Preamble
Gear Focus is an online marketplace aimed towards photographers and videographers of every skill level. This community was founded by people like you to help you get the most out of your used camera equipment. Because we respect the privacy of our users, we want to let you know exactly what we do with the information you provide when making an account, contacting us, or buying and selling gear. Our Privacy Policy details the personal information we gather from you, and how we protect it from misuse. Because our users have the ability to contact each other offline, this policy cannot apply to any information exchanged outside of our information collection, and Gear Focus is not liable for any email, text, or other form of exchange that is not directly between Gear Focus's site (or administrators, staff, etc.) and the user. Please read the following carefully and note that by using our site, you agree that you understand our Privacy Policy. Also note that all users are responsible for checking regularly for updates, as this policy may change without notice. According to the Gear Focus Terms and Conditions, all users must be at least 18 years of age (see Terms and Conditions for details) and therefore the Privacy Policy excludes minors.
1. What We Collect
When creating an account, your name, email address, and shipping address are required for registration. Buying and selling will require payment method information, including a billing address, and possibly a telephone number. Account verification may require you to confirm date of birth, mobile number, or security question information. This information is collected from you as you use the services of Gear Focus' website, and you will never be asked to login or provide password or billing information by a third party website on behalf of Gear Focus. Other browsing information may be collected via cookies and other tracking technologies as you navigate the site. Gear Focus may collect information about the user's browsing habits, computer location, IP address, and other virtual data. This is used to store information about user preferences, and no sensitive or personal data will be passively collected.
In order to sell items on the Gear Focus Marketplace, each seller must provide a valid credit card to cover any sale issues that may arise.
When entering into a sponsored contest, other information may be collected via online forms, such as email address, physical address, or mobile number.
All forms of contact from you to our staff are considered non-confidential, per our Terms and Conditions, and any responses to surveys (voluntarily completed by you) may be used for site improvement or research data purposes. Financial information, social security information, or secure password information will never be requested as part of a survey.
The posting of information by the user is done so at the user's own risk. You should never post secure or personally identifiable information (like passwords, social security number, or payment account information) to unsecured web pages. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE CONTACTED BY POTENTIAL GEAR FOCUS PURCHASERS OR YOU ARE NOT INTENDING TO SELL YOUR USED CAMERA EQUIPMENT YOU SHOULD NOT SUBMIT PERSONAL INFORMATION TO GEAR FOCUS.
Gear Focus will not tolerate spam. Ensure your notification preferences are set so that we (and other Gear Focus users) can communicate with you as you prefer.
2. What We Do With Your Information
While some of your information is classified as "personal" and will never be shared or made available through our website or with third parties, certain information (such as username, limited contact information, and listings / equipment for sale) will be shared and available for public viewing when you post an item for sale. Listing items on Gear Focus signifies that you consent to having certain provided information shared with third parties (namely potential buyers) in order to complete a sale transaction. We may use your passive (and impersonal) data that is collected through cookies and other tracking technologies to provide advertisements to the appropriate targeted audiences. Clicking on or interacting with these advertisements is voluntary and signifies that you consent to navigate to third party sites outside of Gear Focus.
3. What We Share
Gear Focus does not share your personal information indiscriminately. Passively collected data that is considered non-confidential (as described above) may be shared at the discretion of Gear Focus, including browsing preferences, advertisement preferences, and cookie data collection. However, your personal information will only be shared within the boundaries of this privacy policy, and to our subsidiaries and affiliates with whom we have contractual confidentiality obligations. Your information will only be shared within the parameters of your consent and as intended by the user (i.e. sharing shipping address information with a third party from whom you intend to purchase items).
Gear Focus will take commercially reasonable technical and organizational precautions to prevent the loss, misuse or alteration of your personal information. The Company will store all the personal information you provide on its secure servers, however, we disclaim any and all liability for the safety and security of your personal information, specifically including any personal financial information such as social security numbers, birth dates, account numbers or any other information that you may have provided beyond what is requested for registration with Gear Focus. Although we work extremely hard to protect your privacy, third parties may unlawfully intercept or access transmissions or private communications, and other users may abuse or misuse your personal information that they collect through use of the Gear Focus web service. We do not promise the privacy of your personal information, and you hereby release the Company from all liability as it pertains to the use or access to your personal information or private communications.
Your information may be subject to disclosure in the event of a court order or legal proceeding. Without limiting the above, we will not otherwise disclose your personal information to law enforcement, other government officials, or other third parties (for purposes other than aligned with a sale transaction) without a subpoena, court order, or substantially similar legal procedure, except when we believe in good faith that the disclosure of information is necessary to prevent imminent physical harm or financial loss or to report suspected illegal activity.
This policy is intended to survive all mergers, dissolution or sale of Gear Focus' assets, liquidation, or similar situation involving the transferal of Gear Focus' private database.
4. What We Keep
Maintaining an account with Gear Focus signifies your consent for us to retain your personal and non-confidential information. In compliance with GDPR and CCPA, if you wish to close an account you may do so by contacting our customer support team. In instances where this is outstanding business, (i.e. in the case of an outstanding balance, or ongoing resolution), Gear Focus will work within the parameters of the law and the timelines therein to accommodate your request.
If you suspect that your information confidentiality has been breached, contact our
customer support team.
5. Your Rights & Choices GDPR
Privacy laws around the world, including the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), provide users with certain rights related to how their personal information is collected, retained, and removed.
In compliance with these laws if you wish to invoke your rights and request your data be deleted, or request account removal, please contact us at
support@gearfocus.com, and we will complete your request, except for information we are required to retain by law, regulation, or to protect the safety, security, and integrity of Gear Focus.