Linn County Market
Estates

Acceptable Use Policy

Linn County Market

Effective Date: [INSERT DATE] Last Updated: [INSERT DATE]

A marketplace is only as trustworthy as the conduct it tolerates. This Acceptable Use Policy (“AUP”) sets the floor.

This AUP supplements and is incorporated into our Terms of Service. Violation may result in listing removal, account suspension, account termination, fee reversal, forfeiture of pending payouts, and referral to law enforcement.

1. Prohibited Conduct

You may not, and may not permit others to:

  • Violate any applicable federal, state, or local law;
  • Misrepresent your identity, your authority to sell, or any item’s condition, provenance, authenticity, or attributes;
  • Engage in shill bidding (bidding on your own listings, directly or through proxies, family members, or affiliated accounts);
  • Bid retract or bid shield in bad faith;
  • Circumvent fees by directing transactions off-platform;
  • Manipulate feedback or reviews (buying, selling, or coordinating reviews; coercing reviews; submitting false reviews);
  • Harass, threaten, defame, dox, or discriminate against any user;
  • Use the Platform to launder money, evade sanctions, or finance illegal activity;
  • Engage in stalking, soliciting minors, or any sexual conduct involving minors;
  • Scrape, crawl, harvest, or systematically extract data except through our published API on its posted terms;
  • Reverse-engineer or attempt to bypass Platform security, rate limits, or access controls;
  • Upload malware, viruses, or any code designed to disrupt or impair the Platform.

2. Prohibited Items

The following items may not be listed. This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. We reserve the right to remove any listing in our sole discretion.

2.1 Items Categorically Prohibited

  • Firearms, ammunition, and certain weapons, including but not limited to handguns, long guns, suppressors, automatic weapons, conversion devices, and “ghost gun” parts kits — even where federal law would permit private sale, our Platform does not facilitate firearm transactions;
  • Explosives, fireworks, and incendiary devices other than legal consumer fireworks in compliance with Iowa Code Chapter 727 (case-by-case approval required);
  • Illegal drugs, controlled substances, and drug paraphernalia;
  • Prescription medications, prescription medical devices, and human or animal tissue;
  • Tobacco, e-cigarettes, vape products, and CBD/THC products sold in violation of state or federal law;
  • Alcohol (we are not a licensed alcohol retailer);
  • Stolen property or property with unclear title;
  • Counterfeit goods, replicas presented as authentic, or items infringing trademarks, copyrights, or rights of publicity;
  • Currency, financial instruments, gift cards in bulk, and cryptocurrency or NFTs purporting to represent securities;
  • Human remains, body parts, and Native American cultural artifacts subject to NAGPRA;
  • Live animals (rehoming through this Platform is not permitted; see Section 2.3 for narrow agricultural exceptions);
  • Hazardous materials as classified by 49 C.F.R. § 173;
  • Personal data, mailing lists, or items whose primary purpose is identity theft or fraud;
  • Recalled products listed on the CPSC database (https://www.cpsc.gov/recalls);
  • Anything whose sale is restricted by state or federal sanctions (OFAC SDN List).

2.2 Items Requiring Special Compliance

The following may be listed only with explicit pre-approval and additional documentation:

  • Motor vehicles, watercraft, aircraft, and recreational vehicles — title transfer must comply with Iowa Department of Transportation rules; vehicle dealers may require a separate Iowa DOT license;
  • Real estate — must comply with Iowa Code Chapter 543B (real estate license law); we do not currently support real estate listings absent licensed broker involvement;
  • Livestock and agricultural products — must comply with Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship rules; specific municipalities may require auctioneer permits for livestock;
  • High-value items ($10,000+) — additional seller verification required;
  • Items requiring proof of authenticity (luxury goods, autographs, collectibles over $500) — sellers must furnish provenance documentation upon request.

2.3 Narrow Exceptions

We may, in our sole discretion and on a case-by-case basis, permit categories otherwise restricted in this AUP for vetted partners (e.g., a licensed federal firearms dealer using the Platform solely to advertise inventory transferred at the dealer’s FFL location). Such exceptions require a written addendum and are not granted in the ordinary course.

3. INFORM Consumers Act Compliance

Sellers meeting the federal INFORM Consumers Act definition of “high-volume third-party seller” — generally 200+ transactions of new or unused consumer products totaling $5,000+ in gross revenue within a continuous 12-month period — must complete additional verification and consent to certain disclosures to buyers, including business name, address, contact information, and (where applicable) tax identification. See our separate INFORM Consumers Disclosure.

4. Enforcement

We may, without notice and at our discretion:

  • Remove listings;
  • Suspend or terminate accounts;
  • Reverse fees or freeze pending payouts;
  • Withhold or recoup funds reasonably believed to have been obtained through prohibited conduct;
  • Cooperate with and disclose information to law enforcement.

Termination for AUP violation does not relieve a user of obligations incurred prior to termination, including fees owed, indemnification, and pending dispute resolution.

5. Reporting

Suspected violations may be reported to trust@linncountymarket.com. We do not guarantee that we will act on every report, but every report is reviewed.

6. Changes

We may revise this AUP at any time. The “Last Updated” date reflects the most recent change.