1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using Whidbey Island Bulletin ("the Service"), you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and provision of this agreement. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use the Service.

2. Description of Service

Whidbey Island Bulletin provides a digital platform for community members, businesses, and organizations on Whidbey Island to:

• Post and browse classified advertisements
• List and discover local businesses and organizations
• Share business updates and news
• Read and write business reviews
• Create and manage promotional flyers
• Subscribe to email alerts for specific categories

3. User Accounts and Registration

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

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
• Maintain and promptly update your account information
• Maintain the security of your password and account
• Accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account

4. Residence Verification

Certain features, including posting classified ads and creating directory listings, require verification of Whidbey Island residency. You agree to:

• Provide truthful information about your residence location
• Understand that false residency claims may result in account suspension
• Comply with location-based feature restrictions

5. Content Guidelines

You are responsible for all content you post on the Service. You agree not to post content that:

• Is illegal, fraudulent, or violates any laws
• Infringes on intellectual property rights
• Contains hate speech, harassment, or threats
• Is sexually explicit or obscene
• Contains spam, malware, or viruses
• Impersonates another person or entity
• Is false, misleading, or deceptive

6. Classified Advertisements

When posting classified ads, you agree to:

• Post ads in appropriate categories
• Provide accurate descriptions and pricing
• Own or have the right to sell items/services advertised
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations
• Remove ads when items are sold or no longer available

We reserve the right to remove any ad that violates these terms or is deemed inappropriate.

7. Directory Listings

Directory listings must:

• Represent legitimate, operating organizations on Whidbey Island
• Provide accurate contact information and organization details
• Use appropriate categories and tags
• Not contain false or misleading information

Directory listings may include up to 10 images, business hours, amenities, services, contact information, and an optional YouTube video. Posts can be created with an optional expiration date.

8. Payment, Billing & Refunds

Certain features require payment:

• Classified Ads: $7/week or $21/month
• Directory Listings: $30/month with 10-image gallery and review system

All payments are processed securely through Stripe. Prices are subject to change with notice.

Directory Listing Refunds

Directory listings are billed at $30 per month. Your card will be charged immediately upon creating a listing and on the same date each subsequent month.

• Refund eligibility: You may request a full refund within 7 days of your initial payment.
• After 7 days: No refunds will be issued for the current or any prior billing period.
• Cancellation: If you cancel after the 7-day window, your listing remains active until the end of your current billing cycle.

You may cancel at any time through your dashboard. Cancellation stops future charges but does not entitle you to a refund for the current period (unless within the 7-day window described above).

9. Reviews and Ratings

When posting reviews, you agree to:

• Base reviews on genuine personal experience
• Provide honest, fair, and constructive feedback
• Not post fake, fraudulent, or malicious reviews
• Not review your own business or competitors unfairly

We reserve the right to remove reviews that violate these guidelines.

10. Notifications and Email Alerts

By using the Service, you may receive notifications via:

• Browser push notifications
• SMS text messages
• Email

You can subscribe to email alerts for specific classified ad categories and will receive instant notifications when new matching ads are posted. You can manage your notification preferences and email alert subscriptions in your account settings.

11. Intellectual Property

All content on the Service, including text, graphics, logos, and software, is the property of Whidbey Island Bulletin or its licensors and is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws.

By posting content, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute your content on the Service.

12. Termination

We reserve the right to terminate or suspend your account and access to the Service at our sole discretion, without notice, for conduct that we believe:

• Violates these Terms of Service
• Is harmful to other users, us, or third parties
• Violates applicable laws or regulations

13. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE.

14. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES.

15. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Whidbey Island Bulletin and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses arising from your use of the Service or violation of these terms.

16. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by the laws of the State of Washington, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

17. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. We will notify users of significant changes via email or a notice on the Service. Your continued use of the Service after such changes constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

18. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us through the contact information provided on our website.