Vendor Privacy Policy

Last Updated: December 10, 2025

Welcome to the FlipStore Vendor Admin Panel. This Vendor Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our vendor/seller application and dashboard. This policy applies specifically to vendors, sellers, and merchants who use our platform to sell products.

1. Information We Collect from Vendors

1.1 Vendor Registration Information

When you register as a vendor, we collect:

• Business Information: Shop name, business type, business registration number, GST number, PAN details
• Personal Information: Owner/contact person name, email address, phone number
• Bank Account Details: Bank name, account number, IFSC code, UPI ID (for payment settlements)
• Business Address: Shop/warehouse address, pickup location, pin code
• Identity Verification: Government-issued ID, business licenses, tax certificates
• Login Credentials: Email, password, authentication tokens

1.2 Product Information

• Product names, descriptions, and specifications
• Product images and videos
• Pricing, inventory levels, and SKU details
• Product categories and tags
• Shipping dimensions and weight

1.3 Transaction and Order Data

• Order details and customer shipping addresses
• Payment and commission information
• Sales analytics and revenue reports
• Return and refund requests
• Customer reviews and ratings for your products

1.4 Usage and Technical Data

• Device Information: Device type, operating system, app version
• Login Activity: Login times, IP addresses, session duration
• Dashboard Activity: Features used, pages viewed, actions performed
• Performance Data: App crashes, errors, response times

1.5 Communication Data

• Support tickets and customer service interactions
• Email correspondence with FlipStore team
• Notifications and alerts sent to you
• Feedback and survey responses

2. How We Use Vendor Information

We use your information to:

• Onboard and Verify Vendors: Process registration, verify identity, and approve seller accounts
• Facilitate Sales: List your products, process orders, and manage transactions
• Process Payments: Calculate commissions, process payouts, and generate invoices
• Manage Orders: Notify you of new orders, returns, and cancellations
• Provide Dashboard Access: Enable you to manage products, inventory, and analytics
• Customer Support: Respond to inquiries and resolve issues
• Platform Improvement: Analyze usage patterns and optimize vendor experience
• Compliance and Legal: Maintain tax records, comply with regulations, prevent fraud
• Communication: Send order notifications, policy updates, and promotional opportunities
• Performance Monitoring: Track seller metrics like delivery time, ratings, and customer satisfaction

3. How We Share Vendor Information

3.1 With Customers

We share limited vendor information with customers:

• Shop name and logo
• Product listings and descriptions
• Seller ratings and reviews
• Business address (for pickup orders if applicable)

Note: Personal contact details (email, phone) are NOT shared with customers unless required for order fulfillment.

3.2 With Service Providers

• Payment Processors: Razorpay, PayU, or other gateways for commission deductions and payouts
• Cloud Services: Firebase, Google Cloud for data storage and authentication
• Analytics Providers: Firebase Analytics, Google Analytics for platform insights
• Shipping Partners: Courier companies for order fulfillment (if applicable)
• Tax Compliance Services: For GST filing and tax reporting

3.3 With Other FlipStore Services

Your vendor data may be accessed by:

• FlipStore customer support team to resolve disputes
• FlipStore compliance team for fraud prevention and verification
• FlipStore finance team for payment processing

3.4 Legal and Regulatory Authorities

We may disclose your information to:

• Comply with legal obligations (tax authorities, court orders)
• Enforce our Vendor Agreement and policies
• Protect rights, property, or safety of FlipStore, customers, or others
• Investigate fraud, security breaches, or policy violations

4. Data Security for Vendors

We implement robust security measures to protect your vendor data:

• Encryption: SSL/TLS encryption for data in transit, AES encryption for data at rest
• Secure Authentication: Firebase Authentication with multi-account support
• Access Controls: Role-based access, vendor-specific data isolation
• Payment Security: PCI-DSS compliant payment processing
• Regular Audits: Security assessments and vulnerability testing
• Data Backups: Regular backups stored securely in Firebase/Firestore
• Account Security: Password encryption, session management, logout functionality

Vendor Responsibility: You must secure your login credentials, use strong passwords, and not share account access.

5. Vendor Data Rights

As a vendor, you have the following rights:

• Access: Request a copy of all data we hold about your vendor account
• Correction: Update business information, bank details, and shop settings
• Deletion: Request account closure and data deletion (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Data Portability: Export your product listings, order history, and analytics
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from promotional emails (transactional emails will continue)
• Object: Object to certain data processing activities
• Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your data in specific circumstances

To exercise these rights, contact us at info@itkhidma.com.

6. Data Retention for Vendors

We retain vendor data for the following periods:

• Active Accounts: Data retained as long as your account is active
• Closed Accounts: Data retained for 90 days after closure for pending orders/disputes
• Financial Records: Transaction data retained for 7 years per Indian tax laws
• Dispute Records: Retained until dispute resolution and 1 year thereafter
• Legal Compliance: Data retained as required by law (GST, Income Tax Act, etc.)

After retention periods expire, data is securely deleted or anonymized.

7. Multi-Account Switching Feature

Our vendor app supports multiple account management:

• Vendors can add and switch between multiple shop accounts
• Each account's data is stored securely and isolated
• Account credentials are encrypted using AES-256
• Switching accounts does not share data between shops
• Vendors can logout from individual accounts or all accounts at once

8. Product Listings and Customer Data

8.1 Product Information

• You own the intellectual property rights to your product images and descriptions
• By uploading products, you grant FlipStore a license to display and promote them
• Product data is visible to all FlipStore customers

8.2 Customer Data Access

• You receive customer shipping addresses to fulfill orders
• You must NOT use customer data for purposes other than order fulfillment
• You must NOT share customer data with third parties
• You must comply with data protection laws when handling customer information

9. Cookies and Tracking

The vendor app uses cookies and tracking technologies for:

• Authentication and session management
• Remembering dashboard preferences
• Analytics and performance monitoring
• Security and fraud prevention

You can control cookies through your device settings.

10. Third-Party Integrations

The vendor app integrates with:

• Firebase: Authentication, database (Firestore), cloud functions, analytics
• Payment Gateways: For commission processing and payouts
• Cloud Storage: For product images and documents
• Notification Services: FCM (Firebase Cloud Messaging) for push notifications

These third parties have their own privacy policies, which we encourage you to review.

11. Vendor Performance Monitoring

We track vendor performance metrics including:

• Order fulfillment rate and delivery time
• Customer ratings and reviews
• Return and cancellation rates
• Response time to customer inquiries
• Product quality and compliance

This data is used to maintain marketplace quality and may affect your account status.

12. Compliance and Fraud Prevention

We monitor vendor activities to:

• Detect fraudulent listings or transactions
• Ensure compliance with product guidelines
• Prevent counterfeit or prohibited items
• Protect customer safety and rights
• Maintain platform integrity

Suspicious activity may result in account suspension or termination.

13. International Data Transfers

Vendor data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside India, including:

• Cloud servers operated by Google (Firebase, GCP)
• Payment processing services
• Analytics and support tools

We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data during international transfers.

14. Children's Privacy

The FlipStore Vendor App is intended for business use by individuals 18 years or older. We do not knowingly collect information from minors.

15. Changes to Vendor Privacy Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will notify you of changes by:

• In-app notification
• Email to your registered vendor email
• Updating the "Last Updated" date

Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

16. GDPR Compliance (For EU Vendors)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), we process your data based on:

• Contract Performance: To enable you to sell on our platform
• Consent: For marketing and optional features
• Legitimate Interests: Fraud prevention, platform improvement
• Legal Obligations: Tax compliance, regulatory requirements

17. Indian Data Protection Laws

We comply with Indian data protection regulations including:

• Information Technology Act, 2000
• Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices) Rules, 2011
• GST and Income Tax Act data retention requirements

18. Contact Information

19. Data Protection Officer

For privacy-related inquiries specific to vendor data protection, contact our Data Protection Officer at: info@itkhidma.com

By using the FlipStore Vendor Admin Panel, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Vendor Privacy Policy and agree to its terms. You also agree to handle customer data responsibly and in compliance with applicable data protection laws.