Welcome to Socket Shed (socketshed.com). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of our website, articles, reviews, buying guides, and any other content or services we provide (collectively, the "Site"). By accessing 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. Acceptable Use
You agree to use the Site only for lawful purposes and in a manner consistent with all applicable local, state, national, and international laws and regulations. When using Socket Shed, you agree not to:
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our servers, databases, or any connected systems or networks.
- Use automated scripts, bots, scrapers, or other technology to harvest content, data, or pricing information without our prior written consent.
- Distribute viruses, malware, or any other code of a destructive or disruptive nature through the Site.
- Post, upload, or transmit spam, misleading content, or material that infringes on the intellectual property or privacy rights of others.
- Impersonate Socket Shed, its staff, or any other individual or entity, or misrepresent your affiliation with us.
- Use the Site's content for commercial redistribution, resale, or republication without explicit permission.
- Interfere with or disrupt the integrity or performance of the Site, including through excessive traffic generation or denial-of-service attempts.
We reserve the right to restrict, suspend, or terminate access to the Site, in whole or in part, for any user who violates these acceptable use guidelines, at our sole discretion and without prior notice.
2. Reviews, Opinions, and No-Warranty Disclaimer
Socket Shed publishes reviews, rankings, benchmarks, buying guides, and editorial opinions related to PC components, peripherals, and custom builds. All such content reflects the personal views, testing methodology, and experience of our writers and reviewers at the time of publication. While we strive for accuracy, thoroughness, and fairness, we make no guarantees regarding the following:
- The completeness, reliability, or current accuracy of any product review, specification, compatibility claim, or performance benchmark.
- That any component, build, or product recommended on this Site will meet your specific needs, performance expectations, or compatibility requirements.
- That pricing, availability, or specifications listed on the Site match those found at retailers at the time of your purchase, as these are subject to frequent change beyond our control.
- The outcome of any custom PC build undertaken using guidance, tutorials, or part lists published on this Site.
All content on Socket Shed is provided "as is" and "as available," without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. Building, upgrading, or modifying computer hardware carries inherent risks, including but not limited to component damage, data loss, voided warranties, and compatibility issues. You assume full responsibility for any decisions made based on information found on this Site, and we strongly encourage independent verification of specifications and compatibility before making any purchase or undertaking any build.
3. Affiliate Relationship Disclosure
Socket Shed 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 affiliate programs offered by other retailers and manufacturers in the PC components industry. Regardless of the affiliate network involved, our editorial team maintains independence in testing, scoring, and recommending products. Affiliate compensation never determines which products we choose to review, nor does it influence the ratings, pros and cons, or conclusions presented in our content.
4. Intellectual Property
All content on Socket Shed, including text, graphics, logos, images, comparison charts, and original photography, is the property of Socket Shed or its content contributors and is protected by applicable copyright and trademark laws. You may share links to our content and quote brief excerpts with proper attribution, but you may not reproduce, republish, or distribute substantial portions of our content without prior written permission.
5. Third-Party Links and Content
The Site contains links to third-party websites, including retailers, manufacturers, and other informational resources. These links are provided for your convenience only. We do not control, endorse, or assume responsibility for the content, privacy practices, accuracy, or availability of any third-party site. Visiting linked external sites is done entirely at your own risk.
6. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Socket Shed, its owners, employees, writers, and affiliates shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising out of or related to your use of, or inability to use, the Site or its content. This includes, without limitation, damages related to:
- Hardware damage, data loss, or system failure resulting from following guidance published on the Site.
- Financial loss resulting from purchasing decisions made based on our reviews, rankings, or recommendations.
- Errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in product specifications, pricing, or compatibility information.
- Service interruptions, site downtime, or loss of access to content.
- Any reliance placed on information provided through the Site by you or any third party.
Our total liability for any claim arising from your use of the Site shall not exceed the amount, if any, you have paid to us directly for access to the Site (which, for most users, is zero, as the Site is free to access).
7. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Socket Shed and its affiliates, officers, employees, and partners from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses arising out of your use of the Site, your violation of these Terms, or your infringement of any third-party rights.
8. Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which Socket Shed operates, without regard to conflict of law principles. 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.
9. Updates to These Terms
We may revise these Terms periodically to reflect changes in our practices, legal obligations, or Site functionality. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. Your continued use of the Site following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed of any updates.
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback regarding these Terms of Service, please reach out to us through the contact information provided on our Site. We're happy to clarify any part of these Terms or address concerns about your use of Socket Shed.