Hobby Card Index

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: February 21, 2026 · Last Updated: June 3, 2026

Hobby Card Index is committed to protecting your privacy. We are based in British Columbia, Canada, and we handle personal information in accordance with Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and British Columbia’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our application and related services. Please read this policy carefully. By using Hobby Card Index, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

• Account Information: When you register for an account or subscribe to a membership plan, we may collect your name, email address, and payment information.
• Collection Data: Information about cards and collectibles you add to your portfolio, including card names, grades, purchase prices, and custom notes.
• Search Queries: Your search history within the application, including card names, player names, and other search terms.
• Communications: If you contact us for support, we may collect the content of your messages.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Usage Data: Information about how you interact with the Service, including pages visited, features used, time spent on the application, and navigation patterns.
• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device type, screen resolution, and general location information derived from your IP address.
• Local Storage Data: We use browser local storage to save your settings, preferences, theme choices, and cached data to improve performance.

1.3 Information from Third-Party Sources

• eBay API: Pricing data, completed sales information, and card images retrieved through eBay’s API services.
• Licensed card-pricing data provider: Historical pricing data and card database information.
• Google Gemini AI: When you use the card scanner or AI chat features, your card images and queries are processed by Google’s AI services.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve the Service
• Process membership subscriptions and payments
• Track and display pricing data for your card collection
• Generate market analytics, trends, and portfolio valuations
• Power AI-based card identification and analysis features
• Send notifications and alerts based on your preferences (price changes, market movements)
• Personalize your experience (theme, display settings, dashboard layout)
• Respond to your support requests and communications
• Detect, prevent, and address technical issues and security threats
• Comply with legal obligations

3. Data Storage and Security

3.1 Local Storage

Hobby Card Index stores significant data locally on your device using browser local storage, including your settings and preferences, cached pricing data, collection portfolio data, search history, and membership information. This data remains on your device and is not transmitted to external servers except as described in this policy.

3.2 Server-Side Caching

We use server-side caching to improve performance and reduce API calls to third-party services. Cached data may include pricing information, card images, and market data. Cached data is temporary and is regularly purged.

3.3 Security Measures

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including encrypted data transmission (HTTPS), secure API key management, access controls and authentication, and regular security reviews. However, no method of electronic storage or transmission is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.

4. Third-Party Services and Data Sharing

4.1 Third-Party API Services

Hobby Card Index integrates with the following third-party services, each with their own privacy practices:

• eBay: We use the eBay Browse API to retrieve pricing data and card images. Your searches may be transmitted to eBay’s servers. eBay’s privacy policy applies to data processed by their services.
• Google Gemini AI: When you use card scanning or AI chat features, images and text are sent to Google’s AI services for processing. Google’s privacy policy and AI terms of service apply.
• Licensed card-pricing data provider: We access a licensed pricing database for historical pricing information. The provider’s privacy policy applies to data processed by their services.

4.2 We Do Not Sell Your Data

4.3 Legal Disclosure

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or governmental regulation, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.

5. Cookies and Tracking

Hobby Card Index primarily uses browser local storage rather than traditional cookies. We do not use third-party advertising cookies or tracking pixels. Any analytics data collected is used solely to improve the Service.

6. Your Rights and Choices

6.1 Access and Correction

You can access and update your account information and collection data at any time through the Settings page.

6.2 Data Deletion

• Clear Search History: Available in Settings > Privacy to clear all search history.
• Reset All Settings: Available in Settings > Privacy to reset all preferences and cached data to defaults.
• Delete Account: Contact us to request complete deletion of your account and associated data.

6.3 Data Export

You can export your collection data in CSV format through Settings > Privacy > Export Data.

6.4 Opt-Out of Notifications

You can manage notification preferences in Settings > Alerts to enable or disable specific alert types.

7. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service. Local storage data persists until you clear it manually or reset your browser data. Server-side cached data is regularly purged according to our caching policies. If you request account deletion, we will delete your personal information within 30 days, except where we are required to retain it by law.

8. Children’s Privacy

Hobby Card Index is not directed to children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we discover that we have collected information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will delete that information promptly. If you believe we may have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

9. International & Cross-Border Data Transfers

Hobby Card Index is operated from British Columbia, Canada. To provide the Service, we use third-party service providers (such as DigitalOcean, Google, Stripe, and eBay) whose servers may be located in the United States or other countries. This means your information may be stored or processed outside of Canada and, while it is in another country, it may be accessible to the courts, law-enforcement, and regulatory authorities of that country under that country’s laws. By using the Service, you consent to the transfer and processing of your information outside your province or country, including in the United States. We take reasonable steps to ensure our service providers protect your information with safeguards comparable to those described in this policy.

10. Your Canadian Privacy Rights (PIPEDA & BC PIPA)

We handle personal information in accordance with Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and British Columbia’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). Subject to legal limits, you have the right to:

• Access: Request access to the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw your consent to our collection, use, or disclosure of your information at any time (this may limit or end your ability to use the Service).
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated personal information, subject to data we must retain by law.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the information below. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (priv.gc.ca) or the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia (oipc.bc.ca).

11. Residents of Other Regions (Global Users)

We welcome users worldwide, and the data-protection laws of your own country or region may give you additional rights. For example: residents of the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom may have rights under the GDPR/UK GDPR (access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, and objection); California residents may have rights under the CCPA (to know, to delete, and to non-discrimination); and residents of other countries (such as Japan, Mexico, and elsewhere) may have rights under their local privacy laws. We do not sell your personal information. Wherever you live, you can contact us using the information below to exercise your rights, and we will respond in accordance with the laws that apply to you.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by updating the “Last Updated” date and, where practicable, providing additional notification through the Service. Your continued use of Hobby Card Index after changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Information