Privacy Policy

1. Introduction and scope

This Privacy Policy explains how Specialty Soils collects, uses, discloses, and retains information through specialitysoils.com, customer accounts, ecommerce checkout, quote and delivery requests, customer service, and optional communications. It applies to information Specialty Soils controls; a third-party service may also apply its own policy.

2. Information we collect

Depending on how you use the site, we may collect:

• names, company and business information, telephone numbers, email addresses, billing and delivery addresses, and account credentials;
• orders, purchase history, products and quantities, estimates, quotes, delivery instructions, jobsites, saved projects, customer requests, and customer-service communications;
• SMS enrollment records, program choices, disclosure versions, timestamps, sources, communication preferences, revocations, and suppression status;
• payment and transaction references. Card information is entered on Stripe's hosted checkout and is processed by Stripe rather than stored as full card data by Specialty Soils;
• website activity and technical information such as page paths, clicks, form starts/submissions, search queries and result clicks, approximate device class, language, referring site, campaign parameters, error/performance events, and random first-party visitor/session identifiers;
• first-party cookies or browser storage used for account sessions, carts, saved plans, form idempotency, search/measurement sessions, preferences, and site security.

We receive information directly from you, automatically from your browser, and from providers involved in a transaction or requested service.

3. How we use information

We use information to provide and improve the website; maintain accounts; answer questions; prepare quotes and invoices; process and document orders; coordinate pickup and delivery; send requested or separately authorized communications; prevent fraud and abuse; measure site reliability and usefulness; keep business records; enforce policies; and comply with law. Optional marketing is used only with the appropriate consent.

4. SMS privacy and consent protection

No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for their independent marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent records are excluded from any sharing for third-party marketing or promotional purposes.

If Specialty Soils activates messaging after provider approval, an authorized SMS provider may process a mobile number, message content, delivery information, and consent/suppression data only to provide messaging services on our behalf. Customers can withdraw consent as described in the SMS Messaging Terms & Conditions, by using STOP when inbound messaging is active, or by contacting us through another reasonable method.

5. Sharing information with service providers

We do not sell personal information for money. We may disclose information to providers that help us operate, including Render for hosting, managed PostgreSQL/database services, Stripe for hosted payment processing, email/SMTP providers for account and transaction messages, technical vendors supporting site reliability or measurement when configured, and professional advisers or authorities when reasonably necessary for legal, security, or compliance purposes. Delivery information may be used by Specialty Soils personnel or delivery resources to perform the requested service.

Providers process information for contracted business functions, not for their independent marketing. We may also disclose information in a business transaction or when required to protect rights, safety, systems, customers, or comply with law.

6. Cookies, browser storage, and analytics

The site uses a secure first-party account-session cookie when you sign in. It also uses local or session browser storage for cart contents, saved material plans and calculators, account handoffs, form-submission keys, search sessions, and first-party measurement identifiers. Clearing browser data may remove these local features.

Our first-party measurement system may record page views, engagement and scroll events, calls-to-action, forms, orders or leads, campaign parameters, search activity, performance, and errors. Configuration supports Google Analytics 4 and Microsoft Clarity only when enabled and allowed by the server; these third-party scripts are not assumed to be active on every visit or environment. If activated, those providers may receive technical and usage data under their own policies. We do not use SMS consent data to power third-party advertising.

7. Data retention

We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose collected, account and transaction operations, customer service, legal and tax obligations, fraud prevention, disputes, and enforcement. SMS consent events and opt-outs may be retained to demonstrate permission and prevent unauthorized messages. Retention can vary by record type, and a deletion request may not require deletion of records that must or may lawfully be kept.

8. Information security

We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards appropriate to the site, including authenticated account and staff routes, same-origin checks for sensitive changes, limited-access databases, password hashing, secure session cookies in production, and provider-hosted card entry. No system or transmission is guaranteed to be completely secure.

9. Customer choices and privacy requests

You may update account details and SMS preferences in the signed-in customer portal or contact us to request access, correction, or deletion where applicable. You may decline optional cookies by changing browser settings, though local site features may be affected. You may opt out of marketing texts without affecting a purchase. We may need to verify your identity and may retain records where legally permitted or required.

10. Third-party services and websites

The site links to services such as Stripe-hosted checkout, Google Maps or reviews, social networks, news sources, and other outside websites. Their privacy and security practices are controlled by them. Review their policies before submitting information directly to those services.

11. Children's privacy

Our commercial website and services are not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly seek personal information from children under 13. Contact us if you believe a child provided information so we can review and address it.

12. Policy changes and contact information

We may update this policy as services or legal requirements change. The effective date above identifies the current version. Material changes will receive additional notice when required.