Legal information
This page covers GearBuddy's privacy practices, affiliate relationships, and terms of use. Plain English where possible.
Privacy Policy
GearBuddy ("we", "us", "our") operates the website at gearbuddy.shop. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding that information. We've written it to be as clear and direct as possible.
What Data We Collect
GearBuddy collects minimal data. We do not run advertising networks, we do not build user profiles, and we do not set cookies ourselves.
- Analytics via Cloudflare Web Analytics: We use Cloudflare Web Analytics to understand how visitors use our site. This service is privacy-first by design — it collects aggregate data such as page views, referrer information, browser type, and country, but does not use cookies, does not track you across websites, and does not collect any personally identifiable information (PII). Cloudflare processes this data in accordance with their own Privacy Policy.
- Contact Form: When you submit the contact form, your name, email address, and message are transmitted to Web3Forms and forwarded to our email inbox. We use this information solely to respond to your enquiry. We do not add you to any mailing list or share your details with third parties.
- Amazon Affiliate Links: When you click a link to Amazon.com on our site, you are redirected to Amazon's website. Amazon is an independent data controller, and their Privacy Notice governs how they collect and process your data, including any purchase information.
Cookies
GearBuddy does not set any cookies of its own. Cloudflare Web Analytics does not use cookies. If you click through to Amazon, Amazon will set cookies on their domain in accordance with their privacy policy — this is outside our control.
Third-Party Advertising
We do not use Google AdSense, any display advertising network, or third-party advertising cookies. The only affiliate program we participate in is the Amazon Associates program, described in the Affiliate Disclosure section below.
Data Retention
Contact form submissions are retained in our email inbox for as long as necessary to respond to your enquiry, after which they may be archived or deleted. We retain no other personal data.
Your Rights
Depending on where you are located, you may have rights to access, correct, or delete personal data we hold about you. Because we collect very little data, most requests will be straightforward to fulfil. To exercise any such rights, please contact us at:
Email: REPLACE_WITH_MY_EMAIL
Children's Privacy
GearBuddy is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect any personal information from children.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. Any changes will be reflected with an updated date at the top of this section. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Affiliate Disclosure
GearBuddy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
When you click a link on GearBuddy that leads to Amazon.com and you make a purchase, we may earn a small commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you — the price you pay is exactly the same whether or not you arrived at Amazon through our link. Amazon handles all transactions and fulfillment; GearBuddy is not a store and does not process orders or handle payments.
These commissions are how GearBuddy sustains itself. They cover the cost of hosting, tools, domain registration, and the time spent researching and writing our guides. Without affiliate income, we could not provide this content free of charge.
How Our Affiliate Relationships Affect Our Recommendations
Our editorial opinions are our own and are not influenced by our affiliate relationships. We aim to recommend products based on research — manufacturer specifications and aggregated public user feedback — not based on commission rates. We will never feature a product primarily because it offers a higher commission. When a product we wouldn't otherwise recommend earns higher commissions, we exclude it from our guides.
Identifying Affiliate Links
Links that lead to Amazon.com from GearBuddy pages are affiliate links. They are typically labeled "See on Amazon", "Check Price on Amazon", or similar. All such links include the nofollow and noopener attributes. We do not use cloaked or redirected affiliate links — the destination is Amazon.com.
Other Affiliate Programs
At this time, the Amazon Associates Program is the only affiliate program in which GearBuddy participates. If that changes, this disclosure will be updated.
Questions About This Disclosure
If you have questions about our affiliate relationships or how they might affect our recommendations, please contact us. We're happy to discuss it.
Terms of Use
By accessing or using the GearBuddy website (gearbuddy.shop), you agree to the following terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the site.
Informational Content Only
All content published on GearBuddy — including guides, product comparisons, buying advice, and commentary — is for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute professional advice of any kind, including but not limited to medical, ergonomic, financial, or legal advice. You should consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your individual circumstances.
Accuracy of Prices and Availability
Product prices, specifications, and availability change frequently. While we endeavor to keep our content accurate and up to date, we make no guarantees that pricing or availability information displayed on GearBuddy reflects current conditions on Amazon.com or elsewhere. Always verify current prices and availability directly on Amazon before making a purchasing decision.
No Warranties
GearBuddy provides this site and its content "as is" and "as available", without any warranties of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, or non-infringement. We do not warrant that the site will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or other harmful components.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, GearBuddy and its operators shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or exemplary damages arising out of or in connection with your use of this site or reliance on any information contained herein, including but not limited to purchasing decisions made based on our content.
Intellectual Property
All original content on GearBuddy — text, layout, design, and structure — is the intellectual property of GearBuddy. You may quote brief excerpts with appropriate attribution and a link back to the original page. You may not reproduce full articles, guides, or significant portions of the site without our written permission.
Third-Party Links
GearBuddy contains links to third-party websites, including Amazon.com. These links are provided for your convenience. We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or availability of any third-party site. Inclusion of a link does not imply endorsement beyond the specific product context in which it appears.
Changes to These Terms
We reserve the right to update these Terms of Use at any time. Changes will be reflected with an updated date at the top of this section. Continued use of GearBuddy after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms.
Governing Law
These Terms of Use shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.
Contact
If you have questions about these terms, please contact us.