Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

a) Account Registration & Authentication

When you register an account directly or via third-party providers (e.g., Google), we collect:

• Your email address
• Your chosen username
• Your profile avatar (either uploaded or provided by Google)
• Your Google ID and basic profile info (if using Google Login)
• Encrypted passwords (we do not store passwords in plain text, and we never receive your password from Google)

b) User Activity & Preferences

When you interact with the platform while logged in, we collect data related to:

• Stores you save to your Favorites list
• Brands you mark as Loved
• Votes you cast on stores
• Store suggestions you submit

c) Newsletter Subscriptions

If you subscribe to the "Diecaston Weekly" newsletter, your email address is collected and processed through our third-party email provider (Beehiiv).

d) Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

• IP address and geographical location
• Browser and device information
• Pages visited and time spent on the site

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide, operate, and maintain your Diecaston account
• Personalize your experience (e.g., displaying your saved stores and brands)
• Process your votes to accurately reflect community sentiment
• Send you newsletters, updates, and account-related notifications
• Maintain security, prevent bot abuse, and enforce our Terms & Conditions
• Comply with legal obligations

3. Cookies, Tracking & reCAPTCHA

Diecaston uses cookies and similar technologies for essential functionality:

• Authentication Cookies: Used to keep you logged in and manage session security.
• Preference Cookies: Used to remember your UI choices (like the "Remember Me" function and displaying your avatar).
• Google reCAPTCHA v3: We use reCAPTCHA to protect our login, registration, and submission forms from spam and abuse. Use of reCAPTCHA is subject to Google's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

You can manage cookie settings in your browser. Disabling essential cookies may prevent you from logging in or using specific features.

4. Sharing of Information

We may share information only when necessary:

• Service Providers: We use third-party platforms for hosting, analytics, and newsletters (e.g., Beehiiv). These providers have access to necessary data only to perform tasks on our behalf.
• Legal Authorities: If required by law, subpoena, or to protect the rights, safety, and security of Diecaston and its users.

5. Data Security

We implement technical and organizational measures (including password hashing and SSL encryption) to protect personal data against unauthorized access. However, you are responsible for keeping your login credentials confidential. No online system can be guaranteed to be 100% secure.

6. Data Retention

Personal data is retained as long as your account is active or as necessary to provide our services. If you delete your account, we will remove your personal identifying information, though aggregated community data (like anonymous votes) may remain.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have rights regarding your personal data (e.g., GDPR, CCPA):

• Access & Correction: You can view and edit your profile information directly from your Account Dashboard.
• Deletion: You may request the deletion of your account and personal data.
• Unsubscribe: You can opt out of the newsletter at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any email.

8. Third-Party Links & Services

Diecaston contains links to external websites (stores, social media). We are not responsible for their privacy practices. If you log in via Google, your authentication is governed by Google's Privacy Policy.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect new features or legal requirements. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised "Last updated" date.