Effective Date: October 15, 2026 Version: 1.0 Applies to: All Sellers who offer Products or Services through the Platform.
Article 1: Introduction and Scope
1.1 This document states the conduct by a Seller that is prohibited without exception, the measures the Company may take immediately on a finding of that conduct, the treatment of the Seller's funds, and the Seller's rights of appeal and duties of self-reporting. The platform rule against fraud and abuse is stated in the Fraud and Abuse Policy, which is incorporated into this document by reference; this document states the Seller's obligations under that rule and the consequences for a Seller.
1.2 This document controls over any graduated enforcement provision elsewhere in the Company's documents for conduct within Article 3. The measures in this document may be imposed without the notice and cure steps that apply to other violations.
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 of this document conflicts with the terms of a program in which the Seller participates, the program terms control for that program. Policies and help pages explain this document; they do not amend it, and in any conflict this document prevails.
Article 2: Definitions
2.1 The definitions in the Selling Terms of Service apply to this document. In addition, in this document 2.2 Ban: the permanent exclusion of a person and of the operation that person controls from selling through the Platform, under Article 9.
2.3 Fraud-Derived Proceeds: amounts collected on transactions that constitute conduct under Article 3, including amounts collected through stolen payment instruments, phantom shipments, and the sale of counterfeit goods.
2.4 Zero-Tolerance Conduct: the conduct stated in Article 3.
Article 3: Prohibited Conduct
3.1 The Seller shall not engage in, attempt, or conspire to engage in any of the following (a) Fraud: the use of stolen payment instruments; collusive transactions; a friendly-fraud scheme operated by the Seller; money laundering; the use of false tracking numbers; and phantom shipments, being Orders marked shipped that were never shipped.
(b) Counterfeit goods: manufacturing, importing, or selling counterfeit goods. One confirmed finding of counterfeit goods is sufficient; no warning precedes a measure for counterfeiting.
(c) Identity fraud: forged verification documents; synthetic identities; taking over an account, whether the Seller's own account credentials are misused by another or the Seller takes over another's account; and evasion of a Ban through a new entity, another person's identity, or a purchased account.
(d) Interference with a safety investigation: destroying evidence, intimidating witnesses, or obstructing a product recall under the Product Recall Policy (Product Recall Policy (Sellers)).
(e) Diversion schemes: systematic diversion of transactions off the Platform, and fee evasion: using the Platform's discovery and trust to close sales elsewhere so that the fees and protections of the Platform do not apply, in violation of the Selling Terms of Service.
(f) Malicious conduct: malware; phishing of Buyers; theft of credentials; and attempts to intrude into the Platform.
3.2 An attempt and a conspiracy are treated as the completed act. Preparation of the means of conduct under clause 3.1: including the manufacture of false tracking numbers not yet used: is itself a violation of this Article.
3.3 Each instance of Zero-Tolerance Conduct is recorded as a violation at the highest severity, with the evidence preserved, including transaction records, tracking data, document images, and communication records. The standard of proof is documented proof, not suspicion; documented proof of any single item in clause 3.1 is sufficient on its own.
Article 4: Investigation and Decision
4.1 A finding of Zero-Tolerance Conduct is made by the Company's trust and safety function with the concurrence of the Company's legal function. Both functions shall agree that the evidentiary standard in clause 3.3 is met before a termination measure is imposed.
4.2 The investigation is recorded from opening through the issue of findings. The findings state what was proven and how. An investigation in which no findings are recorded is not a basis for a measure under this document. The findings are made available to the Seller on appeal.
4.3 Where there is no ongoing loss, notice of the proposed measure precedes the measure. Where ongoing fraud means that delay costs Buyers money, the Company may act first and shall notify the Seller within twenty-four (24) hours, stating the reasons, the categories of evidence relied on, and the appeal path under Article 6.
Article 5: Funds
5.1 On a finding of Zero-Tolerance Conduct, disbursements to the Seller are frozen immediately: pending disbursements stop and no further amounts are released, and a Capability Freeze under the Payment Holds and Reserves Policy may be imposed. The freeze preserves the amounts while it is determined what is owed to each party; the freeze is not itself a forfeiture.
5.2 On termination, the Seller's remaining amounts settle after all holds, refunds, disputes, and chargebacks clear, on the clearing terms in the Final Settlement and Payout Policy. Amounts from sales the Seller actually fulfilled, less everything the Seller owes, remain the Seller's money and are disbursed on Final Settlement.
5.3 Fraud-Derived Proceeds are forfeited. Amounts derived from stolen payment instruments, phantom shipments, and counterfeit sales are applied first to refunds to the persons harmed, and then to the chargeback and network costs the conduct created. Any amount remaining after the persons harmed and those costs are made whole is dealt with on Final Settlement under clause 5.2. Forfeiture under this clause is the disgorgement of amounts that were never the Seller's; it is not a fine.
Article 6: Appeal
6.1 The Seller may appeal a measure under this document under the Appeals Policy. The appeal is heard by a reviewer at a second level, with the participation of the Company's legal function, who is neither the investigator nor the original decision-maker. The appeal record carries the Seller's grounds, the Seller's evidence, the decision, the identity of the decision-maker, and the date of the decision.
6.2 An appeal does not stay a termination where an ongoing fraud risk exists. The Account remains suspended while the appeal is heard. Where an appeal succeeds, the Account is restored and frozen amounts are released, with the account record corrected.
6.3 New evidence on appeal is permitted and is weighed. Evidence manufactured after the finding: including backdated invoices and statements procured from the same operation: is itself investigated as a matter under clause 3.1(c).
Article 7: Self-Reporting
7.1 A Seller that discovers fraud within the Seller's own operation: including an employee conducting phantom shipments or a supplier shipping counterfeit goods into the Seller's inventory: shall report it to the Company immediately, with everything the Seller has: who was involved, what occurred, when it occurred, and which Orders are affected.
7.2 Self-reporting is a mitigating factor in any related finding. Mitigation may reduce the measure: termination in place of termination with a Ban, or suspension in place of termination: but it does not excuse the conduct. The persons harmed are still refunded, and Fraud-Derived Proceeds are still disgorged under clause 5.3.
7.3 A report made after the Company has opened an investigation is cooperation, not self-reporting. Cooperation also mitigates, but to a lesser degree. The distinction is which party found the conduct first.
Article 8: External Reporting and Information Sharing
8.1 The Company reports fraud to law enforcement and to card networks where required by law or by network rules. Fraud involving stolen payment instruments, money laundering, and large-scale counterfeiting is referred to the competent authorities; the Company's measures are not the end of the matter.
8.2 The Company may share the Seller's information with payment processors and fraud-prevention networks to the extent permitted by law, including the business name, tax identifier, and device and payment identifiers of a terminated operation, so that the same operation cannot reopen under a new name.
Article 9: Ban Scope and Record Retention
9.1 A Ban covers the person and the operation, not only the Account. Accounts related to a banned operation: the same legal entity, the same tax identifier, the same beneficial owner, or the same device and payment identifiers: are terminated with the banned Account. A new application from a banned operator is denied at verification. An application that is accepted and later identified as a banned operation is terminated as Ban evasion under clause 3.1(c), and its funds are dealt with under Article 5.
9.2 Records of Zero-Tolerance Conduct: the violation record, the investigation findings, the appeal decision, and the evidence: are retained for seven (7) years.
Article 10: Liability
10.1 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.
10.2 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).
10.3 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.
10.4 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 11: Indemnification
11.1 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; (c) the Seller's violation of any law or of the rights of any person; (d) taxes for which the Seller is responsible under this document; and (e) product liability, intellectual property infringement, and product recall costs arising from the Seller's Products.
11.2 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.
11.3 Survival. This Article survives the termination of this document.
Article 12: Enforcement and Appeals
12.1 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.
12.2 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. Notice for conduct under this document is given in accordance with clause 4.3, including notice within twenty-four (24) hours where the Company acts first.
12.3 No opportunity to cure. No cure period applies to conduct under this document. Fraud, counterfeiting, a risk to the safety of a person or an animal, and unlawful conduct are among the violations to which no cure period applies under the Company's documents, and every violation of Article 3 is of that character.
12.4 Measures. On a finding of Zero-Tolerance Conduct, the Company may, without prior graduated measures: (a) suspend the Account, in whole or in part; (b) freeze disbursements and impose a Capability Freeze under Article 5; (c) remove or suppress listings or content; (d) cancel Orders; (e) terminate this document and the Account; (f) impose a Ban under Article 9; and (g) exercise any other right or remedy available under this document or at law.
12.5 Disbursement hold. The Company may hold and freeze disbursements to the Seller while an investigation under this Article is pending, and shall release amounts not required to satisfy the Seller's obligations, and not forfeited under clause 5.3, when the investigation closes.
12.6 Appeal. The Seller may appeal a measure under this Article under the Appeals Policy and Article 6 of this document. 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.
12.7 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 13: Term and Termination
13.1 Term. This document takes effect when the Seller accepts it and continues until terminated under this Article.
13.2 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. A finding of Zero-Tolerance Conduct is a ground for immediate termination under this clause.
13.3 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.
13.4 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 Final Settlement is made in accordance with the Final Settlement and Payout Policy and Article 5 of this document.
13.5 Survival. The Definitions, Liability, Indemnification, Enforcement and Appeals (for measures taken before termination), Dispute Resolution, and General Provisions Articles survive termination. Article 5 and Article 9 survive termination until the Final Settlement is complete and the retention period in clause 9.2 has run.
Article 14: Dispute Resolution
14.1 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 15: General Provisions
15.1 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 13 before the amendment takes effect.
15.2 Notices. (a) 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. (b) 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. (c) DMCA notices are given as provided in the DMCA and Copyright Policy, to the designated agent at legal@aapawz.com.
15.3 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.
15.4 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.
15.5 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.
15.6 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.
15.7 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.
15.8 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.
Related articles