Terms of Service

1. Introduction and Acceptance

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the ReNew Market platform, including our website, mobile applications, APIs, and all related services (collectively, the "Services"), operated by ReNew Market LLC, a Maryland limited liability company ("ReNew Market," "we," "us," or "our").

By accessing or using our Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you are using the Services on behalf of a business or entity, you represent that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms.

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated Terms on our website and, where appropriate, by email. Your continued use of the Services after the effective date of any changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

2. Eligibility

To use our Services, you must be at least 18 years of age and legally capable of forming a binding contract. By creating an account, you represent and warrant that you meet these requirements. ReNew Market disclaims any liability arising from Your misrepresentation of the age requirements.

You may not use our Services if you have been previously suspended or removed from the platform, are located in a country subject to U.S. government sanctions, or are on any U.S. government list of prohibited or restricted parties.

3. Account Registration and Security

To access certain features, you must create an account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to update it as necessary. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity under your account.

You must not share your account credentials, create multiple accounts for deceptive purposes, or use another person's account without permission. You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, engage in fraudulent activity, or pose a risk to the marketplace community, with or without notice to You.

4. Marketplace Role and Limitations

ReNew Market provides a platform that connects buyers and sellers of upcycled, recycled, vintage, restored, repaired, and sustainable goods, as well as repair and restoration services offered by sellers. We are not a party to the transactions between buyers and sellers. ReNew Market does not own, possess, manufacture, inspect, or control any items listed on the platform, nor do we perform any repair, restoration, or service work offered by sellers.

We do not guarantee the existence, quality, safety, legality, durability, authenticity, or accuracy of items or services listed; the truth or accuracy of listing descriptions, photos, sustainability claims, or content; the ability of sellers to sell or buyers to pay; that any transaction will be completed; or that items or services will meet buyer expectations.

Buyers acknowledge that items sold on the platform are generally pre-owned, modified, upcycled, restored, or repaired, and that variations in quality, condition, and appearance from new retail products are expected and inherent to the marketplace. While we may help facilitate dispute resolution through our case system, we are not obligated to resolve disputes between users and will not make determinations regarding legal claims.

5. Seller Terms

5.1 What can be sold

Sellers may list items that are upcycled or repurposed; recycled or made from recycled content; vintage (at least 20 years old); pre-owned, secondhand, or refurbished; handmade from sustainable, reclaimed, or eco-friendly materials; or items related to sustainable living. Sellers may also offer mending, repair, and restoration services as described in Section 5.9.

5.2 Prohibited items

Prohibited on ReNew Market: weapons, firearms, ammunition, explosives; drugs and controlled substances; tobacco and vaping; alcohol; hazardous materials and recalled products; counterfeit or replica goods; stolen property; live animals and protected wildlife products; items violating intellectual property rights; items promoting hate, violence, or discrimination; unsubstantiated health/medical claims; unsafe repaired or restored items; items modified to misrepresent original brand identity; and any items prohibited by law. We reserve the right to remove any listing and suspend any seller account that violates these restrictions.

5.3 Listing obligations and disclosure

Sellers must provide accurate descriptions, honest condition assessments, their own photographs (not stock images), truthful sustainability claims, and accurate pricing. For items that have been modified, repaired, restored, or altered, sellers must clearly and conspicuously disclose: the nature and extent of all work performed; any materials added, replaced, or removed; any known defects, structural changes, or limitations; and whether modifications affect the item's safety, functionality, or intended use. Failure to disclose accurately is grounds for listing removal, return claims, and account penalties.

5.4 Sustainability claims and badge verification

Sellers may select sustainability badges (e.g., Upcycled, Recycled Materials, Vintage, Handmade, Locally Made, Plastic-Free Packaging, Repaired, Carbon-Neutral Shipping). Sellers must only select badges that genuinely apply, maintain supporting documentation upon request, and avoid misleading environmental marketing ("greenwashing"). Misuse may result in badge removal, listing removal, suspension of badge privileges, account suspension, or permanent ban.

5.5 Seller fees

Listing items is free — there is no per-listing charge. Upon a completed sale, sellers are charged a seller fee of 3% of the item price, deducted automatically from the payout. ReNew Pro subscribers ($5/month) receive a reduced seller fee of 2%. The seller fee is the only deduction from the seller's payout — buyer fees, eco fund contributions, and payment processing fees do not affect seller earnings. Promoted listings are optionally available at $2.99 per week per listing.

5.6 Shipping and fulfillment

Sellers must ship within the processing time stated in their listing, provide valid tracking, and package items securely. Sellers offering local pickup must arrange exchanges in public locations and never share home addresses. ReNew Market is not responsible for the safety of in-person exchanges. Failure to ship within a reasonable timeframe may result in automatic order cancellation and refund to the buyer.

5.7 Identity verification

Before publishing listings, sellers must complete identity verification through our third-party provider (Stripe Identity) to prevent fraud and comply with applicable regulations. We may request additional verification at any time.

5.8 Taxes

Sellers are responsible for understanding and complying with all applicable tax obligations. Sellers who meet the IRS reporting threshold will receive a 1099-K form. ReNew Market may collect and remit sales tax on behalf of sellers as required by marketplace facilitator laws. ReNew Market does not offer tax advice or services.

5.9 Repair and restoration services

Sellers offering mending, repair, and restoration services ("Service Providers") acknowledge: all service agreements are between the Service Provider and the customer; ReNew Market is not a party and does not warrant any results; Service Providers are solely responsible for quality, safety, and outcomes including any damage to customer property; Service Providers must accurately describe scope, materials, methods, and limitations in advance; and must carry any insurance, licensing, or certifications required by law. Service disputes follow the Section 7 process at ReNew Market's discretion.

5.10 Reselling items previously purchased on ReNew Market ("Repop")

Buyers who have received delivery of an item on ReNew Market may relist that item for resale ("Repop") subject to the rules in this section. The Repop flow is offered to extend the lifecycle of pre-owned goods and to recognize the labor of the original upcycler or maker.

Cooldown. A purchased item may not be relisted until 30 days have elapsed since its delivery date. This anti-scalper window is enforced at the listing-creation step and may not be waived.

Creator credit and opt-out. By default, each seller's profile is credited as the "original creator" on subsequent resales of items they upcycled or made — their handle appears on the resale listing's product page with a link to their profile. Sellers may opt out of being publicly credited at any time via Settings → Privacy → "Show me as the original creator when my items are resold." Opting out suppresses the seller's name and handle from the resale provenance block. Opting back in restores the credit on future resales only.

Single ownership chain. Each item tracks one original creator only — the first seller in its lineage on ReNew Market. Subsequent resellers are not credited as the "original creator" on later resales; they appear as the current seller of the listing.

Listing requirements. Photos, measurements, and applicable sustainability badges from the original listing carry forward by default. The reseller must re-affirm the item's condition (which may have changed during their ownership) and may add additional photos, edit the description, and update the price. Resale listings are visually marked with a "🔁 Pre-loved" pill so buyers can identify them at a glance.

Buyer protections apply identically. Resale items are covered by the same Section 7 Protection Program as new listings — non-receipt, damage in transit, and misrepresentation claims are filed and resolved under the same windows and standards. The responsible seller for any claim is the reseller, not the original creator.

6. Buyer Terms

6.1 Purchasing

When you purchase an item or service, you enter into a contract directly with the seller. You agree to pay the item price plus applicable fees, shipping costs, payment processing charges, and any applicable taxes.

6.2 Buyer fees

Buyers pay a platform fee of 6% of the item price, displayed as a single line item at checkout. This includes a 5% buyer fee and a 1% contribution to the ReNew Sustainability Fund. Payment processing fees (Stripe rate: 2.9% + $0.30) are passed through separately.

6.3 Payment

All payments must be made through the platform using approved payment methods. Off-platform payments are strictly prohibited and void any buyer protection. Payments are processed by Stripe; by making a purchase you agree to Stripe's terms of service.

6.4 Risk acknowledgment for upcycled, restored, and repaired goods

Buyers explicitly acknowledge that items are predominantly previously owned, modified/repaired/restored, vintage or aged, or handmade/upcycled with inherent variation. Variations in quality, color, condition, fit, and appearance from new retail products are expected and do not constitute grounds for return claims provided the item matches the listing's description and disclosed condition.

6.5 Buying pre-loved items (resale listings)

Some listings on ReNew Market are resales of items previously sold on the platform ("Pre-loved" listings, identified by a "🔁 Pre-loved" pill). When buying a Pre-loved item, the buyer's total is identical to a non-resale purchase — there is no premium or surcharge.

The product page surfaces a provenance block that names the original creator (the first seller in the item's lineage) when they have opted in to credit. Pre-loved items are covered by the same Section 7 Protection Program as new listings; the responsible seller for any claim is the reseller, not the original creator.

7. ReNew Market Protection Program and Returns Policy

7.1 Eligible buyer claims

You may be eligible for a refund or other resolution if the item was not received within 30 days; arrived damaged in transit beyond what was disclosed; is materially different from what was described; or is counterfeit, illegal, or otherwise prohibited.

7.2 Ineligible returns

Returns are not provided for: minor wear/patina consistent with the listing; buyer remorse, fit, or style dissatisfaction; normal expected variation for upcycled/handmade/vintage items; disclosed modifications; acknowledged condition issues; winning bids on auctions (auction sales are final — a bid is a binding commitment to buy); in-person local pickup purchases; or buyer-caused damage after delivery. Auction final-sale applies to change-of-mind returns only; the eligible-claim protections in §7.1 (not received, damaged in transit, materially different from what was described, counterfeit) apply to auction purchases the same as any other order.

7.3 Claim filing windows

• Non-receipt: between 7 and 30 days after expected delivery
• Damage in transit: within 7 days of confirmed delivery
• Misrepresentation (not as described): within 7 days of confirmed delivery

All claims must include photographic or video evidence, a copy of the original listing description, and order details. Claims filed without sufficient evidence or after these windows close are not eligible for platform protection.

7.4 Seller response and resolution

Sellers have 48 hours to respond and either accept the claim, dispute it with evidence, or propose an alternative. If a seller does not respond in 48 hours, the claim may proceed to platform review without seller input. Resolutions may include full refund, partial refund, return and refund, replacement, or denial. ReNew Market reserves final authority in disputed cases.

7.5 Seller protection

Sellers are protected when they shipped via tracked, platform-approved carriers with delivery confirmed; provided accurate descriptions and photos; disclosed all modifications and known defects; completed identity verification; and responded within the 48-hour window. Coverage includes confirmed-delivered items later disputed without supporting evidence, items lost/damaged in transit when shipped with platform labels, and fraudulent chargebacks after receipt.

7.6 Coverage limitations

The Protection Program does not cover off-platform transactions, in-person local pickup exchanges, buyer-caused post-delivery damage, prohibited items sold in violation of policy, or claims filed after the applicable window.

8. ReNew Sustainability Fund

1% of every transaction's item price is allocated to the ReNew Sustainability Fund. This is included within the 6% buyer platform fee, not an additional charge. The Fund supports sustainability charities selected by annual user vote (40%), local artist and maker grants awarded quarterly (35%), and seller eco awards based on the eco score leaderboard (25%).

ReNew Market administers the Fund at its sole discretion and may adjust allocation percentages, selection methods, and fund size commitments as the platform grows. ReNew Market has committed to increasing the Fund from 1% to 2% of every sale once monthly gross merchandise value reaches $500,000 or the platform supports 5,000 active sellers (30-day rolling), whichever occurs first. A public progress bar tracks both metrics on the Eco Fund page.

9. ReNew Pro Subscription

ReNew Pro is an optional monthly subscription ($5/month) providing: a reduced seller fee (2% instead of 3%), one free promoted listing per week, flash auctions (1-day duration), reserve pricing on auctions, auction analytics, advanced seller dashboard with CSV export, and priority customer support.

Subscriptions are billed monthly through Stripe. You may cancel anytime from your dashboard; cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. No refunds are provided for partial billing periods.

10. Content and Intellectual Property

10.1 Your content

You retain ownership of all content you submit ("Your Content"). By posting Your Content, you grant ReNew Market a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to use, display, reproduce, modify, distribute, and prepare derivative works of Your Content in connection with operating, promoting, and improving the Services. You represent that you own or have the necessary rights to Your Content and that it does not infringe any third party's rights.

10.2 Intellectual property complaints

If you believe content infringes your copyright or trademark, you may submit a report through our IP reporting system. We comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and will respond to valid notices. Repeat infringers will have their accounts terminated.

11. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to: violate any law; circumvent or manipulate our fee structure; conduct transactions off-platform to avoid fees; create false or misleading listings; engage in fraud or money laundering; harass, threaten, or discriminate against users; manipulate reviews, ratings, or search rankings; use automated tools (bots, scrapers, AI agents) without authorization; interfere with the Services; access another user's account; collect users' personal information for unauthorized purposes; create multiple accounts to evade suspension; or engage in any conduct prohibited by the ReNew Market Reviews & Endorsements Policy, including posting fake or AI-generated reviews, undisclosed insider reviews, paying for or suppressing reviews, or misrepresenting social proof.

12. Privacy and Data Protection

Our collection and use of personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, incorporated into these Terms by reference. Sellers who receive buyer personal information through transactions may only use it to fulfill the transaction — not for marketing, third-party sharing, or retention beyond what is necessary for fulfillment and legal compliance.

13. Communications

By creating an account, you consent to receive transactional emails (order confirmations, shipping updates), service announcements and policy updates, and marketing communications (which you may opt out of at any time). All buyer-seller communications should occur through the platform's messaging system; ReNew Market is not responsible for off-platform communications.

14. Disclaimers

THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. RENEW MARKET DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND WARRANTIES ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE. We do not warrant that the Services will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure, or that any content is accurate, complete, or reliable.

15. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, RENEW MARKET AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AND AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, DATA, OR GOODWILL, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES.

IN NO EVENT SHALL RENEW MARKET'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE SERVICES EXCEED THE GREATEST OF (A) THE AMOUNTS PAID BY YOU TO RENEW MARKET IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, (B) ANY AMOUNT YOU ARE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE UNDER THE RENEW MARKET PROTECTION PROGRAM IN CONNECTION WITH THE CLAIM, OR (C) FIVE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS ($500).

SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF CERTAIN DAMAGES; IN THOSE JURISDICTIONS, OUR LIABILITY IS LIMITED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

16. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless ReNew Market and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to: your use of the Services; your violation of these Terms or any law; any transaction or service agreement between you and another user; Your Content; or any dispute between you and another user.

17. Termination

You may terminate your account at any time through your account settings or by contacting us. We may suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, if we reasonably believe you have violated these Terms, your conduct poses a risk, or your account has been inactive for an extended period. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination will survive, including Sections 10, 14, 15, 16, 18, and 19.

18. Dispute Resolution and Arbitration

18.1 Informal resolution

Before initiating any formal proceeding, you agree to contact us and attempt to resolve the dispute informally for at least 30 days. Send notice by email to legal@renewmkt.com.

18.2 Binding arbitration

IF WE CANNOT RESOLVE A DISPUTE INFORMALLY, YOU AND RENEW MARKET AGREE THAT ANY DISPUTE SHALL BE RESOLVED BY BINDING INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION, RATHER THAN IN COURT, AND YOU WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL. Arbitration is administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, in Maryland or by telephone/video at your election.

18.3 Class action waiver

YOU AND RENEW MARKET AGREE THAT DISPUTES WILL BE RESOLVED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS ONLY. YOU WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION, CLASS ARBITRATION, OR OTHER REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING.

18.4 Opt-out

You may opt out of this arbitration agreement by sending written notice to legal@renewmkt.com within 30 days of creating your account, including your name, address, email, and username. Opting out does not affect any other provision of these Terms.

18.5 Exceptions

Either party may bring claims in small claims court if eligible, or seek injunctive/equitable relief in any court to prevent infringement of intellectual property rights.

19. General Provisions

Governing law: These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to conflict of laws provisions. For claims not subject to arbitration, you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in Maryland.

Entire agreement: These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, Seller Agreement, Buyer Policy, and all other posted policies, constitute the entire agreement. If any provision is unenforceable, the rest remains in effect. Our failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver. You may not assign your rights without our consent; we may assign ours without yours.

Contact: ReNew Market LLC — legal@renewmkt.com.

International Addendum (Beta)

This Addendum supplements the Terms for users outside the United States. Where it conflicts with the main Terms, this Addendum controls for users in the specified jurisdictions. ReNew Market is currently operating in the United States during beta launch; international expansion will follow completion of beta testing.

European Union, EEA & United Kingdom

Consumers in the EU/EEA/UK retain mandatory statutory rights, including a 14-day cooling-off period for online purchases (EU Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU; UK Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013), subject to standard exceptions. We process personal data under the GDPR / UK GDPR as a data controller on the bases of contract performance, legitimate interest, consent, and legal obligation. You have rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, objection, and consent withdrawal — contact privacy@renewmkt.com. Data transferred to the U.S. is safeguarded by Standard Contractual Clauses. The binding arbitration and class action waiver do not apply to EU/EEA consumers to the extent prohibited by mandatory local law; you may use the EU ODR platform at https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr. Liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or other non-excludable liability is not limited.

Canada

Consumers are protected by provincial/territorial consumer protection laws including applicable cooling-off periods. Personal information is handled under PIPEDA and substantially similar provincial legislation (including Quebec's Law 25). For Quebec users, documents are available in French upon request. ReNew Market may collect and remit GST/HST and provincial sales taxes as required.

Australia

Australian consumers have non-excludable rights under the Australian Consumer Law, including guarantees of acceptable quality, fitness for purpose, and matching description. Personal information is handled per the Australian Privacy Principles (Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)). Binding arbitration does not apply to the extent it would limit your right to bring a claim in an Australian court or before an ombudsman.

All other jurisdictions

Users elsewhere are responsible for complying with all local laws (consumer protection, privacy, e-commerce, taxation, customs, import/export). Transactions are primarily in USD; international buyers are responsible for currency conversion fees, customs duties, and import taxes. Users must comply with all applicable sanctions and export controls (OFAC, EU, UK). For users where binding arbitration is not enforceable, disputes are resolved in the courts of Maryland, USA, unless mandatory local law requires otherwise.