Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

PicksGuide ("we," "our," or "us") operates the website picksguide.com (the "Site"). We are a U.S.-based consumer media publisher that provides product comparisons, buying guides, and curated rankings. You can reach us anytime at contact@picksguide.org.

2. Information we collect

2.1 Information you provide voluntarily

When you contact us via email or submit a form on the Site, we collect the information you choose to share, such as your name, email address, and the content of your message.

2.2 Information collected automatically

When you visit the Site, certain information is collected automatically, including:

• Device & browser data: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device type, screen resolution, and language settings.

• Usage data: pages visited, time spent on pages, referring URLs, exit pages, search terms, and click patterns (including outbound link clicks).

• Geolocation data: approximate location derived from your IP address (country and city level only).

• Referral & campaign data: UTM parameters, referring domains, and advertising campaign identifiers.

2.3 Cookies and similar technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies. Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We classify our cookies into the following categories:

• Essential cookies: Required for the Site to function properly (e.g., remembering your cookie consent preferences). These cannot be disabled.

• Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with the Site, which pages are most useful, and where we can improve. We use Google Analytics for this purpose.

• Advertising cookies: Used to deliver advertisements that are relevant to you and measure ad campaign performance. These cookies may be set by us or by third-party advertising partners, including Google AdSense.

3. How we use your information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To operate, maintain, and improve the Site and its content.

• To understand aggregate audience behavior and site performance.

• To display relevant advertisements through Google AdSense and other advertising partners.

• To measure the effectiveness of advertising and affiliate marketing campaigns.

• To prevent fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access.

• To respond to reader inquiries, corrections, and feedback.

• To comply with legal obligations.

4. Advertising & third-party services

4.1 Google AdSense

We use Google AdSense to serve advertisements on the Site. Google uses cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to our Site and other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to our users based on their visit to our Site and/or other sites on the Internet.

Users may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings or by visiting www.aboutads.info/choices.

4.2 Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use the Site. Google Analytics uses its own cookies to collect information about your visit. You can learn more about Google Analytics privacy practices at Google's Privacy & Terms, and you may opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

4.3 Affiliate links & commerce partners

Some links on the Site are affiliate links. When you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. These partners may use their own cookies to track referrals. Our affiliate relationships are disclosed in our Advertising Disclosure.

4.4 Other third-party services

We may also use third-party services for website hosting (Netlify), email delivery, and other operational needs. These providers have their own privacy policies and data handling practices.

5. Legal bases for processing (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom, our legal bases for processing your personal data include:

• Consent: We rely on your consent for non-essential cookies and personalized advertising. You may withdraw consent at any time through our cookie preference center.

• Legitimate interests: We process certain data based on our legitimate interest in operating, improving, and monetizing the Site, provided these interests are not overridden by your rights.

• Legal obligation: We may process data to comply with applicable laws and regulations.

6. Your rights under GDPR

If you are located in the EEA or UK, you have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.

• Rectification: Correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal data.

• Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten").

• Restriction: Request that we limit how we process your data.

• Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.

• Objection: Object to processing based on legitimate interests, including profiling for direct marketing.

• Withdraw consent: Withdraw previously given consent at any time, without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at contact@picksguide.org. We will respond within 30 days. If you believe we have not addressed your concern, you may lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority.

7. Your rights under CCPA / CPRA (California)

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), grants you the following rights:

• Right to Know: Request disclosure of the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you in the preceding 12 months.

• Right to Delete: Request deletion of personal information we have collected from you, subject to certain exceptions.

• Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal information.

• Right to Opt Out: Opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of your personal information. Under CCPA, certain advertising cookie practices may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of data. You may exercise this right through our cookie consent banner or by contacting us directly.

• Right to Limit Use: Limit the use of sensitive personal information (we do not collect sensitive personal information as defined by the CPRA).

• Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights.

To exercise your CCPA rights, email us at contact@picksguide.org with "CCPA Request" in the subject line. We will verify your identity before processing your request. You may also designate an authorized agent to make requests on your behalf.

8. Data retention

We retain automatically collected analytics data for a maximum of 26 months. Contact correspondence is retained for up to 2 years. Cookie consent records are retained for the duration required by applicable law. We do not retain personal data longer than necessary for the purposes described in this policy.

9. Data sharing & disclosure

We do not sell personal information for monetary compensation. We may share data in the following circumstances:

• Service providers: With trusted third parties that help us operate the Site (hosting, analytics, advertising). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data.

• Legal compliance: When required by law, court order, or government regulation.

• Business transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your data may be transferred as part of that transaction.

10. Children's privacy (COPPA)

The Site is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately, and we will take steps to delete it.

11. International data transfers

Our Site is hosted and operated in the United States. If you access the Site from outside the U.S., your data will be transferred to and processed in the United States. By using the Site, you consent to this transfer. We take appropriate safeguards to ensure your data is protected in accordance with this policy and applicable law.

12. Do Not Track signals

Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature. Our Site does not currently respond to DNT signals. You may manage your tracking preferences through our cookie consent banner and browser settings.

13. Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect the information we collect. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

14. Third-party links

The Site contains links to third-party websites, including retailer and affiliate partner websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party site you visit.

15. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the policy was last revised. We encourage you to review this page periodically. Material changes will be communicated through a notice on the Site.

16. Contact us

For questions, concerns, or to exercise your privacy rights, contact us at:

📧 Email: contact@picksguide.org

🌐 Website: www.picksguide.com

We aim to acknowledge all privacy-related inquiries within 48 hours and resolve them within 30 days.