Privacy policy
How we protect your personal information while you enjoy Bookle.
Updated: 1 January 2026
1. Who we are
Bookle is an online marketplace that helps people buy and sell books.
Our website address is bookle.co.za.
In this policy, “Bookle”, “we”, “us”, or “our” refers to the operators of this website.
We value trust. That includes being transparent about how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.
2. What information we collect
We collect only the information necessary for Bookle to function as a safe and effective marketplace.
This may include:
Personal information: your name, email address, phone number, and delivery address
Account information: username, password (stored securely), and account preferences
Transaction information: records of books bought or sold through Bookle
Communication data: messages you send to us or to other users via the platform
Technical information: IP address, browser type, device information, and usage data
User-generated content: comments, reviews, or other content you choose to post
You are not required to provide more information than is reasonably needed to use Bookle.
3. How we use your information
We use your information to:
Create and manage your Bookle account
Enable buying and selling between users
Process orders, deliveries, and related communications
Provide customer support
Improve site performance, usability, and security
Detect and prevent fraud, spam, and abuse
Comply with legal and regulatory requirements
We do not sell your personal information.
4. Legal basis for processing
We process personal information only when we have a lawful reason to do so, including:
When it is necessary to provide Bookle’s services
When you have given consent (for example, accepting cookies)
When required to meet legal or regulatory obligations
When we have a legitimate interest that does not override your rights
5. Payments
Bookle does not store or process your payment card details.
Payments are handled by trusted third-party payment providers. We receive confirmation of transactions, but not your full payment information.
6. Comments, review, and public content
If you leave comments, reviews, or other public content on Bookle:
The information you choose to share may be visible to other users
We may collect your IP address and browser information to help prevent spam and misuse
Comments may be checked through automated spam detection services
If you use Gravatar, an anonymised hash of your email address may be shared with that service. Their privacy policy applies independently.
Public content may remain visible even if your account is closed, unless removal is requested and reasonably possible.
7. Cookies
Bookle uses cookies to improve functionality and user experience.
Cookies help us to:
Keep you signed in
Remember your preferences
Understand how the site is used so we can improve it
Some cookies are essential for the website to work properly. Others are optional.
You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings, but doing so may affect how Bookle functions.
8. Embedded and third-party content
Some pages may include embedded content from other websites (such as videos or images).
Embedded content behaves as if you visited the external site directly. Those sites may collect data about you, use cookies, or track your interaction under their own policies.
Bookle does not control these third-party services.
9. Data retention
We keep personal information only for as long as necessary:
Account information is retained while your account is active
Transaction records are kept as required by law and for operational purposes
Comments and reviews may be retained to preserve discussion history
When information is no longer required, it is securely deleted or anonymised.
10. Your rights
Under South African data protection law (POPIA), you have the right to:
Access the personal information we hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
Request deletion of your personal information, where legally permissible
Object to certain types of processing
To exercise these rights, contact us using the details below. We may need to verify your identity before responding.
11. Data security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information.
Data transmitted through Bookle is encrypted, and access is restricted to authorised personnel only.
No system is completely risk-free, but we actively work to safeguard your data.
12. Children
Bookle is not intended for use by children under 18 without the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
13 Changes to this policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time.
The version published on our website applies at the time you use Bookle. We recommend reviewing it periodically.
14. Contact us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this privacy policy or your personal information, you can contact us at: hello@bookle.co.za