Privacy Policy

Effective Date: April 16, 2025.

Our Commitment to Privacy and PIPEDA Compliance

Shopez is committed to protecting your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal information. As a Canada-based company, we adhere to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), along with applicable U.S. privacy laws, to ensure responsible handling of your data.

This Privacy Policy explains how Shopez collects, uses, stores, and shares your information when you access or use our websites, mobile applications, or related services (collectively, the “Services”). By using our Services, you consent to the practices described in this policy.

Contents of This Policy

1.                  Data Collection and Acquisition

2.                  Utilization of Your Data and Legal Justification

3.                  Sharing of Your Data

4.                  Data Transmission Process

5.                  Data Security Measures

6.                  Data Retention Duration

7.                  Your Entitlements & Preferences

8.                  Your Obligations

9.                  Alterations to Privacy Policy

10.               Contacting Us

Overview

At Shopez, we prioritize your privacy and are committed to transparency in how we handle your personal information. This Privacy Policy outlines our practices regarding the collection, use, sharing, and protection of your data when you access Shopez.ca (the "Site"), Shopez’s applications, including the Shopez User App and the Shopez Merchant Website (collectively, the "Apps"), and other services provided by Visana Technologies Inc. ("Shopez," "we," "us," or "our"). Together, the Site and Apps are referred to as the "Services."

This policy applies to:

·     Buyers – registered users who purchase products on Shopez.

·     Sellers – merchants who use Shopez to sell products.

·     Guests – visitors who browse Shopez without creating an account.

·     Other Users – anyone accessing our Site or using our Services.

This policy does not apply to third parties with whom you may share your information while using our Services. Their data collection and usage are governed by their own privacy policies, and we encourage you to review them before sharing your information.

We encourage you to read this Privacy Policy in full to understand how we use your information. Shopez aims to provide a platform for diverse products while maintaining human connections in commerce. By using our Services or accepting our Terms of Engagement, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy, including how and why we use your information.

We collect and use personal information to provide and improve our Services, ensure security and integrity, and comply with legal obligations. For more details on the data we collect and how it is used, refer to Sections 1 & 2 below. Your information may be shared with Shopez-affiliated entities, trusted partners, and service providers to deliver our Services, maintain security, analyze user engagement, and meet legal requirements. For specifics, see Section 3.

For inquiries regarding this Privacy Policy or to exercise your rights, see Section 10 for contact details

1.    Data Collection and Acquisition

As part of delivering our Services, we collect and receive personal information about you, both directly and indirectly, from various sources. Below, we outline these sources for your reference. Throughout this Policy, capitalized terms carry specific meanings to ensure clarity and consistency. You may refer back to this section for any necessary clarifications.

1.1 Data / Information We Collect

Details of the Data/Information Collected

1.1.1  Information Collected from Shopez Users

You provide certain information to Shopez directly when you sign up for a Shopez account or otherwise use the Services.

·     User Account Information
We collect certain information from you when you set up a Shopez user account and use Shopez Services:
• User Details: Your name, email address, and phone number
• User Payment Information: Your billing address and payment information (e.g., credit or debit card details)
• Shipping or Delivery Information: Your delivery address, contact name, and phone number (Canada or US)

·     Merchant Account Information
We collect certain information from you when you set up a Shopez merchant account and use Shopez Services:
• Merchant Details: Your name, valid identification, email address, country of residence, phone number, date of birth, taxpayer address, and Shopez store name
• Merchant Payment Information: Your bank country, bank account details, billing address, and other payment information (e.g., credit or debit card details)
• Business/Tax Information: Your business registration certificate, GST/PST tax information, and government-issued identification numbers

·     User Public Profile Information
As a Shopez user, your profile information is kept confidential and inaccessible to individuals outside of Shopez. You maintain complete control over this data, with the capability to edit, remove, or limit it through your account settings. Only your Username and Product Reviews are shared with other Shopez users.

·     Merchant Public Profile Information
As a Merchant on Shopez, it is essential to furnish specific details about your store to enable users to make informed purchasing decisions. Shopez users have access to view your store's profile information. However, you have the flexibility to edit, remove, or restrict this information through your account settings:
• Store name
• Storefront photo (if applicable)
• Business address (if applicable)
• Your store headline, photos, and store website links
• Store policies (e.g., returns)

·     Transaction Information
When engaging in buying or selling activities on Shopez, we gather information regarding the order, which becomes part of your transaction history:
• Information about the transactions made on Shopez website or mobile apps, such as the store name, items purchased, user’s name, purchase price, and date of the transaction

·     Photographs and Videos
You have the option to enable access to your device's camera and upload photographs and videos directly through the Shopez mobile apps or website. Additionally, you can utilize features such as search to interact with uploaded photos and videos on our platform:
• Product Images and videos you upload as part of product reviews or through Shopez’s social media forums

·     Promotion Information
From time to time, Shopez organizes promotional offers and contests. The types of information we collect will be governed by the terms of the relevant promotion, which can be viewed on our Terms & Conditions page.

·     Customer Support Information
We gather specific information when you interact with our customer support teams:
• Your communications with our customer support team
• Transaction information (e.g., order number and transaction ID) and related information

1.1.2 Information Collected Automatically

·     Browsing Information
Shopez automatically receives and logs information from your browser or mobile device when you visit the Site, utilize the Apps, or access specific features of the Services, even if you haven't created a Shopez account:
• Browser and device information, including your IP address, device type, hardware model, operating system information, unique device identifier, and your detected language
• App information, including app version, app usage and debugging information, and app user ID

·     Service Usage Information
We gather specific information about your utilization of the Services, including the frequency of app usage, interaction patterns with the Services, and actions performed while engaging with the Site and Apps. This data aids us in ensuring the proper functionality of the Services, personalizing your experience, and enhancing our offerings. We may obtain this information from a subset of users during the testing phase of new products or features:
• Usage Information: details about your engagement with our Sites and Apps, including frequency of use, activities within the Sites and/or Apps, viewed listings, interactions with listings, and other actions taken (such as clicking on specific parts of the Site or Apps)
• Diagnostic and Troubleshooting Information: data regarding the performance of our Services during your usage, such as service-related diagnostic and performance details. This includes timestamps, crash data, website performance logs, and error messages or reports

·     General Location Information
We use your general location information for things like tailoring our Services to your location and to estimate shipping costs. See Section 2 for further details on how we use this information:
• IP addresses and other information like your zip or postal code, to estimate your general location (e.g., country, state, or city)
• The general location you set in your default preference
• Your precise geo-location collected from your device

1.1.3 Information Collected from Third Parties

·     Information from our Payment Processors
We obtain particular details about users from our third-party payment processors, such as Stripe. These processors assist us in processing transactions, delivering our Services, and mitigating fraudulent or illegal activities:
• First and last name
• Billing address
• Email address
• Phone number

·     Information from Advertising and Marketing Partners
We obtain specific information about you from our advertising and marketing partners, including instances of marketing content you viewed or clicked on, as well as actions you took on our Sites and Apps. This data aids us in assessing how our marketing campaigns and other customer interactions potentially contribute to sales, conversions, or other objectives:
• From our third-party partners, or potentially collected directly, we may receive attribution information through cookies and UTM tags in URLs, aiding in identifying the source of traffic to Shopez or tracking the performance of specific campaigns. Additionally, we might receive responses to marketing emails and advertisement offers, as well as audience information from partners with whom you have provided consent to share such data.

·     Analytics Information
We employ data analytics software to guarantee the functionality of the Site and Apps and to enhance the Services:
• We utilize third-party software to capture various information, including the frequency of Site and/or Apps usage, interactions within the Apps or on our Site (such as how you engage with our Services), aggregated usage statistics, performance metrics, app errors, debugging data, and, for Apps, the source from which they were downloaded.

·     Third-Party Collected Information
We obtain specific information when you interact with third-party applications or platform integrations on other sites and apps:
• When you connect our Services with third-party applications or integrations (such as linked third-party accounts), we collect your contact information, including your name and email address. Additionally, we receive any extra information you authorize the third party to share with us, such as social media accounts and sign-in functionality.

·     Non-member Information
Shopez acquires or receives information about individuals who are not yet registered as Shopez Users and have not directly made a purchase (referred to as "Non-Members") in relation to specific Shopez features, such as when a Non-Member opts to browse the website:
• Non-Member email address
• Non-Member IP address

This information helps us deliver a seamless shopping experience while ensuring the security and functionality of our Services.

2.    Utilization of Your Data and Legal Justification

When you interact with our Services, Sites, and/or Apps, we collect, use, share, and process your personal information for the purposes outlined in this policy. We do so in compliance with applicable laws, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), and rely on various legal bases as described below.

2.1 Why and How We Use Your Data

2.2 Compliance with Legal Obligations

2.3 Where We Rely on Your Consent

You have the right to withdraw consent at any time going forward. Withdrawal does not affect prior data processing carried out with your consent.

3.    Sharing of Your Data

We share your personal information with third parties as needed to operate and improve our Services, fulfill legal obligations, or for the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy. These sharing activities include the following:

Public Display of Information

Some of your information may be publicly displayed on our Site and Apps when you use our Services, including:

·     Buyer and Seller Public Profile Information (as outlined in Section 2)

·     Registration date

·     Item reviews

·     Uploaded item photos or videos

·     Saved product listings

·     Followers

·     Comments in community forums

·     Information shared via social media

Reviews of shops or products may also be shared on third-party platforms and indexed by search engines such as Google.

For Sellers, additional information such as your shop name or registered business name may also be publicly displayed. You may adjust visibility settings for some of this information within your account preferences.

Visana Group Companies

We may share personal information (such as Buyer Account Information, Seller Account Information, Service Usage Data, Device and Browser Info, and Cookie Information) with corporate affiliates of Shopez, referred to as the “Visana Group Companies.” This information is shared for operational purposes, including:

·     ID verification

·     Payment processing

·     Fraud detection and transaction monitoring

·     Business development

·     Customer support

·     IT infrastructure management

·     General account administration

Sellers

We may share aggregated and anonymized insights about your activity with Sellers to help them enhance their offerings and improve user experience across our Site and Apps.

Linked Third-Party Services

Users may choose to connect their Shopez accounts with third-party platforms such as Google or Facebook. When connected, these third-party services may receive data shared through Shopez or voluntarily provided by the user. Please note that these services operate under their own privacy policies and terms.

Additionally, users linking payment methods or bank accounts through third-party platforms will be informed of what information is collected and shared with Shopez in the process.

Business Partners

Shopez works closely with trusted business partners — such as payment processors, delivery providers, and marketing affiliates — to fulfill our Services in accordance with our Terms of Use. Personal information related to your transactions may be shared with these partners as needed to process orders or provide co-branded services and promotions. Each partner handles personal information under their own privacy practices and obligations.

Professional Advisors, Authorities, and Industry Partners

We may disclose your personal data to the following, as permitted or required by law:

·  Legal advisors

·  Regulators and government agencies

·  Law enforcement

·  Industry watchdogs or civil litigants

Such disclosures are made to address fraud, legal compliance, and safety concerns, and to protect the rights and interests of our users and Shopez.

Business Reorganization

If Shopez is involved in a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets, personal information may be transferred to the acquiring entity. In such events, we will notify you if your information is subject to a new privacy policy.

Community Services

To support community engagement features such as Shopez Forums or Shopez Teams, we may share relevant information (e.g., Buyer and Seller Public Profile Info, registration date, language preferences, and region) with third-party providers assisting in these services.

Third-Party Service Providers

We rely on third-party companies and professionals to help deliver, maintain, and enhance our Services. These providers may include:

·  Research and analytics firms

·  Professional services (e.g., legal, accounting)

·  Customer service agents

·  Software and infrastructure providers

·  Security and anti-fraud vendors

All such third parties are bound by contractual obligations to protect your data and may only use it for specified tasks on our behalf.

Third-Party Service Providers – What We Share

4.    Data Transmission Process

Shopez operates a North American e-commerce platform, which means that by using our Services, you acknowledge and consent to the utilization of your information in various locations, including the United States. It's important to note that privacy laws and standards may vary across different countries, potentially differing from those in your country of residence. To ensure compliance and protection of your personal information, Shopez relies on distinct legal bases when transferring personal data outside of North America.

You have the option to decide whether or not to utilize Shopez Services. However, as our operations span across countries and technical infrastructure, including in the US, is utilized to deliver these Services, the transfer of your personal information to various jurisdictions is necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations as outlined in our Terms of Engagement. In essence, the provision of our Services and the fulfillment of our contract with you require the movement of your personal information outside of your home country, including Canada or the USA.

5.    Data Security Measures

Ensuring the security of your personal information is a priority for us. We employ a combination of technical and administrative measures aimed at reducing the risk of unauthorized access, destruction, loss, alteration, disclosure, or misuse of your data. To safeguard your account, we strongly recommend that you select a robust password and activate two-factor authentication (2FA) for added security when logging in. Further guidance on enhancing your account security can be found in your account settings.

In our efforts to combat spam, fraud, and abuse, we utilize Google reCAPTCHA Enterprise as part of our Services. This tool gathers hardware and software information, including device and application data, and forwards it to Google to support the provision, maintenance, and enhancement of reCAPTCHA Enterprise, as well as for general security purposes. Your usage of reCAPTCHA Enterprise is subject to Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

6.    Data Retention Duration

When determining the retention period for your information, Shopez follows a comprehensive approach based on several factors:

Necessity for Service Provision: Your information is retained for as long as it is required to deliver our Services to you effectively. This includes maintaining and enhancing the performance of our Sites and Apps, ensuring the security of our Services, and managing appropriate business and financial records. Most retention periods are established based on this fundamental principle.

Consent-Based Processing: If we process your personal data based on your consent, including extended storage consent, we retain the data for the duration necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in your consent agreement, or until you withdraw your consent.

Statutory, Contractual, or Other Obligations: Shopez maintains and utilizes your information as mandated by legal obligations, contracts, or similar requirements. For instance, we may retain your information to adhere to applicable tax or revenue laws, or to fulfill our Know Your Customer (KYC) obligations.

Our decision-making process regarding information retention is guided by a thorough evaluation of these factors, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations while upholding our commitment to providing secure and reliable Services.

7.    Your Entitlements & Preferences

Certain privacy laws, such as the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), afford users specific rights and choices concerning their personal information. Shopez is committed to upholding these rights and offers you the following options regarding your personal information:

Right to Access: You can access certain personal information linked to your account through your account privacy settings. Additionally, you can request a copy of your personal information in a readily accessible format, along with an explanation of its usage.

Right to Portability: You have the right to receive certain information you provided in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format, and to transmit this information to another controller.

Right to Correction: If you identify inaccuracies in your information, you can request rectification through your account settings.

Right to Restrict Processing: In specific cases where your information is processed, you may have the right to limit or restrict how it is utilized.

Right to Deletion: Under certain circumstances, you can request the deletion of your personal information, except where retention is mandated by law or for the protection of Shopez's interests.

Right to Object: If your information is processed based on legitimate interests or public interest, you can object to such processing under certain conditions.

Right to Withdraw Consent: If processing relies on your consent, you have the option to withdraw it, without affecting the lawfulness of processing prior to withdrawal.

Right to File a Complaint: Residents of Canada and USA have the right to lodge complaints about our data practices with the relevant supervisory authority.

To exercise these rights, you can manage, modify, limit, or delete your personal information through your Shopez account settings. Alternatively, you can contact us using the details provided in Section 10. Please note that limiting or deleting your personal information may impact certain features and services. Additionally, you can opt out of marketing emails using the unsubscribe link or your account settings, though certain service-related or legally required communications will still be received.

8.    Your Obligations

If you are a Seller on our Services, it's important to note that you may receive specific personal information and consequently hold legal obligations regarding this data. Your privacy responsibilities, particularly when you operate as an independent data controller (having authority over the collection and purpose of personal data), are detailed in both the Shopez Seller Policy and the Terms of Engagement. These documents outline your obligations and guidelines for handling personal information in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

9.    Alterations to Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to amend or update this policy periodically. In the event of material changes, we will notify you by posting the updates within the Services and sending an email or message regarding the modifications. We encourage you to revisit this policy regularly and review any revisions to stay informed about how we collect, use, and protect your information.

10. Contacting Us

If you have any questions or concerns:

You can reach out to Shopez's Support team through our Support section available on our Site. For inquiries related to data protection or privacy matters, you can send an email to Shopez's Compliance Officer at compliance@shopez.ca

We are committed to addressing your queries promptly and ensuring transparency regarding your personal information.