Terms of Service

Effective Date: May 9, 2026

Effective Date: May 9, 2026

Welcome to Terminus Reef (“Terminus Reef,” “Platform,” “Marketplace,” “we,” “our,” or “us”). These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern access to and use of the Terminus Reef marketplace, including all related websites, services, listings, transactions, communications, and vendor tools.

By accessing or using Terminus Reef, you agree to these Terms.

1. Marketplace Role

Terminus Reef operates as a multi-vendor marketplace platform connecting independent buyers and sellers within the aquarium and reefing industry.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise:

  • Terminus Reef is not the direct seller of livestock or products listed by vendors
  • Vendors are independently responsible for inventory, fulfillment, packaging, livestock care, shipping practices, legality, and listing accuracy
  • Terminus Reef facilitates transactions, marketplace operations, and dispute resolution

2. Eligibility

Users must be at least 18 years old to create accounts, purchase products, sell products, or use the platform.

By using the platform, users represent that all information provided is accurate and truthful.

3. Vendor Responsibilities

Vendors using Terminus Reef agree to:

  • Provide accurate listings and descriptions
  • Maintain honest representation of livestock and products
  • Fulfill orders within stated handling times
  • Package livestock appropriately for safe transit
  • Communicate professionally with customers
  • Maintain compliance with applicable laws and regulations
  • Ship only legal and allowable livestock/products
  • Honor stated guarantees and policies

Vendors may not:

  • Manipulate pricing or marketplace systems
  • Circumvent marketplace fees through off-platform transactions initiated through Terminus Reef
  • Falsify tracking information
  • Misrepresent livestock health, lineage, rarity, or condition
  • Create fraudulent listings
  • Interfere with marketplace integrity
  • Terminus Reef reserves the right to suspend or permanently remove vendors for violations of marketplace standards.

4. Buyer Responsibilities

Buyers agree to:

  • Provide accurate shipping and payment information
  • Ensure someone is available to receive live shipments when applicable
  • Review vendor policies before purchase
  • Communicate respectfully with vendors and marketplace staff
  • Provide clear and timely evidence for disputes or DOA claims

Buyers may not:

  • Abuse refund systems
  • Falsely claim DOA or damaged shipments
  • Attempt chargeback fraud
  • Harass vendors or marketplace staff
  • Manipulate review systems
  • Intentionally damage, mishandle, or delay retrieval of livestock shipments

Terminus Reef reserves the right to suspend accounts involved in fraudulent or abusive behavior.

5. Live Arrival & Livestock Policies

Due to the nature of live animal shipments:

  • Vendors may establish individual Live Arrival Guarantee (“LAG”) policies
  • Buyers are responsible for reviewing vendor-specific policies before purchase
  • DOA claims may require timestamped photos or videos within specified claim windows
  • Claims submitted outside stated windows may be denied

Delayed shipments caused by carrier issues, weather events, rerouting, customer absence, incorrect addresses, or carrier holds may void guarantees depending on vendor policy Livestock outcomes may vary due to aquarium conditions outside vendor or marketplace control.

Terminus Reef reserves the right to review disputes and determine reasonable marketplace actions on a case-by-case basis.

6. Marketplace Fees & Payments

Terminus Reef may charge marketplace fees, commissions, processing fees, subscription fees, advertising fees, or vendor service fees.

By selling on the platform, vendors authorize Terminus Reef and its payment providers to:

  • Process transactions
  • Deduct applicable fees
  • Hold funds during dispute investigations when necessary
  • Issue refunds or adjustments where fraud, abuse, or policy violations are reasonably suspected

Attempts to intentionally bypass marketplace fees may result in account suspension or permanent removal.

7. Disputes & Chargebacks

Terminus Reef may investigate disputes between buyers and vendors. The platform reserves the right to:

  • Request evidence from both parties
  • Temporarily hold payouts during investigations
  • Reverse transactions where fraud or policy abuse is reasonably determined
  • Remove users engaged in abusive chargeback behavior

Buyers agree not to initiate fraudulent chargebacks.

Vendors agree to cooperate with reasonable marketplace investigations.

Repeated abuse of disputes, refunds, or chargebacks by either buyers or vendors may result in permanent removal from the platform.

8. Listing Accuracy & Marketplace Content

Vendors are solely responsible for listing accuracy, including:

  • Photos
  • Descriptions
  • Pricing
  • Availability
  • WYSIWYG representations
  • Livestock condition

Terminus Reef reserves the right to remove or modify listings that:

  • Violate marketplace policies
  • Contain misleading information
  • Use stolen or unauthorized content
  • Damage marketplace integrity

9. Prohibited Items & Activities

The following may not be listed, sold, or promoted on Terminus Reef:

  • Illegal wildlife or protected species
  • Counterfeit products
  • Stolen goods
  • Hazardous materials
  • Fraudulent listings
  • Fake reviews or manipulated ratings
  • Items prohibited by local, state, or federal law

Terminus Reef may remove prohibited content without notice.

10. Account Suspension & Termination

Terminus Reef reserves the right to:

  • Suspend accounts
  • Remove listings
  • Hold payouts during investigations
  • Permanently ban users or vendors
  • Refuse marketplace access

Actions may be taken where fraud, abuse, manipulation, harassment, policy violations, or marketplace integrity concerns are reasonably suspected.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

  • Terminus Reef is not liable for livestock loss, delayed shipments, aquarium losses, vendor conduct, or indirect damages arising from marketplace transactions

  • Users participate in transactions at their own risk

  • Marketplace services are provided “as is” without guarantees of uninterrupted operation

In no event shall Terminus Reef’s liability exceed the amount of marketplace fees collected from the transaction giving rise to the dispute.

12. Indemnification

Users and vendors agree to indemnify and hold harmless Terminus Reef, its owners, operators, affiliates, employees, and partners from claims, damages, disputes, liabilities, or expenses arising from:

  • Marketplace transactions
  • Violations of these Terms
  • Livestock losses
  • Vendor conduct
  • User misconduct
  • Legal or regulatory violations

13. Intellectual Property

Users retain ownership of content they submit but grant Terminus Reef a non-exclusive license to display, distribute, promote, and use marketplace content in connection with operating and marketing the platform.

14. Changes To These Terms

Terminus Reef may modify these Terms periodically.

Continued use of the platform after updates constitutes acceptance of revised Terms.

15. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by the laws of the State of Georgia, without regard to conflict of law principles.

16. Contact Information

Terminus Reef Acworth, Georgia support@terminusreef.com