Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

DealGuides.net ("we," "our," or "us") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our Service.

By using DealGuides.net, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

We collect information you provide directly to us, including:

• Account Information: Username, email address, and password (encrypted)
• Profile Information: Optional display name, avatar, and bio
• User-Generated Content: Deals you submit, comments, votes, and activity on the platform
• Communication: Messages you send to us for support or feedback

2.2 Information Automatically Collected

We automatically collect certain information when you use our Service:

• Usage Analytics: Pages visited, features used, time spent, and click patterns
• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, and device identifiers
• IP Address: Used for approximate location and security purposes
• Referral Source: How you found our site (search engine, direct link, etc.)

2.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to collect information. For detailed information, please see our Cookie Policy.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for various purposes:

3.1 Personalized Deal Recommendations

Primary Purpose: We analyze your browsing behavior, vote history, and deal interactions to recommend deals that match your interests.

• Tracking categories and retailers you browse
• Analyzing deals you upvote, save, or comment on
• Identifying price points and product types you prefer
• Showing personalized deal feeds and notifications

3.2 Service Improvement

• Analyzing user behavior to improve our platform
• Identifying and fixing technical issues
• Developing new features based on user patterns
• Optimizing deal discovery and search algorithms

3.3 Communication

• Sending account verification and security emails
• Sending optional deal alerts and notifications (you can opt-out)
• Responding to your inquiries and support requests
• Sending important announcements about the Service

3.4 Safety and Security

• Detecting and preventing fraud, abuse, and security threats
• Enforcing our Terms of Service
• Verifying user identities when necessary

3.5 Legal Compliance

• Complying with legal obligations
• Responding to lawful requests and legal process
• Protecting our rights, property, and safety

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

4.1 Affiliate Partners

When you click on affiliate links and make purchases, our affiliate partners may receive information about the transaction (such as purchase amount and order ID). This allows us to earn commissions and track performance.

Important: We do not sell your personal information to third parties. Affiliate partners only receive transaction-related data necessary for commission tracking.

4.2 Service Providers

We share data with trusted third-party services that help us operate our platform:

• Hosting & Infrastructure: Supabase, Vercel
• Authentication: Supabase Auth, Google OAuth, GitHub OAuth
• Analytics: Web analytics services
• Email Services: Transactional email providers

These services have access to your data only to perform tasks on our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for other purposes.

4.3 Public Information

Certain information is publicly visible to other users:

• Your username and public profile information
• Deals you submit (with your username attributed)
• Comments you post
• Your voting activity (upvotes/downvotes)

Your email address and password are never publicly visible.

4.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., court orders, subpoenas).

5. Data Security

We implement security measures to protect your information:

• Encryption: Passwords are hashed and never stored in plain text
• Secure Communication: HTTPS/TLS encryption for data transmission
• Access Controls: Row Level Security (RLS) in our database
• Authentication: Secure session management

However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal data:

6.1 Access and Data Portability

• Request a copy of your personal data
• Export your data in a structured format

6.2 Deletion

• Request deletion of your account and personal data
• Note: We may retain certain information required for legal or legitimate business purposes

6.3 Correction and Control

• Update your profile information in account settings
• Manage your notification preferences
• Opt-out of personalized recommendations (may affect service quality)

6.4 Cookie Controls

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. See our Cookie Policy for more information.

7. Children's Privacy

Our Service is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we discover we have collected data from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete such information.

8. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify users of significant changes via email or through our platform. Your continued use of the Service after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

10. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us through our platform or at the contact information provided on our website.

We will respond to your inquiries within a reasonable timeframe.