Introduction

This User Agreement supplements our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and establishes specific guidelines for users of the Hipop Markets platform. By using Hipop, you agree to comply with this Agreement and maintain the integrity of our marketplace community.

Community Guidelines

Hipop Markets connects vendors, organizers, and shoppers in a professional marketplace environment. Please follow these guidelines:

Respectful Communication

Treat all users with respect and professionalism
Use appropriate language in all communications
Respond to messages, applications, and inquiries promptly
Provide constructive feedback when reviewing applications or vendors
Resolve conflicts professionally and amicably

Honest and Accurate Information

Provide truthful information in your profile and listings
Update information when circumstances change
Do not misrepresent products, services, or business credentials
Include accurate market schedules, locations, and pricing
Disclose any relevant limitations or restrictions

Professional Conduct

Honor commitments made through the platform
Communicate changes or issues promptly
Maintain appropriate business practices and ethics
Follow through on ticket sales and event obligations
Respect payment terms and subscription agreements

Vendor Responsibilities

Business Operations

Maintain all required business licenses and permits
Comply with local health, safety, and business regulations
Follow food safety guidelines (for food vendors)
Maintain appropriate business insurance
Pay all applicable taxes and fees
Connect Stripe account for payment processing (required for premium features)

Market Participation

Attend markets as scheduled and committed
Notify organizers 48+ hours in advance of cancellations
Follow market rules and setup/breakdown schedules
Pay market fees and application fees promptly
Maintain subscription if using premium features
Fulfill product orders and popup event commitments

Product Standards

Accurately represent products and their origins
Maintain quality standards for all offerings
Honor posted prices and availability
Process orders and payments securely
Provide customer service for your products

Market Organizer Responsibilities

Market Management

Maintain all required permits and insurance for operating markets
Establish and enforce clear market rules and guidelines
Provide adequate facilities and infrastructure for vendors
Ensure compliance with local regulations and zoning
Maintain a safe environment for vendors and customers
Connect Stripe account for ticket sales and payouts

Vendor Relations

Review vendor applications fairly and within 5 business days
Communicate market rules and expectations clearly
Provide reasonable notice (minimum 7 days) for policy changes
Handle vendor concerns professionally and promptly
Maintain consistent enforcement of market rules
Process application fees and booth payments accurately

Event and Ticket Management

Keep event schedules and location information current
Process ticket sales professionally and securely
Honor all ticket purchases unless event is cancelled
Provide full refunds for cancelled events within 7 days
Communicate event changes to ticket holders immediately
Maintain capacity limits and ticket availability accuracy

Shopper Guidelines

Respect vendors, organizers, and their products
Follow market rules and guidelines
Be considerate of other shoppers and market participants
Complete ticket purchases honestly (no fraudulent chargebacks)
Report issues or concerns to appropriate parties
Support local vendors and the marketplace community
Provide honest reviews and ratings

Application and Booking Process

For Vendors

Complete vendor profile thoroughly before applying
Submit accurate availability and operating day preferences
Pay application fees promptly (5-6% platform fee applies)
Wait for organizer approval before confirming attendance
Honor commitments made in applications
Notify organizers immediately of any changes

For Market Organizers

Review applications within 5 business days
Provide clear approval or rejection feedback
Follow your stated market criteria consistently
Create custom application forms for your market needs
Set fair and transparent booth fees

Payment and Subscription Terms

Subscription Billing

Vendor Premium: $29/month (billed automatically)
Organizer Premium: $69/month (billed automatically)
7-day free trial for new premium subscribers
Cancel anytime - takes effect at end of billing period
No refunds for partial months
Failed payments result in service suspension after 3 days

Platform Fees

Event ticket sales: 5-6% platform fee
Market application fees: 5% platform fee
Vendor/organizer payouts processed via Stripe Connect
Payment processing fees (Stripe) apply separately
Refunds for cancelled events processed within 7 days

Prohibited Activities

The following activities are strictly prohibited:

Creating fake or misleading profiles
Submitting fraudulent applications or bookings
Harassment, discrimination, or abusive behavior
Spam, unsolicited messages, or promotional abuse
Attempting to circumvent payment processing or fees
Sharing account credentials or subscription access
Using the platform for illegal activities
Infringing on intellectual property rights
Fraudulent chargebacks or payment disputes
Scraping, automated access, or data harvesting

Content Standards

All content shared on Hipop Markets must:

Be accurate, truthful, and not misleading
Be appropriate for all audiences (family-friendly)
Not contain offensive, discriminatory, or harmful language
Not infringe on copyrights, trademarks, or IP rights
Include only content you have rights to share
Be relevant to local markets, events, and products
Comply with advertising and marketing regulations

Dispute Resolution

If disputes arise between users:

Attempt to resolve directly and professionally with the other party
Contact Hipop support at hipopmarkets@gmail.com if direct resolution fails
Provide all relevant information, documentation, and evidence
Cooperate with investigation or mediation processes
Accept that Hipop has final discretion in dispute resolution
Note: Chargebacks may result in account suspension pending investigation

Reviews and Ratings

Reviews must be honest, fair, and based on actual experiences
Do not post fake, misleading, or malicious reviews
Do not manipulate ratings or reviews (yours or others')
Vendors may respond to reviews professionally
Inappropriate reviews may be removed after investigation

Platform Integrity

To maintain platform integrity:

Report suspicious or inappropriate behavior immediately
Do not attempt to manipulate search rankings or visibility
Use the platform only for its intended marketplace purposes
Respect privacy and data of other users
Comply with all applicable laws and regulations
Participate in good faith and support the community

Enforcement

Violations may result in:

Warning or educational communication
Temporary restriction of account features or premium access
Suspension of account access (7-30 days)
Permanent termination of account and subscription
Withholding of payments or refunds pending investigation
Reporting to appropriate authorities for illegal activity
Legal action for fraud or significant violations

Updates to This Agreement

We may update this User Agreement to reflect platform changes, legal requirements, or community needs. Significant changes will be communicated via email or in-app notification with 30 days notice. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

Contact and Support

For questions about this Agreement or to report violations:

Email: hipopmarkets@gmail.com

Subject Line: User Agreement Inquiry or Violation Report

Response Time: Within 48 hours for general inquiries, within 24 hours for urgent issues

Acknowledgment

By using Hipop Markets, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this User Agreement, along with our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. This Agreement helps ensure that Hipop Markets remains a positive, professional, and productive platform for all members of the marketplace community.