Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms & Eligibility

These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User", "Customer", or "Vendor") and DOOCAL ("we", "our", or "us"), governing your access to and use of the DOOCAL mobile application, website, and related backend services (collectively, the "Service").

By downloading, installing, registering an account, or accessing the Service, you signify your full agreement to these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must immediately refrain from accessing or using the Service.

You represent and warrant that you are at least 18 years of age and legally competent to enter into a binding contract under applicable laws in India.

2. Description of the Service

DOOCAL operates as a hyperlocal discovery and communication platform:

• For Customers: Customers can create product inquiries ("Requests") specifying product descriptions, item categories, reference images, and optional budget ranges. These requests are broadcast to verified vendors registered in relevant categories within a local radius (up to 10 km).
• For Vendors: Local store owners and authorized merchants ("Vendors") receive incoming notifications for customer inquiries matching their registered shop categories, review customer specifications, and respond with quotes detailing item availability, offered price, optional notes, and product images.
• Intermediary Only: DOOCAL acts exclusively as a technology intermediary facilitating discovery and initial price communication. DOOCAL is not a party to any contract of sale.

3. Account Registration & Authentication

• Phone & OTP Verification: To use DOOCAL, you must provide a valid Indian mobile phone number and verify ownership via a One-Time Password (OTP). You agree to provide true, accurate, and current information.
• Account Security: You are responsible for safeguarding your device and account access. Any action conducted under your authenticated phone number is considered authorized by you.
• Vendor Verification: Vendors must represent genuine, operating physical storefronts or commercial enterprises. DOOCAL reserves the right to review, approve, reject, or request proof of identity or business registration for vendor accounts.

4. Customer Guidelines & Responsibilities

• Inquiries posted on DOOCAL must represent genuine purchase intent for lawful goods and services.
• Customers must not create frivolous, repetitive, malicious, or deceptive product requests.
• When interacting with vendors, visiting store locations, or communicating via phone or quotes, customers agree to interact professionally, courteously, and respectfully.
• Acceptance of an offer on DOOCAL indicates an expression of interest to visit the store or contact the vendor; it does not constitute a completed commercial transaction until concluded offline.

5. Vendor Obligations & Store Conduct

• Accurate Representations: Vendors must ensure that prices, product availability, warranties, and product descriptions provided in quotes are honest, accurate, and honored if the customer visits within the agreed timeframe.
• Physical Store Ownership: Vendors agree to maintain accurate physical store coordinates, addresses, operating hours, and contact details to ensure customer navigation remains dependable.
• Customer Interactions: Vendors must treat customers with professionalism and honesty, and must not engage in bait-and-switch pricing or deceptive trade practices.

6. Offline Transactions, Payments & Zero Commission

DOOCAL does not process payments or retain commissions on sales:

• In-Store Settlements: All payments (cash, UPI, credit/debit card, or other methods) are transacted directly between the Customer and the Vendor at the vendor's physical store premises or upon mutually agreed offline exchange.
• No Financial Custody: DOOCAL does not collect, hold in escrow, or intermediate money for product sales. We charge no transaction commissions on purchases arranged through the app.
• Inspection, Guarantees & Returns: The inspection of goods, verification of authenticity, issuance of tax invoices/receipts, exchange policies, and manufacturer warranties are solely the responsibility of the vendor and customer. DOOCAL accepts no liability for defects, delays, non-delivery, or dissatisfaction arising from physical purchases.

7. Push Notifications & Communications

• Consent to Notifications: By registering with DOOCAL and enabling notification permissions on your device (including Android 13+ runtime permissions), you consent to receive direct push notifications dispatched via Google Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM).
• Notification Types: Notifications include transactional updates (e.g., incoming customer requests for vendors, vendor quotes received for customers, offer acceptance alerts) and administrative broadcast announcements.
• Opt-Out: You can disable push notifications at any time via your mobile operating system settings. Note that disabling notifications may delay alerts regarding time-sensitive inquiries and quotes.

8. Location Services & Map Navigation

• Foreground Location Usage: Hyperlocal matching requires device location permissions to connect requests with vendors within up to 10 km. DOOCAL only accesses your location in the foreground when actively using the app.
• Third-Party Navigation: Directions to vendor storefronts utilize third-party navigation providers (such as Google Maps or Apple Maps). DOOCAL does not guarantee the continuous accuracy of street layouts, real-time traffic conditions, or store operating hours. Users are responsible for safe driving and navigation.

9. Prohibited Items & Activities

Users (both Customers and Vendors) shall not use DOOCAL to request, quote, advertise, or transact:

• Counterfeit, pirated, or stolen merchandise;
• Illegal drugs, prescription pharmaceuticals, narcotics, or dangerous substances;
• Firearms, explosives, hazardous chemicals, or dangerous weapons;
• Adult, pornographic, sexually explicit, or obscene material;
• Any item or service prohibited under the Information Technology Act, 2000, or other applicable Indian laws;
• Defamatory, obscene, harassing, abusive, fraudulent, or hateful communications;
• Automated scripts, web scrapers, reverse engineering, or intentional disruption of DOOCAL servers and infrastructure.

10. Intellectual Property & User Content

• Platform Rights: All intellectual property rights in the DOOCAL application, branding, logos, graphics, and underlying software are owned by DOOCAL and protected by copyright and intellectual property laws.
• User-Submitted Media: You retain ownership of images, descriptions, and text you upload. By submitting content to DOOCAL, you grant us a royalty-free, worldwide license to host, display, and transmit that content solely for operating and promoting the Service. You represent that you have all necessary rights to upload such content without infringing third-party intellectual property rights.

11. Account Deletion & Termination

• Voluntary Deletion: You may permanently delete your account and associated personal data at any time directly through the mobile application settings or via our public web deletion portal at doocal-app.onrender.com/delete-account.
• Termination by DOOCAL: We reserve the right to immediately suspend, restrict, or terminate account access for any user who violates these Terms, engages in deceptive practices, or harms the integrity of the platform, without prior notice or liability.

12. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. DOOCAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ACCURACY OF INVENTORY, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE.

13. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, DOOCAL, ITS DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, GOODWILL, OR DISPUTES ARISING OUT OF OFFLINE COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN CUSTOMERS AND VENDORS.

14. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless DOOCAL and its officers, directors, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your breach of these Terms, your misuse of the Service, or your transactions with other users.

15. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of India. Any legal dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or in connection with these Terms or the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts located in Surat, Gujarat, India.

16. Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to revise or modify these Terms at any time. When revisions occur, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this document. Continued use of DOOCAL following any changes indicates your acknowledgment and acceptance of the revised Terms.

17. Contact & Grievance Redressal