Terms of Service

Bench is a marketplace that helps customers find independent repair technicians and shops (“Shops”) and arrange repairs and related services. Bench is a venue and an intermediary only. We do not perform repairs, we do not sell parts or devices, and we are not a party to any agreement between a customer and a Shop. Any repair, quote, price, warranty, or service is offered solely by the Shop, and the agreement for that work is directly between the customer and the Shop. We do not employ, control, endorse, or guarantee any Shop or the quality, legality, safety, or timeliness of their work.

You must be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority where you live) to use the Service. You are responsible for the accuracy of the information you provide, for keeping your login credentials secure, and for all activity under your account. Tell us promptly if you suspect unauthorized use. We may refuse, suspend, or terminate accounts at our discretion, including for any violation of these Terms.

If you operate a Shop, you are solely responsible for your listings, prices, descriptions, photos, services, communications, and for performing the work you agree to do. You represent that you hold any licenses, permits, registrations, and insurance your business requires, that your listings are accurate and not misleading, and that you will comply with all applicable laws, including consumer-protection, warranty, and tax laws. You, not Bench, are the merchant of record for your services and are responsible for collecting and remitting any applicable taxes.

You keep ownership of the content you submit (listings, photos, messages, reviews, profile text). By submitting it, you grant Bench a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, store, display, reproduce, and distribute that content as needed to operate and promote the Service. You represent that you have the rights to the content you submit and that it does not violate these Terms or any law. You are responsible for your content; Bench is not.

Payments are processed by Stripe through Stripe Connect. By using payment features you also agree to the Stripe Connected Account Agreement. When a customer pays a Shop through the Service, Bench charges the customer a flat Bench Fee equal to 4% of the quoted price (capped at $50 per transaction), added at checkout on top of the Shop’s quote. This rate is the same for every order, regardless of how the customer reached the Shop. In addition, when Bench connected the customer to the Shop, Bench charges the Shop a finder’s fee equal to 4% of the quoted price, deducted from the Shop’s payout; the Shop pays no finder’s fee when it brought the customer itself. Both fees are always shown before payment. Where no finder’s fee applies, the Shop receives the full quoted amount plus any tax collected. The Shop is responsible for the standard payment processing fees charged by our payment processor (Stripe) and for remitting any applicable taxes. Bench does not store full card numbers. Prices, quotes, deposits, diagnostic fees, refunds, returns, warranties, and dispute resolution are set and handled by the Shop, not by Bench. Any refund or chargeback is between the customer and the Shop; Bench may, but is not required to, assist. Shops are responsible for losses from chargebacks and disputes on their transactions.

Reviews must reflect a genuine experience. Do not post fake, incentivized, or defamatory reviews, and do not review your own Shop or a competitor. We may remove reviews that violate these Terms.

We respect intellectual property rights and respond to valid notices under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If you believe content on the Service infringes your copyright, send a notice with the information required by 17 U.S.C. 512(c)(3) to our designated agent:Payton Massey, DMCA Agent for Bench
13530 Harpers Bridge Dr, Houston, TX 77041
support@bench.servicesWe may remove allegedly infringing content and terminate repeat infringers. False claims may carry liability under 17 U.S.C. 512(f).

The Service is provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. Bench does not vet, verify, or endorse Shops or their work, and does not warrant that any repair will be performed correctly, safely, or at all. You use the Service, and engage any Shop, at your own risk.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Bench and its owners, employees, and agents will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for lost profits, data, or goodwill, arising from or related to the Service or any repair arranged through it. Our total liability for any claim will not exceed the greater of the fees Bench earned from your transactions in the 3 months before the claim, or $100. Some jurisdictions do not allow these limits, so they may not fully apply to you.

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Bench from any claims, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your content, your listings, your use of the Service, your repairs or transactions, or your violation of these Terms or any law or third-party right.

You may stop using the Service and delete your account at any time from your account settings. We may suspend or terminate your access at any time, with or without notice, for any reason. Sections that by their nature should survive termination (including content license, disclaimers, limitation of liability, and indemnification) will survive.

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules. You agree that any dispute will be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Harris County, Texas, and you consent to their jurisdiction.

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will revise the “Last updated” date above. Material changes may be announced in the Service. Your continued use after a change means you accept the updated Terms.

Questions about these Terms? Email support@bench.services, or write to Bench, 13530 Harpers Bridge Dr, Houston, TX 77041.