Privacy policy

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 10 AUG 2025

This Privacy Policy explains how JAPANESE KNIFE GARAGE ("we", "us", or "our") collects, uses, and shares your personal information when you visit or use our website japaneseknifegarage.com.au (the "Site") or interact with us regarding our services (collectively, the "Services"). By using our Services, you agree to this policy. If you don't agree, please don't use our Services.

Changes to this Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy occasionally for operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We'll post the updated policy on our Site with a new "Last updated" date and take any other legally required steps.

How We Collect and Use Your Information

We collect and use your personal information to provide and improve our Services, communicate with you, meet legal obligations, enforce our terms, and protect our rights and the rights of others. The information we collect depends on how you interact with us.

What Information We Collect

"Personal information" is information that identifies or can be associated with you. Here's what we collect:

  • Information You Provide Directly:

    • Contact Details: Name, address, phone number, email.
    • Order Information: Name, billing and shipping addresses, payment details (processed by our payment provider), email, phone number.
    • Account Information: Username, password, security questions.
    • Customer Support Information: What you share when contacting us.
    • You can choose not to provide certain information, but this might limit your access to some features.

  • Information About Your Usage (Usage Data): We automatically collect information about how you use our Site, such as your device, browser, network connection, IP address, and interactions with our Services. We use cookies and similar technologies for this.

  • Information From Third Parties: We may receive information from:

    • Service Providers: Like Shopify (for website and services) and payment processors (for payments).
    • Marketing Partners: For advertising and service purposes.
    • Any information we get from third parties is treated according to this policy.

How We Use Your Personal Information

  • Providing Products and Services: To process orders, payments, manage your account, arrange shipping, and handle returns/exchanges. We may also enhance your shopping experience through Shopify services.
  • Marketing and Advertising: To send you promotional materials via email, text, or mail, and to show you relevant ads on our Site and other websites.
  • Security and Fraud Prevention: To detect and prevent fraudulent, illegal, or malicious activity. Keep your account details safe and contact us immediately if you suspect a compromise.
  • Communicating with You and Improving Services: To provide customer support and enhance our Services. This is in our legitimate interest to be responsive and provide effective services.

Cookies

We use cookies on our Site to improve functionality, remember your preferences, analyze site usage, and personalize advertising (with third-party providers). You can manage cookie settings in your browser, but blocking them may affect your experience and some features. For Shopify-related cookies, see their policy: https://www.shopify.com/legal/cookies.

How We Share Your Personal Information

We may share your information with:

  • Service Providers: Who help us with IT, payment processing, analytics, customer support, shipping, etc.
  • Business and Marketing Partners: To provide services and advertising (they use your info according to their own policies).
  • When You Direct Us or Consent: For example, to ship products or if you use social media integrations.
  • Our Affiliates: Within our company group for business operations.
  • Legal Reasons: In case of a business transaction (merger, bankruptcy), to comply with laws, respond to legal requests, enforce our terms, or protect our rights and the rights of others.

We may share the following categories of personal information for the purposes described above:

  • Identifiers: Contact details, order and account information.
  • Commercial Information: Order details, shopping activity, support interactions.
  • Usage Data: How you interact with our Site.
  • Geolocation Data: IP address-based location.

We do not share sensitive personal information without your consent or to make inferences about you.

Third-Party Websites and Links

Our Site may link to third-party websites. We are not responsible for their privacy practices or content. Review their policies before using them.  

Children's Data

Our Services are not for children, and we don't knowingly collect their personal information. If you're a parent and believe your child has provided us with their information, please contact us to request deletion.

Data Security and Retention

While we take security measures, no system is foolproof. We cannot guarantee perfect security, and information sent to us may not be secure in transit. We recommend against sharing sensitive information via insecure channels.

We keep your personal information as long as needed to provide Services, maintain your account, comply with laws, resolve disputes, and enforce our policies.

Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:  

  • Access/Know: Request details about the personal information we hold about you and how we use it.
  • Delete: Request that we delete your personal information.
  • Correct: Request that we correct inaccurate personal information.
  • Portability: Receive a copy of your personal information and request its transfer to a third party (in certain situations).
  • Restrict Processing: Ask us to limit how we process your information.
  • Withdraw Consent: If we rely on your consent, you can withdraw it.
  • Appeal: If we refuse your request, you may have the right to appeal.

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details below. We won't discriminate against you for exercising your rights. We may need to verify your identity before responding. We will respond within the timeframes required by applicable law.

Managing Communication Preferences

You can unsubscribe from our promotional emails at any time using the link in the emails. Even if you unsubscribe, we may still send you non-promotional emails about your account or orders.

Complaints

If you have concerns about how we handle your personal information, please contact us. If you're not satisfied with our response, you may have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.  

International Users

We may transfer, store, and process your personal information outside your country of residence. Your data may also be processed by staff and third-party providers in those countries. If we transfer data out of Europe, we will use recognized transfer mechanisms like the European Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses (or equivalent for the UK) unless the destination country has adequate protection.  

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or want to exercise your rights, please contact us at:

japaneseknifegarage@gmail.com

Key Changes and Why:

  • More Direct Language: Using simpler sentence structures and avoiding overly legalistic phrasing where possible.
  • Clearer Headings and Bullet Points: Making the information easier to scan and digest.
  • Concise Explanations: Shortening explanations of data categories and usage purposes while retaining essential information.
  • Front-Loading Key Information: The initial sections aim to give a quicker overview of what the policy covers.
  • Active Voice: Generally using active voice for better clarity.

Important Considerations:

  • Legal Review: While I've aimed for clarity and conciseness, it's crucial to have this revised Privacy Policy reviewed by a legal professional familiar with Australian privacy laws (and any other applicable regulations, like GDPR if you have European customers) to ensure it meets all legal requirements.
  • Accuracy: Double-check that all the information accurately reflects your actual data collection, usage, and sharing practices.
  • Shopify and Third-Party Policies: Ensure the links to Shopify's and any other relevant third-party privacy policies are correct and that your policy aligns with their terms.