Happy Hippo terms of service

Agreement to these Terms

These Terms of Service apply to your use of the Happy Hippo website and to inquiries, reservations, bookings, purchases and services provided by Happy Hippo.

References to “Happy Hippo,” “we,” “us” or “our” mean the independently owned Happy Hippo shaved ice and event business serving the DMV area.

By using our website, submitting a booking request, approving a booking, making payment or accepting services from Happy Hippo, you agree to these Terms and to any event-specific terms shown during the booking process or included in your confirmation.

When your event is booked

Sending an inquiry, completing part of a booking form or asking whether a date is available does not by itself reserve that date or time.

A reservation is considered confirmed only after all booking requirements shown to you have been completed and Happy Hippo has issued a booking confirmation.

Accurate booking information

You are responsible for providing accurate and reasonably complete event information, including the event date, service time, address, expected number of guests or servings, requested services and appropriate contact information.

If important event information changes after booking, please tell us as soon as possible. Changes may affect availability, staffing, equipment, travel requirements, service time or price.

Booking for someone else

If you make a reservation for a school, organization, business, family member or other third party, you represent that you are authorized to arrange the service and communicate necessary event information to Happy Hippo.

Prices, charges and payment

Pricing depends on the service, package, event date, duration, serving quantity, travel requirements, selected add-ons and other details applicable to the booking.

The amount shown in your final booking summary, invoice or confirmation is the amount applicable to that booking unless the event is later modified by agreement.

Payment is due in full

Unless Happy Hippo specifically agrees otherwise in writing, payment for a booking is due in full according to the payment deadline shown during checkout, on your invoice or in your booking confirmation.

A booking that has not been paid as required may remain unconfirmed, expire or be released.

Additional charges

Additional charges may apply when you request services beyond the scope of the confirmed booking. Examples may include:

• Additional servings.
• Additional service time.
• Additional products or add-ons.
• Approved booking upgrades.
• Travel or service-area charges where applicable.
• Changes that require additional equipment, labor or staffing.

Payment processing

Payments may be processed through a third-party payment provider. Your use of that payment service may also be subject to the provider’s own terms and privacy practices.

When plans change

We understand that event plans sometimes change. Requests to modify, reschedule or cancel a booking should be submitted to Happy Hippo as soon as possible.

Whether a change can be accommodated depends on availability, staffing, preparation already completed, products purchased, equipment reserved and the timing of the request.

Booking changes

Changes are not effective until Happy Hippo confirms them. A requested change may result in a price adjustment if it changes the package, serving amount, duration, location, date, staffing, equipment or other booking requirements.

Cancellations and rescheduling

Cancellation, refund, credit or rescheduling eligibility may depend on the timing and circumstances of the cancellation and any cancellation terms disclosed during booking.

If a particular booking confirmation, package, promotion or written agreement includes a more specific cancellation or rescheduling policy, that policy will apply to that booking.

Helping us serve your event

The person booking Happy Hippo is responsible for providing a location where the confirmed service can be performed safely and reasonably.

Depending on the setup selected, we may need appropriate access for a truck, mobile setup, cart, equipment or staff.

Access and setup

You agree to provide accurate information about relevant site conditions and to tell us about conditions that may materially affect setup or service.

This may include:

• Parking or vehicle restrictions.
• Gates, loading areas or security procedures.
• Stairs or difficult terrain.
• Indoor or outdoor setup requirements.
• Venue rules or vendor requirements.
• Restricted access times.
• Conditions that could affect staff, equipment or guests.

Setup photographs

Happy Hippo may request a photograph of the proposed setup area before an event. A photograph helps us evaluate space, access and logistics but does not guarantee that every condition visible or not visible in the image has been identified.

Venue permission

You are responsible for obtaining any venue, property-owner or event-organizer permission required for Happy Hippo to enter the location and provide the booked service.

Unless specifically agreed otherwise, the customer is also responsible for venue-specific permits, approvals, vendor registrations or access credentials required because of the customer’s selected location.

Safety comes before serving

Many Happy Hippo services take place outdoors. Weather and site conditions may affect whether a service can begin, continue or safely operate as originally planned.

Happy Hippo may delay, modify, temporarily pause or discontinue service when conditions create a reasonable safety concern for guests, staff, vehicles or equipment.

Examples may include severe storms, lightning, dangerous winds, flooding, unsafe heat conditions, hazardous road conditions or another condition that makes operation unsafe or impractical.

What your booking includes

Your booking confirmation identifies the service, package, quantity or serving allowance, duration and add-ons included with your reservation.

Packages described using terms such as “up to” a certain number of servings or a certain service duration represent the maximum included within that booking, not a guarantee that every included serving or minute will necessarily be used.

Guest turnout

Happy Hippo is not responsible for lower-than- expected guest attendance or unused servings when the booked quantity or package has otherwise been made available as agreed.

More guests than expected

If demand exceeds the quantity included in the booking, additional service or servings are not guaranteed unless Happy Hippo has sufficient product, time and capacity available.

When additional service can be accommodated, applicable additional charges may apply.

Product availability

Specific flavors, toppings, products, decorations, packaging or add-ons may occasionally become unavailable because of supplier shortages, seasonal availability, equipment issues or other circumstances outside our reasonable control.

When practical, we may substitute a reasonably comparable option or contact you about available alternatives.

Please ask before assuming

Happy Hippo may serve shaved ice, ice cream, mini donuts, cotton candy, Italian ice and other food or treat products depending on the event and selected service.

Ingredients and supplier formulations can vary. Customers and guests with allergies, dietary restrictions or ingredient concerns should ask about the relevant product before consuming it.

Although we take reasonable care in preparing and serving products, Happy Hippo does not represent that all products or preparation environments are free from every potential allergen or possibility of cross-contact.

Keeping the fun safe

Customers, guests and event participants must follow reasonable safety instructions provided by Happy Hippo staff relating to our vehicles, equipment, serving areas and activities.

Children remain under the supervision of their parent, guardian, school, daycare, camp, organization or other responsible adult unless Happy Hippo has specifically agreed in writing to provide a supervised service.

Happy Hippo may refuse or discontinue service to an individual whose conduct is unsafe, threatening, destructive, abusive or materially interferes with our ability to serve the event.

Equipment and service areas

Guests should not enter staff-only areas, operate Happy Hippo equipment or interfere with vehicles, generators, machines, carts, supplies or other service equipment unless specifically invited or instructed to do so by Happy Hippo.

Special terms may apply

Happy Hippo may offer fundraising programs, school events, nonprofit programs, sponsored treats, pre-orders, participant passes or other group-based service arrangements.

Those programs may include specific rules concerning minimum sales, fundraising percentages, eligible purchases, redemption procedures, pre-orders, sponsored purchases or distribution.

The terms presented for the particular fundraiser or program are part of these Terms and control the details of that program.

Fundraising results

Unless a guaranteed amount is expressly stated in writing, Happy Hippo does not guarantee that an organization will raise a particular amount of money through a fundraiser.

Fundraising proceeds depend on participation, qualifying sales and the rules applicable to the selected fundraising arrangement.

Pre-orders and passes

When an organization uses pre-orders, QR codes, Hippo Passes, class passes, participant lists or another redemption method, the organizer may be responsible for distributing or communicating redemption information to participants.

Redemption credentials should not be duplicated, altered or intentionally used more times than permitted.

Event photography

Photographs or videos may occasionally be taken at Happy Hippo events to document our setups, products and community activities.

Any promotional use involving identifiable guests will be handled according to the permission or release process applicable to the particular event or content.

Setup photographs that a customer sends to Happy Hippo for event-planning purposes are not intended for promotional use unless separate permission is provided.

Staying in touch about your event

When you submit an inquiry or booking, you agree that Happy Hippo may contact you using the contact information you provide when reasonably necessary to respond to your inquiry or administer your event.

Event-related communications may include booking confirmations, questions, payment notices, reminders, setup instructions, arrival information or updates concerning the event.

Promotional email or text-message programs, where offered, are separate from necessary booking communications and may require separate consent.

Text message terms

If you opt in to receive text messages from Happy Hippo, message frequency varies based on your bookings, account activity and communication preferences. Message and data rates may apply.

You may opt out of text messages at any time by replying STOP. For help, reply HELP or email communications@happy-hippo.fun.

Consent to receive promotional text messages is not a condition of purchase. Opting out of promotional text messages does not prevent Happy Hippo from contacting you through other permitted methods when necessary to administer an active booking or transaction.

You are responsible for providing a phone number or email address at which you can reasonably receive important booking communications.

Using happy-hippo.fun

You may use our website for lawful personal, organizational or business purposes related to learning about, contacting or booking Happy Hippo.

You may not intentionally:

• Interfere with the operation or security of the website.
• Attempt unauthorized access to website systems, accounts or administrative areas.
• Submit fraudulent booking or payment information.
• Use automated systems in a manner that materially disrupts the website.
• Upload malicious code or attempt to compromise website functionality.
• Impersonate another person or organization for fraudulent purposes.

Website availability

We work to keep the website available and accurate, but we do not guarantee uninterrupted access or that every website feature will always operate without delay, maintenance or technical error.

Our brand and website content

Unless otherwise indicated, Happy Hippo’s website content, branding, logos, original graphics, photographs, written materials, page designs and related creative materials are owned by or used with permission by Happy Hippo.

You may view and use our website for its intended purpose, but these Terms do not transfer ownership of Happy Hippo branding or website materials to you.

You may not represent yourself as Happy Hippo, create a misleading affiliation with Happy Hippo or use our branding in a way that falsely suggests sponsorship or endorsement.

Services we don’t operate

Happy Hippo may use or link to third-party platforms that help us provide website hosting, bookings, payment processing, email, text messaging, analytics, maps, social media or other business functions.

A third-party service may have its own terms, privacy policy and technical requirements. Happy Hippo does not control the operation of platforms that we do not own.

Sometimes circumstances intervene

Happy Hippo will not be considered in breach of these Terms for a delay or inability to perform caused by circumstances reasonably outside our control.

Depending on the circumstances, these may include:

• Severe weather or dangerous road conditions.
• Government restrictions or emergency orders.
• Venue closures or access restrictions.
• Utility outages.
• Significant equipment failure despite reasonable maintenance.
• Supplier interruptions or product shortages.
• Transportation emergencies or road closures.
• Other events that could not reasonably have been prevented.

When practical, we will communicate with the customer and attempt to determine a reasonable path forward based on the circumstances and the specific booking.

Reasonable limits

Happy Hippo will provide booked services with reasonable care consistent with the service and circumstances involved.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Happy Hippo is not responsible for indirect, incidental, special or consequential losses arising from circumstances outside the scope of the service we agreed to provide.

Happy Hippo is also not responsible for losses resulting from inaccurate information supplied by a customer, unauthorized actions of event guests, venue restrictions not disclosed to us, unsafe conditions created by others or third-party services outside our reasonable control.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

Customer responsibility

You are responsible for damage to Happy Hippo property or equipment caused by intentional acts, misuse or negligent conduct by you or persons under your control, to the extent permitted by law.

A few final details

Entire agreement

These Terms, our Privacy Policy, your booking confirmation and any event-specific written terms together form the agreement applicable to your Happy Hippo booking.

Event-specific terms

If an event-specific written term directly conflicts with a general provision in these Terms, the event-specific term will control for that booking to the extent of the conflict.

No waiver

If Happy Hippo does not immediately enforce a provision of these Terms, that does not permanently waive our right to enforce it later.

Severability

If a provision of these Terms is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply to the extent permitted by law.

Updates

We may update these Terms as our website, booking processes, services or business practices change.

The effective date at the top of this page will indicate when the current version became effective. Updates generally apply prospectively unless applicable law requires otherwise.

Questions about these Terms?

If you have a question about these Terms or about the terms applicable to an existing Happy Hippo booking, please contact us.