Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to TradeLynk ("we," "our," or "us"). TradeLynk is an online marketplace platform operated from Nigeria, accessible at www.tradelynk.app. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and use our services. Please read this policy carefully. By using TradeLynk, you consent to the data practices described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information You Provide

When you register for an account, make a purchase, become a seller, or interact with our platform, we may collect:

• Identity Information: Full name, username, and profile details.
• Contact Information: Email address and phone number.
• Payment Information: Bank account details, card information, and transaction records processed through our payment partners.
• Location Information: Delivery address, shipping address, and general location data.
• Seller Information: Business name, storefront details, product listings, and bank/payment details for payouts.
• Communication Data: Messages sent through our in-app chat system between buyers and sellers.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you access our platform, we automatically collect:

• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device type, and unique device identifiers.
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, click patterns, and search queries.
• Cookies & Tracking Technologies: We use cookies, local storage, and similar technologies to enhance your experience and collect analytics data.
• Log Data: IP address, access times, and referring website addresses.

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third-party services:

• Social Login Providers: If you sign in using Facebook or other social accounts, we receive your name, email address, and profile picture as permitted by your privacy settings on those platforms.
• Payment Processors: Transaction confirmation and payment status from our payment partners.
• Analytics Providers: Aggregated usage and performance data.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Account Management: To create and manage your account, verify your identity, and maintain your profile.
• Marketplace Operations: To facilitate transactions between buyers and sellers, process orders, and manage deliveries.
• Payment Processing: To process payments, issue refunds, and manage seller payouts.
• Communication: To enable in-app messaging between buyers and sellers, send order updates, and provide customer support.
• Notifications: To send you push notifications, email alerts, and updates about your orders, messages, and account activity.
• Platform Improvement: To analyse usage patterns, troubleshoot issues, and improve our services.
• Safety & Security: To detect fraud, resolve disputes, and enforce our Terms of Service.
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes.

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your data in the following circumstances:

• With Other Users: Your public profile, seller storefront, listings, and reviews are visible to other users. When you make a purchase, your delivery information is shared with the seller.
• Service Providers: We share data with trusted third-party providers who help us operate our platform, including Firebase (authentication & real-time database), Cloudinary (image hosting), and payment processors.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, legal process, or government request.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your data may be transferred as part of the transaction.
• With Your Consent: We may share your information for other purposes with your explicit consent.

5. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies for:

• Essential Cookies: Required for the platform to function (e.g., authentication tokens, session management).
• Analytics Cookies: To understand how users interact with our platform and improve the experience.
• Preference Cookies: To remember your settings and preferences.

You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. Disabling certain cookies may limit your ability to use some features of TradeLynk.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Encryption of data in transit using SSL/TLS protocols.
• Secure authentication through Firebase Authentication.
• Regular security reviews and updates to our infrastructure.
• Access controls to limit who can view your personal data.

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide our services. We may also retain data as necessary to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. When your data is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

8. Your Rights

In accordance with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) and other applicable laws, you have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal retention requirements.
• Data Portability: Request a machine-readable copy of your data.
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw your consent for data processing at any time.
• Object: Object to the processing of your personal data for certain purposes.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at tradelynk.commerce@gmail.com.

9. Facebook Login & Meta Platform Data

If you choose to log in or register using Facebook, we access the following information from your Facebook account (as authorized by you):

• Your public profile (name, profile picture).
• Your email address.

We use this information solely for account creation and authentication purposes. We do not post to your Facebook account or access your friends list. You can revoke TradeLynk's access to your Facebook data at any time through your Facebook App Settings.

10. Data Deletion

You can request deletion of your data at any time:

• Via our Data Deletion Page: Visit our Data Deletion Request page to submit a deletion request.
• Via Email: Send a request to tradelynk.commerce@gmail.com with the subject "Data Deletion Request."
• Via Facebook: You can remove TradeLynk's access through your Facebook App Settings. We will process the deletion of your data within 30 days of receiving your request.

11. Third-Party Services

Our platform integrates with the following third-party services, each with their own privacy policies:

• Firebase (Google): Authentication, real-time database, and push notifications — Firebase Privacy Policy
• Cloudinary: Image upload and hosting — Cloudinary Privacy Policy
• Meta (Facebook): Social login — Meta Privacy Policy
• Vercel: Website hosting — Vercel Privacy Policy

12. Children's Privacy

TradeLynk is not intended for use by individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected data from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.

13. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries outside Nigeria where our service providers operate (e.g., the United States, European Union). We ensure that such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws and that adequate safeguards are in place.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this page periodically for any changes.

15. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: