EduThrifties Privacy Policy Summary: This page explains how EduThrifties protects personal information for school lost and found services, QR item recovery, thrift store listings, parent and learner accounts, checkout records and support communication in South Africa.
EduThrifties (Pty) Ltd
Last Updated: May 2026
EduThrifties (Pty) Ltd (“EduThrifties”, “we”, “us” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share and protect personal information when you visit our website, create an account, buy or sell goods, register QR-coded items, report found items, use our lost-and-found services, contact us or interact with the EduThrifties platform.
EduThrifties operates the website:
Website: www.eduthrifties.co.za
Email: support@eduthrifties.co.za
This Privacy Policy should be read together with our Website Terms and Conditions.
EduThrifties processes personal information in accordance with applicable South African privacy laws, including the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (“POPIA”). POPIA sets minimum requirements for the lawful processing of personal information by public and private bodies in South Africa.
1. Purpose of This Privacy Policy
The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to explain:
What personal information we collect.
Why we collect it.
How we use it.
When we may share it.
How we protect it.
What rights you have regarding your personal information.
How you can contact us about privacy-related matters.
2. Who This Policy Applies To
This Privacy Policy applies to:
Website visitors.
Registered users.
Buyers.
Sellers.
Parents and guardians.
Students and learners.
Schools, universities and educational institutions.
People who scan or report QR-coded lost items.
People who contact EduThrifties for support.
Any person whose personal information is processed through the EduThrifties platform.
Where a minor uses the platform, the parent, guardian, school, university or authorised representative may be required to provide consent or supervision.
3. Personal Information We May Collect
EduThrifties may collect and process different types of personal information depending on how you use the platform.
This may include:
Identity information
Name, surname, username, profile details and account registration details.
Contact information
Email address, mobile number, delivery address, collection details and communication preferences.
Account information
Login details, account activity, user role, saved preferences, listings, order history and platform usage.
Transaction information
Products bought or sold, order details, payment status, invoices, refunds, delivery or collection records.
Payment-related information
Payment references, transaction confirmation and payment gateway information. EduThrifties does not intentionally store full card details unless this is handled securely by an authorised payment provider.
Item information
Item descriptions, item images, QR registration details, ownership-linked records, lost-and-found status and item recovery information.
QR lost-and-found information
Information linked to a QR code scan, item owner contact routing, found-item reports, scan date, scan location if enabled, and recovery communication details.
School or university information
Institution name, campus, department, class, grade, student-linked identifiers or other information required for educational community use, where applicable.
Communication information
Emails, WhatsApp messages, support requests, complaints, queries and feedback.
Technical information
IP address, browser type, device information, operating system, cookies, website activity, session data and security logs.
Marketing information
Marketing preferences, campaign interaction, opt-in records and communication history.
4. Special Personal Information and Children’s Information
EduThrifties may, in limited cases, process information relating to children, learners or students where the platform is used by parents, guardians, schools, universities or authorized representatives.
We will only process children’s information where there is a lawful basis to do so, such as parental or guardian consent, school or institutional authorization, contractual necessity, legal obligation, legitimate operational purpose or another basis allowed by law.
EduThrifties does not intentionally collect unnecessary sensitive information and aims to limit personal information to what is reasonably required for the platform to function.
5. How We Collect Personal Information
We may collect personal information when you:
Visit our website.
Register an account.
Buy or sell goods.
Upload a product listing.
Register a QR-coded item.
Scan a QR code.
Report a found item.
Contact us by email, WhatsApp, phone, form or support channel.
Subscribe to updates or marketing communication.
Make payment through the platform.
Arrange delivery, collection or item recovery.
Interact with our website or digital services.
We may also receive personal information from:
Schools or universities.
Parents or guardians.
Sellers or buyers.
Payment service providers.
Courier or delivery partners.
Technology, hosting or security providers.
Lawful authorities where required.
6. Why We Process Personal Information
EduThrifties processes personal information for lawful and legitimate purposes, including:
Creating and managing user accounts.
Processing ecommerce orders.
Facilitating buying and selling of goods.
Managing product listings.
Processing payments and refunds.
Arranging delivery, collection or handover.
Registering QR-coded items.
Supporting lost-and-found item recovery.
Notifying users about found items.
Verifying ownership or item registration details.
Providing customer support.
Managing complaints and disputes.
Preventing fraud, abuse and unlawful activity.
Maintaining platform security.
Improving the website and services.
Sending operational and transactional messages.
Sending marketing communications where permitted.
Complying with legal, tax, accounting and regulatory obligations.
Protecting EduThrifties, users, schools, universities and platform partners.
POPIA provides conditions for lawful processing, including accountability, processing limitation, purpose specification, further processing limitation, information quality, openness, security safeguards and data subject participation.
7. Legal Basis for Processing
EduThrifties may process personal information where:
You have given consent.
Processing is necessary to provide services to you.
Processing is required for a transaction or agreement.
Processing is necessary to comply with the law.
Processing protects a legitimate interest.
Processing is necessary for school, university or platform-related administration.
Processing is required for fraud prevention, security or dispute resolution.
Processing is allowed under POPIA or another applicable law.
8. QR Code and Lost-and-Found Privacy
EduThrifties offers QR-based item identification and lost-and-found services.
When a QR code is scanned or searched, the system may process information linked to:
The registered item.
The item owner or responsible person.
The person reporting the found item.
The scan or report event.
Recovery communication.
Collection or return arrangements.
EduThrifties may use privacy-protective routing where possible, meaning that personal contact details may not always be publicly displayed to the person scanning the QR code.
Users must not misuse QR codes or item recovery information to harass, track, impersonate, threaten, spam or unlawfully contact another person.
9. Ecommerce and Marketplace Privacy
Where users buy or sell items through the platform, EduThrifties may process personal information required to complete or support the transaction.
This may include:
Buyer and seller details.
Item listing information.
Order and payment information.
Delivery or collection information.
Communication between parties.
Refund, complaint or dispute records.
Where EduThrifties acts as a marketplace facilitator, certain personal information may need to be shared between relevant parties to complete the transaction.
10. Payment Information
Payments may be processed through third-party payment providers.
EduThrifties may receive transaction confirmations, payment references, order status updates and payment-related records.
Full card details are generally processed by secure third-party payment providers and should not be stored directly by EduThrifties unless specifically required and lawfully secured.
Users should review the privacy terms of the relevant payment provider where applicable.
11. Sharing of Personal Information
EduThrifties will not sell your personal information.
We may share personal information where necessary with:
Payment service providers.
Courier or delivery partners.
Hosting and IT service providers.
Email, SMS, WhatsApp or communication providers.
Schools, universities or authorised institutional representatives.
Buyers or sellers where needed to complete a transaction.
Service providers who help operate the platform.
Professional advisers, auditors or legal representatives.
Law enforcement, regulators or authorities where required by law.
Any party required for fraud prevention, dispute resolution or platform protection.
Any sharing will be limited to what is reasonably necessary for the purpose.
12. Security of Personal Information
EduThrifties will take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against:
Loss.
Misuse.
Unauthorised access.
Unauthorised disclosure.
Alteration.
Destruction.
Security compromise.
These measures may include access controls, secure hosting, password protection, system monitoring, backups, encryption where appropriate and internal data handling procedures.
POPIA includes security safeguard requirements relating to the integrity and confidentiality of personal information.
However, no online platform can guarantee absolute security. Users are responsible for keeping their login details secure and must notify EduThrifties if they suspect unauthorised account access.
13. Data Retention
EduThrifties will retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.
We may retain information for:
Active account management.
Order and transaction records.
QR item registration and recovery history.
Legal, tax and accounting purposes.
Fraud prevention.
Dispute resolution.
Platform security.
Compliance with applicable laws.
Where information is no longer required, EduThrifties will take reasonable steps to delete, de-identify or securely archive it.
14. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
EduThrifties may use cookies and similar technologies to improve website performance, support login functionality, remember preferences, analyse traffic, improve user experience and secure the platform.
Cookies may include:
Essential cookies.
Performance cookies.
Analytics cookies.
Security cookies.
Marketing cookies, where applicable.
Users may adjust browser settings to block or delete cookies, but some website features may not function correctly if cookies are disabled.
15. Direct Marketing
EduThrifties may send marketing communications about platform updates, products, promotions, services or educational community offerings where permitted by law.
You may opt out of marketing communication at any time by using the unsubscribe option where available or by contacting us at:
support@eduthrifties.co.za
Operational messages, such as order confirmations, account notices, QR recovery alerts and security notifications, may still be sent where necessary.
16. Your Privacy Rights
Under applicable privacy law, you may have the right to:
Ask what personal information we hold about you.
Request access to your personal information.
Request correction of inaccurate or outdated information.
Request deletion of information, where legally permitted.
Object to certain processing.
Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
Opt out of direct marketing.
Lodge a complaint with EduThrifties.
Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa.
The Information Regulator allows POPIA complaints where a person believes their personal information has been processed in a way that violates POPIA.
17. Accessing or Updating Your Information
You may request access to or correction of your personal information by contacting us at:
Email: support@eduthrifties.co.za
We may need to verify your identity before processing privacy-related requests.
EduThrifties may refuse or limit a request where permitted by law, including where disclosure would affect another person’s privacy, prejudice legal rights, compromise security or conflict with legal obligations.
18. Information of Other People
If you provide personal information about another person, including a child, learner, student, parent, buyer, seller or representative, you confirm that you have the authority or lawful basis to do so.
You agree to ensure that the person is aware that their personal information may be processed by EduThrifties in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
19. Cross-Border Processing
Some of our service providers, platforms, hosting systems or technology tools may process or store information outside South Africa.
Where personal information is transferred outside South Africa, EduThrifties will take reasonable steps to ensure that such transfer is lawful and that appropriate safeguards are in place.
20. Third-Party Websites and Services
The EduThrifties website may contain links to third-party websites, payment providers, courier services, school platforms or other external services.
EduThrifties is not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of third-party websites or services.
Users should review the privacy policies of those third parties before using them.
21. Data Breach or Security Compromise
If EduThrifties becomes aware of a security compromise involving personal information, we will take reasonable steps to investigate, contain and address the issue.
Where required by law, EduThrifties may notify affected users and/or the Information Regulator.
22. Changes to This Privacy Policy
EduThrifties may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.
The updated version will be published on the website with the revised “Last Updated” date.
Continued use of the website or platform after updates are published means you accept the updated Privacy Policy.
23. Contact Details
For privacy questions, access requests, corrections, complaints or support, please contact:
EduThrifties (Pty) Ltd
Email: support@eduthrifties.co.za
Website: www.eduthrifties.co.za
24. Information Regulator Contact
You may also contact the Information Regulator of South Africa if you believe your personal information has been processed unlawfully or in violation of POPIA.
Information Regulator South Africa
Website: www.inforegulator.org.za
25. Acceptance
By using the EduThrifties website, ecommerce platform, QR services, lost-and-found features or related services, you confirm that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.
You also consent to EduThrifties processing your personal information where consent is required and acknowledge that certain processing may be necessary for EduThrifties to provide its services lawfully and effectively.