Privacy Policy

Last updated: 13 December 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to Gear ("we", "us", "our"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application and services.

By using Gear, you consent to the collection and use of your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

Account Information:

• Full name, email address, phone number;
• Password (stored in encrypted form);
• Profile photo (optional);
• Date of birth (for age and eligibility checks).

Listing Information:

• Item descriptions and photos;
• Vehicle-related information and compatibility details;
• Pricing and approximate location information.

Transaction Information:

• Shipping and delivery addresses;
• In-app communication between buyers and sellers;
• Purchase and sales history.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Device information (model, operating system, unique identifiers);
• IP address and general location (e.g. city/region);
• App usage data (pages viewed, buttons tapped, time spent);
• Search queries and browsing activity within the App;
• Crash logs and performance data.

2.3 Payment Information (via Stripe)

Payments are processed by Stripe. We do not collect or store full credit card numbers on our servers. Stripe provides us with limited payment information (such as card type, last four digits, and payment status) so that we can confirm payments, manage orders, and process payouts.

2.4 Information From Third Parties

• Identity and verification information from payment providers (e.g. Stripe);
• Optional vehicle or part information from third-party lookup or reference services;
• Information from analytics and crash-reporting tools (e.g. Firebase).

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1 Platform Operations

• Create and manage your Gear account;
• Enable buying and selling of car parts between users;
• Facilitate in-app messaging, notifications, and order updates;
• Process payments and payouts via Stripe;
• Provide customer support and respond to enquiries.

3.2 Service Improvement

• Analyse how the App is used to improve functionality and performance;
• Develop new features and services;
• Conduct troubleshooting, testing, and analytics.

3.3 Communication

• Send transactional emails and push notifications (such as order confirmations and shipping updates);
• Respond to support requests and feedback;
• Send optional promotional communications (where permitted by law and your preferences).

3.4 Security, Fraud Prevention, and Safety

• Monitor for and detect fraud, scams, and suspicious activity;
• Protect users and Gear from abuse, spam, and security threats;
• Investigate disputes, chargebacks, and policy violations;
• Enforce our Terms of Service and other policies.

We may use behavioural signals, transaction patterns, device identifiers, and account activity to help identify potential fraud or misuse. Some checks may be performed automatically using risk-scoring tools provided by Stripe or our security systems.

4. How We Share Your Information

4.1 With Other Users

• Your profile information (such as username, profile photo, general location, and listings) may be visible to other users;
• Buyers and sellers may see each other's usernames and relevant order details for a transaction;
• Reviews and ratings, where implemented, may be visible to other users.

4.2 With Service Providers

We share information with trusted third parties that help us operate the App, including:

• Stripe (payment processing, risk checks, and identity verification);
• Firebase/Google Cloud (authentication, database, storage, analytics, and crash reporting);
• Postal and courier services (for shipping labels and delivery information);
• Email and SMS providers (to send verification codes and notifications);
• Analytics providers (to help us understand how the App is used).

These providers only access your information to perform services on our behalf and are required to protect it appropriately.

4.3 For Legal and Safety Reasons

• Where required by law, regulation, or legal process;
• In response to valid requests from law enforcement or government authorities;
• To protect the rights, property, or safety of Gear, our users, or others;
• To detect, prevent, or address fraud, security, or technical issues.

5. Data Security

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your information, including encryption in transit (TLS/SSL), access controls, secure authentication mechanisms, and regular monitoring. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide the services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

• Account information: retained while your account is active and for a period after closure where required for legal, accounting, or fraud-prevention purposes;
• Transaction records: may be retained for up to 7 years to comply with tax, financial reporting, and regulatory obligations;
• Messages and support communications: retained for a reasonable period to manage disputes and improve support;
• Analytics data: retained for a limited period to help us understand and improve App performance.

If you request account deletion, we will remove or de-identify your personal information where feasible. However, we may retain certain data (such as transaction records, fraud flags, and chargeback-related information) where required by law, our payment partners, or legitimate business needs (for example, fraud prevention and security).

7. Your Rights and Choices

7.1 Access and Correction

• You can access and update much of your account information directly in the App settings;
• You may contact us to request access to other personal information we hold about you;
• You may request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.

7.2 Deletion

You may request deletion of your account and certain personal data, subject to legal and operational requirements.

We may delay or refuse deletion of certain data where an account is under investigation for fraud, disputes, chargebacks, or other compliance obligations, or where data must be retained for legal, tax, or security reasons.

7.3 Communication Preferences

• You can opt out of promotional emails using the unsubscribe link in those emails;
• You can manage push notification preferences in your device settings;
• We may still send important transactional or service-related communications.

7.4 Data Portability and Objection

Depending on your location, you may have additional rights to request a copy of your data in a portable format or to object to certain types of processing. You can contact us to exercise these rights where applicable.

8. Children and Minors

Gear is not intended for unsupervised use by individuals under 18. Users aged 13–17 may only use the App under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian. By allowing a minor to use Gear, the parent or guardian:

• Consents to the collection and use of the minor's information as described in this Privacy Policy;
• Is responsible for the minor's activity on the account;
• Is the legal contracting party for any transactions carried out on the account;
• Ensures the minor's compliance with our Terms and policies.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us and we will take appropriate steps to delete such information.

9. International Data Transfers

Our service providers may be located in countries other than your own. As a result, your information may be transferred to and processed in countries that may have different data protection laws. Where required, we take steps to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information.

10. Australian Privacy Principles

Where applicable, we aim to comply with the Australian Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988, including:

• Collecting information fairly and lawfully;
• Using and disclosing information only for the purposes for which it was collected or reasonably expected;
• Taking reasonable steps to protect information from misuse, interference, and loss;
• Providing access to and correction of personal information upon request.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we may notify you via the App or by email. Your continued use of Gear after the updated Policy takes effect constitutes acceptance of the changes.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions, requests, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, you can contact us at:

Email: support@gearapp.com.au