Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

WashAuction.com ("WashAuction," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy describes what information we collect, how we use it, and your choices regarding your data. By using WashAuction, you consent to the practices described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

Information You Provide

• Account information: name, email address, phone number, and password when you create an account
• Profile information: business name, location (city, state), and business description for seller profiles
• Payment information: payment card details and bank account information (processed and stored by Stripe, not by WashAuction)
• Listing information: equipment descriptions, photos, pricing, condition details, and other listing content you provide
• Communications: messages sent through the platform, customer support inquiries, and feedback
• Identity verification: EIN or SSN for seller Stripe Connect onboarding (processed directly by Stripe)

Information Collected Automatically

• Usage data: pages visited, listings viewed, searches performed, bids placed, and other interactions with the platform
• Device information: browser type, operating system, device type, and screen resolution
• Log data: IP address, access times, referring URLs, and error logs
• Cookies: session cookies for authentication and preference cookies for site functionality

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Operate, maintain, and improve the WashAuction marketplace
• Process transactions and send related notifications (bids, sales, payments)
• Verify seller identity and manage Stripe Connect accounts
• Communicate with you about your account, listings, and platform updates
• Enforce our Terms of Service and protect against fraud or abuse
• Analyze platform usage to improve features and user experience
• Respond to customer support requests

4. Third-Party Services

WashAuction integrates with the following third-party services that may collect and process your data according to their own privacy policies:

• Stripe — payment processing, seller identity verification, and fund transfers. Stripe collects and stores payment card details, bank account information, and identity documents directly. WashAuction does not store your payment card numbers. See Stripe's Privacy Policy.
• Google — authentication (Sign in with Google). See Google's Privacy Policy.
• Cloudinary — image hosting and transformation for listing photos. See Cloudinary's Privacy Policy.
• Resend — transactional email delivery (bid notifications, payment confirmations, etc.).

5. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal data to third parties.

We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

• With third-party service providers listed above, solely to operate the platform
• With other users as necessary to facilitate transactions (e.g., seller name and location shown on listings)
• To comply with legal obligations, court orders, or government requests
• To protect the rights, safety, or property of WashAuction, our users, or the public
• In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets (with notice to users)

6. Cookies and Tracking

WashAuction uses cookies for:

• Essential cookies: session authentication, CSRF protection, and core site functionality
• Preference cookies: remembering your settings and filter preferences
• Analytics: understanding how users interact with the platform to improve the experience

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling essential cookies may prevent you from using certain features of the platform.

7. Data Retention

We retain your account information for as long as your account is active. Transaction records are retained for at least 7 years for tax and legal compliance purposes. Listing data may be retained in anonymized form for analytics.

8. Your Rights and Choices

You have the right to:

• Access: request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Correction: update or correct inaccurate personal data
• Deletion: request deletion of your account and personal data, subject to legal retention requirements
• Opt-out: unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@washauction.com. We will respond to requests within 30 days.

9. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act:

• The right to know what personal information we collect, use, and disclose
• The right to request deletion of your personal information
• The right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
• The right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

To submit a CCPA request, email privacy@washauction.com with the subject line "CCPA Request."

10. Data Security

We implement commercially reasonable security measures to protect your personal information, including encryption in transit (TLS/SSL), secure authentication, and access controls. However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

11. Children's Privacy

WashAuction is not intended for use by anyone under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that a child under 18 has provided us with personal information, we will delete it.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you by email or by posting a notice on the platform. Your continued use of WashAuction after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

For questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, contact us at: privacy@washauction.com