Potala Thangka

Potala Thangka

Privacy Policy

At Potala Thangka, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect, how we use it, how we safeguard it, and what rights you have regarding your data.
1. What Personal Information We Collect
We collect information you provide directly to us, as well as data automatically collected when you interact with our Shopify independent store (www.potalathangka.com).
1.1 Information You Voluntarily Provide
  • Account & Registration Data: If you create an account, we collect your name, email address, password, and shipping address (to save your preferences for future orders).
  • Order & Transaction Data: When you place an order, we collect your full name, shipping address, billing address, phone number, email address, and payment details (e.g., credit card information—note: payment data is processed by third-party payment providers like PayPal or Stripe, and we do not store full payment card details).
  • Communication Data: If you contact us (via email, contact form, or social media) with questions, feedback, or requests, we collect your name, email address, and the content of your messages.
  • Marketing Opt-In Data: If you sign up for our newsletter or agree to receive promotional updates, we collect your email address and preferences (e.g., interests in meditation-themed Thangkas or fashion Gau pendants).
1.2 Information Automatically Collected
  • Device & Browsing Data: We collect data about your device (e.g., device type, operating system, browser version), IP address, browsing behavior (e.g., pages you visit, time spent on our site, products you view or add to cart), and referral source (e.g., how you found our store—via TikTok, Facebook, or a search engine).
  • Location Data: We may collect approximate location data (based on your IP address) to optimize shipping options (e.g., showing relevant delivery carriers for your region) or tailor regional promotions—we do not collect precise GPS location.
  • Cookies & Tracking Technologies: We use cookies (small text files stored on your device) and similar tools (e.g., Google Analytics) to improve site functionality, remember your preferences, and analyze how you use our store. See Section 6 for details on managing cookies.
2. How We Use Your Personal Information
We use your data only for legitimate, transparent purposes, including:
  • Process & Fulfill Orders: To confirm your purchase, process payment, arrange shipping, and send order updates (e.g., “Your order has shipped”).
  • Provide Customer Service: To respond to your questions, resolve issues (e.g., tracking a missing package), and support your post-purchase needs (e.g., returns or exchanges).
  • Personalize Your Experience: To recommend products based on your browsing or purchase history (e.g., showing you more Gau pendants if you previously bought one) and customize site content (e.g., highlighting meditation-themed Thangkas if you viewed related pages).
  • Send Marketing Communications: To share promotions, new product launches (e.g., limited-edition Regong Thangkas), or mindfulness tips—only if you have opted in to receive such communications. You can unsubscribe at any time (see Section 5).
  • Improve Our Store: To analyze user behavior (via tools like Google Analytics) and optimize site performance (e.g., fixing broken links, improving load speed) or product offerings (e.g., expanding our yoga-friendly Thangka collection based on demand).
  • Ensure Security & Compliance: To detect and prevent fraud (e.g., identifying suspicious order activity), protect our store from unauthorized access, and comply with legal requirements (e.g., tax or shipping regulations).
3. Who We Share Your Personal Information With
We never sell or rent your personal data to third parties for marketing purposes. We only share your data with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our business, and these providers are contractually required to protect your data.
  • Payment Processors: Providers like PayPal, Stripe, or Shopify Payments—they process your payment details to complete transactions and ensure secure payment handling.
  • Shipping & Logistics Partners: Carriers like DHL, UPS, or local postal services—we share your shipping address and order details to deliver your Thangkas.
  • Analytics & Marketing Tools: Tools like Google Analytics (to analyze site traffic) or Mailchimp (to send newsletters)—we share browsing data or email addresses (only with your consent) to improve our marketing efforts.
  • Legal & Compliance Partners: We may share data with legal advisors, tax authorities, or law enforcement if required by law (e.g., to respond to a court order) or to protect our rights (e.g., investigating fraud).
4. How We Protect Your Personal Information
We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to safeguard your data from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse:
  • Secure Storage: Your data is stored on Shopify’s secure servers (Shopify complies with global security standards like PCI DSS for payment data).
  • Encryption: Sensitive data (e.g., email communications, order details) is encrypted using SSL/TLS technology (you’ll see a “padlock” icon in your browser’s address bar).
  • Access Controls: Only authorized team members (e.g., our customer service manager) have access to your data, and they are trained on data protection best practices.
  • Data Retention Limits: We keep your data only as long as needed to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Policy (e.g., we retain order data for 7 years for tax compliance; we delete inactive account data after 2 years if you haven’t logged in).