Terms of Use

You must be at least 18 years old and able to form a legally binding contract to create an account or use Sage, including browsing, cataloging, buying, or selling. By using the Platform, you represent and warrant that you meet these requirements. You are responsible for keeping your account credentials secure and for all activity under your account, whether or not authorized by you. You agree to provide accurate information and to update it as needed. We may refuse, suspend, or terminate accounts at our discretion.

Sage offers: (a) collection-management tools for cataloging specimens; (b) AI-assisted visual checks and price-range/price-trend data; (c) a marketplace where verified sellers list specimens for sale to members; (d) escrow-protected payments, shipping/tracking verification, and dispute resolution; and (e) subscription plans and add-ons.

Sage is a venue only. Map facilitates transactions between members and sellers but is not itself the seller, buyer, broker, appraiser, or agent of any party in any marketplace transaction. Map does not take title to, possess, inspect, or authenticate items sold on the Platform. The contract of sale for any specimen is solely between the buyer and the seller, and sellers and buyers bear sole and exclusive responsibility for their listings, representations, transactions, and conduct.

Paid plans (Sage+, Supplier) and add-ons (additional visual checks, collection and marketplace expansion packs, and true-up adjustments) are billed on a recurring or one-time basis through Base44 Payments. Recurring subscriptions renew automatically until cancelled; you can cancel anytime in the app, and access continues until the end of your current billing cycle. Refunds are governed by our cancellation and refund policy. Amounts and features for each plan are shown on the Plans page. You are responsible for any chargebacks, payment reversals, or fees resulting from your payment activity, and Map may recover such amounts from you or offset them against pending payouts.

When you purchase a specimen, payment is held in escrow through our payment provider until delivery is confirmed. You have three (3) calendar days from carrier-confirmed delivery to confirm receipt or open a dispute claim if the item is significantly not as described (incorrect specimen type, undisclosed major damage, or substantial size/color discrepancy), with photographic evidence. If no action is taken within the confirmation window, escrow funds are released to the seller. Approved disputes follow the return-and-refund process in Section 6. Your sole and exclusive remedy for any issue with a purchased item lies against the seller through this process.

To sell on Sage you must complete supplier onboarding and be approved. As a seller you agree to:

• list only specimens you own and are authorized to sell, with accurate descriptions, photos, locality, dimensions, condition, and material disclosure (natural, dyed, treated, or synthetic);
• comply with all laws applicable to your listings and sales, including the prohibited items requirements in Section 7;
• set fair prices and honor the listed price for any accepted order;
• ship promptly using a trackable shipping method and provide a valid tracking number in Sage;
• cooperate in good faith with disputes, returns, and information requests; and
• provide any tax forms or documentation reasonably requested for payout processing.

Seller payouts are processed electronically (e.g., PayPal, Venmo, or card) after an approved invoice is submitted. Sage collects a commission on each sale as disclosed at listing time. Sellers are solely and strictly responsible for their listings, item descriptions, authenticity claims, pricing, packaging, shipping, legal compliance, and fulfillment, and for any harm, loss, or claim arising from any item they list or sell.

Approved refund claims require the specimen to be returned to the seller using a trackable method before funds are refunded. Return shipping responsibility is determined per Sage’s Return Policy: the seller bears the cost when the claim is due to the item being not as described or damaged; otherwise the buyer bears it. Refunds are issued to the original payment method once the carrier confirms the return has been delivered back to the seller.

Release. Because Map is not a party to transactions between users, if you have a dispute with one or more other users (including buyers, sellers, or suppliers), you release Map, its members, managers, officers, employees, and agents from any and all claims, demands, and damages of every kind and nature, known and unknown, arising out of or in any way connected with such disputes. Map may, but is not obligated to, assist in resolving disputes through the process described above, and any such assistance does not make Map a party to the dispute.

Sellers are solely responsible for ensuring every listing complies with all applicable local, state, federal, and international laws, including wildlife, cultural-property, export, and import laws. Without limiting the foregoing, the following may not be listed or sold on Sage:

• ivory, rhino horn, or any material from endangered or protected species, including CITES-listed corals and shells, except where accompanied by all legally required documentation and permitted by law;
• fossils, meteorites, minerals, or artifacts excavated, exported, or possessed in violation of any law, including the Lacey Act, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, NAGPRA, or foreign cultural-heritage and export laws;
• stolen items, items obtained from protected lands without authorization, or items whose sale is restricted by their jurisdiction of origin;
• radioactive specimens that exceed lawful possession or shipping limits, or any specimen that cannot be lawfully shipped by common carrier;
• hazardous materials (e.g., asbestiform minerals, mercury ores) listed without accurate disclosure and lawful handling; and
• counterfeit, misrepresented, or synthetic items listed as natural without disclosure.

Map may remove any listing at any time, with or without notice, that it believes violates this Section or poses legal or safety risk. Map has no obligation to monitor listings, and the presence of a listing on the Platform is not a representation by Map of its legality or authenticity. Sellers bear strict and sole responsibility for any violation, including all resulting fines, penalties, seizures, and claims.

You agree not to: submit false, misleading, or infringing content; manipulate reviews, ratings, or price data; evade fees or platform controls; harass other users; scrape, reverse engineer, or interfere with the Platform; or use Sage for any unlawful purpose. Violations may result in content removal, account suspension or termination, and withholding of payouts where applicable.

AI visual-check results, identifications, valuations, and price-range/price-trend data are informational estimates only and are not a guarantee, representation, or warranty of authenticity, species, grade, origin, treatment, or market value. AI-generated outputs may be incomplete or incorrect. Map is not a certified appraiser, gemologist, or laboratory, and no output of the Platform constitutes professional, appraisal, investment, or purchase advice. You must obtain independent professional verification before relying on any AI output or price data for any purchase, sale, insurance, or other significant decision, and you assume all risk of any reliance on such outputs. Metaphysical or descriptive claims listed by sellers are the seller’s sole responsibility and are not endorsed by Map.

Map charges commissions and plan fees as disclosed in the app. You are responsible for any taxes applicable to your transactions or earnings. Sellers are responsible for their own tax reporting related to payouts received through Sage.

Map owns the Platform, its branding, and its software. You retain ownership of the photos and content you upload and grant Map a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, display, reproduce, and adapt them as needed to operate, provide, and promote the service (e.g., in listings and visual checks). Do not upload content that infringes the rights of others.

DMCA Notices. If you believe content on Sage infringes your copyright, send a notice compliant with 17 U.S.C. § 512(c)(3) to our Designated Copyright Agent at admin@sageandstones.com (subject line “DMCA Notice”), including: identification of the copyrighted work; identification and location of the allegedly infringing material; your contact information; a statement of good-faith belief that the use is unauthorized; a statement, under penalty of perjury, that the notice is accurate and you are authorized to act for the owner; and your physical or electronic signature. We will remove or disable access to material in response to valid notices and will terminate the accounts of repeat infringers. Counter-notices may be submitted to the same address and will be handled in accordance with the DMCA.

THE PLATFORM, ALL CONTENT, ALL AI OUTPUTS, AND ALL ITEMS LISTED OR SOLD BY SELLERS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE,” WITH ALL FAULTS AND WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, MAP EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ACCURACY, AND ANY WARRANTIES ARISING OUT OF COURSE OF DEALING, USAGE, OR TRADE. MAP DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE; THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED; OR THAT ANY ITEM, LISTING, DESCRIPTION, IDENTIFICATION, VALUATION, OR AI OUTPUT IS ACCURATE, AUTHENTIC, LAWFUL, OR RELIABLE. NO ADVICE OR INFORMATION, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, OBTAINED FROM MAP OR THROUGH THE PLATFORM CREATES ANY WARRANTY NOT EXPRESSLY STATED IN THESE TERMS. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN WARRANTIES, SO SOME OF THE ABOVE EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW: (A) MAP AND ITS MEMBERS, MANAGERS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, DATA, GOODWILL, OR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE PLATFORM, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES; (B) MAP IS NOT LIABLE FOR THE ACTS, OMISSIONS, LISTINGS, CONTENT, ITEMS, AUTHENTICITY, CONDITION, SHIPPING, OR DELIVERY OF ANY SELLER, BUYER, OR OTHER THIRD PARTY; AND (C) THE TOTAL, AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF MAP ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE PLATFORM, REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY, WILL NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS (US $100.00). THE EXISTENCE OF MORE THAN ONE CLAIM WILL NOT ENLARGE THIS LIMIT. THESE LIMITATIONS ARE A FUNDAMENTAL BASIS OF THE BARGAIN BETWEEN YOU AND MAP AND APPLY EVEN IF A REMEDY FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW CERTAIN LIABILITY LIMITATIONS, SO THESE MAY NOT FULLY APPLY TO YOU.

All responsibility and liability arising out of listings, items, transactions, content, communications, shipping, and conduct on the Platform rests strictly and exclusively with the sellers and users involved, and not with Map. Each user is solely responsible for their own compliance with law, the accuracy of anything they post, the items they buy or sell, and the outcomes of their transactions. Nothing in these Terms transfers to Map any duty, responsibility, or liability of any seller or user.

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Map, LLC and its members, managers, officers, employees, contractors, and agents from and against any and all claims, demands, actions, losses, liabilities, damages, judgments, fines, penalties, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to: (a) your listings, content, items sold or purchased, or transactions; (b) your use or misuse of the Platform; (c) your violation of these Terms or of any law or regulation, including the prohibited items requirements in Section 7; (d) your infringement of any third party’s rights; or (e) any dispute between you and another user. Map reserves the right, at your expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter subject to indemnification by you, and you agree to cooperate with that defense. This obligation survives termination of your account.

Please read this section carefully — it affects your rights. You and Map agree that any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Platform that cannot be resolved informally will be resolved by binding individual arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, rather than in court, except that either party may bring an individual claim in small claims court or seek injunctive relief for infringement or misuse of intellectual property. The arbitration will be conducted in Washington State or, at your election, by videoconference or based on written submissions. The Federal Arbitration Act governs the interpretation and enforcement of this Section.

CLASS ACTION WAIVER: YOU AND MAP EACH WAIVE THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY AND THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION, CLASS ARBITRATION, OR ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIVE OR CONSOLIDATED PROCEEDING. ALL CLAIMS MUST BE BROUGHT IN THE PARTIES’ INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY ONLY.

Before filing an arbitration, the party asserting a claim must first send a written notice of dispute to the other party (for Map: admin@sageandstones.com) and allow 30 days to attempt informal resolution. You may opt out of this arbitration agreement by emailing admin@sageandstones.com within 30 days of first accepting these Terms, stating your name, account email, and intent to opt out. If the class action waiver is found unenforceable as to a particular claim, that claim (and only that claim) must proceed in court, and the remainder of this Section remains in effect.

You may close your account at any time. Map may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, fail to pay fees, or pose a risk to the Platform or its users — including immediate termination for sellers who circumvent the Platform per Section 5 or list prohibited items per Section 7. Upon termination, pending payouts may be held for a reasonable review period, and accrued obligations remain enforceable. Sections 6 (Release), 9, and 11 through 20 survive any termination of your account or these Terms.

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will post the revised version with an updated date. Continued use of Sage after changes take effect constitutes acceptance. Material changes will be communicated through the app or by email where appropriate.

If you access Sage through an app downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play, you acknowledge that these Terms are between you and Map only — not with Apple Inc. or Google LLC — and that Apple and Google have no obligation to provide maintenance or support for the app and no warranty obligation with respect to it. To the extent required, Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of these Terms and may enforce them against you. Your use of the app must also comply with the applicable app store’s terms of service.

Severability. If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, that provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permissible and the remaining provisions will remain in full force.

Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any policies referenced here, are the entire agreement between you and Map regarding the Platform and supersede all prior agreements on that subject.

No Waiver. Map’s failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver of its right to do so later, and no waiver is effective unless in writing.

Assignment. You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your account without Map’s prior written consent. Map may assign these Terms without restriction, including in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.

Force Majeure. Map is not liable for any delay or failure to perform resulting from causes beyond its reasonable control, including acts of God, natural disasters, labor disputes, internet or utility failures, governmental actions, or third-party service outages.

Survival. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination (including disclaimers, limitations of liability, indemnification, release, arbitration, and governing law) survive.

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules. Subject to the arbitration agreement in Section 16, any claim not subject to arbitration must be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Washington State, and you consent to personal jurisdiction and venue there. For questions about these Terms, email admin@sageandstones.com.