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Community Guidelines

Last updated: May 2026

CityTides is a local venue for neighbors to buy, sell, and connect. We don't handle payments, ship items, or take part in any deal — those happen directly between users. These guidelines keep the marketplace honest and safe. They supplement our Terms of Service; if anything here conflicts with the Terms, the Terms control.

1. Posting Rules

Listings that follow these rules go live faster and sell better. When you post, please:

  • Be honest. Use your real first name or a consistent nickname, and describe items truthfully — condition, age, flaws and all.
  • Use your own photos. Show the actual item with clear, well-lit pictures. No stock photos, catalog images, or pictures that are only text.
  • One item, one listing. Don't post the same item multiple times or across several categories — it just clutters the board.
  • Price and locate it accurately. List the real price and the right area so local buyers can find you. Don't stuff titles with keywords to game search.
  • Keep contact info off the listing. Your email is used only to verify you and is never shown publicly. Don't paste phone numbers, emails, or addresses into titles, descriptions, or photos.
  • Sell real, tangible things (or legitimate local services/housing in their categories). No ads-for-the-sake-of-ads, spam, multi-level-marketing pitches, "get rich quick" offers, or links redirecting people off CityTides.
  • Respond like a real person. If you post, be willing to actually reply to interested neighbors.

2. Prohibited Items

Some things aren't allowed on CityTides — because they're illegal, unsafe, fraud-prone, or simply not in the spirit of a neighborhood marketplace. You may not post:

  • Weapons & dangerous items — firearms (including replicas, parts, and ammunition), explosives and fireworks, and self-defense weapons like mace, tasers, or brass knuckles. Also prohibited: switchblades, butterfly knives, and other automatic/disguised knives. (Ordinary kitchen, pocket, and multi-tool knives are fine.)
  • Drugs, alcohol & tobacco — illegal drugs, prescription medications, cannabis and CBD products, alcohol, tobacco, vapes/e-cigarettes, and drug paraphernalia.
  • Live animals & wildlife products — no live animals of any kind, and nothing made from protected or endangered wildlife (ivory, certain furs, shells, etc.).
  • Stolen, counterfeit, or illegal goods — stolen or found property, counterfeits and knock-offs, bootlegs, fake IDs or documents, items containing someone's sensitive personal info, locked/blacklisted phones or devices, and catalytic converters.
  • Hazardous materials — poisons, radioactive materials, regulated chemicals and pesticides, refrigerants, and airbags sold separately from a vehicle.
  • Recalled items — anything subject to a manufacturer or federal safety recall. When in doubt, check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
  • Adult & explicit content — pornography, nudity, sexual or fetish items, and adult services.
  • Medical & healthcare items — anything requiring a prescription, used cosmetics or applicators, needles, and listings claiming to cure or prevent disease.
  • High-fraud goods — gift cards and reloadable cards, account transfers, codes, and "mystery box" listings.
  • Hateful or offensive material — items or text promoting hatred, violence, or discrimination, or that glorify hate groups.

This list isn't exhaustive. CityTides may remove anything we believe is unsafe, unlawful, or inappropriate for the community.

3. Community Conduct

A good local marketplace runs on basic decency. We ask everyone to:

  • Treat people with respect. No harassment, threats, hate speech, slurs, or sharing someone's private information.
  • Communicate honestly. If you change your mind, your plans, or you've sold the item, just say so — a quick message goes a long way.
  • Don't pressure or pile on. No badgering a seller or buyer, lowball harassment, or comments that have nothing to do with the item.
  • Represent yourself truthfully and don't impersonate anyone else.

4. Safety Tips

CityTides isn't part of your transaction, so your safety is in your hands. These are suggestions, not guarantees — but they prevent the most common problems:

  • Meet in public. Choose a well-lit, busy spot in daylight. Many police stations offer "safe exchange" parking areas.
  • Bring someone along when you can, and let a friend know where you're going.
  • Inspect before you pay. Touch, test, and look the item over. Once cash changes hands, treat the sale as final unless you've agreed otherwise.
  • Use payment you trust. Cash or a familiar app is safest. Never wire money or pay by Western Union, MoneyGram, or gift cards — those are classic scam signals.
  • Be careful with deposits, holds, and shipping. CityTides never collects, holds, or refunds money. Any deposit or shipping arrangement is between you and the other person, at your own risk.
  • Keep personal and financial details private until you've decided to do business.
  • Trust your gut. If something feels off, walk away. No deal is worth your safety.

5. Enforcement & Reporting

All listings are reviewed before going live and auto-expire after 30 days. CityTides may remove any listing or restrict any account, at our discretion, with or without notice — though we have no obligation to monitor content.

See a listing that breaks these rules? Tap the 🚩 Report button on the listing. After a few reports, a listing is automatically hidden pending review. Reporting helps keep the whole community safer.

6. A Note on Scope

CityTides is available only within the continental United States. By posting or messaging, you agree to these guidelines and our Terms of Service.