Privacy Policy

Who this policy covers

This policy covers people who visit gardenmate.com.au or contact GardenMate about the website. It covers the GardenMate website only.

It does not govern Amazon, Pexels, product manufacturers, source websites or any other independent website or service linked from GardenMate. Their privacy policies apply when you use their services.

Information handled when you visit

GardenMate does not offer visitor accounts, a newsletter sign-up or an online contact form. Visiting the site can still involve the following information:

• Hosting and delivery data: Netlify, which hosts and delivers the site, may process technical information such as your IP address, the page or file requested, the date and time of the request, browser and device information, referring page, and security or error data.
• Analytics data: Google Analytics collects information about visits and interactions, such as pages viewed, referral source, approximate location, browser and device details, session information and a randomly generated client identifier. Google states that Analytics uses IP addresses at collection for purposes including general location and service security, but does not log or store IP addresses in Google Analytics.
• Third-party image requests: some editorial images are loaded directly from Pexels. When your browser requests one of these images, Pexels may receive technical request information such as your IP address, browser details and the referring page.

Information handled when you contact GardenMate

The contact links on this site open your own email application; they do not submit information through a GardenMate web form. If you email GardenMate, the information received may include your email address, name, message, attachments, the date and time, and ordinary email header information. Please do not send sensitive personal information that is not needed for your enquiry.

How information is used

Information described in this policy may be used to:

• deliver, maintain and secure the website, and investigate errors or misuse;
• understand site traffic and how visitors use the content, using analytics reports;
• improve the site's content, navigation and performance;
• read, respond to and follow up on enquiries; and
• keep appropriate business records and meet applicable legal obligations.

Google Analytics and cookies

GardenMate uses Google Analytics 4 to measure website use. The Google Analytics tag runs after a page becomes interactive and can place first-party analytics cookies, including _ga and _ga_*. These cookies use a pseudonymous identifier to distinguish browsers and sessions and produce usage statistics. GardenMate does not use an account name or email address as the Analytics identifier.

GardenMate does not currently provide an on-site cookie preference panel. You can delete or block cookies in your browser, block the Google Analytics script with suitable browser privacy controls, or install the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. Blocking analytics cookies or the analytics script should not prevent you from reading GardenMate's content.

Google explains its Analytics data practices and controls in its Analytics privacy information and Privacy Policy.

Hosting and service providers

GardenMate relies on a small number of providers to operate the website:

• Netlify provides website hosting, content delivery and related security services. See Netlify's Privacy Statement.
• Google provides Google Analytics, as described above.
• Pexels supplies some editorial images that may be delivered from its systems. See the Pexels Privacy Policy.
• Email providers used by you and GardenMate process email messages and delivery information when you contact GardenMate.

Amazon affiliate links and external websites

GardenMate participates in the Amazon Associates program. Amazon links on the site contain an affiliate identifier or use an official Amazon short link. If you follow one of these links, Amazon can recognise that GardenMate referred the visit and may use its own cookies or similar technologies. GardenMate may earn a commission from a qualifying purchase at no extra cost to you.

GardenMate does not process Amazon orders and does not receive your payment card details, delivery address or Amazon account password. Amazon controls its website, checkout, transaction records and privacy practices. You can read the Amazon.com.au Privacy Notice before using its services.

GardenMate also links to manufacturers, editorial sources and other external websites. A link does not give GardenMate control over what the destination site collects or how it uses information.

Processing outside Australia

Netlify, Google, Pexels, Amazon and email providers operate internationally. Technical, analytics or contact information may therefore be processed or stored outside Australia, including in the United States. The countries involved can vary according to each provider's systems and arrangements. Their privacy policies provide more information about their handling of international data.

Security and retention

The website is delivered over HTTPS. GardenMate also relies on the access controls and security features of its hosting, analytics and email providers. No website, provider or email transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Retention varies according to the type of information. An email enquiry may be kept for as long as reasonably needed to answer it, maintain appropriate records, resolve a concern or meet legal obligations. Analytics and hosting information is retained under the relevant account settings and provider practices. GardenMate does not state a single fixed period because those periods can differ by data type and provider.

Access, correction, deletion and privacy concerns

You can ask whether GardenMate holds personal information about you, request access to it, ask for inaccurate information to be corrected, request deletion, or raise a privacy concern. Email info@gardenmate.com.au with the subject line “Privacy request” and enough detail to identify the relevant contact or activity.

We will review your concern, request any information needed to investigate it, and respond using the contact details you provide.

GardenMate may need to confirm your identity before acting on a request. Some technical or analytics data may not be reasonably linkable to you, and some information may need to be retained where there is a legal or record-keeping reason. If an external provider controls the relevant information, GardenMate may direct you to that provider.

Changes to this policy

GardenMate may update this policy when the website or its service providers change. The date at the top of this page shows when the policy was last updated.