Privacy & Cookies
Last updated July 28, 2026
MerkatoHQ is an escrow-protected, peer-to-peer marketplace. This notice explains, plainly, what data we hold, how we use it, and the choices you have. We've kept it honest and short - we don't run ad networks or sell your data.
What we collect
- Account details you provide: email, display name, and (optionally) a contact email, location, avatar, and tax details for your statements.
- Marketplace activity: your listings, offers, orders, order chat messages, reviews, and bookmarks.
- Sign-in & security: your password (stored only as a secure hash), any linked Google sign-in, registered passkeys, and your active sessions (with the browser/device they were opened on).
- Payments are handled by Stripe. We never see or store your full card or bank details.
Cookies
We use a single, strictly-necessary session cookie to keep you signed in. That's it - no analytics, advertising, or third-party tracking cookies. Because this one cookie is essential to provide the service you asked for, it doesn't require a consent banner. If we ever add optional cookies, we'll ask first and update this page.
How we use & share it
We use your data to run the marketplace: your account, escrow and orders, order chat, notifications, and keeping the platform safe from fraud and abuse.
We do not sell or share your personal data for advertising. We rely on a few service providers who process data only on our instructions to make the product work:
- Stripe - payments, seller payouts, and identity/bank verification.
- SendGrid - transactional email (verification, security notices, order updates).
- Object storage - hosting the images you upload.
- A geocoding service - turning a place you search into a location on your listings.
Your rights & choices
- Download your data - export a copy of your MerkatoHQ data from Settings → Account.
- Delete your account - permanently erase your account and personal data from Settings → Account. Completed orders and the reviews you exchanged are kept for the people you traded with, but no longer identify you.
- Notification preferences - choose what we email you about in Settings → Notifications.
- Security - manage passkeys, linked accounts, and active sessions in Settings → Security.
We keep records of completed transactions and reviews for as long as needed to support the people you traded with and to meet legal and financial obligations; erased accounts are anonymized rather than removed from those records.
Contact
Questions about your privacy, or want to exercise a right you can't complete in-app? Email us at support@merkatohq.com.