Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains what information Island Research collects, how we use it, who we share it with, and the choices you have. We collect only what we need to process your order and run the site.

Information we collect

• Account credentials: the email and password used to create the account required to purchase (an account is required — guest checkout is not available). Your password is stored only as a salted cryptographic hash, never in plain text.
• Contact & order details you provide: name, email, phone (if given), shipping address, the company or institution and research field you supply at checkout, your research-use acknowledgments, and the contents of your order.
• Communications you send us, such as support emails.
• Marketing opt-ins: if you request a discount code or join our waitlist, the email/phone you submit for that purpose.
• Technical data: basic information your browser sends (such as IP address) and data stored in your browser to make the cart and checkout work.

We do not collect or store your full payment card number — see "Payment data" below.

How we use it

• to process, verify, and fulfill your order and send order-related emails;
• to provide customer support and handle refunds, replacements, or disputes;
• to operate, secure, and improve the site and prevent fraud and abuse;
• to send you a requested discount code or back-in-stock notice (you can opt out anytime);
• to comply with our legal obligations and enforce our Terms.

Payment data

Card payments are processed by our third-party payment processor. Your card details are entered through the processor's secure fields and sent directly to it; Island Research never receives or stores your full card number. We receive only a confirmation of payment and limited, non-sensitive details (such as whether the charge succeeded and a transaction reference). Cryptocurrency payments are processed by our crypto payment provider, which shares payment-status information with us. These processors handle your payment data under their own privacy and security terms.

Cookies & local storage

We use a small amount of browser local storage to keep your cart and preferences on your device, which is essential for the store to function. We keep tracking to a minimum: this site currently uses no third-party analytics or advertising trackers (no Google Analytics, no Meta Pixel, or similar). If that changes, this policy will be updated to name the tools and your opt-out options. We do not sell your personal information.

Who we share information with

We share personal information only with service providers who help us run the store, and only as needed to perform their service:

• Payment processors — to verify and capture payment;
• Shipping carriers — to deliver your order;
• Email & infrastructure providers — to send order and support emails and host the site;
• Our order/customer records system — to manage orders and support.

We may also disclose information if required by law, to protect our rights or the safety of others, or in connection with a business transfer. We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties for their own marketing.

Data retention

We keep order and transaction records for as long as needed to provide the service, resolve disputes and chargebacks, and meet legal, tax, and accounting requirements, after which we delete or anonymize them. Marketing contacts are kept until you opt out.

Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect the information we hold, including keeping payment card data out of our systems and restricting access to order data. No method of transmission or storage is perfectly secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your choices & rights

You can ask us to access, correct, or delete the personal information we hold about you, and you can unsubscribe from marketing at any time using the link in our emails or by contacting us. Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights under laws such as the CCPA/CPRA or GDPR; we honor applicable rights requests. To make a request, email us using the details below and we will verify and respond as required by law. We will not discriminate against you for exercising these rights.

Age

This site and its products are intended only for researchers aged 21 or older. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18. If you believe a minor has provided us information, contact us and we will delete it.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date above shows the current version. Material changes will be reflected on this page; continuing to use the site means you accept the updated policy.

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