Community Rules

CheapKC is a deal board for Kansas City shoppers — not a marketplace for services, side hustles, or business ads.

Deals, not pitches.

If the post is about hiring you, buying from you, or joining your team — it’s a pitch, not a deal.

One-line test: “Would this belong on a deal site, or in a Facebook group full of lawn guys and MLM aunties?” If it’s the second one, don’t post it.

The plain-English rule

CheapKC is for shoppers finding savings — not for sellers finding customers. That covers almost everything we remove:

  • Hire me — services, side hustles, sudden “professionals”
  • Buy from me — MLM, direct sales, your Etsy, your inventory
  • Join me — downlines, “business opportunities,” referral schemes
  • Call me — quotes, bookings, DMs, “licensed & insured” ads

What CheapKC is for

Sharing deals, discounts, and savings — things shoppers can buy, redeem, or take advantage of at a store or online. Think community deal-board finds, not Nextdoor, Marketplace, or local Facebook group spam.

What belongs here

  • Retail sales, clearance, and coupons (grocery, home, electronics, etc.)
  • In-store markdowns with a real price — especially KC-local finds
  • Restaurant or entertainment promos with specific savings (not “we’re the best BBQ in town”)
  • Online deals that ship to Kansas City, with a link and price when possible
  • Freebies or BOGO offers tied to a product or purchase

What does not belong here

We remove content that turns CheapKC into a free ad board. If the post mainly exists to promote you, your business, or your downline — it’s out.

Service & side-hustle ads

Home services, gig work, and sudden “professional” pitches after someone buys equipment:

  • Lawn care, landscaping, snow removal, gutter cleaning, pressure washing
  • House cleaning, organizing, junk hauling, moving, storage
  • Handyman, painting, fencing, deck work
  • Roofing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical — especially storm-chaser & “free inspection” spam
  • Pest control, solar sales, window/door solicitations
  • Auto detailing, mobile mechanic, tint/wrap promos that are really client fishing
  • Photography & creative — weddings, seniors, mini sessions, videography, graphic design, social media management
  • Personal training, life coaching, tutoring, music lessons marketed as your business
  • Hair, nails, lashes, makeup artist bookings; med spa & chiropractic service promos
  • DJ, catering, bounce houses, florists, wedding vendors fishing for clients
  • Real estate agents, insurance agents, tax prep, notary — “call me” business posts
  • Pet grooming, dog walking, breeding — unless it’s a named retailer’s public offer

MLM, direct sales & “business opportunity” spam

If you’re recruiting customers or sellers, this isn’t the place:

  • Multi-level marketing (MLM) — skincare, makeup, wellness, “financial freedom”
  • Direct sales — Avon, Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Scentsy, Color Street, Norwex, Tupperware-style pitches
  • Diet shakes, supplements, weight-loss programs (Herbalife-style), “detox” & miracle cures
  • Essential oils and wellness rep inventory clears
  • “Join my team,” “side income,” referral links, distributor IDs, “DM me for info”
  • Crypto, forex, trading groups, and work-from-home opportunity spam

A real retailer sale at Target, Ulta, Costco, etc. is fine. A post to buy through your rep link or “my store” is not.

Marketplace & personal sales

  • Used cars, furniture, appliances, tools — Craigslist/Marketplace-style “DM me”
  • Garage sale listings, estate sales, flipping inventory
  • Etsy/craft sellers, homemade goods, “support small business” without a retailer deal
  • Puppies, kittens, backyard livestock — pet sales & breeding ads
  • Roommates, sublets, rent-by-owner (not a retailer or apartment complex public promo)
  • Ticket scalping, personal GoFundMe, “help my kid sell candy” (unless it’s a store running the promo)

Other junk we don’t want

  • Quote fishing — phone numbers, websites, or “message me” as the main point
  • Misleading deals — fake prices, bait-and-switch, affiliate-only spam with no real value
  • Duplicate flooding — the same pitch reposted across categories or stores
  • Recommendation bait — fake “can anyone recommend…?” posts designed to draw promo replies (see comments section below)
Examples we reject (not exhaustive — if it’s a pitch, you already know):
  • “Professional lawn care — $40/week”
  • “New camera — booking cheap family photos”
  • “Mary Kay 20% off through me”
  • “Join my wellness team — summer challenge!”
  • “Avon books open — free gift with order”
  • “Licensed roofer — free storm damage inspection”
  • “Realtor extraordinaire — low rates in KC”
  • “Mobile detailing — first car $50”
  • “Essential oils class — free samples”
  • “Hair by Jessica — slots open Saturday”
  • “Pitbull puppies ready to go”
  • “Etsy shop 15% off my candles”
  • “Crypto mentorship — learn to trade”
  • “Room for rent — $600/mo utilities incl.”
  • “Selling sectional — pickup Olathe”
  • “DM for lash specials”

Deal quality standards

  • Include a clear title, price or savings, and store or retailer when possible
  • In-store deals should have a proof photo or enough detail for others to find the offer
  • Mark local/in-store deals accurately — YMMV by location is fine; say so
  • Do not post deals you have not verified or that you are paid to promote without disclosure
  • Check for existing posts before submitting duplicates

See how to submit an in-store deal for photo and attestation requirements.

Comments & community

  • Keep comments on-topic for the deal (stock, price, location tips)
  • No harassment, hate speech, or personal attacks
  • Do not bump your own business, MLM link, or photography booking info in comments
  • Use Report on a deal if something looks like spam or breaks these rules

The “can someone recommend…?” workaround

Facebook group spammers love this one: a post asks for recommendations, then other accounts (often the same person, a friend, or a employee) reply with glowing promos for the business they wanted to advertise all along. We’ve seen it with lawn care, photographers, cleaners, and MLM reps.

That doesn’t fly here either. CheapKC isn’t built for open “who should I hire?” threads — it’s for deals. Comments exist to help shoppers with that deal, not to smuggle in ads.

  • No fake “asking for a friend” posts that are really stealth ads
  • No coordinated comment rings — “I use Mike’s Lawn!” from accounts that only exist to promote Mike
  • No sockpuppets, alt accounts, or “great experience with…” pitches for your own business or downline
  • Genuine shopper tips are welcome; astroturfing gets removed and accounts may be banned

How we enforce this

All deal submissions are reviewed before publishing. We may:

  • Reject or remove posts that break these rules
  • Remove comments or disable accounts that spam services or ads
  • Remove coordinated “recommendation” scams — bait posts and ring-account replies
  • Ban repeat offenders — especially business spammers targeting local groups elsewhere

CheapKC is volunteer-run and KC-focused. Keeping the feed deals-only protects everyone’s time.

See something wrong?

On any deal page, use Report to flag spam, service ads, or misleading posts.

For account issues or repeated spam patterns, contact us. Legal terms: Terms of Service.

By submitting a deal or commenting, you agree to follow these rules. Submit a deal · Help & FAQ