Terms of Service

1. About This Platform

Your Auction Place (referred to as "YAP", "the Platform", "we", or "us") is an online auction marketplace operating in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada. YAP provides a platform where registered users can list items for auction and place bids. YAP is not a buyer, seller, or party to any transaction between users.

2. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account on Your Auction Place, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service in full. If you do not agree, do not use this platform.

3. Eligibility

You must be 18 years of age or older to use YAP. By registering, you confirm that the information you provide is accurate and complete. YAP reserves the right to refuse service or terminate accounts at its sole discretion.

4. How Auctions Work

Sellers list items with a starting bid, an optional reserve price (hidden from buyers), and a duration. Once launched, an auction goes live immediately. Buyers place bids during the active period. When the auction ends, the highest bidder wins — provided the reserve price has been met, if one was set.

Anti-snipe protection is in place: any bid placed in the final 2 minutes of an auction automatically extends the auction by 2 additional minutes, giving other bidders a fair opportunity to respond.

Proxy bidding allows buyers to set a maximum bid amount. The system will automatically bid on their behalf up to that maximum.

5. Platform Fee

When a buyer wins an auction, a 12% platform fee is charged to the winning bidder's card on file. This fee is charged automatically when the auction closes and is applied to the final winning bid amount.

The platform fee is non-refundable under all circumstances, including but not limited to: the buyer declining to complete the pickup, a disagreement over the item's condition, a change of mind, or any dispute between buyer and seller. By placing a bid, the buyer acknowledges and accepts this fee unconditionally.

The platform fee is separate from the item purchase price. The winning bidder pays the seller directly for the item (cash, e-transfer, or any method agreed upon between the parties). YAP does not handle or process item payments.

Example: If you win an auction at $200.00, your card will be charged a $24.00 platform fee. You pay the seller $200.00 directly at pickup.

6. Buyer Responsibilities

By placing a bid, you enter into a binding commitment to purchase the item at your bid price if you win the auction and the reserve is met. You are expected to:

• Review all photos, videos, and item descriptions thoroughly before bidding.
• Arrange and complete local pickup within a reasonable timeframe after the auction ends.
• Pay the seller directly for the item at the time of pickup.
• Maintain a payment method on file for bidder verification and platform fee collection.

Items are sold as-is. YAP makes no representations or warranties regarding the condition, accuracy of descriptions, or fitness for purpose of any listed item. Buyers are responsible for inspecting items to their own satisfaction prior to completing payment to the seller.

If a buyer wins an auction and fails to complete the pickup or payment to the seller, their account may be suspended or permanently banned.

7. Seller Responsibilities

By listing an item, you represent that you own the item (or have the legal right to sell it), that your description and photos are accurate and not misleading, and that you will honour the auction result if the reserve price is met. You are expected to:

• Respond promptly to the winning buyer to arrange pickup.
• Have the item available and ready for pickup as described.
• Not withdraw or cancel a listing once bids have been placed.

If a seller fails to complete a transaction after a successful auction, their account may be suspended or permanently banned.

8. Prohibited Items and Conduct

The following are strictly prohibited on YAP:

• Illegal items, stolen goods, counterfeit products, or items that infringe on intellectual property rights.
• Weapons, firearms, ammunition, or controlled substances.
• Adult content or items that are harmful to minors.
• Misleading listings, shill bidding (bidding on your own listing), or any form of auction manipulation.
• Creating multiple accounts to circumvent a suspension or ban.
• Harassing, threatening, or abusing other users.

YAP reserves the right to remove any listing and take action against any account that violates these terms, at our sole discretion and without prior notice.

9. Bidder Verification

To place bids, users must complete bidder verification by adding a valid payment method. A temporary $5.00 authorization hold is placed on the card to confirm its validity. This hold is released immediately and you are not charged. Maintaining an active, valid payment method on file is required to remain a verified bidder.

10. Transactions and Disputes

All transactions, including item handoff, condition verification, and payment to the seller, occur directly between buyer and seller. YAP is not a party to any agreement between users and does not mediate, arbitrate, or take responsibility for the outcome of any transaction.

If a dispute arises between a buyer and seller, the parties are responsible for resolving it between themselves. YAP may, at its discretion, review reported conduct and take platform-level action (such as account suspension) but is not obligated to do so and does not guarantee any specific outcome.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, YAP and its operators shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the platform, including but not limited to: loss of funds, property damage, personal injury, failed transactions, item condition disputes, or any other interaction between users.

YAP provides the platform on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation of the platform.

12. Account Suspension and Termination

YAP reserves the right to suspend or permanently ban any user account at any time for any violation of these terms, or for conduct that YAP determines to be harmful to the platform or its users. Banned users forfeit any platform fees already charged. No refund of platform fees will be issued as a result of account suspension or termination.

13. Local Pickup Only

YAP operates exclusively as a local auction platform serving Simcoe County, Ontario. All transactions require in-person local pickup. YAP does not facilitate, arrange, or take any responsibility for shipping, delivery, or cross-border transactions. Any arrangement involving shipping is entirely at the risk of the parties involved and outside the scope of YAP's platform.

14. Privacy

Contact information (phone number and email) is only shared between a buyer and seller after an auction closes with a winning bid. This information is provided by users at registration and is used solely to facilitate the exchange. YAP does not sell or share user data with third parties for marketing purposes.

Payment information is handled exclusively by Stripe. YAP does not store card numbers or payment credentials on its servers.

15. Changes to These Terms

YAP may update these Terms of Service at any time. Continued use of the platform following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms. We recommend checking this page periodically.

16. Contact

For questions or concerns regarding these terms, use the Contact Us page.