Introduction
This Privacy Policy explains how The Garage Sale ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, shares, and protects your information when you use our mobile application (the "App"). The Garage Sale is a local marketplace that helps people discover and coordinate garage and yard sales in their area. We do not process payments or facilitate money transfers of any kind within the App — buyers and sellers arrange payment and item pickup entirely on their own, in person.
By using the App, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy.
Information We Collect
Information You Provide Directly
Account information: name, email address, phone number, password (managed securely through our authentication provider, not stored by us in plain text)- Profile information: profile photo, date of birth and gender (both optional)
- Listing information: sale title, description, schedule, physical address of the sale, item details (title, description, category, condition, price), and item photos
- Communications: messages you send through in-app chat, comments and replies you post on sale listings, and ratings you give to sellers
- Reports: information you submit when reporting a listing, a user, or a chat message
Information Collected Automatically
- Location data: with your permission, we collect your device's precise location while you're using the App, to show you nearby sales and calculate distance. We only access location while the App is in use — never in the background.
- Photos and camera access: if you choose to add photos to a listing or your profile, we access your device's camera or photo library for that purpose only.
- Device and diagnostic data: device identifiers, push notification tokens, app version, and crash/diagnostic data collected automatically through Firebase Crashlytics to help us identify and fix technical issues.
- Usage information: basic information about how you interact with core features (e.g., which sales you view or save), to the extent needed to operate the App.
Information from Third-Party Sign-In
If you sign up or log in using Sign in with Apple or Google Sign-In, we receive basic profile information (such as your name and email address) from that provider, consistent with the permissions you grant during sign-in.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Create and manage your account
- Show you nearby sales and calculate distance to listings
- Let you post, browse, and search sale listings
- Enable in-app messaging, comments, and ratings between users
- Send push notifications you've opted into (new nearby sales, messages, comments, reservation updates)
- Investigate reports and enforce our policies, including blocking abusive users
- Diagnose and fix crashes and technical issues
- Communicate with you about your account or our services
We do not use your information for third-party advertising, and we do not have an advertising SDK integrated in the App.
Information Sharing
We do not sell your personal information. We share information only in the following circumstances:
With other users, as part of core App functionality
- A seller's sale address and phone number are shown to buyers viewing that seller's live sale listing, so they can visit and coordinate pickup
- Your display name, profile photo, comments, and seller rating are visible to other users as part of your public profile
With service providers who help us operate the App
These providers only process data on our behalf and are not permitted to use it for their own purposes.
- Firebase (Google): authentication, chat and comment storage, push notification delivery, and crash reporting
- Google Maps: to power directions and route-planning features
- AWS: to operate sale/item listings, search, and reservations
For legal reasons
We may disclose information if required by law, or to protect the rights, safety, or property of our users or the public.
Children's Privacy
The App is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we've collected information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will delete it. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at the address below.
Data Retention
We retain your information for as long as your account is active, or as needed to provide the App's services. If you delete your account, we delete your account data and, through an automated process, purge your associated chat messages, comments, and other Firestore-held data. Some information may be retained for a limited period where required for legal, security, or fraud-prevention purposes.
Data Security
We use industry-standard measures to protect your information, including encrypting all data in transit between the App and our servers (HTTPS). No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Your Choices and Rights
- Access and update: you can view and update most of your profile information directly in the App
- Location permission: you can enable or disable location access at any time through your device settings; note that some features (like nearby sale search) may not work properly without it
- Push notifications: you can turn notifications on or off in the App's Settings
- Account deletion: you can permanently delete your account at any time through Settings → Delete Account. This removes your account and triggers deletion of your associated chat, comment, and profile data from our systems.
- Blocking and reporting: you can block other users and report listings, users, or messages directly in the App
For Users in the European Economic Area, UK, and Switzerland
If applicable data protection law gives you these rights, you may have the right to access, correct, delete, restrict, or port your personal data, and to object to certain processing. To exercise these rights, contact us using the details below. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
For California Residents
We do not sell or share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising, as those terms are defined under California law.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
The App itself does not use cookies or tracking technologies for advertising purposes, and we do not track you across other companies' apps or websites.
Our website does not use cookies for advertising or cross-site tracking, and does not set any strictly necessary cookies.
International Data Transfers
Your information may be processed and stored in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate. Where required, we take steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for such transfers.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you through the App or by updating the "Last Updated" date above. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, contact us at:
Garage Sale LLC 485 North Washington Ave, Titusville, FL 32796 legal@thegarage-sale.com
Trader information required under the EU Digital Services Act: Garage Sale LLC, 485 North Washington Ave, Titusville, FL 32796. Contact: legal@thegarage-sale.com. This information is also available on our App Store and Google Play listings.
