Privacy & Security Policy

Last updated: August 24, 2026

1. Who we are

Gulf Shore Gear, LLC ("Gulf Shore Gear," "we," "us," or "our") provides beach equipment rental and delivery services in the St. Pete Beach, Florida area. This policy explains what information we collect through our website (gulfshoregear.com), how we use and protect it, and what rights you have over it.

2. Information we collect

Information you give us directly:

  • Rental requests (via the Request a Rental form): first and last name, email address, phone number, delivery address, rental dates, package/duration selected, and any notes you add.
  • Email correspondence: anything you send to hello@gulfshoregear.com or reply to from us.
  • Text messages and phone calls: if you text or call our business number, we receive your phone number and the content of that communication. See Section 5 for more detail.
  • Payment information: when you pay for a rental, your payment is processed by our payment processor. We do not receive or store your full card number — the processor handles that directly, and is responsible for its own PCI-DSS compliance.

Information collected automatically:

  • Site analytics: aggregate, non-identifying data about how visitors use our site (pages viewed, general location by region, device type), via Squarespace's built-in analytics and Google Search Console.
  • Cookies: see Section 6.

Information we do NOT collect:

  • We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13 (see Section 10).
  • We do not currently use advertising trackers, ad pixels, or sell any data to third parties.

3. How we use your information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Confirm and fulfill your rental request (scheduling delivery/pickup, contacting you about your order)
  • Respond to questions or customer service requests
  • Send booking confirmations, delivery-window updates, and post-rental follow-up
  • Improve our website and service based on aggregate usage patterns
  • Comply with legal obligations (e.g., tax records, insurance claims)

We do not use your information for automated decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects, and we do not sell your personal information to third parties.

4. How we share your information

We share information only as needed to run the business, with these service providers:

  • Squarespace — site form submissions, contact records — website hosting, booking form processing
  • Google Workspace — email content sent to hello@gulfshoregear.com — business email hosting
  • Quo (my.quo.com) — phone number, call/text content — business phone/texting service
  • Our payment processor — payment card details — payment processing

Each of these providers has its own privacy and security practices, governed by their own policies. We choose providers that maintain industry-standard security practices, but we don't control their systems directly.

We do not share your information with data brokers, and we do not sell your personal information.

5. Text messages & phone calls

If you text or call our business number, standard messaging/data rates may apply from your carrier. By texting us, you consent to receive messages related to your rental request, delivery scheduling, and customer service. We do not send marketing texts unless you've separately opted in, and you can opt out of texts at any time by replying STOP. Reply HELP for assistance.

6. Cookies & tracking technologies

Our website uses cookies set by Squarespace for core site functionality (remembering your session, security) and by Google (Search Console, basic analytics). These do not identify you personally and are not used for advertising.

We do not currently use advertising or retargeting cookies (e.g., Meta Pixel, Google Ads remarketing tags, TikTok Pixel). If this changes in the future, we will update this policy and add a cookie-consent banner before any such tracking goes live, as required by law in some jurisdictions.

You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings at any time; note that disabling cookies may affect site functionality (e.g., the availability calendar).

7. Data security

We take reasonable steps to protect your information, including:

  • Encryption in transit: our website uses HTTPS/TLS encryption site-wide.
  • No card data stored on our systems: payment processing is handled entirely by our payment processor, which maintains PCI-DSS compliance.
  • Limited access: customer information is accessible only to Stephen Henck, the business owner.
  • Account security: our business email and administrative accounts are protected by strong, unique passwords and provider-level security controls.

No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. If we become aware of a security incident affecting your information, we will notify you as described in Section 12.

8. Data retention

We retain rental request and customer communication records for 3 years after your last interaction with us, after which it is deleted or anonymized, except where we are required to retain it longer for legal, tax, or insurance purposes.

9. Your privacy rights

Regardless of where you live, you have the right to:

  • Access the personal information we hold about you
  • Correct inaccurate information
  • Delete your information, subject to our legal/tax retention obligations
  • Opt out of any non-essential communications (texts: reply STOP; email: use the unsubscribe link or contact us directly)

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at hello@gulfshoregear.com. We will respond within 30 days.

10. Children's privacy

Our services are intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

11. Third-party links

Our Beach Guide blog may link to third-party sites (e.g., the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's red tide tracker, county parking authorities). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites — review their own policies before providing any information to them.

12. Data breach notification

In the event of a data breach affecting your personal information, we will notify affected individuals as required under Florida's Information Protection Act (FIPA) and other applicable law, generally within 30 days of discovering the breach.

13. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top will reflect the most recent revision. Material changes will be noted prominently on this page.

14. Contact us

Questions about this policy or your data? Contact us:

Gulf Shore Gear, LLC Email: hello@gulfshoregear.com