Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to Articea ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our handmade marketplace platform at articea.in (the "Platform").

By using Articea, 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 the Platform.

Information We Collect

Personal Information

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

• Create an account (email address, name, password)
• Make a purchase (billing address, shipping address, phone number)
• Become a seller (business details, bank account information for payouts)
• Contact customer support (communication content, support tickets)
• Subscribe to newsletters or marketing communications
• Leave product reviews or ratings
• Participate in chat conversations with sellers

Automatically Collected Information

When you access the Platform, we automatically collect:

• Device information (IP address, browser type, operating system)
• Usage data (pages visited, time spent, clicks, navigation patterns)
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies
• Location data (approximate location based on IP address)

Payment Information

Payment processing is handled by secure third-party payment processors (such as Razorpay). We do not store your complete credit card information. We may retain the last four digits of your card and transaction history for record-keeping and customer service purposes.

How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

• Account Management: Creating and managing your account, authentication, and security
• Order Processing: Processing purchases, payments, shipping, and delivery
• Customer Service: Responding to inquiries, providing support, and resolving disputes
• Platform Improvement: Analyzing usage patterns to enhance user experience and functionality
• Communications: Sending order confirmations, shipping updates, password reset notifications, and security alerts
• Marketing: Sending promotional emails and notifications (only with your consent, and you can opt-out anytime)
• Security: Detecting and preventing fraud, unauthorized access, and other security threats
• Legal Compliance: Complying with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes
• Analytics: Understanding user behavior and preferences to improve our services

Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

With Sellers

When you make a purchase, we share necessary information (name, shipping address, contact details) with the seller to fulfill your order.

Service Providers

We work with third-party service providers who assist us in:

• Payment processing (Razorpay)
• Email delivery services
• Cloud hosting and data storage (Neon Database, Vercel)
• Authentication services (Google OAuth, Firebase)
• Analytics and performance monitoring

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government request, or to protect our rights, property, or safety.

Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the new entity.

Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including:

• Encryption of data in transit using SSL/TLS
• Secure password hashing (bcrypt)
• Two-factor authentication (2FA) option
• Regular security audits and monitoring
• Access controls and authentication requirements
• Secure cloud infrastructure with backup systems

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

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Maintain your login session
• Remember your preferences and settings
• Analyze site traffic and usage patterns
• Personalize content and advertisements
• Improve platform performance and security

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain features on the Platform.

Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information through your account settings
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing emails via the unsubscribe link or notification settings
• Data Portability: Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Restrict Processing: Request limitation on how we use your information
• Object: Object to certain processing activities

To exercise these rights, please contact us at privacy@articea.in or through your account settings.

Communication Preferences

You can manage your notification preferences in your account settings. You can choose to receive or opt-out of:

• Marketing and promotional emails
• Order and shipping updates
• New product notifications
• In-app notifications

Note: You cannot opt-out of essential service emails such as order confirmations, password resets, and security alerts.

Third-Party Links

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

Children's Privacy

Articea is not intended for users under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately at team.articea@gmail.com, and we will promptly delete such information.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide our services and maintain your account
• Comply with legal obligations (e.g., tax and accounting requirements)
• Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements
• Prevent fraud and maintain security

When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your information within 30 days, except where we are required to retain it for legal purposes.

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. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

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

• Posting the new Privacy Policy on this page
• Updating the "Last Updated" date
• Sending you an email notification (for significant changes)

Your continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

Contact Us

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