Effective Date: 26/05/2025
Bee’s Books (“we,” “us,” “our”) is committed to safeguarding your personal information and ensuring compliance with South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPI Act). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, disclose, and protect your personal information when you interact with our website, purchase our second-hand books or e-books, or otherwise engage with our services.
1. Collection of Personal Information
We collect personal information directly from you when you register on our website, place an order, subscribe to updates, or contact our customer service. The types of personal information we may collect include:
- Identifying Information: Name, email address, postal address, telephone number.
- Financial Information: Payment details for processing orders.
- Transaction Details: Purchase history, order information, and delivery addresses.
- Other Information: Any additional details you provide voluntarily to enhance your shopping experience (such as preferences or special requests).
All data is collected in line with the principle of data minimization—only the information necessary for the stated purposes is gathered.
2. Purpose and Legal Basis for Processing
Your personal information is processed solely for the following purposes:
- Order Processing and Fulfillment: Confirming orders, processing payments, and managing deliveries.
- Customer Service: Addressing inquiries, resolving issues, and providing support.
- Communication: Sending order updates, promotional communications (with your consent), and other relevant information.
- Improvement and Analytics: Enhancing our website, services, and user experience through data analysis.
We process your information on a lawful basis—primarily with your consent and as necessary for the performance of our contract with you. We adhere to the POPI Act principles of purpose specification and further processing limitation to ensure that your data is used only for these prescribed purposes.
3. Accountability and Data Accuracy
Bee’s Books is the accountable party for the personal information we collect. We take responsibility for ensuring that your data is:
- Accurate and Up-to-Date: We encourage you to inform us of any changes to your details.
- Processed Lawfully: We only process data with a clear legal basis, fulfilling contractual or regulatory requirements.
You have the right to access, correct, or update your personal information. Should you wish to do so, please contact us at hello@beesbooks.co.za
4. Storage and Security Safeguards
We implement robust technical, physical, and administrative measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, accidental loss, or destruction. These safeguards include:
- Data Encryption and Secure Server Protocols: Protecting sensitive information during transmission and storage.
- Access Controls: Limiting access to personal data to authorized personnel only.
- Regular Reviews: Routinely assessing and updating our security protocols in line with industry standards and POPI Act requirements.
Personal information is retained only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected or to meet applicable legal and regulatory obligations.
5. Disclosure to Third Parties
We may share your personal information with trusted third parties who assist us in operating our website, processing payments, and fulfilling orders. Any third party with whom data is shared is contractually obligated to maintain confidentiality and protect your data consistent with the POPI Act. We do not sell, trade, or otherwise leverage your personal data for marketing purposes without your explicit consent.
6. International Data Transfers
If your personal information is transferred outside of South Africa, we take steps to ensure that adequate data protection measures are in place. This includes transferring only the minimum necessary information and ensuring that the recipient country’s data protection standards are equivalent to those provided under the POPI Act.
7. Cookies and Online Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to:
- Improve User Experience: Remember your preferences and enhance site functionality.
- Analyze Website Traffic: Understand user behavior to optimize our services.
- Facilitate Marketing Efforts: Deliver personalized content and advertisements (subject to your consent).
You may control or disable cookies through your web browser settings; however, please note that doing so could impact your experience and some functionalities of our website.
8. Data Subject Rights and Participation
Under the POPI Act, you have specific rights regarding your personal information, including:
- Access: The right to request copies of the personal information we hold about you.
- Correction: The right to have any inaccurate or incomplete data rectified.
- Deletion: In certain circumstances, the right to request the deletion of your personal data.
- Objection: The right to object to the processing of your data under specific circumstances.
To exercise these rights or for any inquiries related to your personal data, please contact us at hello@beesbooks.co.za
9. Changes to Our Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or regulatory requirements. When modifications occur, we will update the “Effective Date” at the top of this page. Continued use of our services following any changes signifies your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.
10. Contact Us
For further information about this Privacy Policy or to exercise your rights under the POPI Act, please contact us at:
hello@beesbooks.co.za
Should you have any concerns or wish to lodge a complaint regarding our handling of your personal information, please contact us to resolve the matter.
Bee’s Books remains dedicated to protecting your privacy and handling your information responsibly. Our commitment to transparency and security ensures that your personal data is managed with the utmost care, in full compliance with South Africa’s POPI Act.
