name: Meetup Safety and Assumption of Risk slug: safety version: 1.0.0 effective_date: TBD-pre-publication last_updated: 2026-05-09

Meetup Safety and Assumption of Risk

Effective Date: TBD (pre-publication) Version: 1.0.0 Last Updated: May 9, 2026

IMPORTANT: By using ShareFree, you agree to the Express Release and Assumption of Risk in Section 10 below. Read it carefully. It gives up legal claims you might otherwise have against ShareFree.

Plain-English Summary

ShareFree doesn't screen anyone. We do not run background checks, verify identities, inspect items, or supervise meetups. You decide whether to meet a counterparty, where, and on what terms. You assume the risks of meeting strangers in person and of taking possession of items you have not independently verified. If something feels wrong, Block the user. If it violates our rules, Report them. If you are in danger, call 911. Read Section 10 — it is the legal release you agree to by using ShareFree to arrange a meetup.

This document is incorporated by reference into the Terms of Service and is presented as a non-dismissable acknowledgment the first time you create a claim. It works alongside the Acceptable Use Policy, the Community Guidelines, the Privacy Policy, and our Law Enforcement Guidelines.

1. What ShareFree Is and Is Not

ShareFree is a communication platform that lets neighbors in the same area find each other to exchange goods. It is an online tool — nothing more. Every interaction beyond the platform is between the users involved.

ShareFree does NOT:

Verify any user's identity, legal name, age, address, or photograph
Run background checks of any kind
Confirm criminal history, sex-offender status, restraining orders, or court records
Verify the condition, authenticity, provenance, recall status, or legal status of any listed item
Inspect items for defects, contamination, mold, pests, lead, asbestos, sharp edges, electrical faults, or any other hazard
Test, sanitize, certify, repair, or refurbish any item
Supervise meetups in person, by video, by audio, or in any other form
Provide security, escort, or any physical-presence service at exchange locations
Mediate disputes between users in real time
Provide insurance for items, persons, transactions, or any other purpose
Have any duty to warn about the general risks of meeting strangers in person
Operate a 24/7 monitoring center or emergency-response capability
Guarantee that ratings, badges, or any platform indicator reflects the safety, honesty, or character of any user

ShareFree IS:

A listing and messaging service that helps people find each other locally
An interactive computer service operating with the immunities and protections of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and analogous state and federal safe-harbor provisions
A platform on which users — not ShareFree — generate and consume the content, ratings, claims, and listings
An online tool. Every meetup is a face-to-face interaction between independent adults who chose, of their own accord, to meet. ShareFree is not a participant in that meeting.

If you expect or want a service that screens, vouches for, or vouches for the safety of other users, ShareFree is not that service, and you should not use it.

2. Your Responsibility to Vet the Other User

You — and only you — decide whether to proceed with any meetup. Before you confirm a claim, share an address, or agree to meet, you should:

Read the user's profile — display name, bio, join date, listing history
Read their ratings and rating count — a user with three five-star ratings is not the same as a user with thirty
Read prior message exchanges in full — including yours with this user and any patterns visible across listings they have posted
Check whether they have a verified community membership — and remember that a community badge means a moderator approved their join request, not that ShareFree vouches for them
Notice red flags:
- Brand-new account with no ratings
- Profile with no listings or only one listing
- Evasive, contradictory, or scripted-sounding messages
- Pressure tactics ("decide now," "before someone else takes it," "I'm only in town today")
- Requests to move communication off-platform (text, WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, email)
- Requests for cash, cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfers, "deposits," "shipping," or "processing fees"
- Requests for unusual personal information (Social Security number, bank details, copies of ID, your work address)
- Insistence on meeting at an unusual time or remote location
- Mismatched details — a profile photo that doesn't match a video call, a name that changes between messages, a story that shifts
Search public records yourself if you want to. ShareFree will not do this for you, and we will not do it on your behalf if you ask.
Trust your gut. If something feels wrong, cancel. You owe no one — not the counterparty, not ShareFree — an explanation.

Ratings, reputation scores, response-time stats, and community-verification badges on ShareFree are user-generated and unverified. They are presented as information about how other users have interacted with a person, not as a recommendation by ShareFree. A high rating does not mean a user is safe, honest, or non-violent. A clean record on ShareFree says nothing about a person's record off-platform.

3. Recommended Practices (Informational Only — Not a Duty of Care)

These are suggestions, not promises. ShareFree does not guarantee that following any of them will keep you safe, and we do not adopt a duty by listing them. Use them as starting points, not as a checklist that limits the disclaimers in §10.

Meet in a public location during daylight. Avoid first meetups after dark.
Use a safe-exchange zone at your local police station. Many Texas police departments host them — Plano, Frisco, Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Fort Worth, and Arlington all have programs, often with 24/7 cameras and signage. Search "[your city] safe exchange zone" or call your non-emergency police line.
Bring a friend or family member. A second adult is a deterrent.
Use porch pickup or a public meetup instead of inviting a stranger to your home, and consider whether even your front porch is somewhere you want a stranger standing.
Inspect items in person before you confirm the exchange as complete. If the item doesn't match the listing, decline.
Keep messaging on-platform. Off-platform messaging removes our records, our spam filters, our message scanning, and our ability to act on a report.
Never pay or accept cash for "deposits," "shipping fees," "holding fees," or "processing fees." Listings on ShareFree are free. If money is changing hands, that arrangement is between you and the counterparty and ShareFree is not involved.
Do not share more personal information than the exchange requires. A first name and a meetup address are usually enough; full legal name, date of birth, employer, and home address are not.
If you drive to the meetup, lock your car and keep valuables out of sight. If you walk, share your live location with someone you trust.
Tell someone where you're going and when you expect to return. Set a check-in time.
Have an exit plan. If you arrive and the situation looks wrong — different car, different person, additional people, an interior location you didn't agree to — leave.

None of these create a duty of ShareFree to enforce them, audit them, or remind you of them. They are ideas, not safety guarantees.

ShareFree gives you three pickup options. You choose which one to use on each claim:

Porch pickup — the address you choose is shared with the counterparty when you confirm the claim.
Meetup — a location you choose (a parking lot, a safe-exchange zone, a coffee shop) is shared with the counterparty when you confirm.
None — you message to coordinate without ShareFree disclosing any address. You decide whether and how to share an address in chat.

Once you confirm a claim with porch or meetup, the address is disclosed to the counterparty. ShareFree captures a snapshot of the address at the moment of confirmation and stores it as part of the claim record so the two of you have a shared reference. After disclosure, ShareFree has no control over how the counterparty uses, copies, photographs, screenshots, or further shares the address. Treat any address you share as permanently disclosed to that user.

Never share an address you don't want a counterparty to know. If you would not be comfortable with the counterparty driving by your house tomorrow, do not share your home address — use a meetup instead.

5. Block First, Report Second

You have two distinct tools, and they do different things:

Block is your immediate, unilateral remedy. The other user is not notified. Blocked users cannot message you, claim your listings, see your new listings in their feed, or interact with you on the platform. You do not need a reason and you do not need to justify it.
Report is for ShareFree to act on a policy violation. Reports are reviewed by humans and may be auto-prioritized by AI. False or coordinated reports cost you reporting privileges — see the Acceptable Use Policy.

Use both when the situation warrants. They are not mutually exclusive. Block to make the user go away from your experience; Report so we can act at the account level.

If you Block someone after a confirmed claim, the claim record remains for both parties (we cannot rewrite history), but no further messaging or claims between you will be possible.

6. Emergencies — Call 911

ShareFree has no emergency response capability. We are not a security service, not a dispatcher, not a 24/7 monitored line, not a guard service. We do not have anyone available to intervene in real time, and we never will.

If you are in immediate danger:

Call 911 (or your local emergency number outside the United States).
In Texas, dial *55 from a cellphone to reach the Texas Department of Public Safety on highways.
After the immediate danger has passed and you are safe, you can also report to ShareFree at support@sharefree.org so we can take account-level action against the other user. Reporting to ShareFree is not a substitute for calling 911 and never will be.

We will cooperate with law enforcement under valid legal process. See our Law Enforcement Guidelines for the records we retain and the process required to obtain them.

7. Communicable Disease, Allergens, and Item Defects

You assume the risk of the following hazards inherent in meeting another person and accepting physical property from them:

Communicable disease exposure, including but not limited to COVID-19, influenza, RSV, norovirus, MRSA, tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV, monkeypox, measles, and any future pandemic, epidemic, or endemic illness, whether currently known to medical science or not
Allergens on, in, or around any listed item — food allergens (nuts, dairy, gluten, shellfish, soy), environmental allergens (pet dander, pollen, mold spores), chemical allergens (fragrances, latex, dyes, cleaning agents), and any other substance to which a person may be sensitive
Defects, contamination, mold, pests (bedbugs, cockroaches, rodents, fleas, lice), lead, asbestos, formaldehyde, flame retardants, BPA, lithium-battery hazards, sharp edges, pinch points, electrical faults, gas leaks, and recall status of any item
Food safety risk for any food, beverage, supplement, baby formula, baked good, or home-prepared item shared between users — ShareFree does not certify any kitchen, refrigerator, sourcing, or handling
Any other physical, chemical, biological, or environmental hazard inherent in physical property changing hands between strangers

Inspect every item in person before you accept the exchange as complete. Refuse anything that looks, smells, feels, or seems wrong. ShareFree does not test, certify, sanitize, refurbish, repair, or guarantee the safety of any item, ever, under any circumstance.

8. Minors

Never bring a minor to a meetup with a stranger. A first-time, in-person meeting with a counterparty arranged on ShareFree is not appropriate for a child to attend.
Never agree to meet a counterparty you suspect is under 18. If you suspect a minor has registered for ShareFree or is messaging you, contact support@sharefree.org immediately. Do not meet, do not transact, do not share an address.
Listings intended for or appealing primarily to minors (children's clothing, school supplies, infant gear, toys) should be coordinated through the minor's parent or guardian — never directly with the minor. The adult coordinating is the user; the minor is not.
ShareFree is for adults 18 and older. Users under 18 are not permitted on the platform. See the Terms of Service for the age requirement.

9. Meetup Locations — Practical Guidance

Some locations are demonstrably safer than others. The following is informational only:

Safe-exchange zones at police stations are ideal — many have 24/7 cameras, signage, and a marked parking spot. They are the recommended default for any first meetup with a new counterparty.
Retail parking lots during business hours are second-best — well-lit, cameras, foot traffic. Bank, grocery store, and big-box retail lots are typical choices.
Coffee shops, libraries, post offices, and city-hall lobbies are acceptable for small items that can be exchanged on a tabletop.
Avoid:
- Private homes you have never been to
- Private homes of users you have never met before
- Parks or trails after dark, or any location without lighting
- Isolated industrial areas, self-storage facilities after hours, construction sites, abandoned lots
- The buyer's or seller's vehicle interior
- Hotel rooms, motel rooms, short-term rentals, or any private indoor space
- Any location the counterparty insists on without explanation
Vehicle exchanges: only at safe-exchange zones; verify VIN, title, and lien status before any money changes hands; ShareFree does not facilitate vehicle title transfer, registration, or DMV process and is not a party to any vehicle sale.
Large items requiring help loading: bring your own help. Do not enter the counterparty's vehicle, garage, basement, attic, shed, or storage unit to assist. If a listing genuinely requires entering an enclosed space, reconsider whether the listing is worth it, and at minimum bring a second adult.
Curbside / "leave it on the porch" handoffs for free items are fine if both parties agree and the giver is comfortable disclosing the address — but the address-disclosure rules in §4 still apply.

10. EXPRESS RELEASE AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK

Read this section carefully. By using ShareFree to arrange or attend any meetup or pickup, or to share an address with a counterparty, you give up legal claims you might otherwise have against ShareFree. This release is conspicuous, deliberate, and supported by consideration (your access to the Service).

To the maximum extent permitted by Texas law and the law of your jurisdiction, you (on behalf of yourself, your heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, and any person claiming through you or by reason of any relationship with you) hereby RELEASE, WAIVE, DISCHARGE, AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE ShareFree, its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, shareholders, members, employees, agents, contractors, advisors, volunteers, moderators, insurers, attorneys, and successors and assigns (collectively, the "Released Parties") from any and all liability, claims, demands, actions, causes of action, suits, costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and court costs), losses, or damages of any nature, whether known or unknown, anticipated or unanticipated, foreseen or unforeseen, of any kind whatsoever, arising out of or related to:

(a) any meetup, pickup, exchange, in-person interaction, attempted meetup, or arranged meetup that did not occur, in connection with the Service;

(b) the conduct, identity, character, criminal history, mental state, intentions, statements, omissions, or representations of any other user, whether before, during, or after a meetup;

(c) the condition, authenticity, provenance, safety, fitness for purpose, recall status, regulatory status, or legal status of any item exchanged or attempted to be exchanged;

(d) personal injury, including death, suffered by you, by any person you bring to a meetup, by any minor, by any animal, or by any third party present at or near a meetup;

(e) property damage, theft, loss, conversion, vandalism, or destruction of personal property, vehicles, real property, fixtures, or anything else of value;

(f) communicable disease exposure, infection, or transmission, including without limitation COVID-19, influenza, RSV, norovirus, tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV, measles, monkeypox, and any future pandemic, epidemic, or endemic illness, whether currently known to medical science or not;

(g) assault, battery, robbery, sexual assault, sexual harassment, harassment, stalking, doxing, false imprisonment, kidnapping, or any other criminal conduct by another user, by an associate of another user, or by a third party encountered at or near a meetup;

(h) food-borne illness, allergic reaction, anaphylaxis, chemical exposure, environmental exposure, lead exposure, asbestos exposure, mold exposure, or pest infestation (including bedbugs, cockroaches, rodents, fleas, lice) attributable to any item;

(i) traffic accidents, collisions, or transportation-related injuries on the way to, during, or returning from a meetup;

(j) harm caused by a pet, animal, or other living creature involved in a listing or present at a meetup, including bites, scratches, allergic reactions, or zoonotic disease;

(k) false advertising, misrepresentation, fraud, scam, breach of any side agreement, or non-delivery between you and the other user; and

(l) any harm, loss, or claim of any kind not specifically enumerated above but arising out of or related to the use of the Service or the conduct of any user.

You expressly assume all risk of the foregoing, whether the risk is foreseeable or unforeseeable, and whether or not caused in whole or in part by the negligence of any Released Party. You agree that this release applies even if the harm is caused by the ordinary negligence of a Released Party. You agree that you have had the opportunity to read this release in full, that you understand it, and that you are entering into it knowingly and voluntarily in exchange for the right to use the Service.

This release does not purport to release Released Parties from claims based on gross negligence, willful or wanton misconduct, intentional torts, or any liability that cannot be released as a matter of law in your jurisdiction. To the extent any portion of this release is held unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder shall remain in full force and effect, and the unenforceable portion shall be reformed to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable while preserving the parties' intent.

This release is knowingly and voluntarily entered into by you. It is conspicuous (presented as a non-dismissable acknowledgment at first claim and incorporated by reference into the Terms of Service); it clearly identifies the Released Parties by category; it clearly identifies the categories of risk released; it uses plain risk language a non-lawyer can understand; and it is supported by consideration (your continued access to the Service at no charge for the listing-and-messaging functions).

11. Indemnification

You agree to INDEMNIFY, DEFEND, AND HOLD HARMLESS the Released Parties from any third-party claim, suit, demand, investigation, judgment, settlement, cost, loss, damage, fine, penalty, or expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees, expert fees, and court costs) arising out of or related to:

(a) any meetup, pickup, exchange, or in-person interaction you arrange, attend, facilitate, decline, or fail to attend;

(b) any harm, injury, damage, or loss you cause, contribute to, threaten, or fail to mitigate, involving another user, a third party, an animal, or any property;

(c) any breach by you of these Terms, the Acceptable Use Policy, the Community Guidelines, the Privacy Policy, or any applicable federal, state, local, or foreign law in connection with a meetup or your use of the Service;

(d) any content you post, message you send, listing you create, claim you make, rating you leave, or report you file;

(e) any claim that your use of the Service infringed the rights of a third party (intellectual property, privacy, publicity, or otherwise); and

(f) any tax, regulatory, or licensing obligation arising out of an exchange you conducted through the Service.

ShareFree may, at its sole option, assume the defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you, in which case you agree to cooperate fully and at your own expense. You will not settle any matter that imposes any obligation on a Released Party (including admission of fault, payment, or injunctive relief) without ShareFree's prior written consent.

12. No Duty of Care

The recommendations in Section 3 (Recommended Practices), Section 7 (Communicable Disease, Allergens, Defects), Section 8 (Minors), and Section 9 (Meetup Locations) of this document are informational only. ShareFree does not undertake, and expressly disclaims, any duty to:

Monitor meetups in person, by camera, by audio, by GPS, or by any other means
Verify that any location is "safe," lit, monitored, supervised, or otherwise suitable
Confirm any participant's identity, age, criminal history, or intent
Test, inspect, certify, or warrant the safety of any item
Be present, virtually or physically, during any exchange
Respond to safety concerns, reports, or messages within any specific timeframe
Intervene in any dispute, conflict, or emergency
Warn users of risks specific to a particular counterparty, location, item, or circumstance
Update the recommendations in this document as circumstances change

Posting safety recommendations does not create a duty under Texas law. Texas courts have repeatedly held that providing information, recommendations, or "best practices" does not, without more, create a duty of care running to the recipient. See, e.g., Otis Engineering Corp. v. Clark, 668 S.W.2d 307 (Tex. 1983) (duty arises from special relationship or affirmative undertaking, not from general information); Doe v. Boys Clubs of Greater Dallas, Inc., 907 S.W.2d 472 (Tex. 1995) (no duty to investigate criminal history of volunteers absent special relationship). ShareFree is an interactive computer service, not a custodian, escort, mediator, or guarantor. No special relationship exists between ShareFree and any user beyond the licensee–licensor relationship described in the Terms of Service.

The recommendations in this document are a courtesy. Your safety is your responsibility.

Cross-References

This document works alongside, and is incorporated by reference into:

Terms of Service — the master agreement
Acceptable Use Policy — what conduct is prohibited
Community Guidelines — community-level expectations and moderator authority
Privacy Policy — what we collect and how we use it
Law Enforcement Guidelines — records retention and legal-process requirements

Where this document and another document conflict, the document with the more specific provision controls. Where both speak generally, the Terms of Service controls.

Acknowledgment

By tapping "I understand" on the meetup-safety acknowledgment screen, by creating your first claim, by sharing an address through the Service, or by attending any meetup arranged through the Service, you acknowledge that you have read this document in full, that you understand it, and that you agree to the release in Section 10 and the indemnification in Section 11.

If you do not agree, do not create a claim, do not share an address, and do not attend a meetup. You may continue to browse listings and read public content without agreeing to this document, but the meetup, claim, and address-sharing functions will be unavailable to you.

Questions about this document should be directed to support@sharefree.org. We do not provide legal advice and we cannot tell you whether any particular meetup is safe — that is your decision to make.