Privacy Policy

Community Goods Menu is built on trust between neighbors. This policy explains what information we collect when you use our website, why we collect it, how we handle it, and the choices and rights you have over your own data.

In plain terms: We only collect the information we need to run Community Goods Menu and to help members connect over the goods they share. We do not sell your personal information. You can ask us to access, correct, or delete your data at any time using the contact details at the end of this page.

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy describes how Community Goods Menu (“Community Goods Menu,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, discloses, and protects personal information when you visit or interact with our website at communitygoodsmenu.com (the “Site”) and any related features or services we offer through it (together, the “Services”).

Community Goods Menu is a community platform where members can browse, list, and share goods with one another. This policy applies to information we handle as the party responsible for it (in some regions, the “data controller”). By using the Site, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this policy. If you do not agree with it, please do not use the Services.

This policy does not apply to third-party websites, products, or services that we do not own or control, even when they are linked from our Site. Please review the privacy policies of those third parties separately.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information in three main ways: information you give us directly, information we collect automatically as you use the Site, and information we receive from third parties.

Information you provide to us

  • Account and profile information — such as your name, username, email address, and any details or preferences you choose to add when you create or update an account.
  • Listings and submissions — the content you post to the Site, including descriptions, photos, categories, locations, and availability of goods you list or request.
  • Communications — messages you send to other members through the Site (where that feature is available), and messages you send to us directly, including support requests and feedback.
  • Contact and inquiry details — information you enter into contact forms, sign-up forms, or surveys, such as your email address and the contents of your message.
  • Correspondence records — copies of your exchanges with us, so we can respond to you and keep a record of your requests.

Information we collect automatically

When you visit the Site, certain information is collected automatically by our servers and by the tools described in the Cookies section below. This may include:

  • Device and connection data — such as your IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device identifiers, and language settings.
  • Usage data — pages you view, links you click, the referring page, the dates and times of your visits, and how you move through and interact with the Site.
  • Approximate location — a general location (for example, city or region) inferred from your IP address. We do not collect precise GPS location unless you explicitly choose to provide it.

Information from third parties

We may receive limited information about you from third-party services that support the Site — for example, analytics providers, or a sign-in service if you choose to log in using another account. We handle any such information in accordance with this policy.

You are never required to provide personal information to browse public parts of the Site. However, if you choose not to provide certain information, some features — such as creating an account or posting a listing — may not be available to you.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

  • Provide the Services — to operate the Site, display listings, enable member-to-member connections, and deliver the features you request.
  • Manage your account — to create and maintain your account, authenticate you, and keep your profile up to date.
  • Communicate with you — to respond to your inquiries, send service-related messages (such as confirmations, security alerts, and updates to our terms or policies), and, where permitted, share news about the community.
  • Improve and personalize — to understand how the Site is used, troubleshoot problems, develop new features, and improve the overall experience.
  • Keep the community safe — to monitor for and prevent fraud, abuse, spam, and other harmful or prohibited activity, and to enforce our terms and community guidelines.
  • Meet legal obligations — to comply with applicable laws, respond to lawful requests, and protect our rights, the rights of our members, and the safety of others.

We will not use your personal information for materially different, unrelated, or incompatible purposes without letting you know and, where required, obtaining your consent.

4. Legal Bases for Processing

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom, or another region with similar laws, we process your personal information only when we have a valid legal basis to do so. Depending on the situation, our legal basis may be:

  • Performance of a contract — where processing is necessary to provide the Services you have requested, such as maintaining your account or displaying your listings.
  • Legitimate interests — where processing supports our legitimate interests in running, securing, and improving the Site, provided those interests are not overridden by your rights.
  • Consent — where you have given us permission, for example to send certain communications or to set non-essential cookies. You may withdraw your consent at any time.
  • Legal obligation — where processing is necessary to comply with a legal or regulatory requirement.

5. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only in the limited circumstances described below.

  • With other members — the content you choose to make public, such as listings and profile details, is visible to other users of the Site. Please be thoughtful about what you post publicly.
  • With service providers — we work with trusted vendors who perform services on our behalf, such as website hosting, data storage, analytics, and email delivery. These providers may access personal information only to perform their tasks for us and are required to protect it.
  • For legal reasons — we may disclose information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, or where we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, enforce our terms, prevent fraud or harm, or ensure the safety of any person.
  • In a business transfer — if Community Goods Menu is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to the commitments in this policy.
  • With your direction or consent — we may share information in other ways when you ask us to or otherwise agree.

We may also share aggregated or de-identified information that cannot reasonably be used to identify you — for example, statistics about how the Site is used.

6. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We and our providers use cookies and similar technologies (such as pixels and local storage) to make the Site work, remember your preferences, and understand how it is used. Cookies are small files stored on your device.

  • Essential cookies — required for the Site to function, such as keeping you signed in and maintaining security. These cannot be switched off through our systems.
  • Preference cookies — remember choices you make, such as your language or display settings.
  • Analytics cookies — help us understand which pages are visited and how the Site performs, so we can improve it. Where required, these are only set with your consent.

You can control cookies through your browser settings, which usually let you block or delete cookies. Some browsers also offer a “Do Not Track” signal; because there is no common industry standard for how to respond to these signals, our Site may not respond to them. Please note that blocking certain cookies may affect how the Site works for you.

7. Third-Party Links & Services

The Site may contain links to other websites, products, or services that we do not operate, including listings or resources shared by community members. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third parties. When you leave our Site or interact with a third-party service, this policy no longer applies, and we encourage you to read the privacy policy of every site you visit.

8. Data Retention

We keep personal information for as long as it is needed for the purposes described in this policy — for example, for as long as you maintain an account with us, and afterward as needed to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, prevent abuse, and enforce our agreements.

When information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to delete it or to anonymize it so it can no longer be linked to you. If you ask us to delete your account, we will remove or anonymize your personal information, except where we are required or permitted to retain certain records by law.

9. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, and alteration. These measures include limiting access to information and using secure connections where appropriate.

No method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. You also play an important role in protecting your information: please use a strong, unique password, keep your login details confidential, and let us know right away if you believe your account has been compromised.

10. Your Privacy Rights & Choices

You have choices about how your information is handled. Regardless of where you live, you can:

  • Access and update your account and profile information at any time through your account settings, or by contacting us.
  • Opt out of marketing emails by using the unsubscribe link in those messages or by contacting us. We may still send you essential service messages.
  • Manage cookies through your browser settings, as described in the Cookies section.

If you are in the EEA or the United Kingdom

You may have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you; to have inaccurate information corrected; to have your information deleted; to restrict or object to certain processing; to data portability; and, where processing is based on consent, to withdraw that consent. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

If you are in California

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended, you may have the right to know what personal information we collect and how we use and disclose it; to request access to or deletion of your personal information; to correct inaccurate information; and to not be discriminated against for exercising your rights. We do not sell your personal information and do not share it for cross-context behavioral advertising.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details in the Contact section below. We will respond within the timeframe required by applicable law. For your protection, we may need to verify your identity before acting on your request. You may use an authorized agent to submit a request where the law allows.

11. International Data Transfers

Community Goods Menu may be operated from, and use service providers located in, countries other than the one in which you live. As a result, your personal information may be transferred to and processed in countries whose data protection laws differ from those of your own. Where we transfer personal information across borders, we take steps to ensure it receives an appropriate level of protection consistent with this policy and applicable law.

12. Children’s Privacy

The Site is not directed to children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 (or the minimum age required in your jurisdiction). If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will take steps to delete it. If you are under the applicable age, please do not use the Site or provide any information to us.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or for other reasons. When we make changes, we will revise the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. If the changes are significant, we will provide a more prominent notice, such as a notice on the Site or a message to you where appropriate. We encourage you to review this page periodically. Your continued use of the Site after an update means you accept the revised policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please reach out to us:

Community Goods Menu

Website: communitygoodsmenu.com

Email: #