Privacy Policy

At Theteapal (“we,” “us,” or “our”), we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website theteapal.com (the “Site”) or make a purchase from us.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using our Site, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information that identifies, relates to, describes, or could reasonably be linked with you (“Personal Information”).

A. Information You Provide Directly to Us

Order Information: When you make a purchase or attempt to make a purchase through the Site, we collect your name, billing address, shipping address, payment information (including credit card numbers via secure payment processors), email address, and phone number.
Customer Support & Communications: If you contact us directly (e.g., via our contact form, email, or live chat), we collect your name, email address, and any messages or attachments you send us.
Account & Subscription Information: If you create an account, sign up for our newsletter, or subscribe to tea clubs/promotions, we collect your email address and communication preferences.

B. Information Collected Automatically

When you access or use our Site, we automatically collect certain information about your device and browsing activity:

Log and Device Data: Your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, time spent on pages, and date/time stamps.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and pixels to enhance site functionality, analyze traffic trends, and customize your browsing experience.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the Personal Information we collect to provide you with an exceptional tea shopping experience, including to:

Process, fulfill, package, and ship your orders directly from our U.S. fulfillment facilities.
Send you order confirmations, tracking details, and transactional updates.
Process payment transactions securely through third-party payment gateways.
Respond to your customer service inquiries and support requests.
Send you marketing communications, tea news, and special promotions (you may opt out at any time).
Detect and prevent fraudulent transactions and maintain the security of our Site.
Comply with legal and tax obligations.

3. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your Personal Information to third parties. We share your information only with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our store and serve you:

E-Commerce & Infrastructure Providers: Web hosting platforms, database managers, and customer service tools.
Fulfillment & Logistics: Our domestic U.S. warehouse partners and shipping carriers (e.g., USPS, UPS, FedEx) to deliver your orders to your doorstep.
Payment Processors: Secure third-party payment gateways (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) to process your transactions. We do not store full credit card details on our servers.
Analytics and Advertising: Analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) that help us understand how users interact with our Site.
Legal Compliance: We may disclose your information if required by law, subpoena, or legal request.

4. California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA Notice)

If you are a resident of California, you have specific rights regarding your personal information under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

Right to Know: You have the right to request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal data we have collected about you over the past 12 months.
Right to Delete: You have the right to request the deletion of personal information we have collected from you.
Right to Opt-Out of Sale/Sharing: We do not sell your personal information. If we engage in cross-context behavioral advertising, you have the right to opt out.
Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your privacy rights.

To exercise your California privacy rights, please contact us at [email protected]

5. Cookies and Your Choices

Most web browsers accept cookies by default. You can adjust your browser settings to decline cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality or user experience of our Site.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures (such as SSL encryption) designed to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, or disclosure. However, no internet transmission or electronic storage system is 100% secure.

7. Children’s Privacy

Our Site is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately so we can remove it.

8. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by updating the “Last Updated” date at the top of this policy.

9. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints regarding our products, corporate practices, or these policies, please contact our support team. We aim to respond to all inquiries within 24–48 business hours.