Privacy Policy

Introduction

GearChase.com ("GearChase," "we," "our," or "us") values your privacy across our website, mobile site, and related services (collectively, the "Services"). This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and disclose information about you when you use our Services, interact with us, or engage with our partners and affiliates.

By using our Services, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

What Information Do We Collect?

Information You Provide

Account Registration: Name, email address, and password (if you create an account).
Communications: Messages you send us via contact forms or email.
User Content: Reviews, comments, survey responses, or sweepstakes entries.

Information Regarding Purchases

Important Note: GearChase acts as an affiliate publisher. When you click a link to a retailer (e.g., Amazon, REI) to make a purchase, we do not collect or see your credit card, banking, or shipping information. That data is collected solely by the merchant. We only receive anonymized reports stating that a purchase occurred.

Information We Collect Automatically

Device Data: Browser type, operating system, and device identifiers.
IP Address (Anonymized): We anonymize IP addresses before storing them — the last octet of IPv4 addresses (or last 80 bits of IPv6) is zeroed so the IP cannot be tied back to an individual device.
Location Data: Coarse country/region inferred from the anonymized IP only.
Usage Data: Pages viewed, time spent on site, clickstream data, and referring URLs.

Information From Third Parties

Affiliate Networks: We receive data from networks (like Amazon Associates or AvantLink) confirming if a click resulted in a qualifying sale.
Analytics Providers: Aggregated data regarding website performance (e.g., Google Analytics).

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We and our service providers use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to collect information for purposes such as:

Functionality: Remembering login preferences.
Analytics: Understanding how users navigate our site.
Affiliate Attribution: Ensuring we are credited when you make a purchase at a partner retailer.

You may disable cookies in your browser settings, though this may affect your ability to earn rewards or use certain site features.

How We Use Information

To provide, maintain, and improve our Services.
To send promotional messages (newsletters), only if you have opted in.
To personalize your experience and product recommendations.
To detect, prevent, and address fraud or security issues.
To comply with applicable legal obligations.

How We Share Information

We do not sell your personal emails or private messages to third parties. We share information in the following limited circumstances:

Service Providers: With vendors who help us run the site (hosting, email marketing platforms).
Affiliate Networks: We pass click-through data (but not personal identities) to merchants to track referrals.
Legal Compliance: If required by law, subpoena, or to protect the safety of our users.
Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.

Interest-Based Advertising & Analytics

We work with third parties to provide interest-based advertising and analytics. These companies may use cookies and device identifiers to track activity across websites. You may opt out of certain practices through:

Security and Retention

We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to help protect your information. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We retain personal information only as long as necessary to provide our Services or comply with legal obligations:

Analytics data — anonymized IP, session, and pageview records are retained for up to 365 days, then aggregated into daily summaries.
Newsletter subscriptions — kept until you unsubscribe via the link in any email or via data request.
Contact form messages — retained for up to 12 months from receipt.
Account data — retained for as long as your account is active. Deleting your account removes your personal data.

Children's Privacy

Our Services are not intended for children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe we have collected data from a child, please contact us immediately so we can delete it.

State Privacy Rights (USA)

Residents of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Montana, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Virginia have specific rights under state privacy laws. These generally include the right to:

Access or request a copy of your personal information.
Request correction or deletion of your data.
Opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information for targeted advertising.

Global Privacy Control (GPC) & Do Not Track: Our website honors GPC and DNT signals from your browser as a valid request to opt-out of analytics tracking and the sale/sharing of personal data.

To exercise these rights, submit a request via our data request form, email privacy@gearchase.com, or contact us. Account holders can also export or delete their data directly from Account → Personal Data.

International Visitors

Our Services are intended primarily for U.S. users. If you access our Services from outside the United States, you acknowledge that your data will be processed under U.S. laws, which may provide different levels of protection than the laws in your country.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy regularly.

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