ShroomSpy Contributor Guidelines

Effective Date: March 22, 2025

Last Updated: March 22, 2025

Welcome to ShroomSpy! We’re thrilled to have you as a contributor to our growing marketplace dedicated to mushroom enthusiasts and businesses. Whether you’re a vendor selling mushroom-related products, a content creator sharing knowledge, or a partner enhancing our platform, these Contributor Guidelines (“Guidelines”) outline our expectations to ensure a safe, legal, and thriving community. By participating on ShroomSpy, you agree to follow these Guidelines, alongside our Vendor Agreement and other applicable policies.

1. Who Can Contribute?

Vendors: Individuals or businesses selling mushroom-related products (e.g., grow kits, spores, supplements, equipment) through our marketplace.
Content Creators: Writers, educators, or mycologists sharing blog posts, guides, or educational content.
Partners: Organizations or individuals collaborating on features, promotions, or integrations.
To contribute, you must be at least 18 years old and comply with all applicable laws in your jurisdiction.

2. What We Expect from Contributors

2.1 Quality and Relevance

Contributions must align with ShroomSpy’s mission: connecting mushroom enthusiasts with high-quality, legal products and resources.
Products and content should be accurate, well-crafted, and relevant to mushrooms (e.g., cultivation, foraging, culinary uses, mycology education).
Avoid generic or off-topic submissions that don’t serve our community.

2.2 Legality and Compliance

Prohibited Items: Do not list or promote illegal products, including:
- Controlled substances (e.g., psilocybin mushrooms where prohibited by law).
- Counterfeit goods or items infringing on intellectual property rights.
- Toxic or unsafe products (e.g., misidentified wild mushrooms).
Ensure your contributions comply with local, state, and federal laws, including food safety, labeling, and shipping regulations.
For vendors: Accurately disclose product origins, ingredients, and intended uses.

2.3 Professionalism

Use clear, respectful language in listings, content, and interactions with customers or the ShroomSpy team.
Provide excellent customer service, including timely responses to inquiries and order fulfillment.
Avoid misleading claims (e.g., unverified health benefits) or spammy behavior.

2.4 Originality

Submit only original work or content you have the right to use. Do not plagiarize or infringe on copyrights, trademarks, or patents.
Vendors: Use your own product images and descriptions unless you have permission to use third-party materials.

3. How to Contribute

3.1 For Vendors

Sign Up: Register via our Vendor Signup Form and agree to the Vendor Agreement.
Listings: Create detailed, accurate product listings with high-quality images, descriptions, and pricing. Include shipping details and return policies.
Fulfillment: Process orders promptly and communicate with buyers as needed.

3.2 For Content Creators

Submission: Contact us at [email protected] with your proposal (e.g., article, guide, video idea).
Format: Use clear headings, proper grammar, and a conversational tone suitable for mushroom enthusiasts of all levels.
Review: Our team will review submissions for accuracy and relevance before publishing.

3.3 For Partners

Reach out to [email protected] to discuss collaboration opportunities.
Provide a clear outline of your proposed contribution (e.g., integration, promotion, event).

4. Content and Product Standards

4.1 Product Listings

Titles: Use descriptive, concise titles (e.g., “Lion’s Mane Mushroom Grow Kit”).
Descriptions: Detail what the product is, how it’s used, and any care instructions.
Images: Use high-resolution photos showing the product clearly (no stock images unless permitted).
Pricing: Set fair, competitive prices that reflect the product’s value.

4.2 Educational Content

Accuracy: Base your content on credible sources or personal expertise. Cite sources where applicable.
Safety: Include warnings if discussing wild mushrooms or cultivation risks.
Engagement: Make it accessible and engaging for beginners and experts alike.

5. Prohibited Activities

To maintain a safe and trustworthy platform, the following are not allowed:

Selling or promoting illegal substances or items banned by ShroomSpy policies.
Misrepresenting products (e.g., claiming a mushroom cures diseases without evidence).
Harassing customers, other contributors, or the ShroomSpy team.
Using automated tools to spam listings or content.
Attempting to circumvent ShroomSpy’s fees, policies, or systems.

6. Review and Removal Process

Review: ShroomSpy reserves the right to review all contributions for compliance with these Guidelines.
Removal: We may remove or edit listings, content, or accounts that violate these Guidelines, applicable laws, or our policies, at our sole discretion.
Appeals: If your contribution is removed, you may contact [email protected] to appeal, providing an explanation.

7. Intellectual Property

Ownership: You retain ownership of your original contributions but grant ShroomSpy a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, and promote them on our platform and marketing channels.
ShroomSpy IP: Do not use ShroomSpy’s logos, trademarks, or branding without prior written permission.

8. Benefits of Contributing

Visibility: Reach a targeted audience of mushroom enthusiasts and businesses.
Support: Access our vendor tools, resources, and customer support.
Community: Join a passionate network of mycology advocates.

9. Updates to These Guidelines

We may update these Guidelines as our platform evolves. Changes will be posted here with an updated “Last Updated” date. Continued participation after updates signifies your acceptance of the revised terms.

10. Contact Us

Questions or feedback? Reach out to us:

Email: [email protected]
Address: 1500 Anise Dr, Austin, TX 78741

Thank you for contributing to ShroomSpy! Let’s grow the mushroom community together.