PRIVACY POLICY

Last updated: 5/29/26

The short version: I run APolymath (a personal craft and maker site, operated by APolymath LLC) and I take your privacy seriously. I collect only what I need to run the site, respond to messages, send the newsletter to people who asked for it, and process orders. I don’t sell your data, and I keep the third-party services I use to a minimum. The full details are below.

WHO THIS POLICY APPLIES TO

This policy covers apolymath.com and any subdomains, and the practices of APolymath LLC (“we”, “us”, “our”, “I”, “me”). It applies to anyone visiting the site, contacting us through the website, subscribing to the newsletter, or purchasing products.

WHAT WE COLLECT AND WHY

Plain English: We collect a few specific things in specific situations. We don’t track you across the web, build profiles, or sell anything to data brokers.

1. Contact Form Submissions When you submit the contact form, we collect: your first name, last name, email address, optional subject line, and message. We use this information only to respond to your inquiry. Submissions are stored in our website database (via Fluent Forms) and in MailPoet (in a contact archive list that is never sent automated emails).
2. Newsletter Subscriptions When you subscribe to the APolymath newsletter, we collect your email address, optional Nname, and the date and time you subscribed. We use MailPoet to manage subscriptions and send emails. You receive new post notifications when we publish, and occasionally a craft-related update. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in every email; doing so removes you from the list immediately.
3. Shop Purchases If you purchase products through the website (via WooCommerce or etsy.com), we collect the information necessary to fulfill your order: name, billing and shipping addresses, email, phone (if provided), and order contents. Payment information is processed by our payment provider (Square) and is not stored on our website. We retain order records for tax, accounting, and customer service purposes.
4. Cookies and Site Analytics We use cookies to make the site work and to understand basic visitor patterns. Cookie categories are managed by CookieYes; you can adjust your preferences at any time through the cookie banner or by clicking the cookie settings link in our footer. Specifically:

• Necessary cookies: Required for the site to function (session, login, cart, security).
• Functional cookies: Enable features like social sharing.
• Analytics cookies: Help us understand visitor patterns. We use Jetpack Stats (operated by Automattic) for basic visitor counts and traffic sources. We do not use Google Analytics.
• Advertising cookies: We do not currently use advertising or ad-tracking cookies. If this changes in the future, this policy will be updated and consent will be requested through the cookie banner.

1. Server Logs Our web host automatically logs basic technical information about requests to the site (IP address, browser type, pages visited, referrer, timestamp). These logs are retained by the host for security and troubleshooting purposes.
2. Spam Protection We use Akismet to filter spam from forms and comments. Submission content, your IP address, and user agent may be sent to Akismet’s servers for analysis. See https://akismet.com/privacy/ for Akismet’s privacy practices.

THIRD-PARTY SERVICES WE USE

Plain English: A few outside services help us run the site. Each is listed below with what it does and a link to its own privacy policy if you want to dig deeper.

• WordPress.com / Automattic: powers the site framework, Jetpack features, and basic visitor statistics. https://automattic.com/privacy/
• MailPoet: newsletter management. https://www.mailpoet.com/privacy-notice/
• Fluent Forms: contact form handling. https://fluentforms.com/privacy-policy/
• Akismet: spam filtering. https://akismet.com/privacy/
• CookieYes: cookie consent management. https://www.cookieyes.com/privacy-policy/
• WooCommerce: shop functionality. https://woocommerce.com/privacy-policy/
• Square: payment processing for shop purchases. https://squareup.com/legal/privacy
• A2 Hosting: web hosting and server logs. https://www.a2hosting.com/legal/privacy-policy/

We do not share your information with any other parties beyond what’s described above and what’s required by law.

HOW LONG WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION

Plain English: We keep things only as long as we need them.

• Contact form submissions: retained indefinitely for reference, unless you request deletion.
• Newsletter subscribers: retained until you unsubscribe. Unsubscribed records are kept for a short period to honor your unsubscribe request, then deleted.
• Shop orders: retained as required by tax and accounting law (typically 7 years in the US).
• Cookies: vary by category. Most expire within 11 months or less. See the cookie consent banner for details.
• Server logs: retained per our web host’s policy, typically 30 to 90 days.

YOUR RIGHTS

Plain English: This is your data. You have a say in what happens to it.

You can:

• Unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time using the link in every email.
• Request a copy of the information we have about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate information.
• Request deletion of your information (subject to legal retention requirements for orders).
• Withdraw consent for cookies via the cookie banner.
• File a complaint with a relevant data protection authority if you believe we have mishandled your information.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@apolymath.com. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe.

SECURITY

We take reasonable steps to protect the information we collect, including SSL encryption for site traffic, secure server hosting, and limited access to subscriber and order data. No system is perfectly secure; if a breach occurs and we believe your information may be affected, we will notify you in accordance with applicable law.

CHILDREN

APolymath is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

Plain English: If we change anything important, we’ll update this page. The “last updated” date at the top tells you when.

We may update this policy from time to time. Significant changes will be announced via the newsletter or a notice on the site. Continued use of the site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

CONTACT US

For any questions about this privacy policy or your data, reach out at:

Contact us
APolymath LLC