Privacy Policy:

Last updated: May 2025

Introduction

GS Surfboards (“we”, “our”, “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and disclose your personal information when you visit our website or purchase our custom surfboards and accessories. We aim to be transparent and comply with the Australian Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), ensuring your personal information is handled with care and respect.

Information We Collect

Personal Information:

We may collect information that personally identifies you, such as your name, email address, phone number, shipping/billing address, and payment details. For example, when you create an account, place an order, book a BoardTalk consultation, or sign up for our newsletter, we will ask for relevant contact and payment information.

Order and Surfboard Details:

When you custom-order a surfboard through our BoardTalk process, we collect details about your order requirements (e.g. surfboard specifications, preferences) to fulfill your purchase.

Automatically Collected Data:

Like most websites, we use cookies and similar technologies to collect data about your device and browsing actions. This may include your IP address, browser type, pages visited, and time spent on our site. This information helps us improve our website’s functionality and your browsing experience. You can adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies; however, some site features may not function properly as a result.

Payment Information:

We use secure third-party payment providers (such as credit card gateways, Afterpay, and Zip Pay) to process transactions. Your credit/debit card details are transmitted directly to these providers and are not stored on our servers. We only retain payment confirmation and basic transaction records (e.g. amount, date, method) for order tracking and accounting.

Children’s Privacy:

Our website and services are not directed to children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 16. If you are under 16, please do not use or provide any information on this site. If we learn we have collected personal data from a child without parental consent, we will delete it.

Information We Collect

We use personal information for the following purposes:

• To Process Orders: Your information is primarily used to process and fulfill your orders. This includes using your name and address for shipping, your email to send order confirmations/updates, and your payment details to complete the transaction.

• Custom Board Consultations: If you engage in our BoardTalk custom board consultation, we use the information you provide about your surfing needs to guide the design process and communicate with you about your custom surfboard.

• Customer Service: We may use your contact information to respond to inquiries, provide support, or notify you about important updates (for example, status of your order or any issues with your shipment).

• Marketing (Opt-In): With your consent, we may send occasional marketing communications about new products, promotions, or surfboard tips. You can opt out of marketing emails at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in the email or contacting us. We will not spam you or share your contact details with third-party marketers without your explicit consent.

• Site Improvement: Usage data (like browsing patterns and feedback) helps us improve our website design, product offerings, and services. This data is usually analyzed in aggregate form so it does not personally identify you.

Legal Compliance: We may use or disclose your information as required by law or regulations. For example, to comply with a court order, tax law requirements, or to enforce our Terms & Conditions (such as investigating potential fraud).

Information We Collect

We understand your personal information is important, and we do not sell or rent your data to third parties. We only share information in limited circumstances:

• Service Providers: We share necessary information with trusted third parties who help us run our business. For example, courier/shipping companies (to deliver your orders), payment processors (to handle transactions securely), and IT or email service providers (to host our site or send communications). These providers only receive the data required to perform their services and are contractually obligated to protect your information.

• Afterpay & Zip Pay: If you choose Afterpay or Zip Pay at checkout, certain personal and order information will be shared with those providers to process your payment plan. This may include your contact details, order amount, and relevant identification information as required by Afterpay or Zip. These companies handle your information under their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review Afterpay’s and Zip’s privacy terms on their websites.

• Legal Requirements & Protection: We may disclose personal information if required to do so by law or if we believe in good faith that such action is necessary to (i) comply with a legal obligation or government request, (ii) protect and defend our rights or property, (iii) prevent fraud or misuse of our site, or (iv) protect the personal safety of our customers or the public.

Other than the above, your personal information stays within GS Surfboards. In the event of a business transfer (e.g. merger or sale of the company), we would ensure your information remains protected by a similar Privacy Policy, or we would notify you and give an opportunity to opt out of any transfer.

Data Storage and Security

We take reasonable steps to secure your personal information. Our website uses encryption (SSL/TLS) to protect data transmitted between your browser and our site. We store information on secure servers and employ administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect against unauthorized access, alteration, or disclosure of personal data. For example, personal data is accessible only by personnel who need it to perform their duties, and our computers and databases have appropriate access controls.

Despite our best efforts, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. Therefore, while we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. We recommend that you also take precautions, such as keeping your account password confidential and logging out of shared devices after use.

Your Rights and Choices

Access and Correction:

You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you. You may request details of your personal data by contacting us (see Contact section below). If any information we have is incorrect or outdated, please let us know and we will promptly correct it.

Opt-Out (Marketing):

If you have subscribed to our newsletter or marketing updates, you can opt out at any time. Simply click “unsubscribe” in any email communications or contact us to be removed from our mailing list. Transactional emails related to your orders (such as order confirmations and shipping updates) are not promotional, so you will continue to receive those as needed.

Account Deletion:

If you have an online account with us, you may request to delete your account and personal data. Note that we may retain certain information after deletion as required for legal or record-keeping purposes (for example, transaction records must be kept for accounting and tax regulations). When no longer required, any retained data will be securely destroyed or de-identified.

Cookies:

Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being used. You can adjust your browser settings to disable cookies if you prefer. However, doing so might affect some features of our website (for instance, the shopping cart may not remember items if cookies are disabled). Our Cookie usage is intended to improve your experience (like keeping you logged in, or remembering your preferences), not for intrusive tracking. By continuing to use our site without disabling cookies, we will assume you consent to our cookie usage.

Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or integrations with services like Instagram, Facebook, or payment gateways (e.g. Afterpay, Zip). Please be aware that we do not control these external sites and this Privacy Policy does not apply to them. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party site you visit via links from our site. We are not responsible for the content, privacy, or security practices of external websites.

Changes to this Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, services, or legal obligations. If we make significant changes, we will post a prominent notice on our website or notify you via email. The “Last updated” date at the top will always indicate when the last changes were made. We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.

Contact Us

For any questions, concerns, or requests regarding your privacy or this policy, please contact us at: GS Surfboards Privacy Officer

Email: info@geraghtyshapes.com

Australia We will be happy to answer your questions and address any issues. If you have a complaint about how we have handled your personal information, please contact us and we will do our best to resolve it. If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) for guidance or to lodge a formal complaint. Your trust is important to us, and we are committed to safeguarding your privacy every step of the way.