Last Updated: August 23, 2025
South West Swap (“we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, retain, and secure your information when you access or use our website at www.southwestswap.com (the “Website”). By using the Website, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Website.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information to provide and improve our services, which include paid classified advertisements in categories such as Business, Community, Employment, General For Sale, Personals, Pets, Real Estate & Housing, Services, Tasks, Vehicles for Sale, and Wanted Ads.
1.1 Information You Provide Directly
Account Information: When you register to post ads, we collect your email address and any other details you provide, such as username or contact information.
Ad Content: Text, images, descriptions, and links you submit in your ads, which may include personal details like phone numbers or addresses if you choose to include them.
Payment Information: Billing details processed through Stripe, including credit card information (we do not store full card details; Stripe handles secure processing).
Communications: Information from emails or reports you send to us, such as abuse reports or support inquiries.
Other User-Provided Data: Any additional information you voluntarily provide, such as in user dashboards or social media sharing links.
1.2 Information Collected Automatically
Device and Usage Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, pages viewed, access times, and referring URLs.
Location Data: Approximate location based on IP address or user-provided details to enforce our geographic restrictions (posting limited to Southwest U.S. states).
Analytics Data: Anonymized usage statistics collected via our WordPress theme for site improvement.
We do not collect sensitive personal information unless voluntarily provided in ads, and we advise against including such data.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your information for the following purposes, consistent with industry standards for classified platforms:
- To operate and maintain the Website, including user registration, ad posting, and content moderation.
- To process payments and fulfill ad placements via Stripe.
- To personalize your experience, such as displaying relevant ads or enforcing regional restrictions.
- To detect, prevent, and address fraud, abuse, security issues, or violations of our Terms & Conditions (e.g., reviewing reported ads).
- To communicate with you, including sending confirmations, updates, or responses to inquiries.
- To perform analytics and improve the Website using anonymized data from our WordPress theme.
- To comply with legal obligations, respond to law enforcement requests, or protect our rights, property, or safety, as well as that of our users or the public.
We do not use your information for direct marketing purposes unless you opt-in.
3. Sharing Your Information
We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We may share information as follows:
With Service Providers: Limited data shared with Stripe for payment processing (e.g., billing details) and WordPress theme providers for anonymized analytics to enhance site functionality. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for the services they provide to us.
Publicly on the Website: Ad content you post is visible to the public, including any personal details you include (e.g., contact information in listings). Use caution when posting.
For Legal Reasons: In response to subpoenas, court orders, or other legal processes; to enforce our Terms; or to protect rights, property, or safety.
Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, bankruptcy, or sale of assets, where your information may be transferred to the new entity.
With Your Consent: If you authorize sharing, such as through social media links to Facebook or X (Twitter).
We comply with applicable privacy laws in the Southwest U.S. states, including the Colorado Privacy Act, Utah Consumer Privacy Act, and similar regulations.
4. Data Retention
We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Policy, comply with legal obligations, or resolve disputes. Account and ad data are retained while active. Upon deletion of your account or content via your user dashboard, we retain data for an additional 14 days for backup and recovery purposes, after which it is permanently deleted, unless required by law to retain longer (e.g., for fraud investigations). Expired ads are automatically removed after their paid duration (5, 21, or 45 days).
5. Security Measures
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration, including secure servers and encryption for transmissions. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials.
6. Your Rights and Choices
You have certain rights regarding your personal information, subject to applicable laws:
Access and Update: View and edit your account information via your user dashboard.
Deletion: Delete your account, ads, or content at any time through your dashboard. We will process deletions promptly, subject to our retention policy.
Opt-Out: If we send promotional emails (e.g., updates), you can opt-out by following the unsubscribe instructions or contacting us.
Location and Tracking: You can manage browser settings to limit cookies or tracking, though this may affect functionality.
State-Specific Rights: Residents of states with comprehensive privacy laws (e.g., Colorado, Utah) may have additional rights, such as to know, correct, delete, or opt-out of the sale of personal information (though we do not sell data). Submit requests to support@southwestswap.com. We will verify your identity and respond within the legally required timeframe (e.g., 45 days for most requests).
We do not discriminate against users exercising these rights.
7. Children’s Privacy
The Website is not intended for children under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If we become aware of such collection, we will delete the information. Parents or guardians who believe their child has provided information should contact us immediately.
8. Third-Party Links and Services
Ads may include third-party links (e.g., employer websites or user sites). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. Review their policies separately. Social sharing to Facebook or X (Twitter) is subject to those platforms’ privacy policies.
9. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Updates will be posted here with a revised “Last Updated” date. Continued use of the Website after changes constitutes acceptance. We recommend reviewing this Policy periodically.
10. Contact Us
For questions about this Privacy Policy or your information, contact us at:
support@southwestswap.com