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FRIENDING INC. — PRIVACY POLICY

Last Updated: 12/11/2025

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This Privacy Policy describes how Friending Inc. (“Friending”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) collects, uses, and discloses your personal information when you visit or make a purchase from shop.friending.com (the “Site”).
This Policy applies only to the Site and not to the Friending mobile application (“Friending App”). For App-specific privacy terms, see: https://friending.com/privacy

By accessing the Site, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. CONTACT INFORMATION

If you have questions about this Policy, wish to make a privacy-related request, or submit a complaint, you may contact us at:

Friending Inc.
2109 Gardenbrook Drive
Raleigh, NC 27606
United States

General inquiries: shop@friending.com
Refund inquiries: refund@friending.com
App support: support@friending.com
Legal matters / privacy rights requests: legal@friending.com

2. PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

When you visit or interact with the Site, we collect certain information in order to provide our Services, process orders, maintain security, and improve the user experience. “Personal Information” refers to any data that identifies or can be reasonably linked to an individual.

Below is an overview of the categories we collect and why.

A. Device Information

Purpose:
To load the Site properly, ensure security, and analyze visitor behavior to optimize performance.

Source:
Automatically collected through cookies, server logs, tracking technologies (pixels, tags), and browser data.

Information Collected:

  • IP address

  • Browser version, device type

  • Time zone

  • Cookie identifiers

  • Pages or products viewed

  • Search terms

  • Interactions with the Site

Hosting & Infrastructure:
The Site is hosted on Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Technical logs may be stored on U.S. servers.

B. Order Information

Purpose:
To process and deliver your order, verify payment, prevent fraud, send confirmations, and provide customer service or promotional communications consistent with your preferences.

Source:
Information you provide during checkout.

Information Collected:

  • Full name

  • Billing address

  • Shipping address

  • Email address

  • Phone number

  • Payment details (processed by Stripe)

  • Order details & purchase history

Payment Processing:
All payment information is handled securely by Stripe, our payments provider.
Stripe Privacy Policy: https://stripe.com/privacy

C. Customer Support Information

Purpose:
To communicate with you, troubleshoot issues, and offer assistance.

Source:
Provided voluntarily when contacting our support team.

Information Collected:

  • Contact information

  • Order details

  • Interaction notes

  • Any additional information you choose to provide

3. FRIENDING PRODUCTS WITH QR CODES

Some products purchased on the Site include a unique QR code connected to a personal message you write during checkout. The message can be viewed through the Friending App.

Important points:

  • Scanning a QR code does NOT require Friending App registration.

  • The QR feature may store the message you provide on secure cloud systems.

  • All App-related data collection is governed by a separate privacy policy:
    https://friending.com/privacy

You are responsible for ensuring that any message you submit does not contain harmful, illegal, defamatory, or infringing content.

4. MINORS

The Site is not intended for individuals under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect Personal Information from children.

If you believe a child has submitted information to us, please contact legal@friending.com to request deletion.

5. HOW WE SHARE PERSONAL INFORMATION

We share Personal Information with trusted service providers strictly to operate the Site, fulfill orders, and comply with legal requirements. Examples include:

WooCommerce

Our e-commerce system used to manage orders and store certain transaction data.

Stripe

Handles all payment processing. We do not store full credit card numbers.

Google Cloud Platform

Hosts our servers, databases, and infrastructure.

Legal Compliance

We may disclose Personal Information if required by law, court order, subpoena, or to protect our rights.

We do not sell Personal Information.

6. BEHAVIORAL ADVERTISING & ANALYTICS

We use analytics and marketing tools to understand customer behavior and deliver relevant content or advertisements.

Google Analytics

Monitors Site usage, device characteristics, and browsing behavior.
You can opt out: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout

Advertising Partners

We may share basic behavioral data (e.g., browsing patterns) for marketing purposes.

Opt-Out Links

You may also disable cookies in your browser settings.

7. HOW WE USE PERSONAL INFORMATION

We use your data to:

  • Process and fulfill orders

  • Communicate with you

  • Detect and prevent fraud

  • Improve our products and services

  • Provide personalized recommendations

  • Comply with legal and tax obligations

8. GDPR RIGHTS (EEA RESIDENTS)

If you reside in the EEA, you have the following rights:

  • Access

  • Correction

  • Erasure

  • Restriction

  • Portability

  • Objection

  • Withdraw consent

Legal bases for processing include: consent, contract necessity, legitimate interests, legal obligation, public interest, and vital interest.

Requests may be submitted to legal@friending.com.

9. DATA RETENTION

We retain order and customer information as long as necessary for:

  • accounting

  • legal compliance

  • fraud prevention

  • warranty and support obligations

You may request deletion of your information at any time (unless retention is legally required).

10. AUTOMATED DECISION-MAKING

We may use automated tools for:

  • fraud detection

  • IP blocking in case of suspicious activity

  • temporary payment risk prevention (via Stripe)

These do not have significant or legal impacts on users.

11. CCPA RIGHTS (CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS)

California residents may request:

  • Access (“Right to Know”)

  • Correction

  • Deletion

  • Data portability

Requests must be submitted to: legal@friending.com

You may also designate an authorized agent to act on your behalf.

We do not sell or share Personal Information for monetary value.

12. COOKIES

We use cookies to enhance your experience and measure Site performance.
Cookies may include:

  • Functional cookies

  • Analytics cookies

  • Advertising cookies

  • Security cookies

You may manage cookies through browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect Site functionality.

13. DO NOT TRACK

Because no industry standard exists, we do not modify our data collection practices when a browser sends a Do Not Track signal.

14. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect operational or legal changes. Updates are effective once posted on this page.

15. COMPLAINTS

To submit a privacy complaint, contact:

📧 legal@friending.com

If you are not satisfied with our response and reside in the EEA, you may contact your local Data Protection Authority.

16. MOBILE TERMS OF SERVICE (SMS/TEXT MESSAGING)

By opting into Friending’s SMS program, you agree to receive:

  • order updates

  • account alerts

  • promotions

  • cart reminders

Message and data rates may apply.
Message frequency varies.
Consent is not a condition of purchase.

Opt-Out:

Text STOP to [placeholder-number]

Help:

Text HELP or email shop@friending.com

We may change the phone number associated with the Mobile Service at any time. Carriers are not liable for delays or failures in transmission.