Privacy Policy
Last updated: February 2025
The Short Version
- ✓ We only collect what we need to run the platform
- ✓ We don't sell your data to anyone
- ✓ We use Supabase (hosted in the US) to store account and listing data
- ✓ You can delete your account and data at any time
- ✓ We use Google Analytics for anonymous usage stats
1. Who We Are
FORWRD HQ is an independent pickleball community platform in beta. We are not affiliated with any paddle brand, tournament organizer, or official pickleball body. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle personal information collected through forwrdhq.com.
2. What We Collect
Account Information
When you create an account, we collect:
- Email address (required for authentication)
- Display name (optional, chosen by you)
- Password (hashed — we never see it in plain text)
Authentication is handled by Supabase Auth. We never store raw passwords.
Marketplace Listings
When you create a listing, we collect and display publicly:
- Item title, description, condition, and price
- Photos you upload
- General location (city/state — not your full address)
- Shipping or local-pickup preference
Messages
Messages sent between buyers and sellers through the platform are stored in our database to allow conversation continuity. We do not read messages except when investigating reported violations of our Terms of Service.
Analytics
We use Google Analytics to understand how the site is used. This collects anonymized data such as pages visited, session duration, and general geographic region. Google Analytics may set cookies on your browser. You can opt out via Google's opt-out tool.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Operate and improve the Platform
- Display your marketplace listings to other users
- Enable messaging between buyers and sellers
- Send essential account emails (e.g. password reset, new message notifications)
- Detect and prevent fraud or abuse
- Understand how people use the site (via analytics)
We do not use your data for:
- Selling or renting your information to third parties
- Targeted advertising or ad networks (beyond Google Analytics)
- Any automated profiling or decision-making
4. Data Storage & Security
All user data is stored on Supabase, a managed database platform hosted on AWS infrastructure in the United States. Supabase provides encryption at rest and in transit, row-level security, and access controls.
Uploaded images are stored in Supabase Storage with access controls. We do not store payment information — all transactions between users are handled directly between parties.
While we implement industry-standard security practices, no system is perfectly secure. As a beta platform, you use FORWRD HQ at your own risk.
5. Third-Party Product Data
The FORWRD HQ paddle database aggregates publicly available product information (names, specifications, images) from brand websites and retailers. This data:
- Is collected from publicly accessible URLs and not behind authentication
- Is used purely for informational, non-commercial community purposes
- Includes product images served directly from brand CDN URLs — we do not host or copy brand images onto our servers
- Is attributed to its source where identifiable
If you are a brand or rights holder and wish to update, correct, or remove your data from our platform, please contact dmca@forwrdhq.com and we will respond promptly.
6. Cookies
We use cookies for:
- Authentication — Supabase session tokens to keep you logged in
- Analytics — Google Analytics cookies for anonymous usage stats
- Preferences — e.g., dismissed banners stored in sessionStorage
We do not use advertising cookies or third-party tracking pixels beyond Google Analytics.
7. Your Rights & Choices
You have the right to:
Access your data
Request a copy of the data we hold about you
Delete your account
Request deletion of your account and associated data
Correct your data
Update or correct inaccurate information
Opt out of emails
Unsubscribe from non-essential communications at any time
To exercise any of these rights, email privacy@forwrdhq.com.
8. Children's Privacy
FORWRD HQ is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy as the Platform evolves. We'll update the “Last updated” date when changes are made. Continued use of the Platform constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
10. Contact
For privacy-related questions or requests, contact privacy@forwrdhq.com. For DMCA or content removal requests, contact dmca@forwrdhq.com.