Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how PutForShare.com operating the used-book recommerce and donation platform PutForShare through the website putforshare.com and associated mobile applications, collectively the "Platform", "we", "us", or "our", collects, uses, discloses, and protects information relating to visitors, registered users, buyers, sellers, franchise partners, and donors, collectively "you" or "User".

By accessing or using the Platform, creating an account, listing a book for sale or donation, or completing a purchase, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Policy. If you do not agree with this Policy, please discontinue use of the Platform.

This Policy is drafted with reference to the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 ("DPDP Act"), as applicable to entities operating in India.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide to Us

When you register, list a book, place an order, request a donation pickup, or contact support, we may collect:

Identity data: name, username, date of birth where relevant to age eligibility, and profile photo.
Contact data: email address, phone number, billing address, and shipping address(es).
Account credentials: password stored in hashed form and account preferences.
Seller data: bank account or UPI details for payouts, GSTIN or PAN where applicable, and inventory records.
Listing data: book titles, ISBNs, condition descriptions, photographs, and pricing submitted through Self Sell or standard listing flows.
Transaction data: order history, purchase amounts, payment method type, and correspondence relating to an order.
Communications: messages sent through in-app chat, support tickets, reviews, and survey responses.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use the Platform, we and our service providers automatically collect:

Device and technical data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, and app version.
Usage data: pages viewed, search queries, listings viewed or favourited, click patterns, and referral source.
Location data: approximate location derived from IP address or, where permitted, precise device location used to show nearby franchise hubs and estimate shipping.
Cookies and similar technologies: as described in Section 8 below.

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information from payment gateways, including UPI providers and card networks, logistics and courier partners, identity-verification providers, marketing partners, and publicly available book-metadata sources such as Open Library or Google Books that we use to enrich listings.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information described above for the following purposes:

To create and administer your account and verify your identity.
To process orders, payments, refunds, payouts to sellers and franchise hubs, and book-donation pickups.
To calculate shipping rates, coordinate courier pickup and delivery, and provide order tracking.
To operate the dynamic pricing and listing-quality tools that support sellers on the Platform.
To communicate with you about orders, account activity, promotions, and policy updates.
To provide customer support and resolve disputes, complaints, or pricing errors.
To detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, abuse, and violations of our Terms of Service.
To personalise your experience, including recommended listings and search results.
To analyse Platform usage, improve features, and develop new services.
To comply with applicable law, regulatory requests, and legal process.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

Where the DPDP Act or other applicable data-protection law requires a legal basis, we process personal data on the basis of: (a) your consent, obtained through account registration, order placement, or specific consent notices; (b) performance of a contract with you, such as fulfilling an order; (c) compliance with a legal obligation; or (d) our legitimate interests in operating and securing the Platform, balanced against your rights. Where processing relies on consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time as described in Section 7, without affecting processing already carried out.

5. How We Share Information

We do not sell your personal information.

We share information only as reasonably necessary to operate the Platform, including with:

Logistics partners, to fulfil local pickup, drop-off, quality-check, and donation-processing functions.
Payment processors and UPI/payment gateway providers, to complete transactions securely.
Logistics, courier, and fulfilment partners, to deliver orders and process returns.
Cloud hosting, content-delivery, analytics, and customer-support service providers acting on our instructions.
Professional advisers, auditors, and regulators, where required for compliance, tax, or legal purposes.
A successor entity in the event of a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets, subject to equivalent privacy commitments.
Law enforcement or government authorities, where disclosure is required by law, court order, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of PutForShare, our users, or the public.

Where a service provider processes personal data on our behalf, we require them to protect it under contractual confidentiality and security obligations consistent with this Policy.

6. Data Storage, Security, and Retention

6.1 Security

We implement reasonable technical and organisational safeguards, including encryption in transit, access controls, and secure hosting infrastructure, to protect personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6.2 Storage Location

Personal data is primarily stored on servers located in India or with cloud/content-delivery providers that may process data in other jurisdictions. Where data is transferred outside India, we take reasonable steps to ensure it receives an equivalent standard of protection.

6.3 Retention

We retain personal data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Platform, comply with tax, accounting, and legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. When data is no longer required, we delete or anonymise it, subject to legal retention requirements such as transaction records required under applicable tax and consumer-protection law.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Subject to applicable law, you may exercise the following rights by contacting us using the details in Section 12:

Access: request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Correction: request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data, including through your account settings.
Deletion: request deletion of your account and associated personal data, subject to legal retention obligations.
Withdraw consent: withdraw consent previously given for a specific processing activity.
Grievance redressal: raise a complaint about our handling of your personal data with our Grievance Officer.
Marketing opt-out: unsubscribe from promotional emails and notifications at any time via the link provided or your account settings.

We will respond to verified requests within the timeframe required by applicable law. We may need to verify your identity before actioning certain requests.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies, local storage, and similar technologies to keep you signed in, remember preferences, understand how the Platform is used, and support advertising and analytics. You can control cookies through your browser settings; disabling cookies may limit some Platform features. We may use third-party analytics providers who use their own cookies subject to their respective privacy policies.

9. Third-Party Links and Services

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites, payment providers, or services, including book-metadata sources such as Open Library or Google Books, that are not operated by us. This Policy does not apply to those third parties, and we encourage you to review their privacy policies separately.

10. Children's Privacy

The Platform is not directed to children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children without the consent of a parent or guardian. If we become aware that we have collected personal data from a child without appropriate consent, we will take steps to delete it.

11. International Users

The Platform is operated primarily for users in India. If you access the Platform from outside India, you do so on your own initiative and are responsible for compliance with local laws, and you consent to your information being transferred to and processed in India.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other operational reasons. We will post the revised Policy on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date and, where changes are material, provide additional notice such as an in-app or email notification. Continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.

14. Governing Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of India. Any disputes arising out of or relating to this Policy shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts at [Puducherry], India, without prejudice to any statutory rights you may have as a data principal or consumer.