Welcome to Basking Bay ("Basking Bay," "we," "us," or "our"), accessible at baskingbay.com. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of our website, articles, buying guides, reviews, and any other content or services we provide (collectively, the "Site"). By visiting or using the Site, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the Site immediately.
1. About Our Site
Basking Bay publishes independent reviews, comparisons, buying guides, and educational content related to reptile and exotic pet supplies, including terrariums, heating and lighting equipment, substrates, feeding tools, enclosures, and other husbandry products. Our content is intended for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary, husbandry, or safety advice specific to your animal or situation.
2. Acceptable Use
By using the Site, you agree that you will not:
- Use the Site for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any local, state, national, or international law or regulation.
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our servers, databases, or any connected systems or networks.
- Copy, scrape, reproduce, republish, distribute, or create derivative works from our content without prior written permission, except for personal, non-commercial use with proper attribution.
- Upload or transmit viruses, malware, or any code of a destructive nature.
- Impersonate Basking Bay, its staff, or any other person or entity, or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity.
- Post or transmit spam, unsolicited advertising, or any content that is defamatory, obscene, abusive, or otherwise objectionable.
- Interfere with or disrupt the Site, its servers, or networks connected to the Site.
We reserve the right to restrict, suspend, or terminate access to the Site for any user who violates these Acceptable Use provisions, without prior notice.
3. Reviews, Opinions, and No-Warranty Disclaimer
All product reviews, ratings, rankings, comparisons, and recommendations published on Basking Bay reflect the personal opinions, research, and testing experiences of our writers and editorial team at a specific point in time. They are provided "as is" and "as available," without warranties of any kind, either express or implied.
We make reasonable efforts to research products, consult manufacturer specifications, and where possible test or review items firsthand; however, we do not guarantee that any content on the Site is accurate, complete, current, or error-free. Product specifications, pricing, availability, and manufacturer claims change frequently and without notice, and we are not responsible for discrepancies between our content and the actual product you purchase.
Nothing on this Site constitutes veterinary, medical, legal, or professional advice. Husbandry needs vary by species, individual animal, climate, and enclosure setup. Always consult a qualified exotic veterinarian or experienced keeper before making decisions that affect the health and safety of your animal.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Basking Bay disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement, with respect to the Site and all content contained within it.
4. Affiliate Relationship Disclosure
Basking Bay participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn commissions on qualifying purchases made through links on our Site, at no additional cost to you.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Affiliate relationships do not influence our editorial ratings or recommendations.
We may also participate in other affiliate programs with retailers and manufacturers in the reptile and exotic pet supplies industry. Any compensation received through these relationships helps support the operation of this Site, including research, testing, and content creation. Our editorial team maintains independence in forming opinions, conducting evaluations, and assigning ratings, regardless of whether a product is linked through an affiliate program.
5. Intellectual Property
All content on the Site, including text, graphics, logos, images, reviews, and compilations thereof, is the property of Basking Bay or its content licensors and is protected by applicable copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from any content without our prior written consent, except as permitted under fair use or with proper attribution for personal, non-commercial purposes.
6. Third-Party Links
The Site may contain links to third-party websites, including retailer and manufacturer sites, which are not owned or controlled by Basking Bay. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites. You access third-party links at your own risk, and we encourage you to review the terms and privacy policies of any third-party site you visit.
7. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Basking Bay, its owners, employees, contributors, and affiliates shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to damages for loss of profits, data, goodwill, or other intangible losses, arising out of or in connection with:
- Your access to, use of, or inability to use the Site;
- Any reliance placed on reviews, ratings, recommendations, or other content published on the Site;
- Any product purchased or acquired as a result of information found on the Site;
- Any errors, mistakes, or inaccuracies in content;
- Any unauthorized access to or use of our servers and any personal information stored therein;
- Any interruption or cessation of transmission to or from the Site.
In no event shall our total liability to you for all claims arising from your use of the Site exceed one hundred US dollars (USD $100). Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages, so some of the above limitations may not apply to you.
8. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Basking Bay and its owners, employees, and affiliates from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising out of or in any way connected with your access to or use of the Site, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any rights of a third party.
9. Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which Basking Bay operates, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Site shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in that jurisdiction, unless otherwise required by applicable consumer protection law.
10. Changes to These Terms
We may revise and update these Terms from time to time at our sole discretion. All changes are effective immediately when posted and apply to all access to and use of the Site thereafter. Your continued use of the Site following the posting of revised Terms constitutes your acceptance of and agreement to the changes. We encourage you to review this page periodically so you are aware of any updates.
11. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid under applicable law, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that the remaining provisions of these Terms will remain in full force and effect.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions about these Terms, please reach out to us through the contact information provided on our Site. We're happy to clarify any part of this policy for you.