Terms of Service

Welcome to Maubazaar ("we", "us", or "our"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Maubazaar website, platform, and related services (collectively, the "Platform").

By creating an account, browsing listings, submitting an item for sale, bidding in an auction, or placing an order, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Platform.

1. The Nature of Maubazaar (Peer-to-Peer Venue)

• Venue Only: Maubazaar operates solely as an online venue and communication platform connecting independent local buyers and sellers within the Republic of Mauritius.
• Not a Party to Transactions: Unless expressly stated in writing, Maubazaar is not an auctioneer, merchant, broker, or retailer. We do not manufacture, store, inspect, verify, pack, ship, or hold physical possession of listed items.
• Independent Agreements: Any contract for the purchase, exchange, or delivery of an item is made directly between the buyer and the seller. Maubazaar may provide checkout and order records through enabled payment methods, but does not inspect, store, or physically hand over items and assumes no liability arising from offline meetings or handovers.

2. User Accounts & Public Identity

• Eligibility: You must be at least 18 years of age and capable of entering into legally binding contracts to register an account or trade on the Platform.
• Account Security: You are responsible for safeguarding your login credentials and are solely responsible for any activity conducted through your account.
• Usernames & Privacy: You must select a unique alphanumeric username. Usernames that impersonate others, violate trademark rights, or contain profane or misleading language are strictly prohibited. Your public username is visible across the Platform to protect your real-world identity until a transaction is finalized.
• Accuracy of Information: You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete contact details (phone number, email address) for account verification and completed marketplace transactions.

3. Listing Formats & Rules

Sellers may list items under three primary formats:

1. Fixed Price: A buyer’s direct commitment to purchase a fixed-price item is a commitment to buy at the stated asking price.
2. Offers: Once an offer is accepted by the seller, it forms a final, legally binding agreement at the agreed price.
3. Timed Auctions: Every bid placed via the automated proxy bidding engine is a legally binding commitment to purchase. If your bid is highest when the timer expires, you have entered into a binding contract to complete the transaction at that price.

Listing Standards: Sellers must accurately describe the item’s condition, authenticity, defects, and ownership history. The sale of illegal goods, counterfeit items, stolen property, firearms, hazardous materials, and items prohibited under the laws of the Republic of Mauritius is strictly forbidden.

4. Bidding Integrity, Non-Payment & Post-Auction Conduct

• No Post-Auction Renegotiation: The winning bid or accepted offer amount is final and non-negotiable. Attempting to renegotiate a lower price or demand discounts upon contact or during in-person meetings is strictly prohibited and constitutes a direct breach of these Terms. In-person inspections are solely to verify item authenticity and condition against the listing description, not to haggle.
• Payment & Handover Window: The winning buyer must establish contact and coordinate physical payment and collection within 48 hours of auction close or offer acceptance, unless mutually agreed otherwise in writing.
• Unpaid Item Defaults (Ghosting): Failing to respond within 48 hours, refusing to pay, failing to attend scheduled handovers, or reneging on a bid constitutes an Unpaid Item Default.
• Seller Rights on Default: Upon an unpaid default, the seller is released from holding the item and may immediately relist it or issue a Second Chance Offer to the next highest proxy bidder.
• Zero-Tolerance Penalties & Bans: Users who engage in bad-faith renegotiation, coordinated bidding manipulation, or accumulate unpaid item strikes will receive an immediate and permanent account, phone number, and IP ban across the Platform.
• Prohibition of Shill Bidding: Self-bidding, using secondary accounts, or colluding with associates to artificially inflate bids is strictly prohibited and results in immediate permanent bans.

5. Platform Fees / Free Launch

• No online checkout: Maubazaar launches as a free classifieds and community marketplace. We do not collect item prices, listing fees, or other payments at launch.
• Seller contact: Registered users can use Maubazaar Messages to contact a seller from any published listing without a purchase or contact fee. Maubazaar reserves the right to introduce platform, listing, or maintenance fees in the future to cover operational and infrastructure costs, with prior notice to users before any such fees take effect.
• Direct agreement: Buyers and sellers are responsible for agreeing the item price, payment method, condition, delivery, and handover directly with each other.
• Offline handover: Maubazaar does not inspect, store, or physically hand over items and is not a party to the resulting offline agreement.

6. In-Person Transactions, Safety & Inspection

• Inspect Before Paying: Buyers are strongly advised to inspect, test, and verify items in person before completing physical payment.
• Public Handovers: For personal safety, users should arrange transaction meetings in busy, well-lit public locations during daylight hours (e.g., shopping mall parking areas, fuel stations, transit hubs). Never meet in isolated or unverified private locations.
• Assumption of Risk: Users participate in face-to-face inspections, handovers, and offline payments entirely at their own risk.

7. User Feedback & Trust System

• Two-Way Ratings: Following a completed transaction, buyers and sellers may leave an honest 1–5 star rating and comment reflecting their experience.
• Feedback Integrity: Feedback must be truthful and factual. Manipulating ratings (e.g., leaving fake reviews, coordinating fraudulent bids, or using coercive behavior to force a positive rating) is grounds for permanent suspension.
• Moderation: Maubazaar reserves the right to remove feedback containing abusive language, private personal details, or demonstrable falsehoods.

8. Flagging, Reporting & Content Moderation

• Community Flagging: Users may report any listing that appears fraudulent, counterfeit, mispriced, or inappropriate using the on-page reporting feature.
• Quarantine and review: Reports are reviewed by the Maubazaar team. A listing may be restricted, quarantined, or removed after review; automatic quarantine is not guaranteed.
• Account Termination: We reserve the right to suspend or permanently ban any user account, withhold access to services, or cancel active listings without prior notice if we determine that the user has violated these Terms or engaged in conduct detrimental to the community.

9. Disclaimer of Warranties & Limitation of Liability

• 'As Is' Basis: The Platform is provided on an 'as is' and 'as available' basis without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied.
• No Guarantee: We do not guarantee continuous, secure access to the Platform or that listings, descriptions, or prices are completely free of human error.
• Limitation of Liability: To the maximum extent permitted under Mauritian law, Maubazaar, its founders, and operators shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, or consequential damages resulting from disputes between buyers and sellers, defective or misrepresented goods, or losses/injury sustained during offline meetings.

10. Intellectual Property

All logos, branding, user interfaces, codebases, design assets, and content created by Maubazaar remain the exclusive intellectual property of Maubazaar. You may not copy, scrape, reverse engineer, or reproduce platform materials without prior written consent.

11. Governing Law

These Terms of Service and any disputes arising out of or related to your use of the Platform shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Mauritius. Any legal action or proceeding shall be brought exclusively before the courts of Mauritius.

12. Changes to These Terms

We may revise these Terms from time to time. Updated versions will be posted directly to this page with an updated revision date. Your continued use of Maubazaar constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

13. Contact

If you have questions regarding these Terms, please reach out via our contact page or report a listing directly through the site interface.