Privacy
Hi, it's Gertie. I wrote this myself in plain English so you can actually read it. If anything here is unclear, email me at info@rhinestonescout.com and I'll fix it.
What Scout collects
Almost nothing. Scout doesn't ask you to sign up to browse the site or read the blog, doesn't ask for your phone number, and only asks for an email if you choose to start a free trial or subscribe to the podcast.
When you visit RhinestoneScout.com, your browser automatically sends the same basic information it sends to every website: your IP address, what device and browser you're using, what page you looked at, and where you came from. That's standard and happens whether I want it or not.
Analytics
I use a privacy-friendly analytics tool to count how many people use Scout and which pages get used. It does not track individual people across the web. It does not sell your data. I look at the numbers once a week to decide what to improve.
Accounts and billing
If you start a free trial or subscribe to a paid plan, I store the email you sign up with, the plan you picked, and a secure token from the payment processor that lets them charge your card. I do not see or store your full credit card number. Billing runs through a trusted third-party processor that is PCI compliant.
Podcast email list
If you subscribe to the podcast, I keep your email address so I can send you each new episode. That's the only thing I use it for. You can unsubscribe anytime with one click at the bottom of any email.
Links to other shops
When you click through to a rhinestone supplier from Scout, you leave this site and land on theirs. Each shop has its own privacy policy, and their cookies and tracking are their business. Scout has no control over what happens after you click away.
What Scout does not do
- Scout does not sell any data to anyone.
- Scout never sells your data. Some links to suppliers are affiliate links, which means Scout may earn a small commission if you buy after clicking. This never changes prices, rankings, or what Scout shows you. Full details on the FAQ page.
- Scout does not show ads.
- Scout does not share your email with any supplier.
Affiliate links
Some outbound links to suppliers and featured artists are affiliate links. If you click through one of these and buy, Scout may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is one of the ways Scout funds itself, alongside reader subscriptions.
What this means for your privacy: when you click an affiliate link, the destination supplier (and sometimes a third-party affiliate network like Amazon Associates or a direct partner program) may set their own cookies or record that the click came from Scout. Scout does not see, control, or share your purchase data with anyone. Once you leave Scout, you are on the supplier's site and their privacy policy applies.
Affiliate relationships do not influence what Scout shows you. Prices and rankings are based on real shop data, not on who pays a commission. The cheapest stone always shows first.
Want to know more? Read the full transparency note in the FAQ.
Cookies
Scout uses a small number of cookies to make the site work and to count visitors. See the cookie policy for the details.
Kids
Scout is not designed for children under 13 and I don't knowingly collect anything from them. If you think a child's information has ended up on this site somehow, email me and I'll deal with it.
Changes
If I change this policy, the date at the top will update. I'll do my best to only change it when I have to.
Contact
Email info@rhinestonescout.com. I read everything that comes in.
Love, Gertie and Scout