Terms of Service

1. Introduction

Welcome to Shelf Checkout ("we," "us," or "our"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the Shelf Checkout mobile application (the "App"). By using the App, you agree to these Terms.

If you don't agree with these Terms, please don't use the App.

2. What Shelf Checkout Does

Shelf Checkout helps parents make informed decisions about books for their families. We use artificial intelligence to analyze book content and provide age-appropriate recommendations.

Here's what you need to know about how it works:

AI-Generated Content Analysis

Our content analysis is generated by Claude, an artificial intelligence model created by Anthropic. This means:

• No human reviews each book — the AI reads and analyzes content automatically
• AI can make mistakes — just like any tool, it's not perfect
• Analysis is based on the AI's understanding — it may miss context or interpret things differently than you would
• Results should be used as guidance — not as the final word on what's appropriate for your family

Spoiler Warning

Content analysis may reveal plot points, story elements, and outcomes from the books being analyzed. If you want to avoid spoilers for yourself, be aware that our analysis is designed to give parents the information they need to make decisions — which sometimes means revealing key story elements.

3. Your Responsibility as a Parent

You are solely responsible for deciding what your children read.

Shelf Checkout is a tool to help you make informed decisions, but it is not a substitute for your own judgment. Every family has different values, sensitivities, and maturity levels. What's appropriate for one child may not be appropriate for another, even at the same age.

By using this App, you acknowledge that:

• You will review our recommendations and make your own decisions
• You understand that AI analysis has limitations
• You won't rely solely on our App without exercising your own judgment
• You're responsible for monitoring your children's reading choices

4. Privacy & Data Storage

Your family's information stays on your device. We designed Shelf Checkout with privacy as a top priority:

• Reader profiles (kids' names, ages, content preferences) are stored only on your device
• Personal reading lists never leave your device
• No accounts required — you don't need to give us your email or create a login

For details on what limited data we do collect, see our Privacy Policy.

5. Community Feedback

You can help improve Shelf Checkout by submitting feedback about book analysis accuracy. When you do:

What You're Agreeing To

• We can use your feedback to improve the AI analysis for everyone
• Feedback is anonymous unless you choose to provide your email
• Your feedback may be aggregated with others' feedback to train and refine our system
• You're reporting accurately — don't submit false or misleading feedback

What We Ask From You

• Be honest and constructive
• Focus on accuracy (not just whether you personally disagree with content)
• Don't spam the system with duplicate reports
• Don't use feedback to harass, bully, or promote inappropriate content

6. Acceptable Use

You agree to use Shelf Checkout responsibly:

You May:

• Use the App to scan books for your own family
• Submit honest feedback about content analysis
• Share your experience with friends and family

You May Not:

• Abuse the feedback reporting system
• Attempt to reverse-engineer or hack the App
• Use automated tools (bots, scrapers) to access the App
• Submit false, misleading, or malicious feedback
• Use the App for any illegal purpose
• Attempt to overwhelm or damage our systems

7. Limitation of Liability

We provide Shelf Checkout "as is" with no guarantees.

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

• No warranty of accuracy — we don't guarantee that AI analysis is correct, complete, or appropriate for your family
• No warranty of availability — the App may have downtime, bugs, or interruptions
• You use at your own risk — we're not liable for decisions you make based on our analysis
• No consequential damages — we're not responsible for indirect harm

In simple terms: We're building a helpful tool for parents, but you're still the parent. We're not responsible if the AI gets something wrong or if you rely on it instead of your own judgment.

What We ARE Responsible For

This limitation doesn't affect any rights you have under consumer protection laws that can't be waived by contract. If we're grossly negligent or intentionally harmful, normal liability rules apply.

8. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do:

• We'll update the "Last Updated" date at the top
• If changes are significant, we'll notify you in the App
• Continuing to use the App after changes means you accept the new Terms

We recommend checking this page occasionally to stay informed.

9. Termination

We hope you'll love using Shelf Checkout, but either of us can end this relationship:

You Can Stop Using the App Anytime

Just delete it from your device. Since everything is stored locally, that's it.

We Can Suspend or Terminate Your Access If:

• You violate these Terms (especially acceptable use rules)
• You abuse the feedback reporting system
• You attempt to harm or interfere with the App
• We're required to do so by law

If we terminate your access, you must stop using the App immediately.

10. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina, USA, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Any disputes will be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Wake County, North Carolina. You consent to the personal jurisdiction of those courts.

11. Miscellaneous

• Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and us regarding the App.
• Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the rest of the Terms remain in full effect.
• No Waiver: Our failure to enforce any right or provision doesn't mean we're waiving that right.
• Assignment: You can't transfer your rights under these Terms to anyone else. We can transfer ours to a successor or affiliate.

12. Contact Us

Questions about these Terms? Reach out:

Email: support@shelf-checkout.com