1. Introduction

Shop Hero ("we," "our," or "us") operates the Shop Hero platform at theshophero.com and related services. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform, including our CRM tools, customer portals, scheduling systems, and communication features.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

Account registration details (name, email address, phone number)
Business information (shop name, address, service offerings)
Client and customer data entered into the platform (names, contact info, vehicle details)
Communications sent through the platform (SMS messages, emails)
Payment and billing information
Signatures captured for quote approvals and work authorizations

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

Device information (browser type, operating system)
Usage data (pages visited, features used, timestamps)
IP address and approximate location
Cookies and similar tracking technologies

3. How We Use Your Information

Provide, maintain, and improve the Shop Hero platform
Send transactional SMS and email notifications (job status updates, quote delivery, appointment reminders)
Process payments and manage subscriptions
Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
Generate analytics and business reports for platform users
Ensure security and prevent fraud
Comply with legal obligations

4. SMS & Text Message Communications

Shop Hero facilitates SMS and email communications between automotive service providers and their customers. This section describes how we collect consent, what messages we send, and how you can opt out.

4.1 Consent & Opt-In

By providing your mobile phone number to a Shop Hero-powered business — whether verbally during service intake, through a customer portal registration form, or by submitting an online booking or quote request — you expressly consent to receive transactional and informational SMS text messages from Shop Hero on behalf of that business. Consent is not a condition of purchase. You may receive messages related to:

Appointment confirmations and scheduling reminders
Job/service status updates (e.g., "Your vehicle is ready for pickup")
Quote and estimate notifications
Invoice and payment reminders
Pickup scheduling confirmations

4.2 Message Frequency & Rates

Message frequency varies based on your service activity. You may receive between 1–15 messages per month depending on active jobs and appointments. Message and data rates may apply. Check with your mobile carrier for details on your text messaging plan.

4.3 Opt-Out

You can opt out of SMS messages at any time by replying STOP to any message you receive from Shop Hero. You will receive a single confirmation message confirming your opt-out. You may also opt out by updating your notification preferences in the customer portal or by contacting the service provider directly.

4.4 Help

For help, reply HELP to any Shop Hero text message, or contact us at support@theshophero.com.

4.5 Carriers & Third Parties

SMS messages are sent via Twilio, a third-party communications provider. Email notifications are sent via Resend, a third-party email service provider. We do not share your phone number or opt-in data with third parties for marketing purposes. Supported carriers include but are not limited to AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

4.6 No Marketing Messages

Shop Hero sends only transactional and service-related messages. We do not send promotional or marketing SMS messages without separate, explicit opt-in consent.

5. Data Sharing & Third-Party Services

We may share information with the following types of third-party services:

Twilio — SMS delivery and phone communications
Resend — Transactional email delivery
Stripe — Payment processing
Cloud infrastructure providers — Secure data hosting and storage
Analytics providers — Platform usage insights (aggregated, non-personal)

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data, including encryption in transit (TLS), encrypted storage of sensitive credentials, role-based access controls, and regular security audits. However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. Business data (client records, job history, quotes) is retained according to your subscription terms. You may request deletion of your account and associated data by contacting us.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

Access the personal information we hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate data
Request deletion of your personal information
Opt out of SMS and email communications
Export your data in a portable format
Withdraw consent for data processing

9. Cookies

We use essential cookies to maintain your session and authentication state. We may also use analytics cookies to understand platform usage patterns. You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings.

10. Children's Privacy

Shop Hero is not intended for use by individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify users of material changes via email or a prominent notice on the platform. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact us:

📧 Email: support@theshophero.com
🌐 Website: theshophero.com