We are a family operation that mails letters to little explorers. We collect only the information we need to send you those letters, run the subscription, and stay in touch — and we treat your details with the same care we'd give a treasured friend.
This policy explains what we collect, how we use it, who else sees it, and what choices you have. If anything is unclear, please write to us at hello@backpackingbeckett.com.
No. 01 — What We Collect
When you visit our website, subscribe to our letters, give a gift, or otherwise interact with us, we may collect the following:
Information you give us directly
- Your name and your child's name (so we can address the envelope)
- Mailing address (so the letter reaches the right doorstep)
- Email address (so we can send confirmations, shipping notices, and the occasional dispatch)
- Phone number, if you provide one
- Payment information (card details are processed by our payment provider and are not stored on our own servers)
- Any messages you send us through the contact form, by email, or in response to surveys
Information collected automatically
- Your IP address, device type, browser, and operating system
- Pages visited, time on site, referring URLs, and similar usage data
- Cookies and similar technologies (see No. 06 below)
Information from third parties
- Order, fulfillment, and shipping information passed back to us by Shopify, our shipping partners, and our payment processor
- Engagement data from email service providers (whether you opened, clicked, etc.)
- Limited information from social platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest) when you interact with our content there
We do not knowingly collect information from children under thirteen. The subscription is purchased by a parent or guardian; the letters arrive for the child, but no child account or profile is created.
No. 02 — How We Use What We Collect
We use the information above for a small number of purposes, all of them practical:
- To process and fulfill your subscription, gift, or one-time order
- To address, print, and mail your letters and any related shipments
- To send order confirmations, shipping updates, and customer service replies
- To respond to your questions, requests, and feedback
- To send marketing emails and the occasional newsletter, if you've opted in (you can opt out at any time)
- To improve the website, the product, and the experience of being a subscriber
- To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents
- To comply with applicable law
We do not sell your personal information. We never have. We don't intend to.
No. 03 — Who We Share Information With
To run the subscription, we work with a small number of trusted service providers. They see only the information they need to do their job, and they're contractually bound to handle it carefully.
- Shopify — our e-commerce platform; processes orders, manages your account, and stores subscription data.
- Stripe and PayPal — our payment processors; handle card details directly. We never see or store your full card number.
- Klaviyo (or comparable email service) — sends our transactional and marketing emails.
- USPS and our print/fulfillment partners — receive your name and address so the letter can be printed, packed, and mailed.
- Google Analytics, Meta, Pinterest — analytics and advertising platforms; receive limited usage and engagement data through cookies and pixels.
- Customer service tools — used to manage your inquiries and our replies.
We may also disclose information when required by law, in response to a valid legal request, to protect our rights, or in connection with a sale or merger of the business.
No. 04 — How Long We Keep It
We keep your information as long as your subscription is active and for a reasonable period afterward — typically up to seven years for tax, accounting, and legal compliance. After that, we delete or anonymize it, unless we're required by law to keep it longer.
You can request earlier deletion by writing to us. See No. 07 for your rights.
No. 05 — How We Protect It
We use industry-standard safeguards: SSL encryption on the website, PCI-compliant payment processing, secure servers through Shopify, and access controls so only the people who need your information can see it.
No system is perfect, and we won't pretend otherwise. If a data breach ever affects you personally, we'll let you know promptly and tell you what we're doing about it.
No. 06 — Cookies and Similar Technologies
Like most websites, ours uses cookies — small text files stored in your browser — to remember your cart, keep you logged in, measure site performance, and tailor advertising on platforms like Meta and Pinterest.
You can disable or delete cookies through your browser settings. Some parts of the site may not work as well without them. The first time you visit, you'll see a banner letting you choose what's optional and what's required.
No. 07 — Your Rights
Depending on where you live, you may have some or all of the following rights:
- Access. Ask what information we hold about you.
- Correction. Ask us to correct anything that's wrong or out of date.
- Deletion. Ask us to erase your information, subject to legal exceptions.
- Portability. Ask for a copy of your information in a usable format.
- Objection. Object to certain uses of your information, including marketing.
- Withdrawal of consent. Withdraw consent you've previously given.
Customers in the European Union, United Kingdom, California, and certain other jurisdictions have specific statutory rights under GDPR, UK GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, and similar laws. We honor all of them.
To exercise any right, write to us at hello@backpackingbeckett.com and tell us which one. We'll respond within thirty days.
No. 08 — California Residents
If you're a California resident, you have the right to know what personal information we collect about you, the right to delete it, the right to correct it, the right to opt out of any sale or sharing of it (we don't sell it, but we do use advertising cookies that may be considered "sharing" under California law), and the right to non-discrimination for exercising these rights.
To opt out of advertising-related sharing, use the cookie banner on our site or write to us.
No. 09 — International Visitors
Backpacking Beckett operates from the United States. If you're visiting from another country, please understand that the information you provide will be transferred to and processed in the United States, where data protection laws may differ from those in your country. By using our site or subscribing, you consent to that transfer.
No. 10 — Children's Privacy
Although our letters are written for explorers of all ages, most of our customers are adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under thirteen. If you believe a child has provided us with their information, write to us and we'll delete it.
No. 11 — Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time — usually because the law has changed or our practices have. When we make a meaningful change, we'll update the effective date at the top and, for material changes, send a notice to subscribers by email.
The current version is always available at backpackingbeckett.com/privacy.
No. 12 — How to Reach Us
For any question about this policy or your information, write to us:
Backpacking Beckett
hello@backpackingbeckett.com
We answer every message ourselves.