Useful Economy — Terms of Service

Last Updated: March 14, 2026

1. About Our Service

Useful Economy (“we,” “us,” or “our”) operates a product discovery and search platform that helps consumers find products available at local retail stores. We index publicly available product information from retail websites and display search results, including small thumbnail images, to help users discover nearby stores that carry the products they are looking for.

We are not a retailer. We do not manufacture, sell, warehouse, ship, or guarantee any products displayed on our platform. Product information for non-participating stores is collected from publicly available sources and may not be current, complete, or accurate. For up-to-date product information, users should visit the retailer’s website directly.

2. How the Service Works

Search and Discovery

We index publicly available product data from retail websites, including product names, prices, availability, and small thumbnail representations of product images. This information is displayed in search results to help users discover which local stores carry the products they need. We provide links to the original retailer’s website for full product details and purchasing.

Participating Retailers

Retailers may voluntarily claim their store listing by creating an account. Participating Retailers can manage their product data, upload images, set prices, and optionally enable online checkout. When online checkout is enabled, transactions are processed directly by the retailer through Stripe, Inc. The retailer is the merchant of record for all transactions. Useful Economy facilitates the connection between buyers and participating retailers but is not a party to any sale.

3. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using our Service, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Service. We may update these Terms from time to time. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

4. User Accounts

You may browse and search without an account. If you create an account, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your credentials and for all activities under your account. You must provide accurate information.

5. Product Information Disclaimer

Product information for non-participating stores is sourced from publicly available retail websites through automated indexing, similar to how web search engines index publicly available web pages. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of this information. Prices, availability, images, and product details may have changed since our last index update.

Thumbnail images displayed for indexed products are small, reduced-resolution representations intended to aid in product identification and search. They are not intended to replace the retailer’s product photography. For full-quality images and complete product information, please visit the retailer’s website using the links provided.

Useful Economy is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any retailer whose products appear in our search index, unless that retailer has voluntarily claimed their store listing and is identified as a Participating Retailer.

6. Purchases from Participating Retailers

When you purchase a product from a Participating Retailer through our platform:

  • The transaction is directly between you and the retailer.
  • The retailer is the merchant of record.
  • The retailer’s name will appear on your payment statement.
  • The retailer is solely responsible for product quality, accuracy, legal compliance, order fulfillment, customer service, returns, exchanges, and refunds.

Useful Economy charges the retailer a service fee on transactions processed through our platform. This fee does not increase the price you pay. Payments are processed by Stripe, Inc. By making a purchase, you also agree to Stripe’s terms of service.

7. Participating Retailer Terms

If you claim a store listing, you additionally agree:

  • You have the legal right to sell the products you list and all information you provide is accurate.
  • You are solely responsible for fulfilling orders, customer service, returns, and resolving disputes.
  • You grant Useful Economy a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to display product information and images you upload for operating the platform.
  • You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Useful Economy against any claims arising from products you sell, product defects, non-delivery, misrepresentation, or violations of law.
  • We charge a service fee (currently 10%) on transactions, which may change with 30 days’ notice.
  • You may remove your listing at any time through account settings or by contacting us.

8. Intellectual Property

We index publicly available product data for search and discovery purposes. We respect intellectual property rights and provide mechanisms for content removal:

  • DMCA Takedown: If you believe copyrighted material on our platform constitutes infringement, see our Copyright and Takedown Policy at usefuleconomy.com/takedown.
  • Retailer Opt-Out: Retailers may request removal from our index via our opt-out process at usefuleconomy.com/opt-out, by adding appropriate robots.txt directives, or by emailing takedown@usefuleconomy.com.

9. Prohibited Uses

  • Using the Service for any unlawful purpose
  • Attempting to gain unauthorized access to accounts or systems
  • Interfering with or disrupting the Service
  • Using automated means to access the Service beyond reasonable use
  • Uploading malicious code or harmful content
  • Misrepresenting your identity or affiliation

10. Disclaimers

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE. WE DO NOT GUARANTEE THE QUALITY, SAFETY, LEGALITY, OR ACCURACY OF ANY PRODUCTS OR PRODUCT INFORMATION.

11. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, USEFUL ECONOMY’S TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING FROM THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS ($100) OR (B) THE TOTAL FEES YOU HAVE PAID TO US IN THE TWELVE MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM. IN NO EVENT SHALL WE BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Useful Economy and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, losses, damages, liabilities, and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) arising from your use of the Service, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of third-party rights.

13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. Any legal action arising from these Terms shall be brought in the state or federal courts located in the State of Delaware, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts. This clause applies to disputes between you and Useful Economy regarding these Terms or the Service; it does not limit the rights of third parties who are not bound by these Terms.

14. Privacy

Your use of the Service is also governed by our Privacy Policy at usefuleconomy.com/privacy-policy.

15. Changes

We may update these Terms. We will notify registered users of material changes. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

16. Data Sources and Attributions

Store location data used in our Service is sourced from the Foursquare Open Source Places dataset, licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. Full attribution details, including the required Foursquare NOTICE text and a copy of the Apache 2.0 license, are available on our Attributions page at usefuleconomy.com/attributions.

17. Contact

Questions about these Terms: legal@usefuleconomy.com