Information We Collect

Information you give us

• Account details: your name, email address, and password (stored only in encrypted, hashed form). If you sign in with Google, we receive your name, email address, and Google account identifier from Google.
• Profile and location: the country, state, and city you choose, and any phone number you add.
• Content you post: classifieds, events, service and business listings, forum posts and replies, travel buddy requests, group bookings, relocation requests, wishlists, and the photos you upload with them. Content you publish in public areas can be seen by other visitors.
• Orders: the items you buy, your shipping name, address, and phone number, and your order history.
• Messages to us: what you send through contact and support forms or by email.

Information collected automatically

• Approximate location (optional): if you allow your browser to share your location, we use it to show nearby listings and events. Your coordinates are sent to OpenStreetMap's Nominatim service to look up your city name. You can decline or turn this off in your browser at any time.
• Technical data: like most websites, our servers record basic request information such as IP address, browser type, and pages requested, for security and troubleshooting.

Payments

Payments are processed by our payment providers, Stripe and Razorpay. Your card details are entered with and handled by the payment provider; we never see or store your full card number. We keep a record of each payment, such as the amount, status, and the provider's transaction reference. Your use of these providers is also subject to their own privacy policies.

Cookies and Local Storage

We use a sign-in cookie ("auth-token") and your browser's local storage to keep you logged in and remember preferences such as your selected location. These are necessary for the site to work. We do not use advertising cookies, and we do not use third-party analytics or tracking tools. You can clear cookies in your browser, but you will then need to sign in again.

How We Use Your Information

• To create and manage your account and let you sign in.
• To publish and display the listings, posts, and photos you submit.
• To process orders, payments, group bookings, and service or relocation requests.
• To send you service emails, such as welcome messages, order and payment confirmations, request and status updates, password resets, and security notices.
• To show content relevant to your location.
• To review submissions, prevent fraud and abuse, and keep the site secure.
• To respond to your questions and support requests.
• To comply with legal obligations.

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it for targeted advertising.

How We Share Information

• Other users: content you post publicly, along with the name and contact details you choose to include, is visible to visitors. When you send a request to a listing owner or join a group booking or travel request, the relevant details are shared with that person.
• Service providers: companies that help us run ApnaAmerica, including Google Cloud and Firebase (website hosting, image storage, and backups), our database hosting provider, Stripe and Razorpay (payments), Google (sign-in), our email delivery provider, and OpenStreetMap (location lookup). They may use your information only to provide their services to us.
• Legal and safety: when required by law, or when needed to protect the rights, property, or safety of Apna America, our users, or others.
• Business transfers: if Apna America is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

Data Storage, Retention, and Security

Your information is stored in the United States. We keep account information while your account is active, and order and payment records as long as needed for accounting, tax, and legal purposes. Database backups are kept for 30 days and then deleted automatically.

We protect your information with measures such as encrypted connections (HTTPS), hashed passwords, and restricted access to our systems. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your Choices and Rights

• You can view and update your profile information from your account at any time.
• You can edit or remove listings and posts you have created.
• You can decline location access in your browser.
• You can ask us to provide a copy of your personal information, correct it, or delete your account and associated data by emailing info@apnaamerica.com. We may keep some records where required by law, such as order and payment records.

Depending on the state you live in (for example, California), you may have additional privacy rights. Contact us to exercise them; we will not discriminate against you for doing so.

Children's Privacy

ApnaAmerica is not intended for children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child has given us personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

Links to Other Websites

Listings, deals, and posts may link to websites we do not operate. We are not responsible for their privacy practices, so please review their policies.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will change the effective date above, and for significant changes we may also notify you by email or on the site.

Contact Us

For privacy questions or requests, contact Apna America, LLC:

• Email: info@apnaamerica.com
• Phone: +1 (612) 208-9458