Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

YardFinder ("we," "our," or "us") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our yard sale finder platform and related services (the "Service").

By using our Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Service.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

We may collect the following types of personal information:

• Account information (name, email address, password)
• Profile information (profile picture, bio, preferences)
• Contact information (phone number, address for yard sale listings)
• Payment information (processed securely through Stripe and PayPal)
• Communication data (messages, support inquiries)

2.2 Usage Information

We automatically collect certain information about your use of our Service:

• Device information (IP address, browser type, operating system)
• Usage data (pages visited, time spent, features used)
• Location data (with your permission, for finding nearby yard sales)
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

2.3 User-Generated Content

Information you voluntarily provide when using our Service, including:

• Yard sale listings (descriptions, photos, addresses)
• Reviews and ratings
• Comments and messages
• Saved sales and preferences

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Providing and maintaining our Service
• Processing transactions and subscription payments
• Creating and managing your account
• Facilitating yard sale listings and discoveries
• Sending important notifications and updates
• Providing customer support
• Improving our Service and developing new features
• Preventing fraud and ensuring security
• Complying with legal obligations

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

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

4.1 Service Providers

We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our Service:

• Firebase (Google) - Authentication, database, and file storage
• Stripe and PayPal - Payment processing
• Mapbox - Mapping and location services
• Email service providers - Transactional emails

4.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to valid legal requests, including:

• Court orders or subpoenas
• Government investigations
• Legal proceedings
• Protecting our rights and safety

4.3 Public Information

Some information you provide may be publicly visible, including:

• Yard sale listings and photos
• Public profile information
• Reviews and ratings

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure authentication and access controls
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Employee training on data protection

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

6. Your Rights and Choices

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

• Access: Request access to your personal information
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
• Portability: Request a copy of your data in a portable format
• Restriction: Request restriction of processing
• Objection: Object to certain types of processing
• Withdraw consent: Withdraw previously given consent

To exercise these rights, please contact us at privacy@yardfinder.app. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on our Service. Types of cookies we use include:

• Essential cookies: Required for basic functionality
• Analytics cookies: Help us understand how you use our Service
• Preference cookies: Remember your settings and preferences
• Marketing cookies: Used for targeted advertising (with consent)

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling certain cookies may limit your ability to use some features of our Service.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our Service and comply with legal obligations. Specific retention periods include:

• Account information: Until account deletion
• Transaction records: 7 years for tax and legal compliance
• Usage data: 2 years for analytics purposes
• Support communications: 3 years

9. Children's Privacy

Our Service is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will take steps to delete such information.

10. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws. When we transfer your information internationally, we implement appropriate safeguards to protect your personal information.

11. Third-Party Links

Our Service may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to read their privacy policies before providing any information.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Sending you an email notification
• Posting a notice on our Service
• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy

Your continued use of our Service after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

13. Contact Information

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