Privacy Policy - Bear with Me

Last updated: [11/11/2025]

This Privacy Policy explains how Bear with Me collects, uses, and protects your personal information when you visit or make a purchase from www.bearwithme.co.za or engage with us through related channels such as our social media pages or direct sales.

1. Who We Are

Bear with Me (Pty) Ltd is a South African lifestyle and apparel brand.
Our website is built on WordPress and powered by WooCommerce for our online store.

For privacy queries, contact: info@bearwithme.co.za

2. What Information We Collect

Personal details — name, phone number, email address, shipping and billing address.
Order information — items purchased, payment reference, and courier tracking data.
Account data — login credentials (if you register) and your saved preferences.
Technical data — IP address, browser type, device information, and cookies (see Section 8).
Communication data — emails, social media messages, or phone interactions with our team.

3. How We Use Your Information

To process and fulfil your orders, payments, and deliveries.
To manage your account and provide customer support.
To send transactional or service-related updates (e.g., order confirmations or courier notices).
To improve our products, website performance, and user experience.
To send marketing content only if you opt-in to our mailing list or promotions.
To comply with South African legal and tax obligations.

4. Legal Basis for Processing (POPIA)

We process your information only where necessary to:

Fulfil a contract (e.g., complete an order or provide customer support).
Comply with legal obligations under South African law.
Protect our legitimate business interests (e.g., prevent fraud or secure transactions).
Send marketing updates if you have given consent (you may unsubscribe at any time).

5. Payment Information

Payments on our site are processed through a secure, PCI-DSS-compliant payment gateway (currently Yoco).
We do not store your full card details on our servers. Payment information is encrypted and handled directly by the gateway provider.

6. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell or rent your personal data.
We share limited information only with trusted service providers that help us operate our business:

Couriers and logistics partners (for deliveries and returns).
Payment gateway provider (for secure payment processing).
IT, hosting, and email service providers that maintain our website infrastructure.
Analytics and advertising partners (Google Analytics, Meta Pixel) for performance measurement.

All service providers are bound by confidentiality and data-protection agreements consistent with POPIA.

7. Data Retention

We retain your information only as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes above or to comply with legal and accounting requirements.
Inactive customer data is reviewed and anonymised or securely deleted after 5 years.

8. Cookies & Analytics

Our WordPress and WooCommerce site uses cookies to improve functionality, such as keeping items in your cart and recognising returning users.
Analytics cookies help us understand site traffic and improve our service.

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings, though some features may not work correctly without them.

9. Marketing Communications

You will only receive marketing emails or SMS messages if you have opted in.
You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking “Unsubscribe” in our emails or by contacting info@bearwithme.co.za.

10. Security

We use SSL encryption, password-protected systems, and regular software updates to secure our site and data.
Although no online platform can guarantee absolute security, we follow recognised industry standards to safeguard your information.

11. Your Rights under POPIA

Request access to the personal data we hold about you.
Request correction or deletion of inaccurate or outdated information.
Withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time.
Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa) if you believe your data has been mishandled:

Email: complaints.IR@justice.gov.za | Website: www.justice.gov.za/inforeg

12. Third-Party Links

Our website may include links to third-party sites (e.g., Instagram, Facebook).
We are not responsible for their privacy practices and encourage you to read their policies when visiting those platforms.

13. Updates to This Policy

We may update this policy occasionally to reflect legal, technical, or business changes.
Any updates will appear on this page with a revised “Last updated” date.

14. Contact Us

Questions, requests, or complaints about privacy?
Email info@bearwithme.co.za — we’ll respond promptly and handle all queries confidentially.

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