Privacy Policy for GentlePets Store

Last Updated: May 26, 2025

At Gentle Pets Store ("we," "us," or "our"), accessible at www.gentlepets.store, we are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share your personal information when you visit our website, make a purchase, or interact with our services. We use Spocket, a dropshipping platform, to connect with suppliers who fulfill and ship orders on our behalf. This policy outlines our practices and your rights regarding your personal information.

1. Information We Collect

We collect personal information to provide and improve our services, process your orders, and comply with legal obligations. The types of information we collect include:

• Identity Data: First name, last name, username, or similar identifiers.
• Contact Data: Billing address, shipping address, email address, and telephone number.
• Financial Data: Payment card details or other payment information (processed securely by our payment processor).
• Transaction Data: Details about your purchases, including order history and payment details.
• Technical Data: IP address, browser type, device information, and browsing behavior (e.g., pages visited, time spent on our site) collected via cookies and analytics tools like Google Analytics.
• Marketing and Communication Data: Your preferences for receiving marketing emails or newsletters and your communication with us.

We do not collect personal information from individuals under 16 years of age. If we learn that we have collected such information without parental consent, we will delete it promptly.

2. How We Collect Information

We collect information in the following ways:

• Directly from You: When you create an account, place an order, sign up for our newsletter, or contact us via email or our website’s contact form.
• Automatically: When you browse our website, we use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to collect technical data. For example, Google Analytics tracks browsing behavior to help us improve our website.
• From Third Parties: Our payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) collect payment information securely. Spocket, our dropshipping platform, may provide us with order fulfillment and shipping updates related to your purchases.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information to:

• Process and Fulfill Orders: To process payments, coordinate with Spocket’s suppliers (using services like DHL, USPS, ePacket, or FedEx) for shipping, and provide order updates, including tracking information.
• Improve Our Services: To analyze website performance, customer preferences, and shopping behavior using tools like Google Analytics.
• Communicate with You: To send order confirmations, respond to inquiries, and provide customer support.
• Marketing: To send promotional emails or newsletters (only if you opt in) about new products, offers, or updates. You can unsubscribe at any time.
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, such as tax regulations or data protection laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA).

4. How We Share Your Information

We share your personal information with third parties only as necessary to provide our services or comply with legal obligations. These third parties include:

• Spocket and Suppliers: We share your name, shipping address, and order details with Spocket and its network of suppliers to fulfill and ship your orders. Spocket’s suppliers, primarily using DHL, USPS, ePacket, or FedEx, handle shipping logistics. Spocket acts as a data processor for this information, and their privacy practices are governed by their own Privacy Policy.
• Payment Processors: We use trusted third-party payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) to securely handle payment information. We do not store your payment card details directly.
• Service Providers: We use analytics providers (e.g., Google Analytics) and marketing platforms to understand customer behavior and send promotional communications.
• Legal Authorities: We may disclose your information if required by law, such as in response to a subpoena or to comply with tax or regulatory obligations.

We do not sell your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience, analyze site performance, and deliver personalized content. Cookies are small data files stored on your device. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings or our cookie consent banner. For more details, see our Cookie Policy.

6. International Data Transfers

As an e-commerce store using Spocket, your personal information may be transferred to suppliers in the United States, Europe, or other regions where Spocket’s suppliers operate. We ensure that any international data transfers comply with applicable data protection laws, such as GDPR, by using safeguards like Standard Contractual Clauses where necessary.

7. Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction: Request updates or corrections to inaccurate information.
• Deletion: Request that we delete your personal information, subject to legal obligations.
• Opt-Out: Opt out of marketing communications or the sale/sharing of your data (if applicable).
• Restrict Processing: Request that we limit how we use your information.
• Data Portability: Request a copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format.

To exercise these rights, please contact us at inquiries@gentlepets.store. We will respond within the timeframes required by law (e.g., 30 days under GDPR, 45 days under CCPA).

8. Data Security

We use commercially reasonable measures to protect your personal information, including encryption for payment processing and secure servers for data storage. However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials.

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, including for order fulfillment, customer support, and legal compliance. For example, we may retain transaction data for tax purposes as required by law. When your information is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it.

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, such as Spocket, payment processors, or social media platforms. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these websites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before sharing personal information.

11. Children’s Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under 16. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 16, please contact us at inquiries@gentlepets.store, and we will take steps to delete it.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of significant changes by posting the updated policy on our website and updating the “Last Updated” date. If required by law, we will seek your consent for material changes.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data protection rights, please contact us at:

• Email: inquiries@gentlepets.store
• Postal Address: Gentle Pets Store, 2 Lancelot Place, Clarendon, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, 3201

If you are in the European Union, you may also contact your local data protection authority to file a complaint.