Privacy Policy

USMakerMarkets is operated by Technology Geeks, Inc. ("we," "us"). This page describes what information we collect, why, how long we keep it, and what you can ask us to do with it. You can browse every listing without an account. Creating a free account is optional.

What we collect

If you only browse, standard web server logs (IP address, browser type, pages visited) are recorded by our hosting provider, Cloudflare, for security and performance purposes.

If you create an account, we collect:

• Email address and password. Your email is how you sign in and how we reach you about your account. We store only a salted, one-way hash of your password, never the password itself.
• Display name and an avatar (one of our built-in choices or an image you upload). Your display name and avatar are shown publicly next to your reviews.
• ZIP code (optional). Used only to send you local-show emails if you ask for them.
• Saved shows, calendar entries, and reviews you create, including the review text and star rating you write. Published reviews are public.
• Session and security records. A hashed session token, and short-lived records of sign-in attempts (using a one-way hash of your network address rather than the address itself) so we can block password guessing and spam.

If you sign up as an event organizer, we also collect a postal address and phone number and the events you claim. We use them to verify that you are who you say you are, and our administrators can see them. We do not publish them. If you choose to add public contact details to your organizer profile, only those details are shown.

Why we use it

We use this information to run your account, show your saved shows and calendar, publish your reviews, send the emails you asked for, review organizer requests, and prevent abuse. We do not use it for anything unrelated, and we do not use member or organizer input to generate or alter the facts shown in our listings.

Email

We send account emails (verification, password reset, security notices) and, only if you opt in, local-show emails. Every non-account email includes a one-click unsubscribe link and our postal address, 1608 Grandwood Knoll NW, Acworth, GA 30101. Email delivery is handled by Resend, which processes your email address and the message content on our behalf.

Analytics and cookies

We use Google Analytics and Plausible Analytics to understand aggregate site traffic: which pages are visited, how people arrive at the site, and similar usage patterns. Google Analytics sets cookies in your browser to do this; Plausible does not use cookies. Neither service is used to identify you individually, and we don't combine this data with anything that could.

If you have an account, we also set an essential sign-in cookie that keeps you signed in. It is needed for the account to work, and we do not use it for tracking or advertising. We do not use advertising cookies.

You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking using its browser add-on, or block cookies generally through your browser's settings. Blocking the sign-in cookie will prevent you from staying signed in.

Who we share it with

We do not sell your personal data, and we do not share it for advertising. We use a small number of service providers who process data on our behalf: Cloudflare (hosting, network security, and the database and file storage that hold your account data) and Resend (email delivery). We may disclose information if the law requires it or to protect the site and its users from fraud or abuse.

How long we keep it

• Account data is kept while your account is open.
• Sign-in attempt records are kept for a short period and then deleted.
• If you delete your account, we delete your profile, saved shows, calendar entries, ZIP code, and email subscriptions. Reviews you have already published are anonymized and shown as "Former member" unless you delete them first.
• We may keep a minimal record of a deletion request and of moderation decisions to prove we honored it and to prevent repeat abuse.

Your choices

You can edit your profile and unsubscribe from emails at any time. To delete your account and its data, sign in and go to your account deletion page. If you cannot sign in, email us at support@usmakermarkets.com and we will handle the request. We respond within 30 days. You may also ask for a copy of the personal data we hold about you, or for a correction. If you are in a place whose law gives you additional rights, such as California, tell us in your request and we will apply them.

Children

Accounts are for people 13 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If you believe a child has created an account, contact us and we will delete it.

Contact

Questions about this policy or a request regarding your data: support@usmakermarkets.com. Postal address: 1608 Grandwood Knoll NW, Acworth, GA 30101.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected with an updated effective date above, and we will email account holders about significant changes.