Terms & Conditions And Safety Policy

By using City Discover Guide and Directified, you agree to our terms and conditions to help keep everyone safe. 

Please take the same common sense precautions online as you would offline.

When meeting someone for the first time, please remember to:

Insist on a public meeting place like a cafe, bank, or shopping center.

Do not meet in a secluded place, or invite strangers into your home.

Be especially careful buying/selling high value items. Tell a friend or family member where you’re going. Take your cell phone along if you have one. Consider having a friend accompany you.

Trust your instincts.

Taking these simple precautions helps make City Discover Guide & Directified safer for everyone.

For more information about personal safety online, check out these resources: 

http://www.staysafeonline.org/
http://www.onguardonline.gov/
http://getsafeonline.org
http://wiredsafety.org

Please review our avoiding scams disclaimer as well to make sure you are fully aware of all proper precautions that you should take.

We suggest following the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for how to stay healthy and help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) while buying and selling.

When buying and selling during this time, please follow local guidelines on physical distancing and staying home.

If you’re meeting someone in person, we recommend arranging your meeting in a public, well-lit area. Create and share your meeting plan with a trusted friend or family member through Messenger.

Learn more tips for meeting someone in person from Marketplace.

The overwhelming majority of City Discover Guide & Directified users are trustworthy and well-meaning, BUT IT IS ALWAYS SAFER TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY.

Avoiding Scams

Deal locally, face-to-face —follow this one rule and avoid 99% of scam attempts.
Do not provide payment to anyone you have not met in person.

Beware offers involving shipping – deal with locals you can meet in person.

Never wire funds (e.g. Western Union) – anyone who asks you to is a scammer.

Don’t accept cashier/certified checks or money orders – banks cash fakes, then hold you responsible.

Transactions are between users only, no third party provides a “guarantee”.
Never give out financial info (bank account, social security, paypal account, etc).
Do not rent or purchase sight-unseen—that amazing “deal” may not exist.
Refuse background/credit checks until you have met the landlord/employer in person.
Any message asking you to access or check If you are defrauded by someone you met in person, contact your local police department.

If you suspect that a City Discover Guide & Directified post may be connected to a scam, please send us the details at info@giveitforward.org.

Recognizing scams

Most scams attempts involve one or more of the following:

Email or text from someone that is not local to your area.

Vague initial inquiry, e.g. asking about “the item.” Poor grammar/spelling.
Western Union, Money Gram, cashier check, money order, Paypal, Zelle, shipping, escrow service, or a “guarantee.”

Inability or refusal to meet face-to-face to complete the transaction.

Examples of Scams

Someone claims your transaction is guaranteed, that a buyer/seller is officially certified, OR that a third party of any kind will handle or provide protection for a payment:

These claims are fraudulent, as transactions are between users only.

The scammer will often send an official looking (but fake) email that appears to come from City Discover Guide & Directified or another third party, offering a guarantee, certifying a seller, or pretending to handle payments.

Distant person offers a genuine-looking (but fake) cashier’s check:
You receive an email or text (examples below) offering to buy your item, pay for your services in advance, or rent your apartment, sight unseen and without meeting you in person.

A cashier’s check is offered for your sale item as a deposit for an apartment or for your services.

Value of the cashier’s check often far exceeds your item—the scammer offers to “trust” you, and asks you to wire the balance via money transfer service.

Banks will cash fake checks AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE CHECK FAILS TO CLEAR, sometimes including criminal prosecution.

Scams often pretend to involve a 3rd party (shipping agent, business associate, etc.).

Someone requests wire service payment via Western Union or MoneyGram:

Deal often seems too good to be true, price is too low, or rent is below market, etc.

Scam “bait” items include apartments, laptops, TVs, cell phones, tickets, other high value items.

Scammer may (falsely) claim a confirmation code from you is needed before he can withdraw your money.

Common countries currently include: Nigeria, Romania, UK, Netherlands—but could be anywhere.

Rental may be local, but the owner is “travelling” or “relocating” and needs you to wire money abroad.

Scammers may pretend to be unable to speak by phone (scammers prefer to operate by text/email).

Distant person offers to send you a cashier’s check or money order and then have you wire money:

This is ALWAYS a scam in our experience—the cashier’s check is FAKE.

Sometimes accompanies an offer of merchandise, sometimes not.

Scammers often ask for your name, address, etc. for printing on the fake check.
Deal often seems too good to be true.

Distant seller suggests use of an online escrow service:
Most online escrow sites are FRAUDULENT and operated by scammers.

For more info, do a google search on “fake escrow” or “escrow fraud.”

Distant seller asks for a partial payment upfront, after which they will ship goods:

He says he trusts you with the partial payment.

He may say he has already shipped the goods.

Deal often sounds too good to be true.

Foreign company offers you a job receiving payments from customers, then wiring funds:

Foreign companies may claim it is unable to receive payments from its customers directly.

You are typically offered a percentage of payments received.

This kind of “position” may be posted as a job, or offered to you via email.

Policy Rationale

To encourage safety and deter potentially harmful activities, we prohibit attempts by individuals, manufacturers, and retailers to purchase, sell, raffle, gift, transfer or trade certain goods and services on our City Discover Guide & Directified platform. Brick-and-mortar and online retailers may promote firearms, alcohol, and tobacco items available for sale off of our services; however, we restrict visibility of this content for minors. We allow discussions about the sale of these goods in stores or by online retailers, as well as advocating for changes to regulations of goods and services covered in this policy. 

Do not post the following or your profile/account will be removed:

Firearms
Content that:
Attempts to buy, sell, or trade, firearms, firearm parts, ammunition, explosives, or lethal enhancements. 

Attempts to donate or gift firearms, firearm parts, ammunition, explosives, or lethal enhancements.

Asks for firearms, firearm parts, ammunition, explosives, or lethal enhancements 

Sells, gifts, exchanges, transfers, coordinates, promotes (by which we mean speaks positively about, encourages the use of) or provides access to 3D printing or computer-aided manufacturing instructions for firearms or firearms parts regardless of context or poster.

Non-medical drugs

Content that:

Attempts to buy, sell, trade, co-ordinate the trade of, donate, gift or asks for non-medical drugs.

Admits to buying, trading or co-ordinating the trade of non-medical drugs by the poster of the content by themselves or through others.

Coordinates or promotes (by which we mean speaks positively about, encourages the use of, or provides instructions to use or make) non-medical drugs. 

Pharmaceutical drugs

Content that:

Attempts to buy, sell or trade pharmaceutical drugs. except when: 

Listing the price of vaccines in an explicit education or discussion context.

Offering delivery when posted by legitimate healthcare e-commerce businesses.

Attempts to donate or gift pharmaceutical drugs

Asks for pharmaceutical drugs except when content discusses the affordability, accessibility or efficacy of pharmaceutical drugs in a medical context. 

Marijuana

Content that attempts to buy, sell, trade, donate or gift or asks for marijuana. 

Endangered species (wildlife and plants):

Content that:

Attempts to buy, sell, trade, donate,or gift or ask for endangered species or their parts.

Admits to poaching, buying or trading of endangered species or their parts committed by the poster of the content either by themselves or their associates through others. This does not include depictions of poaching by strangers.

Depicts poaching of endangered species or their parts committed by the poster of the content by themselves or their associates.

Shows coordination or promotion (by which we mean speaks positively about, encourages the poaching of, or provides instructions to use or make products from endangered species or their parts)

Human blood

Content that attempts to buy, sell or trade human blood.

Content that asks for human blood.

Alcohol / tobacco

Content that:

• Attempts to buy, sell or trade alcohol or tobacco except when:  
  
• Posted by a City Discover Guide profile representing legitimate brick-and-mortar entities, including retail businesses, websites or brands, or a private individual sharing content on behalf of legitimate brick-and-mortar entities.
  
• 
  
• Content refers to alcohol/tobacco that will be exchanged or consumed on location at an event, restaurant, bar, party and so on.
  
• 
  
• Attempts to donate or gift alcohol or tobacco except when posted by a City Discover Guide profile representing legitimate brick-and-mortar entities, including retail businesses, websites or brands, or a private individual sharing content on behalf of legitimate brick-and-mortar entities.
  
• 
  
• Asks for alcohol or tobacco
  

Sex toys 

Sexual enhancement products 

Sexually oriented adult products such as pornography, or used or worn underwear 

Images of nudity including partial child nudity, even if not sexual in nature.

Weight loss products
Content about weight loss that contains a miracle claim and attempts to buy, sell, trade, donate or gift weight loss products. 

Historical artifacts

Content that attempts to buy, sell, trade, donate or gift or asks for historical artifacts.

Except when any of the above occurs in a fictional or documentary context 

Hazardous Goods and Materials.

Content that attempts to buy, sell, trade, donate or gift or asks for hazardous goods and materials Except when any of the above occurs in a fictional or documentary context

Prohibited

Users must comply with all applicable laws, City Discover Guide terms and all posted site rules.

Here is a partial list of goods, services, and content prohibited on City Discover Guide:

weapons; firearms/guns and components; BB/pellet, stun, and spear guns; etc

ammunition, clips, cartridges, reloading materials, gunpowder, fireworks, explosives

offers, solicitation, or facilitation of illegal prostitution and/or sex trafficking

exploitation or endangerment of minors; child pornography

recalled items; hazardous materials; body parts/fluids; unsanitized bedding/clothing

prescription drugs, medical devices; controlled substances and related items

alcohol or tobacco; unpackaged or adulterated food or cosmetics

endangered, imperiled and/or protected species and any parts thereof, e.g. ivory

false, misleading, deceptive, or fraudulent content; bait and switch; keyword spam

offensive, obscene, defamatory, threatening, or malicious postings or email

anyone’s personal, identifying, confidential or proprietary information

food stamps, WIC vouchers, SNAP or WIC goods, governmental assistance

stolen property, property with serial number removed/altered, burglary tools, etc

ID cards, licenses, police insignia, government documents, birth certificates, etc

US military items not demilitarized in accord with Defense Department policy

counterfeit, replica, or pirated items; tickets or gift cards that restrict transfer

lottery or raffle tickets, sweepstakes entries, slot machines, gambling items

spam; miscategorized, overposted, cross-posted, or nonlocal content

postings or email the primary purpose of which is to drive traffic to a website

postings or email offering, promoting, or linking to unsolicited products or services

affiliate marketing; network, or multi-level marketing; pyramid schemes

any good, service, or content that violates the law or legal rights of others!

Please don’t use City Discover Guide for these purposes, and EMAIL US AT INFO@CITYDISCOVERGUIDE.COM If you see doing so.

Discrimination Policy

City Discover Guide commerce threads, listings and posts, must not wrongfully discriminate or suggest a preference for or against people because of a personal characteristic, included but not limited to, race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family status, marital status, disability, or medical or genetic condition. Listings must comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination. This includes but is not limited to discrimination for housing listings.

WE DO NOT ALLOW

“Only looking for Christian renters” 

“Must be under age 35 to purchase” 

“No Hispanic tenants welcome”

DISCLAIMER & LIABILITY. 

To the full extent permitted by law, City Discover Guide, Directified, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, affiliates, and successors in interest (City Discover Guide  Entities”) (1) make no promises, warranties, or representations as to City Discover Guide, including its completeness, accuracy, availability, timeliness, propriety, security or reliability; (2) provide City Discover Guide on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis and any risk of using  City Discover Guide is assumed by you; (3) disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including as to accuracy, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement, and all warranties arising from course of dealing, usage, or trade practice; and (4) disclaim any liability or responsibility for acts, omissions, or conduct of you or any party in connection with City Discover Guide. City Discover Guide Entities are NOT liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, incidental, special, punitive, or other losses, including lost profits, revenues, data, goodwill, etc., arising from or related to City Discover Guide, and in no event shall such liability exceed $100 or the amount you paid us in the year preceding such loss. Some jurisdictions restrict or alter these disclaimers and limits, so some may not apply to you.

FEES. When you make a paid posting on City Discover Guide, you authorize us to charge your account. Any tax is additional. Fees are non-refundable, even for posts we remove, delay, omit, re-categorize, re-rank, or otherwise moderate. We reserve the right to refuse any posting.

City Discover Guide Business Directory Disclaimer

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS CONCERNING USE OF THIS DIRECTORY AND WEBSITE.

All users of this DIRECTORY and WEBSITE AGREE that access to and use of this directory and site are subject to the following terms and conditions and other applicable laws. If you do not agree to be bound by these terms and conditions, please do not use this directory and site.

Your listings and content

You grant us certain permissions to use your listings and content. We may display product or service listings shared by you or on your behalf (each a “Product Listing”) on City Discover Guide. You grant us a non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to host, use, distribute, modify, run, copy, publicly perform, make available, display, translate, and create derivative works of the Product Listings and any other content, data, or information shared by you or on your behalf or accessed by us in connection with the Commerce Features, including photos and videos (together with Product Listings, your “Seller Content”), in connection with City Discover Guide. You represent and warrant that you have all necessary rights in Seller Content to grant us the licenses and rights set forth in these Seller Terms.

You are responsible for your listings and content. Even if we host and display your Seller Content on City Discover Guide, you are solely responsible for the contents of your Seller Content. You must ensure that all Seller Content is true, accurate and complete at all times, including without limitation the description, price, applicable taxes or fees, shipping information, required legal disclosures and other advertisement, offer or promotional content. You are solely responsible for setting the price of products or services you offer. If we provide guidance regarding a suggested price for products or services you offer, such guidance is informational only and the decision to accept or reject such guidance is solely yours.

You must ensure that your Product Listing provides Users with the terms, conditions and policies that apply to the transaction for that product. You are responsible for displaying, keeping up to date and honoring any sales, returns and/or privacy policies and all other relevant terms or information or disclosures related to your Product Listings that you want to apply to your interactions with Users or that are otherwise required by law. Any such terms, information, or disclosures do not bind us and must not conflict with these Seller Terms or our other applicable terms and policies.
You are responsible for applicable taxes relating to your listings and content. Even if we host and display your Seller Content on City Discover Guide, you are the seller of record and agree to comply with all applicable tax laws and ordinances. Except as otherwise provided in the Payment Terms, you are solely responsible for all determinations, calculations, collections, withholdings, reporting, and remittance of applicable taxes, duties, fees, surcharges and additional charges (“Taxes & Fees”) for sales that result from your use of Commerce Features. You are solely liable for all liabilities, including without limitation, any penalties or interest, taxing jurisdictions may assess as a result of the under remittance or non-remittance of any Taxes & Fees imposed on your products or services. You agree to not hold City Discover Guide liable for any fraud, scams, disgruntled customer or injury of any kind.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
City Discover Guide Business Directory provides to our members, website visitors, and the public a listing of businesses and services provided by members of City Discover Guide as well as other businesses available in our community and around the world
.
THE DIRECTORY IS A LISTING ONLY and in no way constitutes endorsement or promotion –direct or implied– of any of the businesses or services listed herein but is merely a collection of information made available to the public.

You FULLY UNDERSTAND and AGREE that City Discover Guide IS NOT responsible for, neither investigate, nor endorse the accuracy, legality, or reliability of any of the business listings, products, services, ratings, promotions listed on this website, distributed through this website, linked, or in any way accessed from this website.

You understand and AGREE that City Discover Guide WILL NOT be responsible or liable for any of your business dealings with businesses listed in the directory. This includes payment and delivery of goods, services, promotions, warranties, promises, and agreements. You agree that City Discover Guide shall not be responsible or liable for any loss or damage of any kind resulting from any such dealings with businesses listed on this directory or website.

You AGREE that all such dealings are between you and the chosen business/individual seller you wish to conduct your business transactions with.

Meet In A Public Place when buying and selling

When possible, meet to exchange goods in a public place. The parking lots of busy gas stations, malls, or grocery stores can be great places to meet to exchange goods. The more you can be in view of others, the better.

Coordinate with the other person in advance to determine exactly where you will meet, what type of car they are driving, and other identifiable details so you can arrive knowing what to expect.

Consider The Credibility and Legitimacy of the Listing.

Be thoughtful about the nature of the items being listed; consider if it sounds reasonable and practical. If the listing sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If the price is significantly lower than similar items of the same nature (especially large purchases like used vehicles), it’s probably not legitimate.

If you see a car for sale listed in many different and disparate geographic areas, that’s probably a fraudulent post. They’ll ask for your money and never deliver the car. And they’re probably trying to “sell” it to people in a lot of other places as well.

City Discover Guide & Directified Marketplace, listing and directory website Conditions of Business for Buyers and sellers

THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS, AS WELL AS CONDITIONS, LIMITATIONS, AND EXCLUSIONS THAT APPLY TO YOU. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY.

YOU ACCEPT AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE City Discover Guide CONDITIONS, THE WEBSITE TERMS OF USE LOCATED ON CityDiscoverGuide.COM, AND OUR PRIVACY POLICY (COLLECTIVELY, THE “PURCHASE TERMS”), AND YOU REPRESENT THAT (A) YOUR PURCHASE AND USE OF PRODUCTS MADE AVAILABLE ON THE DIGITAL PLATFORM WILL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PURCHASE TERMS AND ALL APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS AND (B) YOU ARE OF LEGAL AGE TO ENTER INTO A BINDING CONTRACT. If you do not agree to the Purchase Terms, you may not purchase products on the City Discover Guide website. Thanks for helping to keep City Discover Guide safe and useful for everyone.