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                      ShopMsg — Quick Setup & Usage Guide
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Welcome to ShopMsg! ShopMsg is your 100% local, direct customer messaging
tool for WhatsApp.

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1. QUICK START INSTRUCTIONS
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Windows Users:
  1. Extract all contents of the zip file into a folder on your laptop.
  2. Double-click `start.vbs`.
  3. Your browser will automatically open to http://127.0.0.1:3456.

Mac Users:
  Needs a Mac with an Apple chip (M1 or newer). Intel Macs are not
  supported - please use the Windows version there.

  1. Extract the zip file into a folder.
  2. Double-click `start.command`.
  3. Your browser will open to http://127.0.0.1:3456.

Note on Windows SmartScreen:
  If Windows Defender shows "Windows protected your PC", click "More info"
  and then click "Run anyway". ShopMsg is a self-contained local tool.

Note for Mac users - "Apple could not verify ShopMsg":
  Mac blocks apps downloaded from the internet that Apple has not checked.
  ShopMsg runs entirely on your own laptop, so there is nothing to check.
  You only have to do this ONCE, on the first install:

  1. Double-click `start.command`. Mac shows a warning. Click "Done".
  2. Open  Apple menu -> System Settings -> Privacy & Security.
  3. Scroll down. You will see: "start.command was blocked".
     Click "Open Anyway" next to it, and confirm with your password
     or Touch ID.
  4. Double-click `start.command` again. It opens normally from now on.

  Updates installed from inside ShopMsg do NOT show this warning - only
  the first download from the website does.

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2. FIRST-TIME ACTIVATION & PAIRING
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  1. Enter your 1-time purchase License Key provided at purchase.
  2. Scan the displayed QR Code using WhatsApp on your phone:
     WhatsApp -> Settings / Menu -> Linked Devices -> Link a Device.
  3. Upload your Excel/CSV customer sheet (.xlsx or .csv).
  4. Select the phone column, type your message template, and press START!

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3. DAILY SENDING LIMIT
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ShopMsg limits how many messages go out per day, because sending a lot
from a number WhatsApp has not seen do it before is the fastest way to
get restricted. A new number ramps up automatically:

     first 3 days    30 messages a day
     days 3 to 14    100 messages a day
     day 14 onward   200 messages a day

If your number has already been in regular business use for months, this
ramp is unnecessary. Click "Adjust" under TODAY'S LIMIT in the left panel
and tick "This number is already established" to skip it, or set your own
limit there. Limits above 200 a day carry real risk of a ban - that choice
is yours to make.

Messages are always spaced 30 to 120 seconds apart. That spacing is fixed
and cannot be shortened: sending in bursts is a stronger ban signal than
the daily total.

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4. COMPLIANCE & SAFETY DISCLAIMER
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IMPORTANT LEGAL POSTURE:
ShopMsg is designed exclusively for reaching out to your existing opt-in 
customers (order status, payment reminders, festival greetings). 
Sending bulk un-solicited spam or marketing messages to unknown contacts 
violates WhatsApp Terms of Service and will result in number bans. 

Neither ShopMsg nor its creators are responsible for WhatsApp account 
bans resulting from improper usage or cold spamming.

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5. PRIVACY & LOCAL DATA GUARANTEE
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Your data stays 100% on your laptop! ShopMsg does not upload your customer
lists, phone numbers, or session credentials to any cloud server.

Your WhatsApp pairing, license and send history are stored outside the
ShopMsg folder:

     Mac       ~/Library/Application Support/ShopMsg
     Windows   %APPDATA%\ShopMsg

That means you can replace the ShopMsg folder with a newer version without
losing your login or having to scan the QR code again.

For billing, renewals or support:
  WhatsApp  +91 95218 76832
  Email     contact@akhilsingh.in
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