Privacy policy

Effective Date: [Insert Date]
Last Updated: [Insert Date]

Welcome to [Easy Carry App]. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is handled in a safe and responsible manner.

This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our multi-vendor e-commerce platform (the “App” or “Service”).

By accessing or using the App, you agree to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not use the App.

1. Information We Collect

We collect various types of information to provide and improve our services, facilitate transactions, and enhance your experience on the App.

1.1. Information You Provide Directly to Us:

• Account Information: When you create an account (as a buyer or a seller), we collect your name, email address, phone number, password, and profile picture.
• Buyer Information: If you are a buyer, we collect your shipping address, billing address, payment details (e.g., credit card number, expiration date, billing address – note: we typically do not store full payment card details; these are processed by third-party payment gateways), purchase history, and product reviews/ratings.
• Seller Information: If you are a seller, we collect your business name, contact person name, business address, phone number, email address, bank account details (for payouts), tax identification numbers (e.g., PAN, GSTIN in India), product listings, inventory data, and order fulfillment information.
• Communications: Information you provide when you communicate with us, customer support, or other users (buyers or sellers) through the App, including messages, feedback, and support queries.
• Voluntary Information: Any other information you voluntarily provide, such as preferences, interests, or survey responses.

1.2. Information Collected Automatically:

• Device Information: Information about your mobile device, including device model, operating system version, unique device identifiers (e.g., IMEI, ADID), mobile network information, and crash data.
• Usage Information: Details of how you use the App, including access dates and times, features used, pages viewed, products searched, Browse history, clickstream data, and the referring/exit pages.
• Location Information: With your permission, we may collect your precise or approximate location information via GPS, Wi-Fi, or cellular triangulation, for purposes like showing relevant products or facilitating delivery. You can disable location services through your device settings.
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and other tracking technologies to collect information about your Browse activities, personalize your experience, remember your preferences, and analyze app usage. You can manage your cookie preferences through your device or browser settings.
• Transaction Information: Details related to purchases made through the App, including order numbers, transaction amounts, payment methods, and shipping details.

1.3. Information from Third Parties:

• Payment Processors: When you make a purchase, our third-party payment processors provide us with information related to your transaction, such as the last four digits of your credit card and a transaction ID, but typically not your full payment card details.
• Social Media: If you link your social media accounts to the App or log in using social media credentials, we may receive information from those platforms (e.g., your public profile information) according to their policies.
• Analytics Providers: We may receive aggregated or anonymized usage data from third-party analytics services.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:

• To Provide and Maintain the App: To operate, maintain, and improve the functionality of the App, including processing transactions, managing orders, and facilitating communication between buyers and sellers.
• To Personalize Your Experience: To customize content, product recommendations, and advertisements based on your preferences and Browse history.
• For Communication: To send you transactional notifications (order confirmations, shipping updates), marketing communications (with your consent), security alerts, and support messages.
• For Customer Support: To respond to your inquiries, diagnose and resolve issues, and provide customer service.
• For Analytics and Research: To understand how users interact with the App, monitor performance, conduct research, and analyze trends to enhance our services.
• For Security and Fraud Prevention: To protect the security and integrity of the App, prevent fraud, and enforce our Terms of Service.
• For Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes, including responding to lawful requests from public authorities.
• For Business Operations: To manage our business, including accounting, auditing, and other internal operations.

3. How We Share Your Information

We may share your information with various parties under specific circumstances:

3.1. With Vendors (Sellers):

• When you place an order with a Vendor, we will share necessary information with that Vendor to facilitate the transaction, including your name, shipping address, phone number, and order details. Vendors are independent entities and are responsible for their own privacy practices regarding the data they receive from us. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of individual Vendors before making a purchase.

3.2. With Service Providers:

• We engage third-party service providers to perform functions on our behalf, such as payment processing, shipping and logistics, data analytics, cloud hosting, customer support, and marketing. These providers have access to your information only to perform these services and are obligated not to disclose or use it for other purposes.

3.3. With Other Users (Buyers):

• If you are a Vendor, your public store information (e.g., store name, product listings, reviews) will be visible to buyers. When you fulfill an order, certain details (e.g., tracking information) may be shared with the buyer.

3.4. For Business Transfers:

• In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, sale of assets, or bankruptcy, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email and/or a prominent notice on our App of any change in ownership or uses of your personal information, as well as any choices you may have regarding your personal information.

3.5. For Legal Reasons:

• We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court order or government agency).
• To protect our rights, property, or safety, and the rights, property, or safety of our users or others, including enforcing our terms and policies.

3.6. With Your Consent:

• We may share your information for any other purpose disclosed to you at the time of collection or with your explicit consent.

4. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. To determine the appropriate retention period for personal data, we consider the amount, nature, and sensitivity of the personal data, the potential risk of harm from unauthorized use or disclosure of your personal data, the purposes for which we process your personal data and whether we can achieve those purposes through other means, and the applicable legal requirements.

5. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or disclosure. However, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information. You are responsible for keeping your password confidential and for any activity that occurs under your account.

6. Your Privacy Choices and Rights

You may have certain rights regarding your personal information, depending on the applicable laws in your jurisdiction. These may include:

• Access: The right to request access to the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction/Rectification: The right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
• Deletion/Erasure: The right to request the deletion of your personal data under certain circumstances.
• Objection to Processing: The right to object to the processing of your personal data for certain purposes (e.g., direct marketing).
• Data Portability: The right to receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
• Withdraw Consent: Where we rely on your consent to process your personal data, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact details provided below. We may require you to verify your identity before fulfilling your request.

7. Third-Party Links and Services

A. Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to collect data about user interactions with our app. This includes information about your device, location (based on IP address), pages/screens viewed, session duration, and more.

Google Analytics helps us understand how users engage with the app so we can improve performance and features.

• Google may use the data collected to contextualize and personalize ads within its own advertising network.
• To learn more, see How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services.

You can opt out of Google Analytics by using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on:
https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout

B. Google AdMob

We use Google AdMob to display in-app advertisements. AdMob may collect:

• Device information (e.g., type, OS, mobile network)
• Ad interaction data
• Anonymous user identifiers for ad personalization

AdMob uses cookies and advertising identifiers (like Google Advertising ID) to show relevant ads.

Users in certain regions (like the EU) may be asked to consent to personalized ads. You can manage your ad preferences in your device settings.

To learn more, visit:
https://support.google.com/admob/answer/6128543?hl=en

8. Children’s Privacy

The App is not intended for use by individuals under the age of [e.g., 18 or as per local legal age of majority]. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without parental consent. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child without verifiable parental consent, we will take steps to remove that information from our servers.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the “Effective Date” at the top. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Your continued use of the App after the effective date of the updated Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the changes.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

[Your Company Name]

[Your Company Address]

Email: [Your Support Email Address]

Phone: [Your Support Phone Number (Optional)]

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Key considerations for a multi-vendor app:

• Vendor Responsibility: Clearly state that vendors are separate entities and have their own privacy policies. Encourage users to review them. You might even consider requiring vendors to link their own privacy policies within their store profiles on your app.
• Data Flow: Be very clear about what data is shared between you (the platform) and the vendors, and for what purpose.
• Payment Processing: Emphasize that sensitive payment details are typically handled by third-party payment gateways and not stored directly by your app, enhancing user trust.
• Compliance: While this template covers common elements, specific laws (like India’s upcoming DPDP Bill, GDPR if you have EU users, CCPA if you have California users) will have unique requirements that a legal professional can help you integrate.
• Accessibility: Ensure your privacy policy is easily accessible within the app (e.g., in settings, during sign-up) and on your website.