Privacy & Cookie Policy

1. Overview

This Privacy & Cookie Policy explains how Academy Gaming LLC collects, uses, shares, retains, and protects information through the merchandise store at merch.academygaming.org.

This policy applies to store browsing, product purchases, account/order-history features, contact requests, analytics, cookies, customer support, and related merchandise-store operations.

2. Information Collected

Information provided directly

• Contact details, such as name, email address, phone number, billing address, and shipping address.
• Order details, including products purchased, size/color selections, shipping method, order notes, and order history.
• Account details, if account features are used, such as username, password-related credentials, and account preferences.
• Customer support details, such as messages, photos of damaged or incorrect products, return/refund requests, and related communications.
• Form submissions, including contact forms and any other store forms.

Payment information

Payments are processed through third-party payment processors. We may receive limited payment status information, transaction identifiers, billing details, and fraud-screening results, but we do not intentionally store complete payment card numbers on our servers.

Information collected automatically

• IP address, browser type, device information, operating system, referral URL, pages viewed, click activity, session data, and approximate location derived from technical information.
• Cookie and analytics information used to operate the store, improve performance, remember preferences, detect fraud, and understand site usage.

3. How Information Is Used

Information may be used to:

• Process, fulfill, ship, and manage orders.
• Provide order confirmations, shipping updates, support responses, return/refund handling, and customer service.
• Operate account, cart, checkout, fraud-prevention, and security features.
• Improve store performance, product presentation, customer experience, and website functionality.
• Analyze traffic and store usage through analytics tools.
• Send marketing or promotional communications if enabled and permitted by law.
• Comply with legal, tax, accounting, fraud-prevention, payment-processing, and recordkeeping obligations.

4. Legal Bases for EEA/UK Visitors

For visitors located in the European Economic Area or United Kingdom, processing may rely on one or more legal bases, including:

• Contract: to process purchases, fulfill orders, deliver products, and provide customer support.
• Legitimate interests: to secure the store, prevent fraud, improve products, analyze store performance, and respond to customer requests.
• Consent: for non-essential cookies, marketing communications, or other consent-based processing where required.
• Legal obligation: for tax, accounting, compliance, and recordkeeping requirements.

5. How Information Is Shared

Information may be shared with service providers and partners who help operate the store, including:

• Payment processors and fraud-prevention tools.
• Print-on-demand, production, fulfillment, warehouse, and shipping partners.
• Website hosting, security, backup, and technical support providers.
• Email, customer support, and form-submission tools.
• Analytics providers, such as Google Analytics or similar tools if enabled.
• Legal, accounting, compliance, tax, or professional advisors where reasonably necessary.

We do not sell personal information for money. Some analytics, advertising, or tracking technologies may be considered a “sale,” “sharing,” or targeted advertising under certain privacy laws. If applicable, opt-out choices may be provided through cookie controls, browser settings, or legally required privacy request methods.

6. Cookie Policy

Cookies and similar technologies may be used to keep the store working, remember cart and checkout activity, support account features, analyze traffic, detect fraud, and improve performance.

Types of cookies that may be used

• Essential cookies: required for cart, checkout, login, security, and store functionality.
• Functional cookies: remember preferences and improve site usability.
• Analytics cookies: measure traffic, page activity, and store performance.
• Marketing cookies: may support advertising or promotional measurement if enabled.

You can manage cookies through browser settings and any cookie controls shown on the store. Blocking essential cookies may affect cart, checkout, account, or order functionality.

7. Data Retention

Information is retained for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill orders, provide support, comply with legal/tax/accounting obligations, resolve disputes, prevent fraud, and maintain business records. Retention periods may vary based on the type of information and legal requirements.

8. Security

Reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards are used to protect personal information. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so absolute security cannot be guaranteed.

9. Customer Privacy Rights

Depending on location and applicable law, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, restrict, object to processing, request portability of personal information, withdraw consent, opt out of marketing, or opt out of certain sales/sharing/targeted advertising.

California residents may have rights under the CCPA/CPRA, including the right to know/access, delete, correct, opt out of sale or sharing, limit use of sensitive personal information where applicable, and not be discriminated against for exercising privacy rights.

EEA/UK visitors may have GDPR/UK GDPR rights, including access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, objection, withdrawal of consent, and the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.

To submit a request, contact [email protected]. We may need to verify your identity before processing certain requests.

10. Children’s Privacy

The store is not intended for children under 16. Users under 16 should not submit personal information, create an account, or place orders through the store. If we learn that personal information from a child under 16 was collected without appropriate parent or guardian involvement, we will take reasonable steps to delete or limit that information unless retention is required by law.

11. International Visitors and Transfers

Information may be processed in the United States or other locations where service providers operate. Privacy laws in those locations may differ from the laws in your country. When required, appropriate safeguards or lawful transfer mechanisms are used for international data transfers.

12. Third-Party Links

The store may link to third-party websites, payment providers, shipping tools, social media platforms, or partner services. This policy does not control third-party websites or services. Review their policies before submitting information to them.

13. Marketing Communications

If marketing emails or promotional communications are enabled, you may opt out through the unsubscribe link or by contacting us. Transactional messages, such as order confirmations and shipping updates, may still be sent.

14. Policy Updates

This policy may be updated to reflect changes in store operations, legal requirements, tools, or privacy practices. The updated version will be posted with a revised “Last Updated” date.

15. Contact

For privacy questions, cookie questions, or privacy-rights requests, contact [email protected].