Privacy Policy

1. Our Commitment to You

At The Softball Group, we understand that trust is as fundamental as a reliable glove. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal data. This policy outlines our practices in compliance with applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for our European customers, and other global privacy standards.

2. Information We Collect

To serve you effectively and provide a seamless checkout experience, we collect the following types of information:

A. Information You Provide Directly:

• Identity & Contact Data: Name, shipping/billing address, email address, phone number.
• Financial & Transaction Data: Payment information (processed securely via our certified gateways; we do not store full credit card details on our servers), order history, and product selections.
• Communication Data: Correspondence with our customer service team via email (e.g., [email protected]).
• Account Data (if applicable): Username, password, and preferences.

B. Information Collected Automatically:

• Technical & Device Data: IP address, browser type and version, time zone, operating system, and device information.
• Usage Data: Pages you view, products you browse, time spent on site, and how you navigated to our website (softball-group.com).
• Cookie & Tracking Data: See Section 7 for detailed information.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your data with the precision of a well-executed game plan, strictly for the following purposes:

• To Process & Fulfill Your Order: To manage payment (in USD), ship your gear from our Baltimore facility, provide order confirmations, and handle returns/exchanges.
• To Communicate With You: To send service updates, respond to your inquiries via our experienced customer service team, and provide support.
• To Improve Our Service: To analyze website use, optimize our menu (from Bats to Footwear), and enhance your shopping experience.
• For Security & Fraud Prevention: To protect our website, business, and customers, using enterprise-grade encryption to secure transactions.
• For Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal requests.

We process your data based on contractual necessity (to fulfill your order), legitimate interest (to improve our site and security), and with your consent where required.

4. Sharing and Disclosure of Information

We value your trust and do not sell your personal data. We only share information under these specific circumstances:

• Trusted Service Providers: We share data with partners who perform essential services for us, such as payment processing (e.g., certified gateways for Visa/MasterCard/JCB, PayPal), shipping carriers (for global delivery, excluding select areas), and IT/cloud storage providers. All partners are bound by strict confidentiality agreements.
• Legal Obligations: We may disclose information if required by law, to protect our rights, or in connection with a business transfer (e.g., merger or sale).
• With Your Consent: We will share information for specific purposes only with your explicit permission.

5. Data Storage and Security

Your data’s security is treated with the same seriousness as your on-field performance.

• Storage Location: Data is stored on secure servers, primarily within the United States, with appropriate safeguards for international transfers.
• Retention Period: We retain personal data only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, comply with legal obligations, or resolve disputes.
• Security Measures: We implement robust technical and organizational measures, including SSL encryption (indicated by the padlock icon in your browser), firewalls, and access controls. Our payment system is designed with security as a top priority.

6. Your Rights and Choices

As a valued member of our global softball community, you have rights regarding your personal data:

• Access & Correction: You can request access to or correction of your personal data.
• Deletion: You may request the deletion of your data, subject to legal limitations.
• Objection & Restriction: You can object to or request restriction of certain processing activities.
• Data Portability: Where applicable, you can request a copy of your data in a structured format.
• Withdraw Consent: If processing is based on consent, you may withdraw it at any time.
• Marketing Opt-Out: You can opt out of marketing communications at any time by using the unsubscribe link in our emails.

To exercise these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe and may need to verify your identity.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to ensure a smooth, personalized, and secure browsing experience.

• What Are Cookies? Small text files placed on your device to remember your preferences, analyze site traffic, and facilitate the checkout process.
• How We Use Them:
  • Essential Cookies: Required for core functions like adding items to your cart, secure login, and payment processing.
  • Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how you navigate our menu (e.g., from Fastpitch Bats to Fielding Gloves) to improve site design and product curation.
  • Preference Cookies: Remember your settings, like currency preference (all charges are in USD).
• Your Control: You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Note that disabling essential cookies may impact the functionality of our checkout and website.

8. International Data Transfers

We serve a global community. Your data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside your own, including the United States. We ensure such transfers are protected by appropriate safeguards, such as standard contractual clauses or the Privacy Shield framework where applicable.

9. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The updated version will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. We encourage you to review it occasionally.