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Privacy Policy

Effective Date: October 9, 2025
Last Updated: October 9, 2025

CoffeeScoutr (“CoffeeScoutr,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) operates a directory and discovery platform for coffee shops and related businesses (the “Services”). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect personal information when you visit coffeescoutr.com (the “Site”), use our features (including “Near Me”), submit content (e.g., reviews, photos), or interact with our communications.

If you do not agree with this Policy, please do not use the Site or Services.

1) Scope & Audience

This Policy applies to:

  • Visitors, account holders, and newsletter/SMS subscribers
  • Business owners or representatives submitting or claiming listings
  • Anyone interacting with our embeds (e.g., maps), reviews, forms, or ads

This Policy does not apply to third-party websites, apps, or services you access via links or embeds (e.g., Google Maps, coffee shop sites). Their policies govern their handling of your data.

2) Information We Collect

A. Information You Provide

  • Account & Profile: name, email, password, display name/handle, profile photo, preferences.
  • Submissions/UGC: reviews, ratings, photos, comments, favorites, check-ins, bookmarks, edits/suggestions, messages to us.
  • Business Listings: business name, address, phone, website, hours, amenities, photos, menus, and proof of authority when claiming a listing.
  • Communications: inquiries, support requests, feedback, survey responses.
  • Marketing Sign-ups: email address and, if applicable, phone number for SMS (consent-based).

B. Information Collected Automatically

  • Device & Usage: IP address, browser type/version, device identifiers, OS, referring/exit pages, pages viewed, time on site, clicks, search queries, interactions, and approximate location derived from IP.
  • Cookies & Similar Tech: cookies, local storage, and pixels for essential site functions, analytics, personalization, and advertising (see “Cookies & Tracking” below).
  • Precise Location (Opt-In): if you grant permission in your browser/app, we may collect GPS-level geolocation to power “Coffee Shops Near Me,” maps, and directions. You can revoke this in your device or browser settings at any time.

C. Information From Third Parties

  • Maps/Places Data: We use Google Maps Platform/Places API to display locations, ratings, directions, and related map features. We may store Google Place IDs and limited fields (e.g., business name, rating, review count, hours) to maintain listing integrity and speed. Your use of map features is governed by Google’s terms and privacy policy.
  • Public & Partner Sources: public websites, business directories, data licensors, and social pages to enrich or verify listings.
  • Social Login (if used): if you sign in with a provider (e.g., Google or Apple), we receive your profile data permitted by that provider.

3) How We Use Personal Information

We use personal information to:

  • Provide & Improve the Services: run search, map, and “Near Me” features; personalize results; maintain business pages; power directions; debug and secure the Site.
  • Maintain Directory Quality: verify business information; prevent spam/fraud; moderate reviews and photos; handle takedowns and disputes.
  • Communicate With You: respond to messages; send transactional notices (e.g., account, policy updates); send marketing emails/SMS where allowed (opt-out anytime).
  • Analytics & Personalization: understand usage, measure performance, and tailor content, recommendations, and experiences.
  • Advertising & Affiliates: show or measure ads; use interest-based advertising; track outbound clicks and conversions where applicable.
  • Legal & Compliance: comply with laws, enforce terms, and protect rights, safety, and property.

4) Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use:

  • Essential Cookies: login, security, preferences, load balancing.
  • Analytics Cookies: to understand traffic and improve the Site (Google Analytics 4 and Microsoft Clarity).
  • Advertising/Retargeting Cookies: to show relevant ads and measure campaigns.
  • Functionality & Social: map embeds (Google Maps), video embeds, and social sharing widgets may set their own cookies.

Controls: Manage cookies via our cookie banner (consent where required) and your browser settings. To opt out of interest-based ads broadly, you can use industry tools such as the DAA and NAI choices. We honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals for opt-out where required by U.S. law.

5) Location Data

  • Coarse Location: inferred from your IP for general “near me” relevance and spam prevention.
  • Precise Location (Consent): used only if you grant permission; we use it to surface nearby shops and build directions. You can disable sharing in device/browser settings.
  • Retention: precise location is typically transient and not retained beyond the session except as needed for security, diagnostics, or aggregated statistics.

6) User-Generated Content (UGC) & Public Information

  • Public Display: reviews, ratings, photos, and your profile name/handle may be publicly visible on the Site and in search results.
  • License You Grant: by posting, you grant CoffeeScoutr a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, display, and distribute your UGC to operate and promote the Services.
  • Moderation: we may review, edit, or remove content that violates our terms, is unlawful, or harmful.
  • Takedowns/Disputes: see Section 16 for notice procedures (including DMCA).

7) Business Listings & Owner Submissions

  • Sources: listings may come from public sources, user suggestions, partners, and the Google Places API.
  • Accuracy: we strive for accuracy but do not guarantee completeness or correctness of third-party data (e.g., hours, ratings).
  • Claiming a Listing: owners may be asked to verify affiliation, including email domain checks (e.g., sending a verification link to an email at the business’s domain).
  • Removal/Correction: owners can request edits or removal of proprietary images, logos, or sensitive info via the methods in Section 18.

8) How We Share Information

We may share personal information with:

  • Service Providers/Processors: hosting, cloud, analytics (GA4, Microsoft Clarity), anti-spam, security, customer support, email/SMS platforms (FluentCRM; Texty/Twilio), and error monitoring.
  • Advertising & Measurement Partners: for interest-based advertising and performance reporting. CoffeeScoutr operates Self-Hosted Ads Management for ad delivery and measurement.
  • Maps/Embed Providers: Google Maps Platform receives data necessary to render maps and directions.
  • Affiliates/Business Transfers: within our corporate family (if applicable), or in connection with mergers, acquisitions, or asset sales.
  • Legal/Protection: to comply with law, enforce terms, or protect users, the public, and our rights.
  • With Your Direction or Consent.

We do not sell your contact information for money. Some state laws define certain analytics/ads disclosures as a “sale” or “share” for cross-context behavioral advertising. See Section 12 for your opt-out rights.

9) Data Retention

We retain personal information only as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, including to meet legal, accounting, or reporting obligations. Key factors include account status, content visibility (UGC), dispute resolution, security logs, and statutory requirements. We may retain anonymized or aggregated data indefinitely.

10) Children’s Privacy

CoffeeScoutr is not directed to children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child provided personal information to us, contact us (Section 18) and we will take appropriate steps to delete it.

11) Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards, including HTTPS/TLS encryption in transit, access controls and role-based permissions, and encryption at rest for certain stored data. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security.

12) Your U.S. Privacy Rights

Depending on your state (e.g., CA, CO, CT, UT, VA), you may have the right to:

  • Access/Know the categories and specific pieces of personal information we collected about you.
  • Delete personal information.
  • Correct inaccuracies.
  • Portability of certain information.
  • Opt Out of (i) targeted advertising (“share”), (ii) sale (as defined by law), and/or (iii) profiling for decisions with legal or similarly significant effects (we do not engage in such profiling).
  • Appeal a rights request decision (where applicable).

We honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals for opt-out where required.
To exercise rights or submit an appeal, use the methods in Section 18. We will verify your request and respond within legally required timelines.
Non-discrimination: we will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights.

California “Shine the Light”: California residents may request a list of certain third parties to whom we disclosed personal information for their own direct marketing in the past year, and the categories disclosed.

Do Not Sell or Share: You can submit an opt-out request at: https://www.coffeescoutr.com/do-not-sell-my-info/

13) Do Not Track (DNT)

Some browsers send DNT signals. There is no industry consensus on how to respond. We currently do not respond to DNT. We do honor GPC where legally required.

14) Advertising, Analytics & Affiliates

  • We may participate in interest-based advertising. You can opt out via our cookie settings (where available) and via industry choice tools (e.g., DAA/NAI).
  • We use Google Analytics 4 and Microsoft Clarity to measure and improve the Site.
  • We may use affiliate links. When you click out to a partner (e.g., coffee gear, booking, or shop sites), cookies/pixels may track referral credit. Partners’ policies apply once you leave our Site.

15) Copyright/DMCA & Takedown Requests

If you believe your copyrighted work or rights are infringed by content on CoffeeScoutr, please send a DMCA notice including: (a) your contact information, (b) identification of the work, (c) the infringing material’s URL(s), (d) a good-faith statement and statement under penalty of perjury, and (e) your signature. Send notices to privacy@coffeescoutr.com. We may notify the uploader and, where applicable, accept counter-notices pursuant to the DMCA.

16) International Users

If you access the Site from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in countries that may not provide the same level of data protection as your home jurisdiction.

17) Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time. We will post the revised version with a new “Last Updated” date, and, if changes are material, we will provide additional notice as required by law.

18) Contact Us & Exercising Rights

To exercise rights, please provide sufficient information to verify your identity and describe your request in detail. Authorized agents (where allowed by law) must provide proof of authority.

19) Additional CPRA Disclosures (California)

Categories Collected (Past 12 Months):

  • Identifiers: name, email, IP, cookie IDs, device IDs.
  • Customer Records: account info, communication preferences.
  • Internet/Network Activity: usage data, interactions, referring pages.
  • Geolocation: IP-based coarse location; GPS-based precise location only with consent.
  • Inferences: interest segments for personalization/ads (if applicable).
  • User Content: reviews, photos, comments.
  • Sensitive Data: precise geolocation (only with consent; limited purposes).

Sources: you and your devices, cookies, analytics/ads partners, public/partner sources, Google Maps/Places.

Business or Commercial Purposes: see Section 3 (provide/improve services, security, analytics, advertising/marketing, compliance).

Disclosures to Third Parties: service providers/processors, advertising/analytics partners, affiliates, legal authorities (as required), business transfers.

Sale/Sharing: we do not sell personal information for money. We may “share” personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising as defined by CPRA. You can opt out via https://www.coffeescoutr.com/do-not-sell-my-info/ and by enabling GPC.

Retention: see Section 9.

Sensitive Personal Information: we do not use SPI (e.g., precise geolocation) for inferring characteristics or beyond limited purposes (e.g., providing “Near Me,” security, short-term transient use) permitted by CPRA.

20) Third-Party Services You Access Through Our Site

When you use Google Maps embeds or click “Directions,” data is processed by Google under its policies. When you click out to a business’s website, online ordering, or social media, those services collect and process your information under their own privacy policies. We are not responsible for their practices—please review those policies.

21) Accessibility

We aim to make this Privacy Policy accessible to all users. If you need this Policy in an alternative format, contact us at privacy@coffeescoutr.com.

Cookies & Tracking (At-a-Glance)

Categories We Use

  • Strictly Necessary: session, authentication, security, load balancing
  • Performance/Analytics: traffic stats, feature usage (GA4, Microsoft Clarity)
  • Functional: remembering preferences, map/UI settings
  • Advertising/Targeting: interest-based ads and frequency capping (Self-Hosted Ads Management)
  • Affiliate/Attribution: outbound click tracking and conversion credit

Managing Preferences
Use our cookie banner “Settings” (consent where applicable) and your browser’s controls. You can also use industry choice tools (e.g., DAA/NAI). We honor GPC where legally required.

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