Privacy Policy - MerchNique

MerchNique ("we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application and website (collectively, the "Platform"). This policy is published in compliance with the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act).

1. Information We Collect

Personal Information

Name, email address, phone number (provided during registration)
Delivery address
Payment information (processed securely by Razorpay; we do not store card details)
Profile photo (if uploaded)

Creator / Print Partner Information

PAN number, GST number (for tax compliance)
Bank account details (for payouts)
Business name and address

Automatically Collected Information

Device information (model, OS version, unique device identifiers)
IP address and approximate location
App usage data (pages viewed, features used, session duration)
Crash logs and performance data

2. How We Use Your Information

To process and fulfil your orders
To create and manage your account
To communicate with you about orders, updates, and promotions
To process creator/partner payouts
To improve and personalise your experience
To detect and prevent fraud
To comply with legal obligations (tax, accounting, regulatory)

3. Information Sharing

We do not sell your personal data. We may share your information with:

Print Partners: Your name, delivery address, and order details are shared with the print partner fulfilling your order
Payment Processors: Razorpay processes your payments securely
Logistics Partners: Shipping details are shared for delivery
Legal Authorities: When required by law, court order, or government regulation

4. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures including encryption (HTTPS/TLS), secure authentication (JWT tokens), and access controls. Payment data is handled entirely by Razorpay under PCI-DSS compliance. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. We may retain certain data for longer periods as required by law (e.g., tax records for 7 years as per the Income Tax Act, 1961). Banned account data is retained for fraud prevention and compliance purposes.

6. Your Rights

You have the right to:

Access and review your personal data
Update or correct inaccurate information via the app
Request deletion of your account (subject to legal retention requirements)
Withdraw consent for promotional communications

7. Cookies

Our website uses essential cookies for authentication and session management. We do not use third-party tracking cookies.

8. Children's Privacy

MerchNique is not intended for children under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors. If we discover that a child under 18 has provided us with personal information, we will delete it.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance.

10. Grievance Officer

In accordance with the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and rules made thereunder, the Grievance Officer for the purpose of this Privacy Policy is:

Name: Ronnie Thomas (Founder & CEO)

Email: grievance@merchnique.com

Address: MerchNique Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001, India

Complaints will be acknowledged within 48 hours and resolved within 30 days.

11. Contact

For privacy-related queries, contact us at privacy@merchnique.com.