Privacy Policy

🏪1. About NearStock

NearStock is a hyperlocal discovery platform that helps customers find products and services available at shops near their location across India. The platform also enables shop owners ("Shopkeepers") to list and manage their products and services.

NearStock is operated as an independent platform. Our registered contact is support@nearstock.in and our website is nearstock.in.

This Privacy Policy governs your use of the NearStock mobile application available on Google Play Store and any associated services.

📖2. Definitions

📋3. Information We Collect

3.1 Information You Provide Directly

3.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Location: Approximate GPS coordinates to show nearby shops (not stored on our servers)
• Device Information: Device model, operating system version, app version
• Usage Data: Features used, search terms entered, screens visited
• Aggregate Analytics: Anonymous counts of shop views, product views, and saves — no individual identifiers are stored with these counts

3.3 Information We Do Not Collect

• Payment, credit card, or banking information (we have no payment system)
• Your device contacts, call logs, or SMS messages
• Photos, camera, or microphone data (except images you upload voluntarily)
• Browsing history outside the NearStock app
• Biometric data of any kind

⚙️4. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To create and manage your account
• To display nearby shops, products and services based on your location
• To enable shopkeepers to list and manage their inventory
• To facilitate voluntary inquiries between customers and shopkeepers
• To provide in-app notifications relevant to your account
• To show shopkeepers anonymous statistics about their shop engagement
• To improve the App's features, performance, and user experience
• To detect, investigate and prevent fraudulent or illegal activity
• To communicate important updates, maintenance notices, or policy changes
• To respond to your support requests and complaints

🤝5. Sharing of Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party for commercial purposes.

5.1 When We Share Information

• With Shopkeepers (only on your consent): Your name and phone number are shared with a shopkeeper ONLY when you voluntarily submit an Inquiry. See Section 6.
• With Service Providers: We use trusted third-party service providers to operate the App (cloud storage, authentication, analytics). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and may not use it for their own purposes. See Section 8.
• Legal Obligations: We may disclose information if required by Indian law, regulation, court order, or governmental authority.
• Business Transfer: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of the business, your data may be transferred. You will be notified via the App or email before any such transfer occurs.
• Protection of Rights: To enforce our Terms of Service, or to protect the safety, rights, or property of NearStock, our users, or the public.

5.2 What Is Never Shared

• Your precise real-time location with any third party
• Your personal data with advertisers
• Your browsing activity within the App to other users
• Your contact details unless you explicitly consent via Inquiry

📩6. Inquiry & Consent System

NearStock operates a voluntary, consent-based inquiry system:

• By default, all customer browsing is completely anonymous
• If you wish to contact a shopkeeper, you may tap the "Send Inquiry" button on any product or service page
• Before submitting, a clear consent dialog will appear stating exactly what information will be shared and with whom
• You must actively tap "Share & Send" to proceed — no data is shared automatically
• Once submitted, the shopkeeper receives your name, phone number, and your message
• You may contact us at support@nearstock.in to request deletion of any submitted inquiry

📍7. Location Data

• The App requests access to your device's location to show you nearby shops and calculate distances
• Your precise location coordinates are processed on-device and used only to calculate proximity to shops. They are not stored on our servers
• You may deny location permission at any time through your device settings. The App will remain functional but distance-based features will be unavailable
• We do not track your location in the background when the App is closed
• Location data is never shared with third parties for advertising purposes
• We use the Android Location API in accordance with Google Play policies

🔌8. Third-Party Services

We use the following categories of third-party services to operate the App. We do not disclose specific vendor names in order to maintain appropriate security practices.

All third-party providers are required to handle your data in accordance with applicable privacy laws and are prohibited from using your data for their own commercial purposes.

🔐9. Data Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of data in transit using industry-standard TLS/HTTPS protocols
• Encryption of sensitive data at rest
• Access controls limiting who within the platform can access user data
• Secure authentication mechanisms — passwords are never stored in plain text
• Regular review of our security practices

If you suspect any security vulnerability in the App, please report it immediately to support@nearstock.in. We request that you do not publicly disclose any security issue until we have had reasonable time to address it.

🗄️10. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as necessary to provide the Services and fulfill the purposes described in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law.

Upon account deletion, we will make reasonable efforts to delete or anonymize your personal data within a reasonable timeframe. However, certain data may be retained where required by law or for legitimate business purposes such as fraud prevention.

⚖️11. Your Rights

Subject to applicable Indian law, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Right to Access: Request information about the personal data we hold about you
• Right to Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information through the App's profile settings
• Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated personal data
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing where consent is the legal basis
• Right to Grievance Redressal: Lodge a complaint with our Grievance Officer (see Section 18)

How to Exercise Your Rights

• Account deletion: Profile → Settings → Delete Account (within the App)
• Data requests: Email support@nearstock.in with subject "Data Request"
• Inquiry deletion: Email support@nearstock.in with subject "Inquiry Deletion"

👶12. Children's Privacy

The NearStock App is intended for users who are 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect, use, or disclose personal information from minors under the age of 18.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your minor child has provided personal information to NearStock, please contact us immediately at support@nearstock.in. Upon verification, we will take steps to delete such information promptly.

By using the App, you represent and warrant that you are at least 18 years of age.

⚠️13. Disclaimer of Warranties

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, NearStock expressly disclaims all warranties including but not limited to:

• Implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose
• That the App will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses
• The accuracy, completeness, or currency of any shop listings, product information, prices, or availability shown on the App — all such information is provided solely by Shopkeepers and NearStock does not verify its accuracy
• That any defects in the App will be corrected
• That the App is free from security vulnerabilities

NearStock is a discovery platform only. We are not a party to any transaction, agreement, or interaction between Customers and Shopkeepers. Any issues arising from products purchased or services obtained through shops discovered via NearStock are solely between the Customer and the Shopkeeper.

🛡️14. Limitation of Liability

Without limiting the foregoing, NearStock shall not be liable for:

• Any loss or damage resulting from your reliance on information provided by Shopkeepers
• Any unauthorised access to or alteration of your data that is beyond our reasonable control
• Any disputes, claims, or losses arising from transactions or interactions between Customers and Shopkeepers
• Any loss arising from temporary unavailability of the App for maintenance or other reasons
• Any actions taken by Shopkeepers after receiving your inquiry contact information
• Any third-party app (Google Maps, WhatsApp) actions after you are redirected from NearStock
• Any indirect loss, loss of profit, loss of data, or loss of business opportunity

In jurisdictions where limitation of liability for personal injury or incidental or consequential damages is not permitted, our liability shall be limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Our total aggregate liability arising from your use of the App shall not exceed the amount, if any, you have paid to NearStock in the preceding 12 months (which for a free app is INR 0).

🔒15. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless NearStock and its operators from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in connection with:

• Your violation of this Privacy Policy or our Terms of Service
• Your use of the App in a manner not authorised by this policy
• Any content you submit, post, or transmit through the App (including false product listings or misleading shop information)
• Your violation of any applicable law or regulation
• Any misuse of another user's personal data obtained through the Inquiry system

🏛️16. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

This Privacy Policy and any disputes arising from it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India, including the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the rules thereunder.

Applicable Laws

• Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act)
• Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011
• Consumer Protection Act, 2019
• Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (to the extent applicable and in force)

Dispute Resolution

In the event of any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to this Privacy Policy, the parties shall first attempt to resolve the matter amicably by contacting the Grievance Officer (Section 18) within 30 days.

If the dispute cannot be resolved amicably, it shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts in India.

📝17. Changes to This Policy

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time. When we make changes:

• We will update the version number and effective date at the top of this page
• For material changes, we will provide prominent notice within the App
• For significant changes affecting your rights, we will provide at least 7 days advance notice
• Your continued use of the App after changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. The most current version will always be available at nearstock.in/privacy-policy.

👤18. Grievance Officer

Any complaint or concern regarding the processing of your personal information may be directed to the Grievance Officer. We are committed to resolving all complaints fairly and promptly.

📬19. Contact Us

For any questions, requests, or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data:

Please include your registered email address and a clear description of your request. We will respond within 30 days of receipt.