Privacy Policy
The RUG Index ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you use therugindex.com.
1. Information We Collect
- Account information: Name, email address, and password when you register.
- Listing information: Rug descriptions, photos, pricing, and ownership details you provide when listing a rug. The public marketplace is not currently available; a listing you submit is kept for review.
- Appraisal information: Contact details and rug descriptions submitted for appraisal requests.
- Payment information: Payment is processed by Stripe. We do not store credit card numbers. We receive confirmation of payment and associated email.
- Usage data: Pages visited, actions taken, and device information collected automatically.
- Other information you give us: your phone number, rug photos, insurance company and claim details for an insurance service, your SMS consent and when you gave it, and automated photo-analysis suggestions produced for your appraisal.
- Technical data: your IP address and browser type, used for security and rate limiting.
2. How We Use Your Information
- To process listings, appraisal requests, and payments
- To review rug listings and offers you submit (the public marketplace is not currently available)
- To communicate with you about your account and transactions
- To send follow-up and marketing emails. You can unsubscribe from marketing emails with the link in any of them, or manage all email preferences in your account. Emails about an order you placed are always sent.
- To improve the Platform and develop new features
- To comply with legal obligations
3. Sharing Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We share information only in the following circumstances:
- Service providers: Stripe (payments), SendGrid (email delivery), Cloudinary (photo and report storage), GoHighLevel (customer relationship management: name, email, phone, inquiry and order details), Anthropic (automated analysis of the rug photos you upload for an appraisal), Sentry (error monitoring), Google Analytics (site analytics, only with your consent), Railway (application hosting and database), and Netlify (website hosting). We share only what each provider needs to perform its service.
- Appraisers: When you book an appraisal, your contact information and rug description are shared with the assigned RICA-credentialed appraiser.
- Buyers and sellers: if the marketplace opens, basic contact information is shared when an offer is accepted, to facilitate the transaction.
- Legal requirements: When required by law or to protect our rights.
4. Data Retention
We retain your account information as long as your account is active. Transaction records are retained for 7 years for tax and legal purposes. You may request deletion of your account at any time by contacting us. Appraisal reports are stored privately with our storage provider; the download links we email expire after 30 days, and you can ask us for a new one.
5. Your Rights
You have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal information. You may also request a copy of the data we hold about you. To exercise these rights, contact us at info@therugindex.com.
6. Security
We use industry-standard security measures including encrypted connections (HTTPS), secure password hashing, and access controls. No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
7. Cookies
We use cookies and browser storage for authentication (via our own login system — no third-party authentication provider is used).
We use Google Analytics to understand site traffic, and only if you accept analytics cookies in the banner shown on your first visit. Until you accept, Google Analytics is not loaded and no analytics data is sent from your browser. If you decline, it is never loaded. Your choice is stored in your browser. You can withdraw consent at any time with the button below or by clearing this site's data in your browser.
You can also disable cookies in your browser settings, but some features may not work correctly.
8. Children's Privacy
The Platform is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by email or by posting a notice on the Platform.
10. Contact
Privacy questions? Contact us at info@therugindex.com.