Privacy Policy

Introduction & Scope

This Privacy Policy applies to all visitors and users of expertpickshub.sbs (“Website,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). By accessing or using our Website, you agree to the terms outlined in this Privacy Policy.

Pure BAREBELLS operates as an independent product review website with a focus on pantry essentials and protein-forward products. We are not affiliated with any food manufacturers or brands we review.

This policy covers:

• What information we collect from visitors
• How we use that information
• Who we share it with (and who we don’t)
• Your rights regarding your personal data
• How we protect your information
• Our compliance with privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA, etc.)

Information Collection Methods

We collect information in several ways when you interact with our Website:

Information You Provide Directly:

• Newsletter Subscriptions: Email address, first name (optional), subscription preferences
• Contact Forms: Name, email address, subject matter, message content
• Comments (if enabled): Name, email address, website URL (optional), comment text
• Account Creation (if applicable): Username, email address, password (encrypted), profile information

Information Collected Automatically:

• Device Information: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device type
• Usage Data: Pages viewed, time spent on pages, click patterns, referral sources
• Location Data: Approximate geographic location based on IP address (city/country level)
• Cookies & Similar Technologies: See Section 4 for detailed cookie information

Usage of Collected Data

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

Core Website Operations:

• Delivering content and improving user experience
• Processing and responding to inquiries submitted through contact forms
• Sending newsletters and product review updates to subscribers
• Maintaining and securing user accounts
• Providing customer support and troubleshooting

Analytics & Improvement:

• Understanding which content is most valuable to our readers
• Analyzing traffic patterns to optimize site performance
• Identifying and fixing technical issues
• Testing new features and content formats
• Measuring the effectiveness of our product testing methodology

Marketing & Communication:

• Sending promotional emails about new product reviews (with opt-out available)
• Notifying subscribers about updates to our testing process
• Sharing exclusive deals or early access to content

Legal & Compliance:

• Complying with legal obligations and responding to legal requests
• Protecting against fraud, spam, and abuse
• Enforcing our Terms of Service

Cookie Policy & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience on our Website. Here’s what you need to know:

Types of Cookies We Use:

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic site functionality (login sessions, security features). These cannot be disabled.
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our site (Google Analytics, similar services)
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences for future visits
• Marketing Cookies: Track your activity to deliver relevant ads and measure campaign effectiveness (Amazon Associates, advertising networks)

Third-Party Cookies:

• Google Analytics (analytics and reporting)
• Amazon Associates (affiliate program tracking)
• Social media platforms (if sharing buttons are present)
• Advertising networks (for display ads, if applicable)

Do Not Track Signals: Our Website does not currently respond to Do Not Track (DNT) browser signals, though we respect other privacy preferences you set.

Amazon Associates Program Disclosure

Pure BAREBELLS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

What This Means:

• When you click on Amazon product links from our Website, we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase
• This commission comes at no additional cost to you
• Amazon uses cookies to track these referrals for up to 24 hours (or longer for items added to cart)
• Your purchase data is processed by Amazon under their own privacy policy

Our Independence:

• Amazon does not influence our product testing or review content
• We purchase all tested products with our own money
• Our recommendations are based solely on testing results, not commission potential
• We disclose affiliate relationships clearly on all relevant pages

Third-Party Data Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. However, we may share limited data with service providers who help us operate our Website:

Service Providers We Work With:

• Email Service Providers: To deliver newsletters and transactional emails (e.g., Mailchimp, ConvertKit)
• Analytics Platforms: To understand site usage and improve content (e.g., Google Analytics)
• Hosting Services: To store and deliver website content
• Payment Processors: If we offer paid services or products (processing only, not stored by us)
• Security Services: To protect against spam, fraud, and cyber attacks

Legal Disclosures:

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government request, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to:

• Comply with legal processes
• Protect our rights, property, or safety
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of our users or others
• Prevent fraud or security threats

Business Transfers: If Pure BAREBELLS is acquired or merged with another company, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email and/or prominent notice on our Website before this occurs.

Data Security Measures

We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement industry-standard measures to protect it:

Technical Safeguards:

• SSL/TLS Encryption: All data transmitted between your browser and our servers is encrypted
• Secure Hosting: Our website is hosted on secure servers with regular security updates
• Password Protection: User passwords are encrypted using strong hashing algorithms
• Access Controls: Limited access to personal data, restricted to authorized personnel only
• Regular Backups: Data is backed up regularly to prevent loss

Organizational Safeguards:

• Employee training on data protection and privacy best practices
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
• Incident response procedures for data breaches
• Data minimization: we only collect what we need

Data Breach Notification: In the unlikely event of a data breach affecting your personal information, we will notify you within 72 hours via email and provide details about the breach, affected data, and steps we’re taking to address it.

GDPR Compliance (EU Users)

If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA), you have specific rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

Legal Basis for Processing:

• Consent: You have given clear consent for us to process your personal data (e.g., newsletter signup)
• Legitimate Interests: Processing is necessary for our legitimate interests (e.g., improving our website)
• Legal Obligation: Processing is necessary to comply with the law

Your GDPR Rights:

• Right to Access: Request copies of your personal data
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data (“right to be forgotten”)
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request limitation on how we use your data
• Right to Data Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service
• Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time (doesn’t affect prior processing)

Data Retention: We retain your personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy, or as required by law. Typical retention periods:

• Newsletter subscribers: Until you unsubscribe
• Contact form inquiries: 2 years after last contact
• Account data (if applicable): Until account deletion requested
• Analytics data: Aggregated and anonymized after 26 months

International Data Transfers: If we transfer your data outside the EEA, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place (such as Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission).

User Rights & Controls

Regardless of your location, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Access & Correction:

• Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Update or correct inaccurate information
• Review what data we’ve collected and how we use it

Deletion & Opt-Out:

• Request deletion of your personal data (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Unsubscribe from newsletters and marketing emails via the link in every email
• Opt out of certain data collection (e.g., analytics cookies)
• Close your account (if you have one) and delete associated data

Control & Transparency:

• Object to certain uses of your data (e.g., marketing)
• Request information about third parties who receive your data
• File a complaint with a data protection authority

California Residents (CCPA): If you’re a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act, including the right to know what personal information is collected, sold, or disclosed, and the right to opt out of the sale of personal information. Note: We do not sell personal information.

Children’s Privacy (COPPA Compliance)

Pure BAREBELLS does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. Our Website and services are directed toward adults.

Our Policy on Children:

• We do not knowingly solicit or collect data from children under 13
• We do not knowingly allow children under 13 to create accounts or subscribe to newsletters
• Our content is intended for adult audiences interested in nutrition and product reviews

If You Are a Parent/Guardian:

If you believe your child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately at privacy@expertpickshub.sbs. We will promptly:

• Verify the information and the child’s age
• Delete the child’s personal information from our systems
• Prevent further collection of that child’s data

Age Verification: If we discover we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13, we will delete it immediately without requiring a request from a parent or guardian.

Policy Updates & Changes

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors.

How We Handle Updates:

• Notice of Changes: We will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this policy
• Material Changes: For significant changes that affect your rights, we will notify you via email (if you’re a subscriber) and/or a prominent notice on our Website
• Review Period: You will have at least 30 days to review material changes before they take effect
• Continued Use: Your continued use of the Website after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy

What Constitutes a Material Change:

• Changes to how we collect or use personal information
• New third-party sharing arrangements
• Reduction in your privacy rights or protections
• Changes to data retention periods

Version History: We maintain a record of previous policy versions. If you would like to review an earlier version, please contact us.