Privacy Policy for Cotopaxz

Last Updated: 2025.09.18

Cotopaxz (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share your data when you visit our website (www.cotopaxz.com), purchase our outdoor gear and apparel, or interact with our services. By using our website or engaging with our brand, you agree to the practices outlined in this policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect personal information to provide, improve, and personalize our services, process orders, and communicate with you. The types of information we gather include:

1.1 Personal Identification Information

  • Contact details: Name, email address (e.g., [email protected] for communications), phone number, and shipping/billing addresses.
  • Account information: Username, password (encrypted), and preferences (e.g., size preferences, favorite outdoor categories like hiking or camping).
  • Payment details: Credit/debit card numbers, bank account information, or payment processor data (e.g., PayPal). Note: We do not store full payment details—this information is securely processed by our third-party payment partners (see Section 4).

1.2 Non-Personal Information

  • Technical data: IP address, browser type, device model, operating system, and website usage data (e.g., pages visited, time spent on site, links clicked, and how you found our website).
  • Usage data: Purchase history, product views, search queries, and interaction with our emails (e.g., open rates, click-through rates).
  • Cookies and tracking technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and similar tools to enhance your browsing experience (see Section 3 for details on cookie management).

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for legitimate business purposes, including:

  • Process and fulfill orders: Verify your identity, process payments, ship products, and send order confirmations/tracking updates.
  • Provide customer support: Respond to your inquiries, resolve issues (e.g., returns, exchanges), and assist with gear-related questions via email ([email protected]) or other channels.
  • Personalize your experience: Recommend products based on your purchase history, preferences, and browsing behavior (e.g., suggesting hiking boots if you’ve previously bought a backpack).
  • Communicate with you: Send promotional emails (e.g., sale alerts, new gear launches), newsletters, and updates about our community or sustainability initiatives. You can opt out of marketing communications at any time (see Section 6).
  • Improve our services: Analyze website usage data to fix errors, optimize site performance, and develop new products or features that align with customer needs.
  • Ensure security: Detect and prevent fraud, unauthorized access, or other illegal activities (e.g., verifying payment authenticity).

3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies (small text files stored on your device) to enhance your website experience. Cookies help us:

  • Remember your account login (if you choose “Keep me logged in”).
  • Track shopping cart items.
  • Analyze how users interact with our site (via tools like Google Analytics).

Types of Cookies We Use:

  • Necessary cookies: Required for basic website functionality (e.g., processing orders, managing your cart). These cannot be disabled.
  • Performance cookies: Collect data on site usage to improve speed and usability.
  • Functional cookies: Remember your preferences (e.g., language, shipping country) for a personalized experience.
  • Marketing cookies: Used to deliver targeted ads (e.g., showing camping gear ads if you searched for tents).

Managing Cookies:

You can control or delete cookies via your browser settings. Note that disabling non-necessary cookies may limit some website features (e.g., personalized recommendations).

4. Who We Share Your Information With

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. We may share your data with trusted partners only to fulfill our services, and these partners are required to protect your privacy:

  • Payment processors: Companies like PayPal, Stripe, or credit card issuers that securely process your payments (they only receive data needed to complete transactions).
  • Shipping and logistics providers: Carriers (e.g., UPS, FedEx) that deliver your orders (they receive your shipping address and contact details).
  • Service providers: Vendors that help with website maintenance, email marketing (e.g., Mailchimp), or data analysis (e.g., Google Analytics). These providers may access your data only to perform their services for us.
  • Legal authorities: We may disclose your information if required by law (e.g., to comply with a court order, tax regulation, or anti-fraud investigation).

5. How We Protect Your Information

We implement industry-standard security measures to prevent unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of your personal information:

  • Encryption: Data transmitted via our website (e.g., payment details, login credentials) is encrypted using SSL/TLS technology.
  • Secure storage: Personal information is stored on password-protected servers with limited access (only authorized Cotopaxz staff can access sensitive data).
  • Regular updates: We update our security protocols and software to address new threats and vulnerabilities.

While we take steps to protect your data, no online system is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we strive to minimize risks.

6. Your Rights Regarding Your Information

Under applicable privacy laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

  • Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
  • Correction: Update or correct inaccurate or incomplete information (e.g., changing your shipping address).
  • Deletion: Request the removal of your personal data (subject to legal obligations, such as retaining order records for tax purposes).
  • Opt-out: Unsubscribe from marketing emails by clicking the “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of any promotional email, or by contacting us at [email protected].
  • Data portability: Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format (e.g., a CSV file) to transfer to another service provider.

To exercise these rights, please contact us at [email protected] with your name, email address, and a clear description of your request. We will respond within 30 days of receiving your inquiry.

7. Children’s Privacy

Our website and services are not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected data from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will delete that information immediately. Parents or guardians who believe their child has provided us with data may contact us at [email protected] to request removal.

8. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party sites (e.g., partner brands, outdoor blogs, or payment processors). This Privacy Policy does not apply to these external sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites—we recommend reviewing their privacy policies before using their services.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or business operations. When we make changes, we will revise the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page and notify you via email (if you have opted in to communications) or a pop-up on our website. We encourage you to review this policy regularly to stay informed about how we protect your data.

10. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us at:

We will work to resolve any issues or inquiries promptly.