Terms and Conditions

Buyers and Sellers may mutually agree to fulfill orders via "Local Pickup" where designated by the Seller on the listing. By selecting Local Pickup, both parties acknowledge and agree that wormsmarketplace.com (the "Platform") acts solely as a two-sided technology facilitator connecting independent buyers and sellers.

The Platform does not inspect, vet, warrant, or assume any liability for the personal safety, conduct, private property conditions, or physical interactions of users during an in-person exchange. Users are strongly advised to coordinate handovers in public, well-lit, high-visibility locations during daytime hours, and to exercise sound judgment regarding personal safety.

Due to the absence of carrier tracking barcodes in face-to-face transactions, the Platform enforces an automated 6-character alphanumeric verification code system to record fulfillment and address claims of non-delivery.

1. Issuance: Upon confirmed payment capture via the Platform’s payment gateway, a unique, single-use, 6-character alphanumeric Pickup Code is generated and delivered exclusively to the Buyer’s authenticated account dashboard.
2. Buyer Obligation: The Buyer must present this Pickup Code to the Seller only at the physical handover, and only after visually inspecting the livestock and packaging to ensure satisfactory condition. Providing this code authorizes the Seller to record the order as fulfilled.
3. Seller Obligation: The Seller must promptly submit the Buyer-provided Pickup Code into their Seller Order Management interface. Submission of the valid code constitutes digital proof of completed physical handover.
4. Protections & Fulfillment Verification:
   • Buyers: Never share or communicate the Pickup Code via in-app chat, SMS, phone call, or email prior to physical meeting and inspection. Transferring the code before inspection waives claim rights regarding missing or omitted items, subject to applicable law.
   • Sellers: Never surrender possession of inventory without concurrently entering and validating the code in the system. The Platform cannot protect Sellers against claims of non-delivery or chargebacks if inventory is released without system-verified code submission.

1. 72-Hour Standard Window: Unless an explicit schedule extension is documented and mutually confirmed within the Platform’s in-app messaging system, the Buyer must complete the physical collection within seventy-two (72) consecutive hours of transaction payment confirmation.
2. Mutual Extension: If unforeseen circumstances arise (e.g., severe weather, transit disruptions, illness), the Seller may issue a formalized 48-hour deadline extension directly within their dashboard interface, or both parties may agree in platform writing.

Because inventory traded on this Platform consists of perishable live organisms (including worms, beneficial insects, micro-livestock, and live biological cultures) requiring continuous climate maintenance, aeration, feeding, and hydration, Sellers cannot hold inventory indefinitely without ongoing expense and mortality risk.

1. Unclaimed Designation: If a Buyer fails to complete the pickup within the standard 72-hour window (or any mutually extended deadline) and fails to maintain responsive communication, the Seller is entitled to flag the order as "Unclaimed."
2. Automatic Cancellation & Inventory Restock: Flagging an order as Unclaimed starts cancellation and refund processing. After a successful refund, the order is cancelled and the listing inventory is restored to the marketplace, subject to its existing listing approval and visibility status.
3. Apportionment of Funds (The 85/15 Rule):
   • Buyer Partial Refund: The Buyer will automatically receive an 85% partial refund returned to their original payment method, subject to successful payment processing.
   • Seller Husbandry & Holding Fee: The remaining 15% of the gross order value is retained for the Seller (less standard Platform processing fees) as a dedicated Livestock Holding and Restocking Fee. The original 5% Platform fee is retained, leaving the Seller 10% of the gross order value before any Stripe fees. This fee compensates the Seller for biological care, feed, substrate replenishment, and space allocation incurred during the waiting period.

If a Buyer attends the agreed handover venue within the valid pickup window but the Seller fails to appear, refuses inspection, or demands off-platform payment:

1. The Buyer must immediately file an official dispute via the "Report Issue → Pickup Dispute" workflow prior to deadline expiry.
2. Submission of a dispute places an immediate administrative hold on further automated holding fees, cancellations, and platform settlement actions. It cannot freeze funds already transferred or paid out by Stripe.
3. Platform moderators will audit available in-app chat logs, timestamps, and any relevant location evidence submitted. Where the Seller is found non-compliant, the full 100% transaction amount will be refunded to the Buyer, subject to payment processing, and the Seller’s listing privileges may be restricted.