, the "Platform").
By accessing or using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree, you may not use the Service. We reserve the right to update these Terms at any time. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.
1. Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years of age to create an account or use any feature of the Service. By registering, you represent and warrant that you are at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement. We reserve the right to request verification of age at any time and to terminate accounts that we reasonably believe belong to individuals under 18.
2. Account Registration and Security
2.1 Account Creation
To access certain features of the Service, you must create a registered account. Registration requires the following information: a valid email address (not displayed publicly), your first and last name, and a username of your choosing (displayed publicly). Usernames are subject to our content filtering system, which prohibits vulgar, offensive, or otherwise inappropriate usernames. We reserve the right to reject or require modification of any username at our sole discretion.
2.2 Optional Information
You may optionally share your location (city, state/province, and/or country). Location sharing is entirely voluntary and can be configured at the following privacy levels: full location (city, state, country), state and country only, country only, or hidden. Location data, when shared, is used to facilitate trade and marketplace features.
2.3 Account Security
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to protect your account information.
2.4 Account Tiers
The Service offers the following account tiers:
- Guest Access: Limited functionality without account registration. Guest data is stored locally in your browser and is not synced to the cloud. Guest access includes a lifetime maximum of 5 AI-powered comic scans, with the option to earn 5 additional scans by providing an email address (10 maximum). Guests cannot participate in marketplace, messaging, or trading features.
- Free Registered Account: Includes 10 AI-powered comic scans per calendar month (resetting on the 1st of each month), cloud-synced collection storage, the ability to buy and bid in the marketplace (with a maximum of 3 active sale listings), CSV import functionality, public profile, messaging, following, and trading features. Free accounts are subject to an 8% seller transaction fee on marketplace sales.
- Premium Account ($4.99/month or $49.99/year): Includes all Free tier features plus unlimited AI-powered comic scans, unlimited active sale listings, CSV export functionality, Key Hunt mode (offline convention lookup tool), advanced collection statistics, and a reduced 5% seller transaction fee. A 7-day free trial is available once per account.
3. Subscriptions, Payments, and Billing
3.1 Subscription Billing
Premium subscriptions are billed on a recurring basis (monthly or annually) through our third-party payment processor, Stripe. By subscribing, you authorize Stripe to charge your selected payment method at the applicable rate. All fees are quoted in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.
3.2 Free Trial
New users may be eligible for a one-time, 7-day free trial of the Premium tier. You will not be charged during the trial period. If you do not cancel before the trial expires, your subscription will automatically convert to a paid Premium subscription and your payment method will be charged. Only one free trial is permitted per account.
3.3 Scan Packs
Free and Guest users may purchase additional AI scan credits in packs of 10 scans for $1.99 per pack. Purchased scan credits do not expire and are separate from the monthly allocation provided to Free registered accounts.
3.4 Cancellation and Refunds
You may cancel your Premium subscription at any time through the Stripe Customer Portal accessible within your account settings. Upon cancellation, you will retain access to Premium features until the end of your current billing period. No prorated refunds are provided for partial billing periods. Scan pack purchases are non-refundable.
3.5 Price Changes
We reserve the right to change subscription pricing at any time. We will provide at least 30 days' notice of any price increase. If you do not agree to the new pricing, you may cancel your subscription before the new rate takes effect.
4. Marketplace
4.1 General Marketplace Terms
The Service includes marketplace features that allow registered users to buy, sell, and trade comic books. The Company acts solely as a platform facilitator and is not a party to any transaction between users. We do not take possession of, inspect, authenticate, or guarantee any physical items listed on the marketplace. All transactions are between the buyer and seller (or trading parties) directly.
4.2 Marketplace Age Attestation
Before using any marketplace feature (including listing items for sale, purchasing, bidding, making offers, or initiating trades), you are required to confirm that you are at least 18 years of age through an on-screen attestation prompt. This self-attestation is legally binding. By confirming, you represent and warrant under penalty of account termination that you are at least 18 years old. Misrepresentation of your age constitutes a material breach of these Terms and is grounds for immediate account termination without refund. Your attestation confirmation is recorded with a timestamp for our records.
4.3 Fixed-Price Listings
Sellers may create fixed-price listings with a set asking price. Listings may include an "accepts offers" option with an optional minimum offer threshold. Offers and counter-offers are limited to three rounds of negotiation per listing, with each offer or counter-offer expiring after 48 hours if not responded to. Accepted offers follow the standard payment flow. Fixed-price listings auto-expire after 30 days if unsold.
4.4 Auction Listings
Sellers may create auction-style listings with a minimum starting price of $0.99 and a duration of 1 to 14 days. Auctions use a proxy bidding system: buyers enter a maximum bid amount, and the system automatically places incremental bids on their behalf. Bid increments are $1.00 for items under $100, $5.00 for items between $100 and $999, and $25.00 for items $1,000 and above. Bidder identities are anonymized (displayed as Bidder 1, Bidder 2, etc.). Sellers may optionally set a Buy It Now price, which immediately ends the auction when exercised. A winning bidder has 48 hours to complete payment. Failure to pay within this period may result in account restrictions.
4.5 Transaction Fees
The Company charges the following seller transaction fees on completed marketplace sales: 8% for Free tier accounts and 5% for Premium tier accounts. Transaction fees are calculated on the total sale amount (excluding shipping) and are deducted from the seller's payout. Payment processing fees charged by Stripe are separate and in addition to platform transaction fees.
4.6 Seller Payouts
Seller payouts for marketplace transactions are processed through Stripe Connect. The timing and method of payouts are subject to Stripe's terms and policies. We are not responsible for delays in payouts caused by Stripe or by a seller's failure to properly configure their payout information.
4.7 Shipping and Delivery
Buyers and sellers are solely responsible for coordinating shipping, including selecting carriers, providing tracking information, and ensuring adequate packaging and insurance. The Company is not responsible for items that are lost, damaged, or stolen during shipping. Sellers are required to mark items as shipped and provide tracking information within the Platform. Buyers are required to confirm receipt upon delivery.
4.8 Trading
Users may mark comics in their collection as available for trade. The Platform provides an algorithm-assisted matching system to identify potential trade partners with mutual interests. Trade proposals require both parties to agree to the proposed exchange. Once a trade is accepted, both parties must provide shipping carrier and tracking information. A trade is considered complete when both parties confirm receipt, at which point comic ownership is transferred in the Platform's database. Either party may cancel a trade at any time before both parties have shipped. The Company does not guarantee the value, condition, or authenticity of traded items.
4.9 Feedback and Ratings
After a completed transaction, buyers may leave a positive or negative rating along with a written comment for the seller. Feedback must comply with our Acceptable Use Policy. The Company reserves the right to remove feedback that violates these Terms or our Acceptable Use Policy.
4.10 Listing Cancellation
Auction listings may be cancelled only if no bids have been placed. Fixed-price listings may be cancelled at any time; any pending offers will be automatically rejected upon cancellation.
5. AI-Powered Features
5.1 Comic Identification and Analysis
The Service uses artificial intelligence (powered by Anthropic's Claude API) to identify comic books from user-uploaded photographs. The AI attempts to extract metadata including title, issue number, publisher, release year, variant information, creator credits, grading information, and barcode data. AI-identified information is provided as a starting point and may contain errors. Users are responsible for reviewing and verifying all AI-generated data before saving it to their collection or using it for marketplace purposes.
5.2 Pricing Information
The Service provides pricing data sourced from completed eBay sales and, where available, other third-party pricing services. When market data is unavailable, the AI may provide an estimated value with an appropriate disclaimer. All pricing information, whether sourced from market data or AI estimation, is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an appraisal, guarantee of value, or recommendation to buy or sell at any particular price. The Company is not liable for decisions made based on pricing information displayed on the Platform.
5.3 Image Processing
When you use the AI scan feature, your uploaded image is processed in-memory on our servers and transmitted to Anthropic's API for analysis. Images are compressed client-side before upload (target approximately 400KB). Images are not permanently stored on our servers. Anthropic does not retain images after processing per their data retention policy. AI analysis results may be cached for up to 30 days (indexed by image hash) to improve performance. No personal user data is transmitted to Anthropic; only the comic book image is sent for analysis.
5.4 Content Moderation
The Service uses AI-powered content moderation to review user messages and other user-generated content for compliance with our Acceptable Use Policy. This moderation occurs automatically and is supplemented by manual review when necessary.
5.5 Disclaimer of AI Accuracy
AI-generated results, including but not limited to comic identification, grading information, key comic significance, and pricing estimates, are provided on an "as-is" basis without warranty of accuracy or completeness. The Company does not guarantee the correctness of any AI-generated output. You acknowledge that AI technology has inherent limitations and that errors may occur.
6. User Content, Conduct, and Community Contributions
6.1 User-Generated Content
You retain ownership of content you upload to the Service, including comic book photographs, listing descriptions, messages, and feedback comments. By uploading content to the Service, you grant the Company a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, reproduce, and distribute your content solely for the purpose of operating and improving the Service. This license terminates when you delete your content or your account, except where your content has been shared with other users (e.g., marketplace listings, feedback, messages) and reasonably needs to be retained for the integrity of those interactions.
6.2 Community Cover Database
The Service includes a Community Cover Database to which users may contribute comic book cover images. When you manually provide a cover image URL for a comic in your collection, that image may be automatically submitted to the Community Cover Database for review. An administrator will review and either approve or reject the submission. Approved images become available for display to all users of the Platform for the same comic title and issue.
By submitting a cover image URL to the Service (whether through manual entry or any other submission method), you grant Collector's Chest a non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free license to store, display, reproduce, and distribute the image to other users of the Platform for the purpose of comic book identification and collection management. You represent and warrant that you have the right to share any image you submit and that the image does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third party. The Company is not responsible for the accuracy, legality, or appropriateness of user-submitted cover images and reserves the right to remove or reject any submission at any time without notice.
6.3 Creator Credits Program
The Service offers a Creator Credits program that rewards users for contributing to the Platform's database. Users earn Creator Credits when they submit content (such as cover images to the Community Cover Database) that is reviewed and approved by an administrator. Each approved contribution increments the user's contribution count by one. Users earn publicly visible badge tiers based on their total approved contributions: Contributor (1-9 approved contributions), Verified Contributor (10-25 approved contributions), and Top Contributor (26 or more approved contributions). Badges are displayed on the user's public profile.
Creator Credits and associated badges are non-transferable, carry no monetary value, and cannot be redeemed, exchanged, or cashed out. The Company reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Creator Credits program at any time, including changing badge tier thresholds, adding or removing contribution types, or resetting credit counts, without prior notice or liability. Submissions may be rejected at the sole discretion of the Company's administrators, and rejection does not entitle the user to any appeal or compensation. Duplicate contributions (the same content submitted by the same user) are automatically prevented.
6.4 Prohibited Conduct
You agree not to: use the Service for any unlawful purpose; post false, misleading, or fraudulent listings; manipulate bidding through shill bidding or other deceptive practices; harass, threaten, or abuse other users; attempt to circumvent platform fees by conducting transactions outside the Platform for items listed on the Platform; create multiple accounts to abuse free tier benefits, trial periods, or scan allocations; use automated tools, bots, or scripts to access the Service without our written permission; attempt to reverse-engineer, decompile, or otherwise extract the source code of the Service; upload content that infringes on the intellectual property rights of others; submit fraudulent, spam, or intentionally incorrect contributions to inflate Creator Credits; submit inappropriate, offensive, or unrelated images to the Community Cover Database; or otherwise violate our Acceptable Use Policy.
6.5 Enforcement
We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to remove content, restrict features, suspend, or permanently terminate any account that violates these Terms or our Acceptable Use Policy, with or without notice. In cases of fraud, illegal activity, or severe violations, termination may be immediate.
7. Intellectual Property
7.1 Company IP
The Service, including its design, features, code, AI models and integrations, algorithms, trade matching system, curated key comics database, and all related intellectual property, is owned by or licensed to the Company. Nothing in these Terms grants you any right, title, or interest in the Company's intellectual property except the limited right to use the Service in accordance with these Terms.
7.2 Third-Party IP
Comic book titles, cover artwork, character names, publisher names, and related intellectual property displayed on the Platform belong to their respective owners. The Service displays such materials for the purpose of collection management and marketplace transactions. Users are responsible for ensuring that their use of third-party intellectual property through the Service complies with applicable law.
7.3 Feedback and Suggestions
Any feedback, suggestions, or ideas you provide regarding the Service may be used by the Company without restriction or compensation to you.
8. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability
8.1 Disclaimer of Warranties
THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE COMPANY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, SECURE, OR FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS.
8.2 Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE COMPANY, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, MEMBERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AND AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE, ANY TRANSACTION OR TRADE CONDUCTED THROUGH THE SERVICE, ANY AI-GENERATED CONTENT OR PRICING INFORMATION, OR ANY CONDUCT OF OTHER USERS. OUR TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO US IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS ($100.00).
8.3 Marketplace Disclaimer
The Company does not authenticate, inspect, appraise, or guarantee the condition, value, legality, or authenticity of any item listed on the marketplace. We are not responsible for the accuracy of listings, the quality or condition of items, the ability of sellers to complete a sale, or the ability of buyers to pay. Users transact at their own risk.
9. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Company and its officers, directors, members, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to: your use of the Service; your violation of these Terms or any applicable law; your marketplace transactions, trades, or interactions with other users; any content you upload or submit to the Service (including Community Cover Database submissions); or any dispute between you and another user.
10. Dispute Resolution
10.1 Between Users
The Company does not provide formal dispute resolution services for transactions between users. Buyers and sellers are encouraged to communicate directly to resolve any issues. If you are unable to resolve a dispute, you may seek remedies available to you under applicable law. The Company may, but is not obligated to, assist in facilitating communication between disputing parties.
10.2 Between You and the Company
Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service shall first be attempted to be resolved through informal negotiation by contacting us at [SUPPORT EMAIL]. If the dispute cannot be resolved informally within 30 days, either party may pursue resolution through binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, conducted in [STATE/COUNTY]. You agree that any arbitration will be conducted on an individual basis and not as a class, consolidated, or representative action. The arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding.
10.3 Exceptions to Arbitration
Either party may seek injunctive or other equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent the actual or threatened infringement or misappropriation of intellectual property rights. Small claims court actions are also excluded from the arbitration requirement.
11. Termination
You may terminate your account at any time through the account deletion process provided in the Service. Upon account deletion, all of your data will be permanently removed from our systems, including your profile, collection, marketplace listings, messages, trades, feedback, follows, Creator Credits, and Community Cover Database submission records. Approved cover images that have been made available to the community may be retained in the Community Cover Database after account deletion, as they are licensed to the Company under the terms described in Section 6.2. Certain transaction records may be retained by our payment processor (Stripe) in accordance with their policies and applicable legal requirements.
We may suspend or terminate your account at any time for any reason, including but not limited to violation of these Terms. If your account is terminated by us for cause, you are not entitled to any refund of prepaid subscription fees or purchased scan credits.
12. Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
13. Miscellaneous
13.1 Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, Cookie & Tracking Policy, and Acceptable Use Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and the Company regarding your use of the Service.
13.2 Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
13.3 Waiver
The failure of the Company to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.
13.4 Assignment
You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your rights under them without our prior written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations under these Terms without restriction.
13.5 Notices
We may provide notices to you via the email address associated with your account or through the Platform. You are responsible for keeping your email address current.
13.6 Contact Information
If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at:
[LEGAL BUSINESS NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[SUPPORT EMAIL]
Website: collectors-chest.com