Privacy Policy | Nook Gems

Nook Gems ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use nookgems.com.

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information:

Account information: When you sign up, we collect your name, email address, and password (stored as a secure hash). If you sign in with Google, we receive your name and email from Google.
Content you create: Reviews, business listings, gem trails, photos, and votes you submit.
Usage data: Pages you visit, features you use, and how you interact with the platform (collected via PostHog analytics).
Business information: If you're a business owner, we collect your business name, address, description, category, and photos.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

Provide and improve the Nook Gems platform
Send transactional emails (account verification, password resets)
Send our weekly gem digest newsletter (you can unsubscribe at any time)
Display your reviews, listings, and trails on the platform
Understand how users interact with the platform to improve it
Prevent fraud and enforce our Terms of Service

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share your information only in the following circumstances:

Service providers: We use trusted third-party services including Resend (email delivery), PostHog (analytics), Cloudflare R2 (image storage), and Neon (database hosting). These providers only process your data as necessary to provide their services.
Public content: Reviews, business listings, and gem trails you create are publicly visible on the platform.
Legal requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law or to protect the rights and safety of our users.

4. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored on secure servers hosted by Neon (PostgreSQL database) and Cloudflare R2 (images). We use industry-standard security measures including password hashing, HTTPS encryption, and secure session management. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure.

5. Cookies and Tracking

Nook Gems uses cookies and similar technologies to maintain your login session and analyze platform usage via PostHog. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but this may affect your ability to use the platform.

6. Email Communications

By creating an account, you may receive transactional emails (verification, password resets) and our weekly gem digest. You can unsubscribe from the weekly digest at any time by contacting us at nookgemsclt@gmail.com. Transactional emails cannot be unsubscribed from as they are necessary for account security.

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

Access the personal information we hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate information
Request deletion of your account and associated data
Opt out of marketing emails

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

8. Children's Privacy

Nook Gems is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

9. Third-Party Links

The platform may contain links to third-party websites (such as business websites). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to review their privacy policies.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes via email or a notice on the platform. Continued use of Nook Gems after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at: nookgemsclt@gmail.com