Privacy policy
Dear Thing Privacy Policy
Effective Date: October 01, 2026
Dear Thing ("Dear Thing," "we," "us," or "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use and share it, and the choices and rights you have regarding your information when you visit or make a purchase from our website (the "Site"), which is operated on the Shopify platform.
By using the Site, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use the Site.
1. Information We Collect
We collect the following categories of information:
a. Information You Provide to Us
• Contact information, such as your name, email address, shipping and billing address, and phone number, when you request a free resource, sign up for our email list, place an order, create an account, or contact us..
• Payment and billing information, such as your billing address and payment details, which are collected and processed by our payment processor on our behalf (see Section 4).
• Account information, such as a username, password, order history, and preferences, if you create an account with us.
• Any other information you choose to provide, such as messages sent to customer support or content submitted through forms on the Site.
b. Information Collected Automatically
• Device and usage data, including your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, and the dates/times of your visits.
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies, which help us operate the Site, remember your preferences, and understand how visitors use the Site (see Section 3).
• Transaction data related to purchases, returns, and exchanges made through the Site.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
• Process and fulfill your orders, including payment processing, shipping, and customer service.
• Create and manage your account.
• Communicate with you about orders, promotions, newsletters, and updates (where you have opted in).
• Improve and personalize the Site, our products, and your shopping experience.
• Detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, unauthorized transactions, and other illegal activity.
• Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal obligations.
3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Like most websites, the Site uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to operate properly, remember your preferences, and analyze site traffic. Cookies may be set by Dear Thing directly or by third-party service providers, including our e-commerce platform, Shopify.
You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of the Site, including your ability to complete a purchase.
4. Third-Party Service Providers
We work with trusted third-party service providers to operate the Site and fulfill orders. These providers may process personal information as necessary to provide their services to us.
They include:
• Shopify — our e-commerce platform, which hosts the Site and processes order, account, and payment information. Shopify's own privacy practices are described in the Shopify Privacy Policy, available at shopify.com/legal/privacy.
• Payment processors — used to securely process payments made through the Site. We do not store full payment card details on our own servers.
• Email and marketing platforms — used to send order confirmations, newsletters, and marketing communications, where you have opted in.
• Shipping and fulfillment partners — used to deliver your orders.
We do not sell your personal information to third parties for their own marketing purposes.
5. How We Share Your Information
Beyond the service providers described above, we may share your information:
• With affiliates or business partners involved in operating the Site or fulfilling your orders.
• If required to do so by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request.
• To protect the rights, property, or safety of Dear Thing, our customers, or others.
• In connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of business assets, in which case personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
6. Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including to process your orders, comply with legal and tax obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. When information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to delete or anonymize it.
7. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on where you live, you may have rights regarding your personal information under applicable state privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). These rights may include the right to:
• Know what personal information we have collected, used, and disclosed about you.
• Request access to or a copy of your personal information.
• Request correction of inaccurate personal information.
• Request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
• Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information, where applicable under law.
• Dear Thing does not sell personal information for monetary compensation.
• Not be discriminated against for exercising your privacy rights.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at dearthingjournal@gmail.com. We may need to verify your identity before responding to your request. If you would like to designate an authorized agent to make a request on your behalf, please contact us for instructions.
8. Data Security
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
9. Children's Privacy
The Site is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without verified parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information as soon as possible. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us.
10. International Visitors
The Site is operated in the United States and is intended for visitors located in the United States. If you access the Site from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where privacy laws may differ from those in your jurisdiction.
11. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes, we will revise the "Effective Date" at the top of this policy. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
12. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us via email at dearthingjournal@gmail.com.