Privacy Policy

Information we collect

We collect the information you give us directly, plus a small amount generated by using the platform:

• Account details — name, email address, phone number, password (stored as a salted hash, never in plain text)
• Delivery addresses you save to your account
• Order history and the items you've purchased or sold
• Payment confirmation from our payment processor (BIGBRANDS does not itself store your card details — see "Payments" below)
• Seller onboarding information for vendors — business details, banking details, and identity/verification documents
• Basic technical information (device/browser type, IP address) used for security and fraud prevention

How we use your information

To create and manage your account, process orders and payments, arrange delivery and returns, provide customer support, and — where you've opted in — send you marketing communications about deals and new sellers.

Vendor identity and banking details are used solely to verify sellers during onboarding and to pay out their earnings.

Who we share information with

We share only what's needed to run the marketplace, with these categories of service provider:

• Payment processing — PayFast, to process and refund payments
• Email delivery — Zoho ZeptoMail, to send order, account, and notification emails
• Cloud infrastructure and file storage — Microsoft Azure, hosted in Azure's South Africa data region
• Sign-in — Google and Facebook, only if you choose to sign in with one of those providers
• AI-assisted product cataloguing — used by sellers to help classify and describe their own product listings; this does not involve your personal information as a customer

Marketing communications

We only send marketing emails to customers who have opted in at registration or in their account settings. You can opt out at any time from your account, or via the unsubscribe link in any marketing email — this won't affect order or account emails, which we still need to send you.

Cookies

BIGBRANDS uses strictly necessary cookies to keep you signed in and remember your cart — these can't be switched off, as the site won't function correctly without them. We don't currently use advertising or cross-site tracking cookies.

Data security

Passwords are stored as salted hashes, never in plain text. Payment card details are handled entirely by our payment processor and never touch BIGBRANDS' own servers. Access to vendor verification documents and customer personal information is restricted to what BIGBRANDS staff need to do their jobs.

Data retention

We retain account and order information for as long as your account is active, and for a period afterward as required for tax, accounting, and dispute-resolution purposes. Vendor verification documents are retained for as long as required by applicable financial and anti-fraud regulations.

Your rights

Under POPIA, you have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of your personal information, and to object to certain uses of it (such as marketing). You can update most of your information directly in your account, or contact us using the details below for anything else.

Children's privacy

BIGBRANDS is not intended for use by anyone under 18. We don't knowingly collect personal information from children.

Changes to this policy

If we make a material change to this policy, we'll update the effective date above and, where appropriate, notify registered users.

Contact us

For any privacy question or request, contact us at help@bigbrands.co.za or 010 001 2200.