Privacy Policy

In Short…

We are committed to transparency and protecting your privacy! The TBR Turtle collects the information we need to process your bookish orders, ship them quickly, and improve your shopping experience. We never sell your personal data. We rely on secure, industry-standard partners to handle payments and shipping so you can focus on finding your next great read.

In Long…

Effective Date: November 30, 2025

The TBR Turtle (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is a small craft business based in Central Ohio, USA, dedicated to providing unique, handcrafted bookish accessories. We are committed to protecting the privacy of our website visitors and customers. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and what choices you have regarding your data.

📚 1. Information We Collect

We only collect information necessary to provide you with a delightful shopping and browsing experience. This includes data collected directly from you and data collected automatically through our site’s e-commerce platform.

A. Information You Provide Directly

This information is collected when you place an order, create an account, or contact us:

  • Order and Contact Data: Your name, billing address, shipping address, email address, phone number, and details related to your purchase (products ordered, purchase date).
  • Account Data: Your username and password for your customer account.
  • Communication Data: Information you provide when contacting us via email, contact forms, or customer support (e.g., feedback, inquiries about your custom bookmarks).

B. Information Collected Automatically

As our site runs on an industry-standard e-commerce platform, certain technical and usage data is collected:

  • Website Usage Data: Your IP address, browser type, operating system, pages viewed, time spent on the site, and referring websites. This helps us understand what content is most engaging.
  • Cookies: We use cookies to operate and improve our site.
    • Essential Cookies: Necessary for the site to function (e.g., maintaining your shopping cart and remembering your login status).
    • Performance Cookies: Used to monitor site traffic and trends to continually enhance our user experience.
  • Geolocation Data: We may collect general location data (city/state) based on your IP address to accurately calculate shipping rates and comply with sales tax regulations.

🤝 2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information collected for the following purposes:

  • Fulfilling Orders: To process, ship, and track your orders, manage payments, and handle returns and customer service requests. This is the primary reason we need your information.
  • Account Management: To manage your customer account, process refunds, and allow you to view your order history.
  • Communication: To send you essential order confirmations, shipping updates, and respond to your direct inquiries.
  • Marketing (With Consent): To send occasional updates about new custom charms, product releases, or upcoming events (only if you have explicitly opted in to our newsletter).

🌐 3. Third-Party Sharing and Integrations

We share your data only as necessary to effectively run our small business or when required by law.

A. Essential Service Providers

We share information with trusted third parties who perform essential functions on our behalf:

  • Payment Processors: To securely process payments. Currently, all online payments are processed through Square. We do not store your full credit card details.
  • Shipping Providers: To create shipping labels and deliver your products (e.g., USPS, UPS).
  • Technology Providers: The companies that host and maintain our e-commerce site.

B. Social Media and Advertising Partners

Our website includes integrated tools for Meta (Facebook/Instagram), Pinterest, and TikTok. These integrations may collect non-personal data (like your IP address or pages you visit) via tracking technologies (cookies or pixels) to help us measure our advertising effectiveness or personalize content shown to you. The use of your information by these external companies is governed by their own privacy policies.

🍪 4. Cookies and Your Choices

You have the ability to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. Please note that disabling essential cookies may affect the functionality of your shopping cart and customer account.

🛡️ 5. Data Security

We implement commercially reasonable security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse. We rely on the robust security protocols provided by our technology platform and payment processors (Square) to safeguard your transactional data.

🖋️ 6. Your Data Rights

If you have an account or have placed an order, you have the right to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you, and you can also request that we erase any personal data we hold about you. This does not include any data we are legally obliged to keep for administrative or security purposes (such as required order records).

To make a data request, please contact us using the information provided below.

🇺🇸 7. Governing Law

We are a small business based in Ohio, USA, and this Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the State of Ohio and the United States.

✉️ 8. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact us at https://thetbrturtle.com/contact