Refund and Returns Policy
Effective Date: September 22, 2026
Brand / Business Name: Vibe n' Tide
At Vibe n' Tide, accessible from our online store, protecting the privacy and security of our researchers and customers is a top priority. This Privacy Policy details the types of personal information collected, how it is used, and the measures taken to safeguard your data in compliance with high-risk payment gateway standards and electronic commerce protocols.
1. Information We Collect
We collect several types of information to process orders, verify research qualifications, and improve website functionality:
- Personal Identifiable Information (PII): Full name, billing address, shipping address, email address, phone number, and organization/laboratory affiliation.
- Payment Data: Payment details (e.g., credit card information, bank routing/account numbers for eChecks) are collected securely and processed directly through encrypted, PCI-DSS compliant third-party payment gateways (e.g., NMI, Authorize.net, SeamlessChex). Vibe n' Tide does not store sensitive raw cardholder or banking credentials on our servers.
- Technical & Usage Data: IP address, browser type, device information, referring URLs, pages visited, and timestamp logs collected automatically via cookies and analytics software.
2. How We Use Your Information
We utilize the collected information strictly for legitimate commercial and regulatory purposes, including:
- Order Fulfillment: Processing transactions, preparing shipments, providing tracking updates, and delivering Certificate of Analysis (COA) documents.
- Compliance and Fraud Prevention: Verifying age (21+ requirement), validating research intent, detecting unauthorized or illegal transactions, and fulfilling merchant bank underwriting guidelines.
- Customer Support: Responding to inquiries regarding order status, technical product specifications, and general store assistance.
- Site Optimization: Improving store navigation, user experience, and checkout workflow performance.
3. Third-Party Service Providers and Data Sharing
Vibe n' Tide does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties or marketing brokers. We share data only with trusted service partners strictly necessary for store operations:
- Payment Processors & Merchant Gateways: High-risk merchant acquirers and ACH/crypto processing platforms for secure billing authorization and fraud monitoring.
- Logistics & Shipping Carriers: Shipping couriers (e.g., USPS, FedEx, UPS) to deliver orders to your specified destination.
- Legal & Regulatory Authorities: If required by law, subpoena, court order, or to enforce our Terms and Conditions and protect our legal rights.
4. Security Measures
We employ commercial-grade administrative, technical, and physical security standards to protect your personal data:
- SSL/TLS Encryption: Encrypted communication across all web pages and payment checkout screens.
- PCI-DSS Compliance: Adherence to Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards via our payment gateway partners.
- Restricted Access: Access to customer records is restricted to authorized personnel who require data to perform specific operational tasks.
5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Vibe n' Tide uses cookies and session tracking to maintain session state, remember items added to your cart, and compile aggregate site analytics. You may configure your browser to reject cookies, though certain WooCommerce store features may not function correctly as a result.
6. Data Retention and Rights
We retain transaction records for as long as required to comply with financial accounting laws, tax regulations, and merchant processing agreements. Depending on your jurisdiction (e.g., CCPA, GDPR), you may have rights regarding access, deletion, or correction of your personal data by contacting our support team.
7. Policy Updates
We reserve the right to amend or update this Privacy Policy at any time. Any updates will be published on this page with an updated "Effective Date."
8. Contact Us
For questions or privacy inquiries, please contact:
Vibe n' Tide Privacy Team