The terms and conditions governing your use of RodSmith.
Last Updated: March 2, 2026
These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Rodsmith platform available at rodsmith.app (the “Service”).
By accessing or using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms and the Rodsmith Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, you must not use the Service.
Rodsmith is currently operated by an individual founder. If Rodsmith is formally incorporated in the future, these Terms will be updated to reflect the applicable legal entity.
You must be at least 13 years old to use the Service. By using the Service, you represent and warrant that you meet this requirement.
Certain features require an account. When creating an account, you agree to:
You must notify Rodsmith immediately of any unauthorized use of your account.
To protect your account, Rodsmith records login activity including IP address, device information, and approximate location. This data is used for security monitoring and fraud prevention. See our Privacy Policy for details.
Each user may maintain one account only. Creating multiple accounts without permission is prohibited.
You retain ownership of all content you submit, post, or display through the Service (“User Content”), including articles, build guides, comments, images, and profile information.
By submitting User Content, you grant Rodsmith a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify (for formatting or display), publish, display, distribute, and otherwise make available such content for the purpose of operating, improving, and promoting the Service.
This license continues with respect to content already made public even if your account is deactivated or terminated.
You are solely responsible for your User Content and represent that you have all rights necessary to grant the license described above.
You agree not to use the Service to:
Rodsmith retains discretion to determine whether conduct violates these standards.
Rodsmith reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to:
Rodsmith may, but is not required to, review moderation decisions upon informal appeal. Appeals may be submitted via the contact email listed below. All decisions are final.
Rodsmith does not manufacture, sell, inspect, verify, or endorse fishing rods or related services. Rodsmith facilitates payments between buyers and builders through Stripe, acting as a marketplace intermediary. A platform commission fee may apply to transactions as described during the order process. The quality, safety, and accuracy of listed products and services are the sole responsibility of the builder.
Purchases made through the Rodsmith payment system are eligible for the Buyer Protection Program, provided that: (a) payment was processed entirely through the platform, (b) all communication between buyer and builder was conducted via in-platform messaging, and (c) any claim is filed within the applicable protection window. See our Buyer Protection & FAQ page for full details.
The following protection windows apply from the date delivery is confirmed:
Rodsmith acts as a neutral mediator in disputes between buyers and builders. When a dispute is filed, the builder is notified and has 3 business days to respond and propose a resolution directly with the buyer. If the builder does not respond or the parties cannot reach an agreement, Rodsmith will review the evidence and make a determination. Rodsmith may reverse Stripe transfers or issue refunds to enforce dispute resolutions.
In cases where a builder has disconnected their Stripe account and has no recoverable funds, Rodsmith's liability is limited to 50% of the order value, with a maximum of $300 per order. This cap applies only when the builder's payout cannot be reversed through normal Stripe transfer reversal.
Rodsmith is not an insurer. The Buyer Protection Program provides dispute mediation and enforcement, not insurance coverage. Builders are responsible for insuring their shipments. Damage claims are resolved through the dispute process, not as insurance claims.
Parties agree to use Rodsmith's dispute resolution process before pursuing external remedies. Off-platform transactions, payments, and agreements are not covered by Buyer Protection and are resolved between the parties involved. Rodsmith is not responsible for damages or losses arising from off-platform activity.
The Service may include informational content, recommendations, or future AI-assisted features.
All such content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, technical, safety, or commercial advice. You assume all risk associated with reliance on such information.
The Service is provided “as is” and “as available.” Rodsmith does not guarantee that the Service will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free.
Rodsmith may modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Service at any time without notice.
You may stop using the Service at any time by deleting your account.
Rodsmith may suspend or terminate your access to the Service at any time, with or without notice, for violation of these Terms or to protect the integrity of the Service.
Upon termination:
All rights, title, and interest in the Service (excluding User Content), including software, design, branding, and trademarks, are owned by Rodsmith.
You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or reverse engineer any part of the Service without prior written permission.
The Service is provided without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.
Rodsmith does not warrant that the Service will meet your expectations or operate without interruption or error.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Rodsmith shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising out of or related to your use of the Service.
Rodsmith's total liability for any claim shall not exceed the greater of $100 or the amount paid by you to Rodsmith in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim, if any.
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Rodsmith from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of:
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.
Any legal action arising from these Terms shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in California.
Rodsmith may update these Terms from time to time. Updated Terms will be posted on the Service with a revised “Last Updated” date.
Your continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
For questions or concerns regarding these Terms, please contact:
General: support@rodsmith.app
Privacy: privacy@rodsmith.app