Effective Date: October 15, 2026 Version: 1.0 Applies to: Prospective Sellers and all Sellers who offer products or services through the Platform.
Article 1: Introduction and Scope
1.1 This document states the identity and business verification the Seller shall complete, the evidence standard for verification, the circumstances that require enhanced verification, re-verification, and the consequences of verification failure. Verification implements the Selling Terms of Service; the Seller Onboarding Policy states the onboarding path and periods, and this document states the evidence and decisions.
1.2 Verification duties under the INFORM Act are stated in the INFORM Act Compliance Policy and the INFORM Act Seller Verification Policy, which govern the statutory verification duties for high-volume sellers; this document states the Seller's general verification obligations that support those duties.
1.3 If a provision of this document conflicts with the Terms of Use, this document controls for the subject it governs. If a provision conflicts with the Selling Terms of Service, the Selling Terms of Service controls.
Article 2: Definitions
2.1 The definitions in the Terms of Use and the Selling Terms of Service are incorporated into this document. The following additional definitions apply (a) Verification Task: one unit of verification: an identity document, an address proof, a tax identity, or a bank account item.
(b) Legal Entity Name: the name on the government registration or tax return, exactly as spelled in that record. A doing-business-as registration is a secondary identifier and is not a substitute.
(c) Enhanced Verification: the additional verification in Article 5, applied where volume, a gated category or brand, or a risk indicator requires more than the standard verification in Article 3.
Article 3: Standard Verification for Every Seller
3.1 Before the first listing, every Seller shall complete: (a) a government-issued photo identification for an individual, or business registration documents for an entity; (b) tax identity: a Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number for an individual, or an employer identification number for an entity: with the applicable tax form collected before the first disbursement in accordance with the Tax Identity and 1099 Reporting Policy; (c) a disbursement bank account in the Seller's legal name, with holder name confirmed; and (d) a verified business address, a working email address, and a working telephone number.
3.2 Identity verification for the Seller's payment account is performed by the Company's payment processor. The processor collects and verifies government identification images; the Company does not store raw identification images and does not retain copies longer than the verification decision requires. Retention of personal information is governed by the Privacy Policy.
3.3 The Seller represents that all verification information is complete, accurate, and current, and shall notify the Company of any change to business name, address, tax identity, ownership, or disbursement details within 10 business days after the change, or before the next disbursement, whichever is sooner. A Seller that changes legal entity and continues to sell under the former entity does not hold a verified identity for the interval.
Article 4: Evidence Standard and Common Failures
4.1 Each document is assessed on legibility, completeness, currency, and name match: (a) legibility: all text readable, all edges visible, without glare or cropping; (b) completeness: the full document, front and back where the back carries information; (c) currency: no expired document; and (d) name match: the name on the evidence matches the Legal Entity Name exactly, including initials, suffixes, and entity designators.
4.2 Expired document. An expired document results in return of the Verification Task with the reason stated and a 5-business-day period to resubmit a current document in accordance with the Service Level Requirements. The expired document blocks the Verification Task until a current document is received.
4.3 Name mismatch. Evidence bearing different names across the identification, tax, and bank records is returned for correction for each mismatch. Repeated name changes during review are a risk indicator and may trigger Enhanced Verification.
4.4 Unverifiable document. Where an address proof references an address that does not resolve in postal records, or a registration number that does not resolve with the issuing state, the Seller shall cure with different evidence or the application shall be denied. The Company shall not permit selling on an identity the Company cannot verify.
4.5 Forged or altered documents are not a verification failure curable by resubmission. Forgery or alteration is fraud, results in permanent denial of the application, and is handled under the Seller Enforcement Policy as serious conduct.
Article 5: Enhanced Verification
5.1 Enhanced Verification is triggered by any of: (a) volume: $10,000 in gross sales in any calendar month, measured on the Seller's own sales; (b) gated categories or brands: an application to sell in a gated category or under a gated brand; or (c) risk indicators: a velocity anomaly, a dispute increase, an identity mismatch discovered after approval, or a sanctions-list match.
5.2 Enhanced Verification adds: live video verification of the principal accountable for the Account; beneficial ownership documentation for an entity, identifying each person who owns or controls 25% or more of the entity; source-of-inventory documentation, including proof of authorization to sell the goods concerned; and, for a gated category, the category-specific credentials, including a pharmacy license or an EPA establishment number where applicable.
5.3 Selling during Enhanced Verification. A Seller subject to a volume or risk trigger that is not fraud-related may continue selling while Enhanced Verification proceeds. A Seller applying for a gated category or brand shall not list in that category or brand until Enhanced Verification for that category or brand clears. Where the trigger is fraud-related, selling stops first and the applicable serious-conduct process governs.
5.4 Failure of Enhanced Verification: including an unreachable principal for video verification, refusal of beneficial ownership documentation, or inventory sources that do not verify: results in suppression of listings in the gated category for a category application, or listing suppression and a disbursement hold for a volume or risk trigger, in accordance with Article 7.
Article 6: Re-verification
6.1 The Company may re-verify a Seller at any time and shall re-verify on: (a) change of legal entity or ownership; (b) change of the disbursement account to a different legal name; (c) return after a suspension of 90 days or more; or (d) a risk-flag event.
6.2 Re-verification repeats the standard evidence set for the changed facts, plus the video verification of the principal for an entity or ownership change and for a risk-flag event. A change limited to a telephone number does not require the full evidence set; a change of owner requires the full evidence set for the new facts.
6.3 Failure to complete re-verification within the period stated in the Company's notice: 14 calendar days where no other period is stated: results in suppression of listings until re-verification is complete, with escalation under the Seller Enforcement Policy. Suppression under this Clause is a freeze on an Account whose facts the Company cannot confirm; suppression is not by itself a finding of wrongdoing.
Article 7: Verification Failure and Enforcement
7.1 Failed verification: an unverifiable identity, a mismatched tax identity, a sanctioned party, or fraudulent documents: results in denial of onboarding for an applicant, or listing suppression and a disbursement hold pending cure for an active Seller.
7.2 A tax identity mismatch suspends disbursements until the identity is corrected and verified, in accordance with the Tax Identity and 1099 Reporting Policy. Repeated mismatches: three or more: are a tax violation under the Seller Enforcement Policy.
7.3 A true sanctions-list match is not curable by the Seller. On such a match, the Account is suspended pending legal review, disbursements are held, and the matter is referred for compliance review.
7.4 The Seller shall keep verification records, including registration documents, tax identity records, authorization letters, and address proofs, and shall produce them on request in connection with verification, re-verification, an investigation, or an appeal.
Article 8: Liability
8.1 Exclusion of certain damages. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither party is liable to the other for indirect, incidental, special, punitive, or consequential damages, or for lost profits, lost revenue, or loss of goodwill, arising out of or relating to this document, even if the party has been advised of the possibility of those damages.
8.2 Cap. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company's total liability arising out of or relating to this document shall not exceed the greater of (a) the amounts the Seller paid to the Company under this document in the twelve months before the event giving rise to the claim, or (b) one hundred dollars ($100).
8.3 Carve-outs. This Article does not limit (a) a party's indemnification obligations under this document; (b) liability for fraud or willful misconduct; (c) amounts the Seller owes for Orders, fees, chargebacks, or refunds under this document; or (d) liability that cannot be limited under applicable law.
8.4 Essential purpose. The parties agree that this Article allocates risk between them, that it is an essential part of the basis of their bargain, and that it applies even if a limited remedy fails of its essential purpose.
Article 9: Indemnification
9.1 Duty. The Seller shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Company and its members, managers, employees, and agents from and against every claim, demand, action, loss, liability, judgment, settlement, cost, and expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to: (a) the Seller's breach of this document; (b) the Seller's Products, Services, listings, or User Content, including product liability claims; (c) infringement or alleged infringement of intellectual property or other rights by the Seller's Products, listings, or User Content; (d) a product recall of the Seller's Products, including recall costs; (e) the Seller's violation of any law or of the rights of any person; and (f) taxes for which the Seller is responsible under this document.
9.2 Procedure. The Company shall give prompt written notice of a claim under this Article. The Seller shall control the defense with counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company. The Company may participate in the defense at its own expense. The Seller shall not settle a claim in a manner that imposes any obligation or restriction on the Company, or that does not release the Company fully, without the Company's prior written consent.
9.3 Survival. This Article survives the termination of this document.
Article 10: Enforcement and Appeals
10.1 Investigation. The Company may investigate any suspected violation of this document. The Seller shall cooperate with an investigation and shall produce the records this document requires the Seller to keep.
10.2 Notice. If the Company determines that the Seller has violated this document, the Company shall give written notice stating the provision violated and the facts relied on, except where notice would compromise an investigation of fraud, a safety risk, or a legal obligation.
10.3 Opportunity to cure. Where a violation is capable of cure, the Seller has ten (10) business days from notice to cure it and to confirm the cure in writing. No cure period applies to fraud, counterfeiting, a risk to the safety of a person or an animal, unlawful conduct, or a violation that by its nature cannot be cured.
10.4 Measures. If a violation is established and is not cured within the period allowed, the Company may, proportionate to the violation: (a) issue a written warning; (b) remove or suppress a listing or content; (c) cancel an Order or a booking; (d) suspend the Account or a program participation, in whole or in part; (e) terminate the Selling Terms of Service and the Account; and (f) exercise any other right or remedy available under this document or at law. The Company may hold disbursements to the Seller while an investigation under this Article is pending, and shall release amounts not required to satisfy the Seller's obligations when the investigation closes.
10.5 Appeal. The Seller may appeal a measure under this Article by written notice to legal@aapawz.com within thirty (30) days of the measure, stating the grounds and attaching the records relied on. The appeal is decided by a person who did not make the original decision. The Company's decision on appeal is final. A measure remains in effect during an appeal unless the Company directs otherwise in writing.
10.6 No waiver by delay. The Company's delay in acting on a violation is not a waiver of the violation or of any later violation of the same kind.
Article 11: Term and Termination
11.1 Term. This document takes effect when the Seller is accepted to sell through the Platform and continues until terminated under this Article.
11.2 Termination by the Company. The Company may terminate this document and the Account on thirty (30) days' written notice for any reason, and immediately on written notice if the Seller materially breaches this document, engages in fraud, or becomes ineligible to participate.
11.3 Termination by the Seller. The Seller may terminate this document on thirty (30) days' written notice to support@aapawz.com, provided the Seller has no Order, booking, or investigation outstanding.
11.4 Effect of termination. On termination: (a) the rights granted under this document end; (b) obligations that arose before termination: including payment, refund, chargeback, record-keeping, and indemnification obligations: survive until satisfied; and (c) the Company shall disburse amounts owed, less amounts the Company may set off under the Selling Terms of Service, within thirty (30) days, except amounts held in connection with an open investigation or dispute.
11.5 Survival. The Definitions, Liability, Indemnification, Enforcement and Appeals (for measures taken before termination), Dispute Resolution, and General Provisions Articles survive termination.
Article 12: Dispute Resolution
12.1 Any dispute arising out of or relating to this document, or to the relationship it governs, is governed by the Dispute Resolution Policy, which is incorporated into this document by reference.
Article 13: General Provisions
13.1 Amendments. The Company may amend this document by posting the amended document in the Document Center and giving notice to the Seller at the email address in the Account. An amendment that materially increases the Seller's fees or obligations takes effect thirty (30) days after notice; other amendments take effect on posting. Continued use of the Platform after the effective date of an amendment is acceptance of it. If the Seller does not accept an amendment, the Seller's remedy is to terminate under Article 11 before the amendment takes effect.
13.2 Notices. Legal notices under this document shall be sent to legal@aapawz.com. Operational notices and all other communications shall be sent to support@aapawz.com. A notice to the Company is effective when the Company acknowledges receipt or, for email, one business day after sending, whichever is earlier. Notices to the Seller are effective when sent to the email address in the Account or posted to the Account's notice facility in the portal, whichever occurs first. The Seller shall keep the email address in the Account current. DMCA notices are given as provided in the DMCA and Copyright Policy, to the designated agent at legal@aapawz.com.
13.3 Governing law. This document is governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules. Subject to the Dispute Resolution Policy, any proceeding arising out of this document shall be brought in the state or federal courts located in Shelby County, Tennessee, and the parties consent to personal jurisdiction there.
13.4 Severability. If any provision of this document is held unenforceable, the provision shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted, and the remaining provisions continue in full effect.
13.5 Entire agreement. This document, together with the documents it incorporates by reference, is the entire agreement between the Company and the Seller for the subject it governs and supersedes every prior or contemporaneous statement, communication, or agreement on that subject, whether written or oral.
13.6 Assignment. The Seller shall not assign this document or any right or obligation under it without the Company's prior written consent, and an assignment without consent is void. The Company may assign this document to an affiliate or in connection with a sale of all or part of its business, on notice to the Seller.
13.7 Waiver. A waiver of any provision of this document is effective only in writing and only for the instance stated. No waiver is a waiver of any other provision or instance.
13.8 Interpretation. Headings are for convenience only. "Including" means "including without limitation." This document shall not be construed against a party as its drafter. The English-language text controls over any translation.
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