Terms of Service

1. What the site is, and isn't

FactoryDate reads the manufacture date that equipment makers code into serial numbers, using rules we compile from manufacturer and other published sources and test against real serial numbers. See our methodology. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or authorized by any manufacturer, and brand names belong to their owners.

It is information, not advice. A decoded date is our reading of a published code, not the manufacturer's record, and it is the date a unit was made, not installed. Lifespan ranges describe typical equipment, not yours. Nothing on FactoryDate is an inspection, an appraisal, a warranty determination, or safety, insurance or purchasing advice. For decisions that matter, such as a warranty claim, an insurance application, a home purchase or a safety concern, confirm the date with the manufacturer and have a licensed professional inspect the equipment.

2. Who can use it

FactoryDate is intended for people in the United States. If you are under 18, use it with the permission of a parent or guardian.

3. Our content and how you may use it

Our text, decoder, examples, drawings, design and code belong to Northwoods Ventures LLC. You may quote a decoded date or a short passage with a link back to the page. You may not copy the site or its rule data in bulk, scrape it, republish substantial parts of it, or use it to build a competing product without our written permission.

4. What you send us

When you submit a serial number through our form, you let us use the serial, the equipment details and any date you give us to test and improve the decoder, including keeping the serial and its date as a test case and showing it as an example on the site. We never publish your email address. Don't send anything you don't want us to use this way.

5. Acceptable use

Don't use FactoryDate to break the law, to interfere with or overload the site, to scrape or copy our content in bulk, to send spam or automated submissions, to impersonate anyone, or to misrepresent a decoded date or where it came from. We may limit or end access for any of these.

6. Disclaimers and limits on our liability

THE SITE, AND EVERYTHING ON IT, IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. DECODED DATES AND LIFESPAN RANGES MAY BE WRONG. YOU USE THEM AT YOUR OWN RISK.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT THE LAW ALLOWS, NORTHWOODS VENTURES LLC AND ITS OWNERS, EMPLOYEES, AND CONTRACTORS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY LOSS OF PROPERTY, PROFITS, INCOME, OR DATA, ARISING FROM THE SITE OR ANYTHING ON IT. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM WILL NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100). Some states do not allow some of these limits, so some may not apply to you.

You agree to defend and hold Northwoods Ventures LLC harmless from claims arising from your use of the site or your breach of these terms.

7. Changes and ending the service

We may change these terms. The effective date appears at the top of this page. Continued use after a change means you accept it. We may change, suspend, or end any part of the site at any time.

8. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to its conflict-of-law rules, and any dispute will be brought in the state or federal courts located in Connecticut, to whose jurisdiction you consent.

9. Contact

Northwoods Ventures LLC, operator of FactoryDate. Email support@factorydate.com.