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Privacy Policy

Last updated: February 1, 2026

Privacy-First

Your personal details stay hidden until a transaction is paid.

Encrypted

All data encrypted at rest and in transit.

PCI Compliant

Payment data handled by Stripe — we never store card numbers.

GDPR Ready

Full control over your data with the right to export or delete.

ReadyBid ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform.

1. Information We Collect

Account Information

When you create an account, we collect:

  • Email address
  • Username
  • Password (stored as a bcrypt hash — we never store your actual password)
  • Optionally: first name, last name, phone number, profile photo, bio, city/state

Transaction Data

When you use ReadyBid for transactions, we collect:

  • Listing details (title, description, budget, location, category)
  • Offer details (price, message, delivery estimate)
  • Payment information (processed and stored by Stripe — we do not store card numbers)
  • Delivery and completion records

Usage Data

We automatically collect:

  • IP address and approximate location
  • Browser type and device information
  • Pages visited and actions taken on the platform
  • Timestamps and session duration

Communications

Messages sent through the ReadyBid messaging system are stored to facilitate transactions and for dispute resolution. Messages in limited-access conversations (before payment) are moderated to prevent sharing of personal contact information.

2. How We Use Your Information

  • To provide, maintain, and improve the ReadyBid platform.
  • To process transactions and payments securely.
  • To facilitate communication between buyers and sellers.
  • To send notifications about your account, transactions, and offers.
  • To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and policy violations.
  • To improve our services through usage analytics.
  • To comply with legal obligations.
  • To resolve disputes between users.

3. Privacy-First Marketplace Model

ReadyBid is built on a privacy-first model. Here's how your information is shared with other users:

Always Public (visible to all users)

  • Username
  • City and state
  • Avatar / profile photo
  • Buyer and seller ratings
  • Account age and verification level

Hidden Until Payment

The following information is only revealed to the other party after payment is confirmed:

  • Full name (first and last)
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Full address (street, postal code)

After Payment

Once payment is confirmed through our escrow system, both the buyer and seller gain access to each other's contact information for the purpose of completing the transaction. This access is logged and auditable.

4. Data Sharing

We share your information only in the following circumstances:

  • Other users: Limited information as described in our privacy-first model above.
  • Stripe: Payment processing data. Stripe acts as our payment processor and has its own privacy policy. We never share your card numbers with anyone.
  • Service providers: We may use third-party services for email delivery, analytics, error monitoring, and cloud hosting. These providers only access data necessary to perform their functions.
  • Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request.

We never sell your personal data to third parties.

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures including:

  • TLS/SSL encryption for all data in transit.
  • Encryption at rest for stored data.
  • Bcrypt password hashing (we never store plain-text passwords).
  • JWT-based authentication with short-lived access tokens.
  • Rate limiting and brute-force protection on all endpoints.
  • Automated fraud detection and IP/device monitoring.
  • Regular security audits and dependency updates.

6. Data Retention

  • Active accounts: Data is retained as long as your account is active.
  • Transaction records: Retained for 7 years for tax and legal compliance.
  • Messages: Retained for 1 year after the related transaction is completed.
  • Account deletion: Personal data is deleted within 30 days of account deletion. Some anonymized data may be retained for analytics.

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Access your personal data and request a copy.
  • Correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
  • Delete your account and associated personal data.
  • Export your data in a portable format.
  • Opt out of marketing communications.
  • Restrict processing of your data in certain circumstances.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@readybid.com.

8. Cookies & Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies for:

  • Essential cookies: Required for authentication, session management, and security. These cannot be disabled.
  • Analytics cookies: Help us understand usage patterns and improve the platform. You can opt out of these.

See our Cookie Policy for full details on the cookies we use and how to manage them.

9. Children's Privacy

ReadyBid is not intended for users under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that a child under 18 has provided us with personal information, we will take steps to delete that information.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by email or through a notice on the platform. Your continued use of ReadyBid after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact us at privacy@readybid.com.