Member Accounts | Buying | Selling | Reporting Items | Communications | Feedback

We, the Admins of Art Garage Sale have created these rules for our marketplace and our community, with the aim of creating and maintaining harmony while encouraging the growth of our vision to fill the world with affordable fine art. Please read these rules with care. If you still have questions, check out the FAQ section.

General Site Usage

Art Garage Sale is a marketplace for buying and selling affordable fine art. Art Garage Sale is also a vibrant community of creative individuals; while you're here, you are part of this community.

* Do follow the rules outlined both here and in the Terms of Use.
* Do respect and be courteous to your peers and Art Garage Sale's Admins.
* Do keep in mind that people of all ages and all walks of life can see Art Garage Sale.
* Do use Art Garage Sale to improve your life and the lives of others.
* Do unto others as you'd like done unto you.

* Don't break the rules! (The end of each section in the RULES outlines what will happen if a rule is broken.)
* Don't be disrespectful of Art Garage Sale or other Art Garage Sale members. Members of the Art Garage Sale community are here for many reasons: running a business, shopping for gifts, or perhaps just having fun.

Member Accounts

Everyone who uses Art Garage Sale must agree to and abide by the Terms of Use as well as these RULES.

* Do carefully select your email address when registering. An email address cannot be reused for another account, even when the first account is closed or inactive.
* Do reply to the registration confirmation email to secure your username. Unconfirmed usernames will be released and made available after a period of 12 months.
* Do contact support@ArtGarageSale.com if you'd like your Art Garage Sale account closed.

* Don't create an alternate account to harass members or engage in otherwise abusive behavior, this will not be tolerated.
* Don't use an alternate account to purchase items from yourself to artificially inflate your sales and feedback stats; this is called "shilling" and will not be tolerated.
* Don't let a seller account sit idle for longer than 6 months (make sure you at least login); it will be suspended pending your request to support@ArtGarageSale.com to have it reactivated.
* Don't use an account for the sole purpose of driving traffic to another web location, even if it's another Art Garage Sale account.
* Don't use profane or racist language in your username and/or public profile.

Multiple Accounts by One Person

If a single person holds more than one account ("multiple accounts"), you do so at your own risk. This is not something Art Garage Sale encourages, as it has the potential to cause confusion in the community. If you have multiple accounts, you must follow these rules:

* Do be up front and fully disclose if you hold multiple accounts by posting all of your usernames in each account's profile.
* Do recognize that if one of your accounts is reviewed for abuse, it may result in all of your accounts being terminated.
* Do keep in mind that separate accounts cannot be merged in any way.

* Don't buy items from yourself or sell items to yourself (no shilling).
* Don't expect refunds for accidental activity, like listing items in the wrong account.
* Don't list the same unique item in multiple accounts on Art Garage Sale.

Multiple People Using a Single Account (Group Shops)

While this is allowed, you do so at your own risk.

* Do understand that multiple people sharing one account can be complicated.
* Do be up front about each person's role in your shop; add that information to your public profile.

* Don't ask Art Garage Sale to mediate disputes between multiple people fighting over the same account.
* Don't expect Art Garage Sale to split bills between partners or otherwise offer special services to group shops.

Breaking any of Art Garage Sale's rules will result in account suspension and/or termination. This includes all of your accounts by virtue of association, even if it is a group account. In other words, Art Garage Sale suspends the use of the site for a person, whatever account name(s) you operate under.

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Buying

Art Garage Sale's role is to connect the buyer and the seller; we are a venue, not a retailer. This means when you place an order on Art Garage Sale, you are entering into a direct and personal relationship with an individual seller (facilitated by Art Garage Sale).

* Do buy things you love!
* Do read all information in the item listing and seller profile before purchasing to be sure you know that seller's individual posted policies.
* Do contact the seller via email if you have any questions prior to purchase.
* Do make sure that your shipping address as entered in Art Garage Sale matches your address in PayPal, OR that you communicate with the seller if there is a discrepancy (eg. when sending a gift).
* Do pay immediately using PayPal by clicking the 'Buy Now' button during checkout.
* Do leave feedback after you've received your item (see Feedback for more details).

* Don't forget to pay the seller; there are consequences for non-payment ranging from negative feedback to account termination.

In addition to the terms outlined above, be aware that each seller may determine individual policies regarding returns and shipping which will be posted in the shop's item listings, shop announcement and/or public profile. If payment for a purchase is not submitted within three days, the seller may cancel the transaction and relist the item for sale. The seller also has the right and responsibility to leave negative feedback for a non-paying buyer. A buyer who fails to submit payment may have their account terminated.

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Selling

Art Garage Sale provides a marketplace for, artists and artisans to sell their fine art. All sellers must meet the requirements outlined in the Terms of Use in order to have a shop.

* Do sell your fine art!
* Do abide by the rules of What Can be Sold on Art Garage Sale (see below.)
* Do write clear, accurate and detailed descriptions of your items.
* Do provide information about your art. Art Garage Sale shoppers will likely be interested, as they are here specifically to buy art directly from the creator.
* Do list your personal shop policies regarding shipping and returns, in your item listings, shop announcement and/or public profile.
* Do list your item in the appropriate category and only with relevant tags.
* Do conduct your business in a professional manner and seek to provide excellent customer service.
* Do communicate with your buyers via email to resolve any issues regarding a transaction.
* Do ship your orders in a timely fashion.
* Do leave feedback for your buyers after a transaction is complete (see Feedback for more details).
* Do pay your Art Garage Sale bill on time and in full.
* Do keep an active presence on Art Garage Sale by logging in to your account regularly; an idle seller account will be suspended after 6 months of no activity.
* Do report all canceled transactions to Art Garage Sale so your fees may be refunded appropriately.
* Do read and abide by Art Garage Sale's Copyright Policy.

* Don't list an item that you do not intend to, or cannot, sell.
* Don't have a third-party vendor (such as a printer) fulfill your orders
* Don't create a listing that is not an item for sale; "Sold/Not For Sale" listings are not allowed.
* Don't post links or URLs anywhere in your shop to another web site for the purpose of encouraging buyers to purchase your items off Art Garage Sale; this is considered fee avoidance.
* Don't misrepresent your items with false descriptions, prices or photographs.
* Don't use photographs or written text in your listings for which you do not own the copyright or have the copyright holder's permission to use.
* Don't use profane or racist language or images in the public areas of your Art Garage Sale Shop, such as: username, public profile, item title, first image of a listing, tag, or banner.

A seller who fails to fulfill orders, resulting in a low percentage feedback rating, will have their account suspended pending compliance. Extreme cases or repeat offenders will have their account(s) terminated. Not paying your Art Garage Sale bill will result in account suspension until your debt is settled. Any seller who violates the Terms of Use will have their account terminated.

What Can be Sold on Art Garage Sale

Art Garage Sale's mission is clear: Empower as many artists as possible to earn money by selling their art.

Yes...

* Do sell art handmade by you.
* Do sell art by a Collective of which you are a member. A Collective is a group of people who know each other personally and make things together: either sharing a studio space and/or sharing knowledge.

- All items must be produced in a small scale quantity, not mass-produced. This will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by Art Garage Sale's staff.
- The artist listing the items on Art Garage Sale must be a part of the group and know the Collective's members personally.
- A Collective is not an employer paying many people to produce products in large quantities.
- Listing items on behalf of someone you personally know, who is unable to list items without your help, may be deemed a Collective. This is determined on a case-by-case basis; contact support@ArtGarageSale.com prior to listing for approval.

Yes, but with special requirements...

* Mature Content:

- Mature content is: sexual activity or content, profane language, or graphic violence as shown in an item.
- These items must be tagged "mature".
- The first thumbnail image should be kept appropriate for general audiences; additional images in the listing may show the item in its entirety.
- Mature content listings will remain in all public searches by default; users can restrict results by using the exclusionary search term "NOT mature" ("opt-out" search status).
- Artful representation of the nude human figure is allowed. The context of the nudity determines if it is a mature content item (see above).
- Items are subject to staff review on a case-by-case basis. If the staff evaluates the content to be mature, you will be asked to add the tag "mature" or remove the listing entirely.

* Use of a Third-Party Vendor:

- It is best if a seller can create their art entirely with their own hands. However, Art Garage Sale acknowledges that this is prohibitive for certain intermediary tasks in some crafts.
- Some acceptable examples are: printing for your digital artwork, metal casting from your original mold, kiln firing for your handcrafted ceramic work. Contact support@ArtGarageSale.com to verify if your use of a vendor qualifies.
- The item's description must disclose the use of a third-party vendor (providing a name is not necessary, but is encouraged).
- You may not have a third-party vendor fulfill your orders to your Art Garage Sale customers on your behalf (no drop-shipping), unless you both know & state the identity of the person handling the fulfillment in the description of the item listing.
- Items are subject to staff review on a case-by-case basis. If the staff determines that the vendor's involvement comprises a majority share of the item's creation, it will be deemed "not handmade by you" and removed from Art Garage Sale.
- If a physical handicap or other limitation prevents you from fulfilling your orders, please contact support@ArtGarageSale.com to ask permission to use a third-party fulfillment service.

No...

* Services:

- Services are not allowed for sale on Art Garage Sale because they do not provide a tangible, physical artifact.
- Graphic design is allowed, insofar as a digital file (.pdf, .jpg, .doc, and so on) is considered a physical artifact.
- Custom commercial graphic design services should be limited to Art Garage Sale-specific purposes, such as shop banners, avatars and promotional goods (business cards, etc.). Commercial graphic design work is not the same as digital art; commercial work's primary purpose is marketing, not its inherent artistic value.

* Don't sell mass-produced items.
* Don't sell illegal items, as defined in the Terms of Use.
* Don't sell pornography.
* Don't create listings which are solely advertisements or promotions (no item for sale).
* Don't put images in an item listing that are from other items you have for sale. This confuses buyers.
* Don't sell services
* Don't create listings that solicit donations for a charity but do not provide a tangible, physical artifact to the buyer.
* Don't sell "ready to assemble" goods, such as furniture you bought as a mass-produced kit and put together without significantly altering the concept or design of the item.
* Don't be a reseller.

- A reseller is a person who sells unaltered items they have previously bought, often at a markup. This includes items which were handmade by someone other than yourself to whom you have no personal relationship.

When in doubt if your item can be listed on Art Garage Sale, please contact support@ArtGarageSale.com before listing it. Any listing that violates Art Garage Sale's rules will be removed by the staff; listing fees are not guaranteed to be refunded. In the event that an entire garage is comprised of illegitimate items, the account will be terminated.

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Reporting Items (Flagging)

Flagging is like Art Garage Sale's Neighborhood Watch. It's your way to alert the staff of potential problems. Use the 'Flag as inappropriate' link on any item page or just send a detailed email to flagged@ArtGarageSale.com.

* Do act as a responsible citizen of the Art Garage Sale community.
* Do flag non-handmade items.
* Do flag items that are in the incorrect category.
* Do flag shops that are in violation of any other of Art Garage Sale's rules.
* Do provide a reason for the flag in the message to the staff.
* Do include a link back to the item in question in your email.

* Don't submit a flag multiple times.
* Don't flag every questionable item in a seller's garage. One flag is enough; the staff generally investigates an entire garage.
* Don't expect a response to your flagging email from the staff; all flags are handled internally.
* Don't use flagging as weapon.

In most cases, the staff will work with a user privately to correct the problem which raised the flag. Sellers that do not respond to the staff's communication or requests in a timely manner will be suspended. In some extreme cases, listings will be removed immediately. Abuse of the flagging system by means of raising repeated, unjustified flags may result in the suspension or termination of your account.

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Communications

Email to Art Garage Sale

You always have the right to send email to customer support. The support staff is here to help you solve problems. You should refer to our FAQs for answers before emailing, but we are always happy to hear from you. Each email is read and responded to (if necessary) as quickly as possible by a real person. More complex inquiries, like abuse reports, may take more time before you receive a response.

* Do check the Help sections of the site carefully before you email support; you might find your answer is there already.
* Do email support@ArtGarageSale.com with your questions about using the site or transaction issues.
* Do email abuse@ArtGarageSale.com to report any instances of harassment, rule violations or illegal activity on the site.
* Do email flagged@ArtGarageSale.com to report items for staff review (see Flagging for more details).
* Do email billing@ArtGarageSale.com about concerns or questions regarding your Art Garage Sale bill.

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Feedback

The feedback system was built into Art Garage Sale as a way of establishing a reputation of trust for both buyers and sellers. Feedback is not a toy. For every transaction that occurs, both the buyer and seller have the opportunity to express their honest opinion about the other party by submitting positive, neutral or negative feedback.

* Do use the feedback system honestly, consistently and in a timely manner.
* Do take feedback seriously; it is permanent and directly affects a member's reputation as a buyer or seller.
* Do leave positive feedback if you are satisfied with a transaction.
* Do attempt to contact the seller/buyer (via email) to resolve any issues before leaving feedback.
* Do write a comment to explain why you are leaving a positive, neutral or negative rating.
* Do email support@ArtGarageSale.com if both parties agree a negative feedback rating should be reversed.

* Don't leave malicious negative feedback.
* Don't give unwarranted (retaliatory) negative feedback in response to negative feedback you have received.
* Don't shill and artificially inflate your feedback rating by use of a second account.
* Don't use profane or racist language in feedback.
* Don't put private information in feedback.
* Don't use feedback to spam or advertise.

Abuse of the feedback system, by way of submitting malicious negative feedback or shilling, is a serious offense and will result in the termination of your Art Garage Sale account(s). If you believe you have received unjustified, malicious negative feedback, please email support@ArtGarageSale.com and the staff will investigate. Members with a low percentage feedback rating are automatically flagged for review by the staff and may have their account suspended or terminated. Art Garage Sale reserves the right to alter these RULES at any time.