Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Indian Shopping Mela

Effective date: 17 September 2026 | Version 1.0

1. About This Privacy Policy

Indian Shopping Mela ("ISM", "we", "us" or "our") operates an online marketplace connecting independent sellers with customers. This Privacy Policy applies to personal information handled through our website, seller and buyer accounts, checkout, communications, customer support, promotions and other services that link to this Policy.

This Policy is intended to describe our personal information handling practices in a clear and transparent manner, including the matters addressed by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), where they apply to us. Additional privacy notices may be presented at the point where particular information is collected.

This Policy applies to buyers, sellers, seller representatives, prospective sellers, visitors, people who contact us, and other individuals whose personal information we handle in connection with ISM.

2. What We Mean by Personal Information

Personal information is information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable. Depending on the circumstances, information may be personal information on its own or when combined with other information.

3. Information We May Collect

3.1 Account and identity information

name, username, account identifiers and login details;

email address, telephone number and communication preferences;

billing, delivery, dispatch, return and business addresses;

date of birth or age information where reasonably required;

information used to verify an account, seller, transaction or entitlement to use a service.

3.2 Seller and business information

store name, business or trading details, ABN or other business identifiers where collected;

seller contact details, store profile, logo, product listings and catalogue information;

bank or payout information and information required to administer seller payouts;

dispatch information, fulfilment settings, returns information and seller performance records;

communications with customers and ISM relating to orders, complaints, disputes, refunds or support.

3.3 Order, transaction and payment information

products viewed, saved, purchased, sold, returned or refunded;

order value, discounts, shipping selections, transaction status and order history;

payment method-related information received from payment providers, such as payment status, transaction identifiers and limited payment details;

fraud, chargeback, dispute, refund and risk information.

Where payments are processed by third-party payment providers, full payment card details may be collected and processed directly by those providers rather than stored by ISM. The information available to ISM depends on the provider and transaction.

3.4 Device, usage and technical information

IP address, device identifiers, browser type, operating system and approximate location derived from technical information;

pages viewed, searches, clicks, referring pages, session activity and interactions with marketplace features;

cookie, pixel, analytics and similar technology information;

security logs, authentication events and information used to detect suspicious or unauthorised activity.

3.5 Communications and support information

messages, emails, support requests, complaints, reviews, survey responses and feedback;

records of communications with ISM and, where marketplace functionality permits, communications between buyers and sellers;

information supplied when participating in promotions, competitions, campaigns or seller onboarding.

3.6 Information from third parties

We may receive information from payment providers, delivery and logistics providers, fraud-prevention and identity-verification services, analytics and advertising providers, sellers, buyers, social or sign-in providers, public sources and other service providers, where permitted by law.

4. How We Collect Personal Information

We may collect personal information:

directly from you when you create or manage an account, place an order, become a seller, upload products, contact support, submit a review or otherwise use ISM;

automatically when you access or use our website or services, including through cookies and similar technologies;

from another marketplace user where necessary to complete an order, resolve a dispute or provide support;

from service providers and commercial partners involved in payments, delivery, security, analytics, communications or marketplace operations;

from publicly available sources or other lawful sources where reasonably necessary for our functions.

5. Why We Collect, Hold, Use and Disclose Information

We may handle personal information where reasonably necessary for purposes including:

creating, authenticating and administering buyer and seller accounts;

operating the marketplace and displaying seller stores, products, reviews and other marketplace content;

processing purchases, payments, seller payouts, refunds, returns, cancellations and disputes;

providing buyers and sellers with information necessary to fulfil and manage orders;

arranging or supporting delivery, tracking, dispatch and returns;

providing customer and seller support and responding to enquiries or complaints;

detecting, investigating and preventing fraud, misuse, prohibited conduct, security incidents and breaches of our terms;

verifying information and protecting users, ISM and third parties;

personalising, maintaining, analysing, testing and improving our services and user experience;

sending service messages, order updates, security notices and other transactional communications;

sending marketing and promotional communications where permitted by law and managing opt-outs;

conducting analytics, reporting, research and business planning, including using aggregated or de-identified information;

enforcing our terms, policies and legal rights and managing claims or disputes;

meeting tax, accounting, record-keeping, regulatory, law-enforcement and other legal obligations;

supporting a merger, acquisition, financing, restructure, sale or transfer of all or part of our business, subject to applicable privacy requirements.

6. Marketplace Sharing Between Buyers and Sellers

ISM is a marketplace. To enable a transaction, we may provide a seller with information reasonably necessary to fulfil an order, such as the buyer's name, delivery details, order details and relevant contact information. We may provide buyers with seller information reasonably necessary for order support, returns, complaints or other marketplace functions.

Sellers are independent marketplace participants. A seller that receives personal information through ISM must use it only for legitimate purposes connected with the marketplace transaction, applicable legal obligations and other purposes permitted by ISM's terms and applicable law. Sellers must not misuse buyer information for unrelated marketing, profiling, list-building or disclosure to unauthorised third parties.

Where a seller independently collects or uses personal information outside ISM, that seller may have separate privacy obligations and practices. ISM is not responsible for an independent seller's separate privacy practices except to the extent required by applicable law.

7. Who We May Disclose Personal Information To

Subject to applicable law, we may disclose personal information to:

buyers and sellers where necessary to facilitate marketplace transactions and support;

payment processors, banks, payout providers and fraud-prevention providers;

delivery, courier, logistics, address-validation and fulfilment providers;

cloud hosting, data storage, software, analytics, communications, customer-support and security providers;

advertising and marketing service providers where permitted by law and subject to applicable choices and consent requirements;

professional advisers such as lawyers, accountants, auditors and insurers;

regulators, courts, tribunals, law-enforcement agencies, government bodies or other persons where required or authorised by law;

parties involved in an actual or proposed corporate transaction, financing, restructure or transfer of business assets;

other parties where you direct or authorise us to disclose information.

8. Payments and Financial Information

ISM may use third-party payment and payout providers. Those providers may collect and process payment credentials, bank details, identity information and transaction information under their own privacy terms and legal obligations. ISM may receive transaction confirmations, payment status, payout status, limited payment details and risk information needed to administer marketplace transactions.

Users should not send full payment card numbers or other unnecessary financial credentials through ordinary email, chat or support messages.

9. Cookies, Analytics and Similar Technologies

ISM may use cookies, pixels, local storage, SDKs and similar technologies to keep users signed in, remember preferences, maintain carts, secure accounts, measure traffic and performance, understand how services are used, improve functionality and, where permitted, support advertising and marketing.

Browser and device settings may allow you to block or delete certain cookies. Disabling essential or functional technologies may affect parts of the marketplace.

10. Marketing Communications

We may send marketing communications where permitted by applicable law. You can unsubscribe from marketing emails using the unsubscribe mechanism in the message or by contacting us. Opting out of marketing does not prevent us from sending necessary service, account, security, order, payment or policy communications.

11. Automated Processing and Decision-Making

We may use automated tools to assist with fraud detection, security, risk assessment, spam or abuse prevention, content moderation, product or service recommendations, search ranking, account protection and marketplace operations. Where applicable law requires specific disclosure, review or other rights in relation to a decision made using personal information and automated processing, we will provide those protections.

We will review this section as our technology and legal obligations evolve, including Australian privacy requirements concerning certain automated decisions.

12. Overseas Disclosure and Service Providers

Some service providers, technology infrastructure, payment, analytics, communications, security or support functions may operate or store information outside Australia. As a result, personal information may be disclosed to or accessible from overseas locations.

The countries involved can change as our providers and infrastructure change. Where practicable and required by law, we will identify relevant overseas locations or otherwise provide appropriate information about cross-border handling. We take reasonable steps required by applicable law when disclosing personal information overseas.

13. How We Protect Personal Information

We use reasonable administrative, technical and organisational safeguards designed to protect personal information against misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Measures may include access controls, authentication, encryption where appropriate, monitoring, backups, provider controls and staff or contractor access restrictions.

No internet transmission, platform or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Users are responsible for keeping passwords and authentication credentials confidential and should notify ISM promptly if they suspect unauthorised account access.

14. Data Breaches

If we become aware of a suspected data breach, we will assess and respond to it in accordance with applicable law. Where the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme or another legal requirement applies, we will take required steps, which may include notifying affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

15. How Long We Keep Information

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, to maintain transaction and business records, resolve disputes, prevent fraud, enforce agreements and meet legal, tax, accounting and regulatory obligations. Retention periods vary according to the type of information and the reason it is held.

When personal information is no longer required and we are not legally required to retain it, we may delete, destroy or de-identify it in accordance with our practices and applicable law. Residual copies may remain for a limited period in backups or systems where immediate deletion is not reasonably practicable.

16. Accessing and Correcting Your Personal Information

You may request access to personal information we hold about you and ask us to correct information that is inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading. Some account information may be reviewed or updated directly through your ISM account.

To make an access or correction request, contact support@indianshoppingmela.com.au. We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request. Access may be refused or limited where permitted or required by law, in which case we will provide information about the decision where required.

17. Account Closure and Deletion Requests

You may request closure of your account by contacting ISM or using any account-closure functionality we make available. Account closure does not necessarily require immediate deletion of all information. We may retain information where reasonably necessary for completed transactions, returns, chargebacks, disputes, fraud prevention, legal compliance, record-keeping, enforcement or other lawful purposes.

18. Anonymity and Pseudonyms

Where lawful and practicable, you may interact with us without identifying yourself or by using a pseudonym. Identification is generally required where it is impracticable to provide a service anonymously, including account administration, purchases, deliveries, seller onboarding, payments, payouts, returns, fraud prevention and compliance activities.

19. Children and Minors

ISM is intended for people who can lawfully enter into marketplace transactions. We do not knowingly seek to collect personal information from children where they are not legally able to use the relevant service. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us without appropriate authority, contact us so we can assess the matter and take appropriate action.

20. Reviews, Public Content and Seller Profiles

Information you intentionally publish through public marketplace features - such as reviews, seller names, store profiles, product listings or other public content - may be visible to other users and the public. Do not include sensitive or unnecessary personal information in public content.

21. Third-Party Links and Services

ISM may contain links to websites, apps or services operated by third parties. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies. We encourage users to review those policies before providing personal information. This Policy does not govern third-party services that operate independently of ISM.

22. Complaints and Privacy Enquiries

If you have a privacy question, concern or complaint, contact us at support@indianshoppingmela.com.au. Please provide enough information for us to understand and investigate the issue. We will assess privacy complaints and respond within a reasonable period, taking into account the nature and complexity of the matter.

If you are not satisfied with our response and Australian privacy law applies, you may be entitled to raise the matter with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

23. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our marketplace, technology, service providers, legal requirements or information-handling practices. The current version will be published through ISM with an updated effective date. Where required by law or where a change is material, we may provide additional notice.

24. Contact Us

Privacy and support enquiries:

Indian Shopping MelaEmail: support@indianshoppingmela.com.auWebsite: indianshopping.online

25. Relationship With Other ISM Terms

This Privacy Policy should be read together with applicable Indian Shopping Mela terms and policies, including Seller Terms & Conditions, Customer Terms & Conditions, Returns & Refunds Policy, Shipping/Delivery Policy and any collection notices presented when personal information is collected. If a specific privacy notice applies to a particular collection, that notice should be read together with this Policy.