Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly: your email address, full name, profile photo, phone number, campus location and school. We also collect transaction data, messages between users, reviews and device/browser information (IP address, user agent, screen size) for security and fraud prevention.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your data to operate the marketplace — processing payments, connecting buyers and sellers, delivering notifications, resolving disputes and personalising your experience. We may also use aggregate, anonymised data to improve our services and to share non-identifying usage trends with partners.

3. Student Data Protection

Your campus information is used solely to verify student eligibility and connect you with sellers at your institution. We do not sell student data to third parties for marketing purposes and we comply with applicable Nigerian and international data protection regulations including the NDPR.

4. Data Sharing

We share data with the following categories of third parties:

• Paystack — to process payments securely.
• Supabase — our database and authentication infrastructure provider.
• Google — for analytics (where enabled), Google Merchant Center product listings and, if enabled, advertising services.
• Transaction counterparts — buyers and sellers see only the information necessary to complete a transaction.
• Legal authorities — when required by law or valid court order.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use browser cookies and local storage to maintain your session, remember your preferences and operate trusted-device functionality. Third parties — including Google — may also set cookies on your device when you visit ShopCart.ng. These cookies may be used to:

• Serve personalised ads on ShopCart.ng or on other websites based on your visits.
• Measure the effectiveness of our website and advertising campaigns.
• Display product listings on Google Shopping and related surfaces.

You may opt out of personalised advertising by visiting Google Ad Settings or aboutads.info/choices. You may also clear cookies and local storage through your browser settings at any time, though this will log you out of ShopCart.ng.

6. Third-Party Advertising

Third-party advertising vendors may use cookies, web beacons and similar technologies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this and other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads based on your visits to ShopCart.ng and other sites on the internet. Users may opt out of personalised advertising at the Google Ad Settings link above.

7. Messages and Communications

Messages you send through ShopCart.ng are stored to enable the messaging feature and for dispute resolution. We do not read private messages unless required for a dispute investigation or abuse report, in which case both parties are notified.

8. Data Retention

Your account data is retained as long as your account is active. Order history and reviews are kept for up to 3 years for dispute-resolution purposes. You can request deletion of your account and personal data at any time by emailing us at privacy@shopcart.ng.

9. Security

We use OTP-based authentication, HTTPS encryption in transit and row-level database security. We never store raw passwords. Sensitive payment processing is handled entirely by Paystack, a PCI-DSS compliant provider. No internet service is 100% secure — if you believe your account has been compromised, email us immediately.

10. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you.
• Correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Request deletion of your data (subject to legal retention requirements).
• Withdraw consent and opt out of personalised advertising.
• Request a copy of your data in a portable format.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@shopcart.ng. We will respond within 30 days.

11. Children's Privacy

ShopCart.ng is intended for users 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you believe a minor has provided us with personal information, email us and we will delete it promptly.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes via email or an in-app notification. Continued use of ShopCart.ng after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

For any privacy concerns or data requests, email privacy@shopcart.ng. For general support, use support@shopcart.ng. You can also visit our contact page for more options.