Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

When you visit our website, communicate with us, or place an order, we collect certain information to provide our services efficiently. The personal data we collect falls into the following categories:

• Order & Contact Information: Your name, billing address, shipping address, email address, and phone number.
• Financial Information: Payment details, such as credit card numbers or digital wallet identifiers. Please note: We do not store full credit card numbers on our servers; all transactions are securely tokenized through our payment gateways (e.g., Stripe, PayPal).
• Device & Usage Data: Information automatically collected when you browse our site, including your IP address, browser type, time zone, operating system, and interactions with our web pages (via cookies and log files).

2. How We Collect Your Information

We gather data through three primary methods:

• Directly from You: When you complete a checkout form, sign up for our newsletter, contact our support team, or request a return.
• Automatically via Technologies: As you navigate through our store, we use cookies, web beacons, and log files to record browsing actions and patterns to ensure the site functions correctly and securely.
• From Third Parties: From our payment processors (to verify transaction success and prevent fraud) and courier partners (to confirm delivery status).

3. How We Use Your Information

We process your personal information strictly for legitimate business purposes, which include:

• Fulfilling Orders: Processing your payment, organizing shipment via UK or USA couriers (e.g., Royal Mail, DPD, USPS), and providing you with invoices and tracking confirmations.
• Customer Support: Communicating with you regarding your order, addressing returns, and resolving transit issues.
• Fraud Prevention & Security: Screening orders for potential risk or fraud (in particular, verifying IP addresses against billing addresses) to protect our customers and our business.
• Website Optimization: Analyzing how customers interact with our store to improve layout, loading speeds, and product offerings.

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We only share data with trusted third parties necessary to operate our store and fulfill your orders:

• Service Providers: E-commerce platforms (to host our store), payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay), and IT support services.
• Logistics Partners: Shipping carriers (Royal Mail, DPD, USPS, FedEx, DHL) who require your name, delivery address, and phone number to successfully deliver your parcel.
• Legal Compliance: We may share information to comply with applicable laws and regulations, respond to a subpoena or lawful request for information, or to otherwise protect our legal rights.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses "cookies"—small data files placed on your device—to enhance your shopping experience. Cookies allow us to remember the items in your shopping cart, recognize your device upon return, and understand general site traffic. You can choose to disable cookies through your browser settings, though this may impact your ability to checkout successfully.

6. Data Retention

When you place an order through Elite Vase Studio Ltd, we will maintain your Order Information for our legal, tax, and accounting records unless and until you ask us to delete this information.

7. Your Privacy Rights (UK & USA)

Depending on your location (such as the UK, EU, or certain US states like California), you have specific rights regarding your personal data:

• Right to Access: You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: You can ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten): You can request the deletion of your personal data, subject to legal and tax retention requirements.
• Right to Opt-Out: You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of our emails.

To exercise any of these rights, please email us directly at support@elitevasestudio.shop. We aim to respond to all data requests within 30 days.

8. International Data Transfers

Elite Vase Studio Ltd is headquartered in the United Kingdom. If you are accessing our store from the United States, your information will be transferred to, processed, and stored in the UK and potentially other jurisdictions where our service providers operate. We ensure that any international data transfers comply with applicable data protection laws through recognized legal mechanisms.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time in order to reflect changes to our practices, or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised "Effective Date."