Trust copy — Intrinsic Value
Buffett layer: candor when the user gives us money, data, or irreversible action.
Applies to every IV product. Product-specific examples live in products/<app>.md.
When to use this doc
| Moment | User fear | Our job |
|---|---|---|
| Delete | I lost something forever | Name permanence; no false comfort |
| Sync failure | My data is gone | Say what's safe locally; one next step |
| Subscribe / trial | I'll be tricked | Price, period, cancel path — no maze |
| Sign out | I'll lose my library | What uploads; what stays on device |
| Permissions | You're spying | Why we ask; what we don't do |
| This is spam or a trap | One subject idea; honest preview text |
Delete (destructive)
Shape: What happens + permanence + optional count/names for bulk.
Delete 12 meals? This can't be undone.
Grill
Rice
…
Not:
Are you sure you want to permanently delete the selected items from your library?
Rules:
- Never imply undo unless we ship undo.
- Bulk delete: show count + name preview (up to ~6, then "and N more").
- Single delete: use the meal/record name.
Pattern reference: patterns/DESTRUCTIVE_ACTION.md
Sync & offline
Shape: What failed + what's safe + one action.
Couldn't sync meals. They're still on this phone. We'll try again when you're online.
Not:
Error syncing meals. Please try again later.
Failed to sync meals: Error Domain=...
Rules:
- Never imply cloud success before persistence (
UNIVERSAL.md§ offline honesty). - No error codes alone in user UI.
- "Try again" only when retry is real.
Pricing & subscription
Shape: Price + who pays + trial + cancel path — in plain sentences.
Do (Tasteful):
$10 a year. Your whole household.
14 days of everything. Cancel in Settings before it ends if you don't want to be charged.
Don't:
Unlock premium features today!
Limited time offer on our Pro tier.
Rules:
- No fake urgency (
COPY_STANDARDS.md). - No tier names that humiliate ("free tier" → describe what works without cloud).
- Refunds: say who decides (Apple) without weaseling.
Sign out & account
Shape: What we save before you leave + what happens on this device.
Saving changes…
Only when there are pending offline writes — not theater.
Your meals upload before sign-out when you have unsaved changes.
Permissions
Shape: Why + what we access + user control.
Tasteful uses your photo library to find meals you've already photographed.
We don't upload photos until you choose to import them.
Not:
We need access to provide the best personalized experience.
Email (transactional)
| Field | Rule |
|---|---|
| Subject | ≤ 50 chars; one idea; no ALL CAPS |
| Preview | Matches body; no bait |
| Body | What happened + one link or action |
| Footer | Intrinsic Value LLC · tasteful.to (or product domain) |
Do:
Subject: Your Tasteful trial ends in 3 days
Body: Your household still has full access until [date]. Cancel anytime in Settings → Subscriptions.
Don't:
Subject: ACTION REQUIRED — Don't miss out!!!
Success messages
Past tense. Specific. No celebration spam.
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Meal saved. | Meal saved successfully! |
| Recipe imported. | Great job! Your recipe has been imported. |
| Password updated. | Success! |
Product examples
| Product | Trust doc anchor |
|---|---|
| Tasteful | products/tasteful.md § Trust moments |
| Keystone | products/keystone.md § Admin candor |