Barqa is a community gifting platform that connects people through life transitions. It allows users to post free giveaways, create Needs Lists, celebrate life events, and coordinate exchanges of items within their communities.
Barqa is operated by Kutigi Venture Fund LLC, a Texas-registered limited liability company ("Barqa," "we," "our," or "us"), a for-profit company. By accessing or using the Barqa app or website at getbarqa.com, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service.
Barqa is built around a philosophy of giving and receiving freely. The core principle:
Free giving always comes first. When giving for free isn't possible, the Supportive Chain lets members offer used items at an affordable price so resources stay in the community instead of going to waste. Selling is permitted only through the Supportive Chain, under the rules in Section 6.
You create an account using your name, email, and phone number. You are responsible for keeping your login credentials secure and for all activity that occurs under your account.
You may delete your account at any time in Settings → Account → Delete Account. We may suspend or terminate your account if you violate these terms, engage in fraudulent activity, or create an unsafe experience for other users.
When you claim an item a 48-hour hold is placed. You are expected to coordinate pickup or pay shipping within this window. Repeated claim cancellations or expirations may affect your Barqa Score and ability to claim items.
Both givers and receivers are expected to follow through on confirmed exchanges. No-shows, repeated cancellations, or dishonest behavior about item condition may result in score penalties or account suspension.
For shipped items the receiver pays the carrier shipping cost plus a $1.99 platform fee. An optional tip supports the Barqa platform. Shipping labels are generated through Barqa's Shippo account and funded from receiver payments.
The Supportive Chain is Barqa's affordable resale layer for when free giving isn't an option. You may list a used item you own for an affordable price. By listing, you confirm that you own the item and have the right to sell it; that the description, condition, and photos are accurate; and that the item is legal to sell and not a prohibited item (Section 10). Pricing is intended to keep items affordable and in the community — not for profit-maximizing resale.
Supportive Chain listings must be priced at a minimum of $10. The buyer pays the listed price, a buyer fee of 5% + $0.99, and the carrier shipping cost for shipped items. The seller receives the listed price minus a seller fee of 2% + $0.99; shipping is not part of the seller's proceeds. Seller payouts are made through Stripe. Refunds and disputes are handled as described in Section 13. Barqa does not take ownership of items and is not the seller — exchanges are between users directly (Section 14).
Needs Lists allow users to share what they genuinely need during a life transition. By creating a Needs List you represent that the items listed are things you actually need — not a general wish list used to solicit gifts from strangers.
Barqa participates in the Amazon Associates program. When you add an Amazon link to a Needs List item and someone purchases through that link, Barqa may earn a small commission at no extra cost to the buyer. This is disclosed clearly wherever Amazon links appear.
Payment splits organized by visitors are between participating users. Barqa facilitates the payment processing via Stripe but is not responsible for disputes between split participants. Organizers are responsible for purchasing and delivering items when a split is complete.
Barqa events are for genuine life celebrations and transitions. Events must not be used to solicit money under false pretenses, organize illegal activities, or mislead invited guests about the nature of the event.
Funds collected via Stripe group contributions are paid out to the event organizer. Barqa is not responsible for how organizers use collected funds. Organizers represent that contribution descriptions are honest and accurate.
Describe items accurately. Do not misrepresent condition, age, or specifications. Do not create fake accounts or impersonate others.
Treat other users with dignity. Harassment, discrimination, hate speech, or threatening behavior will result in immediate account suspension.
For in-person pickups choose public meeting locations when possible. Trust your instincts. Report any safety concerns immediately through the dispute system or by emailing hello@getbarqa.com.
The Barqa Score reflects your community reliability and generosity. Score calculations are subject to change. Attempting to manipulate your score through fake exchanges, fake accounts, or other artificial means will result in account termination.
You agree not to:
You retain ownership of photos and content you post on Barqa. By posting content you grant Barqa a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to display, distribute, and use that content within the platform and for promotional purposes (such as Barqa Moments shared publicly).
You represent that you have the right to post any content you share and that it does not infringe on anyone else's intellectual property rights.
When an exchange completes Barqa automatically generates a Barqa Moment — a celebratory record of the exchange visible to community members. Barqa Moments include first names only (never full names or contact information) and item details. By completing an exchange you consent to the generation and display of a Barqa Moment. You may request removal of a specific Barqa Moment by contacting hello@getbarqa.com.
Barqa charges a $1.99 platform fee on free-giveaway shipping transactions. This fee is non-refundable once a shipping label has been generated.
For Supportive Chain sales, the buyer pays a fee of 5% + $0.99 and the seller pays a fee of 2% + $0.99 (minimum listing price $10). The buyer also pays carrier shipping for shipped items; seller proceeds (listed price − 2% − $0.99) are paid out through Stripe.
For contributions, Barqa charges a service fee of 3% of the contribution amount, added at checkout and disclosed before payment.
Barqa supports two contribution models:
Each campaign has an end date chosen by the organizer at creation:
Every campaign automatically closes at its selected end date. Once a campaign closes, no further contributions are accepted, and the applicable payout or fulfillment begins.
Contributions are non-refundable, except as described under "Exceptional refunds" below.
If a balance remains after an item is purchased (for example, from lower taxes, shipping, or price), the organizer chooses — before the campaign closes — to receive it as store credit for the retailer where the purchase is made, or to leave it as an optional tip to Barqa.
Store credit, where issued, has no cash value, cannot be redeemed for cash, is issued only after a completed item purchase, and is subject to the applicable retailer's terms.
Tips are optional and go only to Barqa to help support and improve the platform. Tips do not go to organizers, sellers, givers, recipients, or any other user, and are non-refundable. We use the term "tip" rather than "donation" because Barqa is a for-profit company; tips are not charitable donations and are not tax-deductible.
In exceptional circumstances where Barqa cannot complete a transaction due to an issue within Barqa's control, Barqa may, at its sole discretion, issue a manual refund. This is not a general refund right and applies only to extraordinary, case-by-case situations.
If a shipping label is generated but the item is never shipped, contact us within 7 days at hello@getbarqa.com for a shipping cost refund review. Platform fees are non-refundable.
Use the in-app dispute system for exchange issues. Barqa will review disputes and may issue refunds at our discretion in cases of clear misrepresentation or fraud.
Barqa is a platform that facilitates connections between users. We do not inspect, verify, or guarantee the quality, safety, legality, or accuracy of items posted by users. All exchanges are between users directly.
Barqa is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee uninterrupted service or that the platform will be error-free.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Barqa shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the platform, including damages from exchanges that do not go as expected, item condition disputes, or failed coordination between users.
We may update these Terms of Service. We will notify you of significant changes via push notification or email. Continued use of Barqa after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Texas, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.
For questions about these terms contact us at hello@getbarqa.com.