🔒 Privacy Policy

1 Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

When you request a quote, submit a trade-in, make a purchase, or contact us, we may collect:

• Identity Data: Full name, date of birth (for age verification where required by state law)
• Contact Data: Email address, phone number, mailing address
• Transaction Data: Device make, model, IMEI/serial number, storage capacity, condition description, photos submitted
• Payment Data: PayPal email, Venmo handle, Zelle phone number, or bank account details for payment disbursement. We do NOT store full credit/debit card numbers.
• Government ID: In states where secondhand dealer laws require seller identification (e.g., California, Texas, Florida), we may collect a copy of government-issued photo ID. This is a legal requirement, not optional.
• Communications: Messages sent to us via WhatsApp, email, or contact forms

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we automatically collect:

• IP address and general geographic location (city/state level)
• Browser type, device type, and operating system
• Pages visited, time on site, and referring URLs
• Cookie data and similar tracking technologies (see Section 5)

1.3 Information From Third Parties

• IMEI/ESN check results from third-party verification services (to confirm device is not reported stolen)
• Analytics data from Google Analytics (anonymized)
• Review data from platforms like Google Reviews or Trustpilot where you voluntarily post

2 How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To process trade-in and purchase transactions — including device valuation, shipping coordination, and payment disbursement
• To comply with legal obligations — including state secondhand dealer reporting requirements, IRS 1099 reporting for transactions over $600, and anti-theft device verification
• To communicate with you — transaction confirmations, shipping updates, payment notifications
• To improve our services — analyzing usage patterns, pricing accuracy, and customer feedback
• To send marketing communications — only if you have opted in. You may opt out at any time.
• To prevent fraud and theft — verifying device ownership and checking IMEI against national stolen device databases (CTIA database)
• For affiliate program management — tracking referrals and paying affiliate commissions

3 Information Sharing & Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

• Law enforcement and government agencies: As required by state secondhand dealer laws (most states require reporting transactions to local law enforcement), court orders, subpoenas, or other legal process
• Anti-theft databases: Device IMEI numbers are cross-referenced with the CTIA Stolen Phone Checker and similar services
• Payment processors: PayPal, Zelle, and Venmo receive only the information necessary to process your payment
• Shipping partners: FedEx, UPS, or USPS receive your address for shipping label generation
• Service providers: IT, hosting, email, and analytics vendors under strict data processing agreements
• Business transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your data may be transferred as part of that transaction with notice to you
• Affiliates: Referral tracking data is shared with our affiliate partners to process commission payments, limited to transaction confirmation and amounts

4 Device Data & Security — Data Wipe Policy

Our Data Wipe Process

All devices received by Cellular Heros undergo the following data security process:

1. Physical inspection to confirm device powers on
2. iCloud Activation Lock check (for Apple devices) — devices with active locks are returned to sender
3. Find My Device / Google Account check (for Android)
4. Certified factory reset using manufacturer-approved methods or professional software (Blancco or equivalent)
5. Post-wipe verification that no personal data remains accessible

We retain device IMEI/serial numbers in our records for legal compliance (anti-theft reporting), but no personal data from the device itself is retained.

5 Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to operate our website and improve your experience. Types of cookies we use:

• Essential cookies: Required for the website to function. Cannot be disabled.
• Analytics cookies: Google Analytics (anonymized IP) to understand site usage. You may opt out via Google’s opt-out tool.
• Marketing cookies: Used only if you’ve consented. Used for retargeting ads on platforms like Facebook/Meta and Google Ads.
• Affiliate tracking cookies: Used to attribute referrals from affiliate partners. These cookies are set when you visit our site via an affiliate link and expire after 30 days.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling cookies may affect website functionality.

6 California Residents — Your CCPA Rights

Your California Rights

• Right to Know: You may request a list of personal information we’ve collected about you in the past 12 months, the sources, and how it was used.
• Right to Delete: You may request deletion of personal information we hold about you, subject to certain exceptions (e.g., legal compliance records).
• Right to Correct: You may request correction of inaccurate personal information.
• Right to Opt-Out of Sale/Sharing: We do not sell personal information. If this changes, we will provide a “Do Not Sell My Personal Information” link as required.
• Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Information: You may limit our use of sensitive personal information (such as government ID data) to what is strictly necessary.
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not deny you services, charge different prices, or provide lower quality of service because you exercised your privacy rights.

How to Submit a California Privacy Request

Email: privacy@cellularheros.us with subject line “CCPA Request.” We will respond within 45 days as required by law. Identity verification may be required.

California Secondhand Dealer Notice

Pursuant to California Business and Professions Code §21626 et seq., Cellular Heros operates as a licensed secondhand dealer. We are required by law to record transaction information (seller name, address, ID, and item description) and make this information available to law enforcement upon request.

7 Children’s Privacy — COPPA Compliance

Our services are not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Additionally, to sell or trade in a device, users must be at least 18 years of age (or the age of majority in their state).

In compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), 15 U.S.C. §6501 et seq., if we discover we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, we will delete it immediately.

If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us at privacy@cellularheros.us.

8 Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, or as required by law:

• Transaction records: 7 years (IRS and state tax compliance)
• Secondhand dealer records: As required by applicable state law (typically 2–5 years depending on state)
• Government ID records: Minimum period required by state secondhand dealer law, then securely deleted
• Marketing opt-in records: Until you opt out, plus 3 years as required by CAN-SPAM Act
• Website analytics data: 26 months (Google Analytics default)
• Customer communications: 3 years from last interaction

9 Third-Party Links & Affiliate Disclosures

Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to read their privacy policies.

FTC Affiliate Disclosure

Cellular Heros participates in affiliate marketing programs. In compliance with the Federal Trade Commission’s guidelines (16 CFR Part 255), we disclose the following:

• Some links on our website may be affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase or complete an action, we may receive a commission.
• Affiliate relationships do not influence our device pricing, trade-in offers, or product recommendations.
• All affiliate commissions are disclosed on any page or content where affiliate links appear.
• We only participate in affiliate programs for products and services we genuinely use or recommend.

If you are an affiliate partner, your personal and payment information is handled under our Affiliate Agreement and this Privacy Policy.

10 Your Rights & Choices

• Access: Request a copy of personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate data
• Deletion: Request deletion of your data (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Marketing opt-out: Unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time using the link in any email, or by emailing us
• Do Not Track: Our website does not currently respond to “Do Not Track” browser signals, but you can disable cookies in your browser settings

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@cellularheros.us. We will respond within 30 days.

11 Security Measures

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information:

• SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmitted through our website
• Encrypted storage for sensitive personal data (government IDs, payment details)
• Access controls — only authorized employees can access personal information
• Regular security audits and penetration testing
• Employee privacy and security training

No method of internet transmission or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. In the event of a data breach that affects your rights or freedoms, we will notify you and relevant authorities as required by applicable law.

12 Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. When we make material changes, we will:

• Update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page
• Post a prominent notice on our website for 30 days
• For significant changes, notify customers via email

Your continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13 Contact Us