Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account, browsing, accessing, or using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

2. What SOS Is (And Is Not)

SOS provides a platform where students can share wishlists and where donors can discover students and purchase items from third-party retailers for those students.

• SOS is not the seller of wishlist items.
• SOS does not process payments for retailer purchases and is not the merchant of record.
• All purchases occur on third-party retailer sites and are governed by that retailer’s terms, policies, shipping, and returns.

3. Eligibility

You must be 18 years or older to use the Platform. Do not use the Platform if you are under 18.

4. Accounts and Security

You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current information
• Maintain the confidentiality of your credentials
• Promptly notify us of unauthorized access

You are responsible for activity under your account. We may suspend or terminate accounts for violations or risk.

5. Student Profiles and Visibility Controls

Student profiles may be visible to the public. SOS may offer visibility controls, including an “obscured” mode where only limited information (such as school, major, and home city) is displayed publicly.

Shipping addresses are never publicly displayed on student profiles. Students acknowledge that public profile information may be viewed, shared, and indexed by third parties. SOS cannot guarantee that public information will not be copied by others.

6. Shipping Address Handling; Campus Delivery Encouraged

Students may provide a delivery address to receive items purchased by donors from third-party retailers. SOS strongly encourages students to use a campus delivery address (for example, a campus mailroom, housing office, or campus package center) instead of a personal home address whenever possible.

6.1 Address visibility

• Shipping addresses are not displayed publicly.
• SOS may display a student’s delivery address only to logged-in donors when the donor indicates intent to purchase an item (for example, after selecting an item and clicking a purchase/checkout button).

6.2 Permitted use (strict)

Donors may use a student’s delivery address only to ship purchased item(s) and for no other purpose.

Strictly prohibited:

• Using, storing, sharing, selling, or exploiting address information for any purpose other than shipping purchased item(s)
• Contacting a student using address information
• Harassment, marketing, off-platform outreach, or any misuse of address information

Violations may result in immediate termination and may be referred to law enforcement where appropriate.

6.3 Full name allowed

Students may provide their full name for shipping purposes. Donors agree to use a student’s name only to complete shipping and delivery of purchased item(s).

6.4 Campus mailroom limitations

Campus delivery locations may impose restrictions (required name formats, student ID requirements, prohibited item lists, pickup deadlines, and return policies). Students and donors are responsible for ensuring delivery information complies with the campus location’s rules and the retailer’s shipping requirements.

7. Retail Purchases, Returns, and Disputes

Because purchases occur on third-party retailer sites:

• SOS does not guarantee item availability, pricing, shipping times, delivery outcomes, or retailer performance.
• SOS is not responsible for defects, returns, refunds, chargebacks, or retailer policies.
• Purchase disputes must be handled with the retailer.

The Platform may include tools to reduce duplicate purchases (e.g., “claimed,” “purchased,” “received”). These tools are informational only and do not guarantee purchase, shipment, or delivery.

8. Verification, Platform Integrity, and Fraud Prevention

SOS may verify student eligibility (including enrollment) and may request reasonable documentation. SOS may take actions to preserve platform integrity, including:

• limiting account features,
• requiring additional verification,
• removing content,
• suspending or terminating accounts.

We may request reasonable signals to reduce fraud and duplicates (e.g., donor confirmation that an item was ordered, tracking confirmation), but SOS cannot guarantee fulfillment or delivery.

9. Prohibited Conduct

You may not:

• Harass, threaten, stalk, shame, or exploit any user
• Post or request sensitive personal data (doxxing), including addresses, phone numbers, IDs, or private social media handles
• Impersonate others or misrepresent identity, enrollment, or need
• Engage in fraud or deception (fake profiles, fake orders, fake shipments, false “received” claims)
• Use the Platform to facilitate illegal activity or prohibited items
• Scrape, reverse engineer, disrupt, or overload the Platform
• Bypass safety controls or attempt unauthorized access

10. User Content and License

You retain ownership of content you submit (profiles, text, wishlist links, and related materials). You grant SOS a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, store, display, reproduce, and distribute your content solely to operate, improve, and promote the Platform (including showing student profiles and wishlists to donors).

11. Intellectual Property

The Platform and its software, branding, design, and non-user content are owned by SOS or its licensors and are protected by law. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works except as permitted by law or with our written permission.

12. Termination

SOS may suspend or terminate your access, remove content, or restrict features at any time if we believe:

• you violated these Terms,
• your use creates risk for SOS or others,
• required by law.

You may stop using the Platform at any time.

13. Disclaimers

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” SOS DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

SOS DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE.

14. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SOS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUE.

IN NO EVENT WILL SOS’S TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM RELATING TO THE PLATFORM EXCEED $100 OR THE AMOUNT PAID TO SOS (IF ANY) IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

15. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold SOS harmless from claims arising out of your use of the Platform, your content, your interactions with other users, or your violation of these Terms or law.

16. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will update the “Last Updated” date. Continued use of the Platform after changes means you accept the revised Terms.

17. Governing Law and Venue

These Terms are governed by California law, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules. Any dispute must be brought in state or federal courts located in California, unless a different venue is required by law.