1. Information We Collect

We collect information in the following ways:

a. Information You Provide Directly

• Account Registration: Name, email address, username, and password when you create an account.
• Profile Information: Any optional details you voluntarily add to your public profile.
• User-Generated Content: Deal submissions, comments, votes, wishlist items, and other content you post.
• Communications: Messages you send us via email or contact forms, including support requests.

b. Information Collected Automatically

• IP Address: Collected when you visit the Site for security, fraud prevention, and approximate geolocation.
• Browser & Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device type, screen resolution, and referring URLs.
• Cookies & Tracking Technologies: Login session cookies, affiliate tracking cookies, and analytics cookies. See Section 6 and our Cookie Policy for full details.
• Usage Data: Pages viewed, links clicked, search queries, time spent on pages, and clickstream data.
• Caching Identifiers: Server-side session data used by our caching infrastructure to improve performance.

c. Information from Third Parties

• Affiliate Networks: Purchase signals and click data from Amazon Associates, Walmart Affiliates, eBay Partner Network, and other affiliate programs when you click affiliate links from our Site.
• Analytics & Advertising Partners: Aggregated or pseudonymous data from Google Analytics and Google AdSense.

2. How We Use Your Information

3. Affiliate Disclosure

BargainArmy participates in affiliate marketing programs. This means:

• Commission Earnings: We earn a commission when you click an affiliate link on our Site and make a qualifying purchase. This comes at no additional cost to you.
• Affiliate Programs: We participate in programs including, but not limited to, Amazon Associates, Walmart Affiliates, and the eBay Partner Network.
• Affiliate Tracking Cookies: When you click an affiliate link, a tracking cookie may be placed on your device by the merchant or affiliate network. These cookies are set by the third-party merchant, not by BargainArmy directly.
• Editorial Independence: Our deal listings and recommendations are based on value to our users. Affiliate relationships do not influence our editorial decisions.

BargainArmy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Our full disclosure is available at bargainarmy.com/affiliate-disclosure/.

4. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services to operate and improve our Site. Each has its own privacy policy governing its data practices:

Google (Analytics & AdSense)

• Google Analytics: Collects anonymized usage data (pages visited, session duration, traffic sources) to help us understand how users interact with our Site.
• Google AdSense: Serves interest-based advertisements using cookies and browsing data. Governed by the Google Privacy Policy.

Cloudflare (Security & Performance)

Cloudflare serves as our content delivery network (CDN) and security provider. It processes incoming web traffic to protect against DDoS attacks, malicious bots, and other threats, and may log IP addresses and request metadata. See Cloudflare’s Privacy Policy.

RackNerd (Web Hosting)

Our website is hosted on servers provided by RackNerd. User data, including account information and activity logs, is stored on RackNerd infrastructure located in the United States, secured with industry-standard physical and digital safeguards.

Affiliate Networks

Amazon Associates, Walmart Affiliates, eBay Partner Network, and similar programs may place cookies on your device and collect data as described in their respective privacy policies when you click affiliate links from our Site.

5. Data Sharing & Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information to third parties for their direct marketing purposes. We share your information only in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: Trusted vendors who assist in operating the Site (e.g., hosting, analytics, email delivery). These providers are contractually obligated to use your data only for the services they provide to us.
• Affiliate Partners: Click and referral data shared with affiliate networks solely to attribute commissions.
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, subpoena, court order, or to protect our rights, users, or the public from harm.
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or bankruptcy proceeding, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity, subject to the same privacy protections.
• With Your Consent: For any other purpose disclosed to you at the time of collection, or with your explicit consent.

6. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies on our Site. For a detailed breakdown, see our Cookie Policy. A summary of cookie types used:

Managing Cookies

You can control and manage cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may limit Site functionality (e.g., you may not be able to stay logged in). Additional opt-out options:

• Interest-based advertising opt-out: www.aboutads.info/choices (Digital Advertising Alliance)
• Network Advertising Initiative opt-out: networkadvertising.org
• Google Analytics opt-out: Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on

7. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including:

• SSL/HTTPS Encryption: All data transmitted between your browser and our Site is encrypted using TLS/HTTPS.
• Access Controls: Account data is protected by password hashing and role-based access controls. We never store passwords in plain text.
• Cloudflare Protection: Our traffic is routed through Cloudflare’s security layer, which filters malicious requests before they reach our servers.
• Server Security: Our hosting environment employs physical and network-level security measures.

Important: While we implement these safeguards, no method of electronic storage or transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information. In the event of a data breach that may affect your rights, we will notify you as required by applicable law.

8. Your Privacy Rights

• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Right to Deletion: Request that we delete your personal data, subject to legal retention obligations.
• Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Right to Opt-Out of Sale or Sharing: Opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information. We do not currently sell personal information, but you may still submit this request.
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any privacy rights.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

9. California Privacy Rights (CCPA / CalOPPA)

Right to Know

You may request disclosure of the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you in the past 12 months, including: the categories of sources from which it was collected; our business or commercial purpose for collecting it; and the categories of third parties with whom we share it.

Right to Delete

You may request deletion of personal information we have collected from you, subject to certain exceptions permitted by law (e.g., information needed to complete a transaction, detect fraud, comply with a legal obligation, or exercise free speech).

Right to Opt-Out of Sale or Sharing

We do not sell personal information. We also do not share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising in a manner that would constitute a “sale” or “sharing” under the CCPA/CPRA. If this practice changes, California residents will have the right to opt out, and we will provide a “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” link on the Site.

Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Personal Information

We do not collect or use “sensitive personal information” as defined by the CPRA beyond what is necessary to provide the Services.

Right to Non-Discrimination

We will not deny you services, charge you different prices, provide a different level of quality of service, or retaliate against you for exercising your CCPA/CPRA rights.

Shine the Light (CalOPPA)

California residents may request a list of third parties to whom we have disclosed personal information for their direct marketing purposes in the prior calendar year. We do not share personal information with third parties for their own direct marketing purposes.

How to Submit a California Privacy Request

Email [email protected] with the subject line “California Privacy Request.” We will respond within 45 days as required by law. We may request additional information to verify your identity before processing your request. You may designate an authorized agent to make a request on your behalf by providing written authorization.

10. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, or as required by law. Specifically:

• Account Data: Retained while your account is active and for a reasonable period thereafter to resolve disputes or enforce agreements.
• Usage & Analytics Data: Typically retained for up to 26 months, per Google Analytics default settings.
• Log Data: Server logs (including IP addresses) are retained for a limited period for security and diagnostic purposes, generally no longer than 90 days.
• Deleted Accounts: When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within a reasonable time, unless retention is required by law.

11. Children’s Privacy

BargainArmy is not directed to children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 16, we will promptly delete it. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 16, please contact us immediately at [email protected].

The Services are not directed to children under 13, and we comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) with respect to users under 13.

12. International Visitors

BargainArmy is based in the United States and the Services are intended for U.S.-based users. If you access our Site from outside the United States, please be aware that your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where data protection laws may differ from those in your country.

BargainArmy does not currently offer Services or support user accounts for residents of Switzerland, the United Kingdom, or countries within the European Economic Area (EEA). By using our Services, you consent to the transfer and processing of your information in the United States.

13. Marketing Communications

With your consent, we may send you promotional emails, notifications, or messages about deals, updates, and exclusive offers. You can opt out of marketing communications at any time by:

• Clicking “Unsubscribe” in any marketing email we send;
• Adjusting your notification preferences in your account settings; or
• Contacting us at [email protected].

Please note that even if you opt out of marketing communications, you will continue to receive transactional and account-related emails (e.g., password resets, security alerts).

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will update the “Effective Date” at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify you by email or a prominent notice on the Site. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically. Your continued use of the Services after the updated Policy is posted constitutes your acceptance of the changes.

15. Contact Us

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

For California privacy requests, use the subject line: “California Privacy Request.”
For DMCA notices, email: [email protected].