Meals Prices is powered in part by our community of users. These guidelines ensure our platform stays accurate, helpful, and trustworthy for everyone.
📅 Last Updated: March 2026
"Our community makes Meals Prices more accurate than any single team could. These guidelines protect that community — and the integrity of the data you all help build."
— The Meals Prices Team
The Basics
What We Expect From Contributors
✅ Please Do
Submit prices you have personally observed at a real restaurant location
Include the approximate location and date of your observation
Note whether the price was for a standard item, combo, or promotional deal
Distinguish between in-store prices and app/delivery prices — these often differ
Report errors you find, even for restaurants you didn't visit
Write honest, first-hand reviews based on your actual experience
Be specific — "Big Mac was $6.49" is more useful than "prices seem high"
Update your submission if you realize you made an error
✗ Please Don't
Submit prices you haven't personally verified — don't copy from other websites
Submit fake, estimated, or fabricated prices even if "close" to real ones
Submit prices on behalf of a restaurant to make their listings look better
Use multiple accounts to artificially boost the credibility of your submissions
Include promotional, limited-time prices as standard prices without noting they're temporary
Submit reviews containing hate speech, harassment, or personal attacks
Include personally identifiable information about other people
Spam the platform with repetitive or low-quality submissions
Core Principles
How Great Contributors Behave
🎯
Prioritize Accuracy
A single accurate price submission is worth more than ten guesses. When in doubt, don't submit — or clearly note your uncertainty.
🔍
Be Transparent
Tell us when you saw the price, where, and under what conditions (in-store, app, drive-through). Context makes your data far more valuable.
🤝
Respect the Platform
Meals Prices exists to serve consumers. Don't attempt to manipulate our data for commercial gain, competitive advantage, or any other improper purpose.
💡
Be Helpful, Not Just Critical
When you find an error, tell us what's wrong AND what the correct price is. A correction with evidence is far more actionable than a complaint alone.
⏳
Be Patient
Submissions go through verification before publication. This takes time — usually less than 24 hours. We appreciate your patience in the process.
🧠
Acknowledge Uncertainty
Prices vary by location. If you're not certain whether the price you saw is typical or unusual, say so in your submission — that context is valuable too.
Enforcement
How We Handle Violations
We operate a three-strike system for guideline violations. Most contributors never encounter this — it exists for cases of deliberate misuse.
⚠️ Community Enforcement System
Strike 1
First Confirmed Violation
A warning is issued via email with a clear explanation of the violation. Submission removed if it contained inaccurate data. Account remains fully active.
Warning Issued
Strike 2
Second Confirmed Violation
All pending submissions placed on manual review hold for 30 days. Future submissions require additional verification before publication. Warning email sent.
30-Day Review Hold
Strike 3
Third Confirmed Violation
Permanent ban from submitting content to Meals Prices. All previous submissions reviewed and potentially removed. Legal action may be considered for deliberate data manipulation.
Permanent Ban
Note: Severe violations (deliberate mass data manipulation, coordinated false submissions, or commercial sabotage of competitor listings) may result in immediate permanent bans without the standard three-strike process.
Reporting
How to Report a Guideline Violation
If you believe another user has submitted false data or violated our guidelines, here's how to report it:
📋
Step 1
Document the Issue
📸
Step 2
Note the URL & Submission
📧
Step 3
Contact Us With Evidence
✅
Step 4
We Investigate & Act
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Meals Prices operates a three-strike system. A first violation results in a warning email and removal of inaccurate submissions. A second violation places all pending submissions on a 30-day manual review hold. A third violation results in a permanent ban from submitting content.
Document the issue, note the URL and submission in question, then contact us with your evidence via the contact form. Our team investigates every report and takes appropriate action — usually within 24 hours.
You should not submit prices you haven't personally verified, fabricated or estimated prices, prices submitted on behalf of a restaurant, or promotional prices presented as standard prices without disclosure. Spam and low-quality repetitive submissions are also prohibited.
Yes. A third confirmed violation results in a permanent ban from submitting content. Severe violations — such as deliberate mass data manipulation or coordinated false submissions — may result in an immediate permanent ban without the standard three-strike process.
All community submissions go through a verification review before publication. This typically takes less than 24 hours. We appreciate your patience — this review process is what keeps our data accurate and trustworthy.
Ready to Contribute?
Your real-world price observations make Meals Prices more accurate for millions of users. Find a menu page and submit what you know.