Privacy Policy
Last updated: December 12, 2024
Our Commitment to Your Privacy
At Steeping Room, we believe that your privacy is fundamental. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, and handle your personal information when you visit steepingroom.org or engage with our services.
We are committed to being transparent about our data practices and giving you control over your personal information. We only collect information that helps us provide you with a better tea experience, and we treat it with the care and respect it deserves.
Information We Collect
Information You Provide Directly
When you interact with our website or services, you may choose to provide us with certain information, including:
- • Your name and email address when you contact us or sign up for our services
- • Messages and communications you send through our contact forms
- • Preferences and interests you share regarding tea selections
- • Payment and billing information when you purchase our services
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain technical information:
- • Browser type, device information, and operating system
- • IP address and general location information
- • Pages you visit, time spent on pages, and navigation patterns
- • Referral source and exit pages
- • Cookie data as described in our Cookie Policy
Information from Third Parties
We may receive limited information from third-party services we use for analytics, payment processing, or marketing purposes. This information helps us understand how you found us and how we can improve your experience.
How We Use Your Information
Service Delivery
We use your information to provide you with our tea services, including processing orders, managing subscriptions, and responding to your inquiries. This is the primary reason we collect your data.
Communication
We may use your contact information to send you updates about your orders, respond to your questions, and share information about seasonal offerings or new services that might interest you. You can opt out of marketing communications at any time.
Website Improvement
We analyze usage data to understand how visitors interact with our website, identify technical issues, and improve the overall user experience. This helps us create a more intuitive and helpful platform.
Personalization
We use information about your preferences to provide personalized recommendations and tailor our services to better suit your individual needs and tea journey.
Legal Compliance and Protection
We may use your information to comply with legal obligations, protect our rights and property, prevent fraud, and ensure the security of our website and services.
How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We only share your information in the following limited circumstances:
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Service Providers: We work with trusted third-party companies that help us operate our website, process payments, deliver products, and analyze our services. These providers are bound by confidentiality agreements.
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Legal Requirements: We may disclose information when required by law, such as in response to legal processes or to protect our rights and the rights of others.
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Business Transfers: If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction, but only with proper notice to you.
Data Security and Protection
We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect it:
- • Secure encryption for data transmission and storage
- • Regular security assessments and updates to our systems
- • Strict access controls limiting who can view your information
- • Employee training on data protection and privacy practices
- • Incident response procedures in case of data breaches
While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure. We continuously work to improve our security measures, but we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Data Retention
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. When we no longer need your information, we securely delete or anonymize it.
Typically, we retain:
- • Account information for the duration of your relationship with us
- • Transaction records for legal and accounting purposes
- • Analytics data in aggregated, anonymized form
- • Communication records for customer service purposes
Your Privacy Rights
You have important rights regarding your personal information. Depending on your location, you may have the right to:
Access Your Data
Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
Rectify Your Data
Request corrections to any inaccurate or incomplete information.
Erase Your Data
Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal obligations.
Data Portability
Request your data in a structured, commonly used format for transfer elsewhere.
Object to Processing
Object to how we process your information in certain circumstances.
Withdraw Consent
Withdraw any consent you have previously given for data processing.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us through our contact page. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe as required by applicable law.
Your Rights and Opt-Out Instructions
You are not required to provide any personal information when using this website. If you prefer not to share your data, you may:
- • Avoid filling out contact forms, account registrations, or any data-submitting features
- • Disable cookies through your browser settings (see our Cookie Policy for more details)
- • Contact us directly to request the deletion of any previously shared personal data
We respect your privacy choices. If you would like us to delete your data, please reach out to us through our contact page. We will process your request promptly.
Children's Privacy
Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately so we can delete it.
International Data Transfers
If you are accessing our website from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States where our servers are located. By using our services, you consent to such transfers. We take appropriate steps to ensure your data is protected in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make significant changes, we will notify you by updating the date at the top of this policy and, where appropriate, provide additional notice such as through email or a prominent notice on our website.
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.
Contact Us About Privacy
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, we're here to help. Please reach out to us through our contact page.
We take your privacy seriously and will respond to all legitimate requests within a reasonable timeframe.