PRIVACY POLICY - TRC GEAR SHOP

TRC Education, LLC (Tennessee Robotics Center)
2231 NW Broad St, Ste D, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Effective Date: January 1st, 2025
Last Updated: October

1. INTRODUCTION

TRC Education, LLC ("TRC," "we," "us," or "our") operates the TRC Gear Shop and is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you make a purchase from our store, whether online, in-person, or through other sales channels.

By using the TRC Gear Shop or providing your information to us, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use our store or provide us with your personal information.

2. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

2.1 Personal Information You Provide

When you make a purchase or interact with our store, we may collect:

Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, shipping address, billing address
Payment Information: Credit/debit card details, billing information (processed securely through our payment processor)
Account Information: Username, password, order history (if you create an account)
Communication Preferences: Email and SMS opt-in preferences for promotions and updates
Customer Service Information: Information you provide when contacting us with questions, concerns, or feedback

2.2 Information About Minors

TRC programs serve students under the age of 18. For purchases involving minors:

We collect personal information from parents or legal guardians only
We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 without verified parental consent
Parent/guardian contact information may be collected for order fulfillment and communication purposes
If we learn we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will delete it promptly

2.3 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our online store, we may automatically collect:

Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
Usage Information: Pages viewed, time spent on pages, links clicked, referring website
Location Information: General geographic location based on IP address
Cookies and Tracking Technologies: Small data files stored on your device (see Section 5)

2.4 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from:

Payment processors (transaction confirmation, fraud prevention)
Shipping carriers (delivery status, tracking information)
Marketing platforms (email delivery, engagement metrics)

3. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We use your information for the following purposes:

3.1 Order Processing and Fulfillment

Process and complete your purchases
Arrange shipping and delivery
Send order confirmations and updates
Handle returns, exchanges, and refunds
Provide customer support

3.2 Communication

Respond to your inquiries and requests
Send transactional emails (order confirmations, shipping notifications)
Send promotional emails and special offers (only if you've opted in)
Send SMS updates about orders or promotions (only if you've opted in)

3.3 Business Operations

Maintain and improve our store and services
Analyze customer preferences and shopping trends
Prevent fraud and enhance security
Comply with legal obligations
Resolve disputes and enforce our terms

3.4 Marketing (With Your Consent)

Send information about new products, sales, and special events
Personalize your shopping experience
Conduct surveys and gather feedback

You may opt out of marketing communications at any time (see Section 9).

4. HOW WE SHARE YOUR INFORMATION

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

4.1 Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our business:

Payment Processors: To process credit card and payment transactions securely
Shipping Carriers: To fulfill and deliver your orders (UPS, USPS, FedEx, etc.)
Email Service Providers: To send transactional and promotional emails
SMS Providers: To send text message notifications (if you've opted in)
Web Hosting and Technology Providers: To maintain our online store
Analytics Providers: To understand store performance and customer behavior

These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and may only use it to provide services to us.

4.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to:

Valid legal processes (subpoenas, court orders, legal investigations)
Requests from government or law enforcement agencies
Situations involving potential threats to safety or security
Protection of our rights, property, or legal interests

4.3 Business Transfers

If TRC Education, LLC is involved in a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or bankruptcy, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. You will be notified of any such change.

4.4 With Your Consent

We may share your information for other purposes with your explicit consent.

5. COOKIES AND TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES

5.1 What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit our website. They help us recognize you, remember your preferences, and improve your shopping experience.

5.2 Types of Cookies We Use

Essential Cookies: Necessary for the website to function (shopping cart, checkout process)
Performance Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our site
Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
Marketing Cookies: Track your activity for advertising purposes (only with consent)

5.3 Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect your ability to use some features of our store. Most browsers allow you to:

View and delete cookies
Block third-party cookies
Block all cookies (may impair functionality)
Delete cookies when you close your browser

6. DATA SECURITY

We take reasonable measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. Our security measures include:

Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption for payment and sensitive data
Secure payment processing through PCI-compliant payment processors
Password protection for accounts
Restricted access to personal information (employees and service providers only)
Regular security assessments

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. DATA RETENTION

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:

Fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy
Complete transactions and provide customer service
Comply with legal, accounting, or regulatory requirements
Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements

When information is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

8. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY (COPPA COMPLIANCE)

TRC programs serve children under the age of 13. We are committed to complying with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

8.1 Parental Consent

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without verified parental consent. All purchases must be made by a parent or legal guardian.

8.2 Parental Rights

Parents have the right to:

Review their child's personal information
Request deletion of their child's information
Refuse further collection or use of their child's information

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 12.

8.3 Student Information

If you are a TRC student or parent, please note:

Student information collected through our educational programs is governed by separate policies
TRC Gear Shop purchases are separate from program enrollment
Parents control all purchase-related information

9. YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS

9.1 Access and Correction

You have the right to:

Access the personal information we hold about you
Request corrections to inaccurate information
Update your contact information and preferences

9.2 Opt-Out Rights

You may opt out of:

Marketing Emails: Click "unsubscribe" in any promotional email or contact us directly
SMS Messages: Reply "STOP" to any promotional text message or contact us
Cookies: Adjust your browser settings to block or delete cookies

Note: You cannot opt out of transactional emails (order confirmations, shipping updates) related to your purchases.

9.3 Account Deletion

If you have an online account, you may request account deletion by contacting us. Note that we may retain certain information as required by law or for legitimate business purposes.

9.4 Do Not Track

Our website does not currently respond to "Do Not Track" browser signals. You can manage tracking through browser settings and cookie preferences.

10. THIRD-PARTY LINKS

Our store may contain links to third-party websites (social media, payment processors, etc.). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

11. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting to our website or store. We will notify you of significant changes by:

Posting a notice on our website
Sending an email to registered customers
Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy

Your continued use of the TRC Gear Shop after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

12. CONTACT US

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

TRC Education, LLC
Tennessee Robotics Center
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Email: admin@trceducation.com
Phone: 615-796-4632
Address: 2231 NW Broad St, Ste D, Murfreesboro, TN 37128

For privacy-specific inquiries, please include "Privacy Policy" in the subject line.

13. CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

Right to know what personal information we collect and how it's used
Right to request deletion of your personal information
Right to opt out of the "sale" of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
Right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights