WhatsApp Integration Terms

These WhatsApp Integration Terms ("Integration Terms") govern Smart Vendor Store's QR link WhatsApp connection feature ("QR pairing"), which links a WhatsApp number to your store without Meta's official Business Platform onboarding. They supplement our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. By connecting, you agree to all three.

1. What this feature is

QR link pairing works like linking WhatsApp Web: you scan a QR code (or enter a pairing code), and your number connects to Smart Vendor Store as an additional device. It is not Meta's official WhatsApp Business Platform (Cloud API) and doesn't go through Meta's Business verification.

2. Choosing between QR link and the official API

We recommend Meta's official WhatsApp Business Platform (Cloud API) over QR link pairing for any store depending on WhatsApp long term, since it's the integration path WhatsApp actually supports. QR link pairing is a simpler alternative for merchants skipping Meta's Business verification, but sessions can disconnect or need reconnecting (phone offline, changes on WhatsApp's side, connection instability), so it's worth checking your connection status periodically.

Consider migrating to the official API as your store grows.

3. Your authorization and account

• You're voluntarily connecting a WhatsApp account you own or are authorized to use.
• Use a dedicated or secondary number, not your personal primary one, given Section 2 and Section 7.
• Don't link the same number to any other device (WhatsApp Web, Desktop, a second phone) while it's connected here, since that can cause messages to be missed or delivered unreliably.

4. No affiliation with WhatsApp or Meta

Smart Vendor Store is an independent product, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by WhatsApp Inc. or Meta Platforms, Inc. ("WhatsApp" is Meta's trademark.)

5. Your responsibility for messages sent

You're solely responsible for every message sent and action taken through your connected number, whether by you, your staff, or the bot acting on content you configured. Review automated messages and broadcast lists before enabling them.

6. Compliance

You must comply with WhatsApp's own Terms of Service and Business Messaging Policy, and with all applicable consumer protection, ecommerce, data protection, and spam prevention laws, regardless of the connection method used.

7. Prohibited use

You may not use your connected WhatsApp number, through Smart Vendor Store or otherwise, for:

• Spam, or bulk unsolicited messaging to people who haven't opted in to hear from your store;
• Phishing, fraud, or scams of any kind;
• Harassment, threats, or abusive messaging;
• Selling or promoting illegal products or services; or
• Any use that violates WhatsApp's Terms of Service or applicable law.

We may suspend your connection immediately, without notice, if we reasonably suspect any of the above (see Section 11).

8. Account security

Keep your connected phone, WhatsApp account, and Smart Vendor Store dashboard access secure. If you suspect unauthorized access, disconnect the number from Settings immediately and secure your account before reconnecting.

9. Data we access

To operate this feature, Smart Vendor Store accesses:

• Connection status: whether your number is linked, plus basic session and device information to maintain that link.
• Message metadata: sender and recipient numbers, timestamps, and delivery status, to route conversations and confirm delivery.
• Message content, to run the bot conversation itself, for example reading a message to reply with catalog info or detect purchase intent.

Used only to operate your store's bot, and handled under our Privacy Policy. Read it alongside these Integration Terms.

10. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent the law allows, Smart Vendor Store isn't liable for WhatsApp outages, number bans or restrictions, account suspensions, lost messages, or any other loss from WhatsApp's own actions, your use or misuse of the connected number, or the unofficial nature of QR link pairing (see Section 2). The feature is provided "as is," with no guarantee WhatsApp will keep permitting this kind of connection.

11. Our right to suspend or terminate

We may suspend or terminate this feature, with or without notice, if we reasonably believe it's being used unlawfully, in violation of these Integration Terms or WhatsApp's own, or in a way that risks other merchants' or customers' use of Smart Vendor Store.

12. Changes to these Integration Terms

We may update these Integration Terms as the feature evolves. Material changes will be reflected here with an updated date; continuing to use the QR link connection after a change means you accept the new terms.

13. Contact

Questions about these Integration Terms: [email protected].