Terms of Service

What Givolve is, and is not

Givolve is a place where neighbours ask for things they need and pass on things they no longer use. Everything on Givolve is free.

We are a connector, not a guarantor. We run the platform and we remove listings that break these terms. We are not part of the exchange itself. We never take possession of an item, we never inspect one, and we are not present when it changes hands.

Who can use it

You must be at least 18 years old. Givolve is currently for people in Canada.

One account per person. Do not create extra accounts to get around a removal or a limit.

Items are passed on as-is

This is the most important thing on this page.

When you receive something through Givolve, you take it as it is. There is no warranty of any kind, from the person giving it or from us. We do not check that an item works, that it is safe, that it is clean, or that it is what the listing says it is.

If you are giving something away, describe it honestly, including anything broken or worn. If you are receiving something, look at it before you take it home.

Things you cannot post

Some items are illegal to pass on in Canada, even for free. Canadian product safety law applies to used items and to items given away at no cost.

Others we do not allow because nobody can check them safely online.

Our prohibited items page lists both, and the posting form will tell you if something you are describing is not allowed. Trying to work around that check is a breach of these terms.

Also do not post anything that is stolen, counterfeit, recalled, or that you do not have the right to give away.

Your photos and your words

What you post stays yours. You keep every right you already had in your photos and your descriptions.

To show your listing to other people, we need your permission to use it. By posting, you give us permission to store, display, resize and copy your photos and text for the purpose of running Givolve. That includes showing your listing in search results, in our feeds, and in the preview image that appears when someone shares a link to it.

This permission covers nothing else. We do not sell your photos, licence them to anyone else, or use them in advertising. It lasts while your listing is up and ends when you delete it, except for copies already made by other people or held in caches outside our control.

Only post photos you took or have the right to use. If you post someone else's photo without permission, we will remove it.

If you think content infringes your rights

If something on Givolve uses your copyrighted work without permission, email support@givolve.ca with a link to the listing, a description of the work, and a statement that you own it or act for the owner. We will look into it and remove content where the claim holds up.

Meeting in person

Handovers happen between you and the other person, at a time and place you arrange. Givolve is not there and is not responsible for what happens.

Some sensible things to do:

• Arrange it through Givolve rather than giving out a phone number
• Meet in daylight, and in a public place if you prefer
• Tell someone where you are going
• Stop if something feels wrong. You never owe anyone a handover

If someone does not turn up, or behaves badly, report them. We will look at it.

How you should behave

Describe things honestly. Turn up when you say you will, or tell the other person you cannot. Do not claim items you do not intend to collect. Treat people the way you would want to be treated at your own front door.

Do not use Givolve to sell anything, to advertise, to harass anyone, or to collect personal information about other members.

Removing listings and accounts

We may remove a listing or suspend an account that breaks these terms. If we remove something of yours, we will tell you why.

You can ask us to delete your account at any time by emailing support@givolve.ca.

If your account ends, for whatever reason, your access stops and your listings come down. The sections on liability, indemnity and governing law continue to apply afterwards.

Reports and disputes

If something goes wrong between you and another member, you can report it and we will look into it. We are not able to mediate disagreements about an item, because we were not there and we did not see it.

If you have a problem with Givolve itself, email support@givolve.ca first and we will try to sort it out. If we cannot, the courts of Ontario handle it, as set out below.

If something you do costs us

If we are sued or face a claim because of something you posted, something you did on Givolve, or a handover you took part in, you agree to cover our reasonable costs in dealing with it.

This does not apply where the problem was our fault.

Liability

Givolve is provided as-is. GIVOLVE is not liable for indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising from use of the platform, to the fullest extent the law allows.

That includes anything arising from an item you received, from a meeting arranged through Givolve, or from the conduct of another member.

Where liability cannot be excluded, it is limited to one hundred Canadian dollars.

Nothing here limits liability that cannot be limited by law.

Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of Ontario, Canada, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Any legal action relating to them will be brought in the courts located there.

The rest

If part of these terms turns out to be unenforceable, the rest still applies.

These terms, together with our Privacy Policy, are the whole agreement between you and us about Givolve.

If we do not enforce something straight away, we have not given up the right to enforce it later.

You cannot transfer your account or these terms to someone else. We may transfer them if Givolve changes hands, and we will tell you if that happens.

Changes

If we change these terms we will update the date at the top. If a change materially affects you, we will email you.

Contact

Questions? Email support@givolve.ca.