Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly to us when you:

• Create an account (email, password, zip code)
• Post items for sale (photos, descriptions, price)
• Send messages to other users through our messaging system
• Favorite items

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide and maintain our services
• Process your account registration
• Facilitate messaging between buyers and sellers
• Send you account verification emails
• Send email notifications (if you enable them)
• Improve our services

3. Your Email Privacy

We take your privacy seriously. Here's how we protect your email:

• Hidden from other users: Buyers and sellers cannot see your email address
• Secure messaging: All communication happens through our built-in messaging system
• No direct email exposure: When someone contacts you, they use our platform - not your personal email

Email Notifications (Optional)

If you enable email notifications:

• We send you an email when you receive a new message
• The email contains a preview of the message content
• You can disable this feature at any time in your profile settings

4. Information You Share

When you post items for sale, the following information is publicly visible:

• Item title, description, photos, and price
• Your approximate location (zip code)
• Your username

✅ Your email address is NOT publicly visible.

5. Communication Between Users

All communication between buyers and sellers happens through Swapia's secure messaging system:

• Messages are sent and received within the Swapia platform
• Your email address is never revealed to the other party
• Messages are stored securely in our database
• Only you and the other party can see the conversation

6. Information We Don't Collect

We do not:

• Process payments - all transactions are conducted directly between buyers and sellers
• Verify user identity - we do not require ID verification
• Background checks on users
• Store credit card or bank account information
• Sell your personal data to third parties

7. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services:

• Google OAuth - For optional Google login
• GitHub OAuth - For optional GitHub login
• Email sending - For account verification and optional notifications
• Hosting - For website hosting

These services have their own privacy policies.

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures to protect your personal information. However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Data Retention

We retain your data as long as your account is active. When you delete your account:

• Your account information is removed
• Your items are deleted
• Your messages are deleted
• All data is permanently removed within 30 days

10. Children's Privacy

Our service is not intended for users under 16 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new policy on this page.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at support@swapia.net