Privacy Policy

Last updated: January 3, 2025

This Privacy Policy explains how SchoolSpare ("we", "us", "our") collects, uses, stores, and protects your personal information when you use our website at schoolspare.com (the "Platform"). By using SchoolSpare, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information:

a) Information you provide directly:

• Full name
• Email address
• WhatsApp phone number
• Photos of items you list for sale
• Listing details (school name, grade, category, condition, price, description)
• Reports you submit about other listings

b) Information collected automatically:

• Browser type and version
• Device type (mobile, desktop)
• IP address
• Pages visited and time spent on the Platform
• Referring website
• Cookie data (see Section 6)

c) Information from third parties:

• If you sign in with Google, we receive your name, email address, and profile photo from Google
• Firebase (Google) collects authentication and usage data as part of our backend infrastructure

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Create and manage your account
• Verify your identity via email verification and one-time passcodes (OTP)
• Display your listings to other users on the Platform
• Show your WhatsApp number to verified logged-in users on your listing pages
• Process and review reports submitted by users
• Send you security-related emails (email verification, login codes, password resets)
• Improve the Platform and fix issues
• Comply with legal obligations

We do not use your information for unsolicited marketing emails.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal data. We share information only in these limited cases:

• Other users: Your name and WhatsApp number are visible to other logged-in, verified users when they view your listing. Your email address is never shown publicly.
• Firebase / Google: We use Firebase (by Google) for authentication, database, and file storage. Your data is stored on Firebase servers. See Firebase Privacy Policy.
• EmailJS: We use EmailJS to send login codes to your email. Your email address is passed to EmailJS solely for this purpose. See EmailJS Privacy Policy.
• Legal requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law or to protect the rights and safety of users or the public.

4. Data Storage & Security

Your data is stored securely on Google Firebase servers. We implement the following security measures:

• Email verification required before accessing seller features
• Two-factor login via one-time passcode (OTP) sent to your email
• Firestore security rules that prevent users from reading or modifying other users' data
• File upload validation to prevent malicious files from being uploaded
• HTTPS encryption for all data in transit
• One-time passcodes expire after 10 minutes and are deleted after use

While we take reasonable steps to protect your data, no system is 100% secure. We encourage you to use a strong, unique password and never share your login codes with anyone.

5. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as your account is active. Specifically:

• Account data (name, email, phone) — retained until you delete your account
• Listings — retained until you delete them or your account is removed
• Photos — deleted from storage when the associated listing is deleted
• OTP codes — automatically deleted after use or after 10 minutes
• Reports — retained for moderation purposes

To request deletion of your account and all associated data, contact us at evansearttu@gmail.com. We will process your request within 30 days.

6. Cookies

SchoolSpare uses cookies and similar technologies to operate the Platform and improve your experience. Here is what we use:

Essential cookies are required for the Platform to function and cannot be disabled. You can control other cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect your experience on the Platform.

7. Cookie Consent Banner

When you first visit SchoolSpare, a cookie consent banner will appear at the bottom of the page. You can accept or decline non-essential cookies. Your preference is saved in your browser and you can change it at any time by clearing your browser cookies and revisiting the site.

8. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Correct inaccurate information in your profile
• Delete your account and all associated data
• Object to processing of your data for certain purposes
• Withdraw consent at any time for non-essential data processing

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at evansearttu@gmail.com.

9. Children's Privacy

SchoolSpare is intended for use by parents and guardians aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 18. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately at evansearttu@gmail.com and we will delete it promptly.

10. Third-Party Links

SchoolSpare allows buyers and sellers to communicate via WhatsApp. When you click a WhatsApp link, you leave our Platform and are subject to WhatsApp's own privacy policy. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of WhatsApp or any other third-party service.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this page periodically. Continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

Email: evansearttu@gmail.com

Website: schoolspare.com