Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information when you use pallet.bid:

Personal Information You Provide

• Name, email address, and phone number when you create an account
• Billing and shipping addresses for delivery and invoicing purposes
• Payment information (processed securely through Stripe — we never store your full card details)
• For sellers: business name, EIN, warehouse address, business description, and Stripe Connect account information for identity verification and payouts
• Any information you voluntarily provide through contact forms or support requests

Information Collected Automatically

• Device and browser information (type, version, operating system)
• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Usage data (pages visited, auction activity, time spent on site)
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see our Cookie Policy)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To create and manage your account and verify your identity
• To process bids, payments, and shipping for auctions you participate in
• To send transactional emails (bid confirmations, win notifications, payment receipts, shipping updates)
• To provide customer support and respond to your inquiries
• To improve and personalize your experience on the platform
• To monitor platform security and prevent fraud or abuse
• To comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms and Conditions
• To send marketing communications (only with your consent, and you can unsubscribe at any time)
• For sellers: to process seller applications, verify business identity, facilitate payouts via Stripe Connect, and generate tax reporting documents (1099-K)

3. SMS / Text Messages

By providing your phone number and opting in to text messages from pallet.bid, you consent to receive SMS/text messages related to our services, including but not limited to:

• Auction notifications (outbid alerts, auction ending soon, auction won)
• Account and transaction updates (payment confirmations, shipping updates)
• Promotional messages about new auctions, platform updates, and special offers

We do not share, sell, or distribute your phone number or SMS opt-in data to third parties or affiliates for their marketing purposes. Phone numbers collected for SMS are used solely by pallet.bid to send the messages described above.

4. Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information with the following parties only as necessary:

• Payment processors: Stripe, for secure buyer payment processing and seller payouts via Stripe Connect (sellers undergo Stripe's identity verification process)
• Shipping carriers: LTL freight carriers to facilitate delivery of pallets, including seller warehouse addresses for pickup coordination
• Analytics providers: Services that help us understand how the platform is used (aggregated, non-identifiable data)
• Legal authorities: When required by law, regulation, or legal process
• Business transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets (your data would remain subject to the privacy commitments made prior to the transfer)

5. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to operate the platform, remember your preferences, analyze traffic, and improve the user experience. For detailed information about the types of cookies we use and how to manage them, please see our Cookie Policy.

6. Data Security

We take the security of your data seriously and implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect it, including:

• Encryption of data in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest
• PCI-compliant payment processing through Stripe
• Regular security reviews and access controls
• Secure authentication and session management

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• 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 obligations)
• Portability: Request a machine-readable copy of your data
• Opt-out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@pallet.bid. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service. We also retain data as necessary to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce our agreements, and for legitimate business purposes such as maintaining transaction records.

9. Seller-Specific Data

If you apply to sell on pallet.bid, we collect additional information as part of the seller application and onboarding process:

• Business information: Business name, type, EIN, and description are collected for application review. Your business name and city/state are displayed publicly on your auction listings.
• Warehouse address: Used to calculate freight quotes for buyers and coordinate carrier pickups. Your full address is not displayed publicly — only city and state are shown on listings.
• Stripe Connect verification: Stripe collects identity verification documents, banking information, and tax identification as part of the Connect onboarding process. This data is handled by Stripe under their Privacy Policy and is not stored on pallet.bid servers.
• Tax reporting: Stripe may issue a 1099-K form for sellers who meet IRS reporting thresholds. Sellers are responsible for their own income tax reporting obligations.

Seller application data is retained even if your application is rejected, in order to maintain platform integrity and prevent abuse. You may request deletion by contacting us.

10. Children's Privacy

pallet.bid 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 a child has provided us with personal data, we will take steps to delete such information.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. For significant changes, we may notify you by email or through a notice on the platform.

12. Contact Us

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

• Email: info@pallet.bid
• Or visit our Contact Page