gearTalk Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

When you use gearTalk, we collect the following information:

• Account Information: Email address, username, and display name when you create an account
• User-Generated Content: Reviews, ratings, comments, and paddle collection information you choose to share
• Social Interactions: Information about users you follow and content you like
• Usage Data: Information about how you interact with the app, including pages viewed and features used

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Create and manage your account
• Display your reviews and ratings to other users
• Enable social features like following users and liking reviews
• Personalize your experience and show relevant content
• Improve our app and develop new features
• Communicate with you about your account or app updates
• Prevent fraud and maintain the security of our services

3. Public Information

The following information is publicly visible to all gearTalk users:

• Your username and display name
• Reviews and ratings you post
• Paddles in your collection (paddle wall)
• Users you follow and who follow you
• Likes you give to reviews

Important: Do not include sensitive personal information in your reviews or public profile, as this information will be visible to all users.

4. Data Storage and Security

We use Firebase (by Google) for authentication and data storage. Your data is stored securely on Google's servers and is protected by industry-standard security measures.

While we implement reasonable security measures, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.

5. Third-Party Services

gearTalk uses the following third-party services:

• Firebase (Google): For user authentication, database storage, and app analytics

These services have their own privacy policies governing how they handle your data. We encourage you to review Google's privacy policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy

6. Data Sharing

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

• Public Content: Information you choose to make public (reviews, ratings, profile) is visible to all users
• Service Providers: With Firebase/Google for essential app functionality
• Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect our rights and safety

7. Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your data:

• Access: View the information we have about you through your profile
• Edit: Update your profile information at any time
• Delete: Delete your reviews, paddle wall items, follows, and likes
• Account Deletion: Delete your entire account and all associated data directly from the Settings section of the App

8. Children's Privacy

gearTalk is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date above.

Your continued use of gearTalk after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated policy.

10. California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to know what personal information we collect and how it's used
• Right to request deletion of your personal information
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (Note: We do not sell personal information)

11. International Users

gearTalk is operated in the United States. If you are accessing the app 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.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this privacy policy or your personal data, please contact us at:

Email: geartalk.co@gmail.com

Response Time: We aim to respond to all inquiries within 48 hours.