Customer Data Collection
Learn what customer information PlanetShopping collects, why it is collected and how to manage customer data responsibly while protecting privacy and complying with applicable laws.
Purpose
Customer information helps you provide a better shopping experience, fulfil orders and build lasting relationships with your customers.
PlanetShopping collects and stores information that is necessary to operate your online store and process customer orders.
This article explains what information is collected, why it is collected and how merchants should manage customer data responsibly.
What You’ll Learn
After reading this guide you’ll know:
- What customer information is collected
- Why customer information is required
- How PlanetShopping stores customer information
- Your responsibilities as a merchant
- Customer privacy best practices
- How to comply with privacy legislation
Why Customer Data is Important
Customer information allows your store to:
- Process orders
- Deliver products
- Send order confirmations
- Provide customer support
- Process refunds
- Improve customer experience
- Deliver marketing communications (where consent has been provided)
Collect only the information your business genuinely needs.
What Information May Be Collected?
Depending on how your store is configured, customer information may include:
Customer Details
- First Name
- Last Name
- Email Address
- Phone Number
Delivery Information
- Shipping Address
- Billing Address
- Delivery Instructions
Order Information
- Products Purchased
- Order History
- Payment Status
- Shipping Method
- Tracking Information
Account Information
- Login Details
- Wishlist
- Saved Addresses
- Shopping Cart
- Account Preferences
Marketing Preferences
Where customers choose to receive marketing communications, PlanetShopping may store:
- Newsletter subscriptions
- Promotional preferences
- Marketing consent
- Communication history
How PlanetShopping Uses Customer Information
Customer information is used to:
- Complete purchases
- Process payments
- Arrange shipping
- Respond to customer enquiries
- Improve website functionality
- Generate reports
- Maintain account security
PlanetShopping does not sell customer information to third parties.
Information is used only for legitimate business purposes and services selected by the merchant.
Merchant Responsibilities
As the store owner, you are responsible for handling customer information appropriately.
Merchants should:
✔ Protect customer information.
✔ Keep information secure.
✔ Only collect necessary data.
✔ Respect customer privacy choices.
✔ Comply with applicable privacy legislation.
✔ Update privacy policies when business practices change.
Best Practices
To protect customer information:
- Use strong passwords.
- Enable multi-factor authentication where available.
- Limit staff access to customer information.
- Regularly review user permissions.
- Remove outdated customer information when appropriate.
- Keep software up to date.
Protecting customer data builds trust and strengthens your business reputation.
Data Retention
Customer information should only be retained for as long as it is required for:
- Order fulfilment
- Legal obligations
- Accounting requirements
- Customer service
- Business operations
Once information is no longer required, merchants should consider securely deleting or anonymising personal data in accordance with applicable laws.
Privacy & Compliance
Privacy laws differ between countries and regions.
Depending on where you operate or where your customers are located, your business may need to comply with regulations such as:
- GDPR (European Union)
- CCPA (California)
- Australian Privacy Act
- New Zealand Privacy Act
- Other local privacy legislation
PlanetShopping provides tools to support compliance, but each merchant remains responsible for meeting their legal obligations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does PlanetShopping sell customer information?
No.
PlanetShopping does not sell customer information to third parties.
Who owns my customer data?
Your business owns the customer relationships and is responsible for managing customer information in accordance with applicable laws and your Privacy Policy.
Can customers request access to their information?
Yes.
Many privacy laws give customers the right to request access to their personal information.
Merchants should respond to these requests in accordance with applicable legislation.
Can customers ask for their information to be deleted?
In many jurisdictions, yes.
Merchants should understand their legal obligations before deleting customer records, particularly where records must be retained for taxation, accounting or legal purposes.
Is customer information stored securely?
PlanetShopping is designed with security in mind and uses industry-standard measures to help protect customer information. Merchants should also follow good security practices, including using strong passwords and controlling staff access.
Related Articles
Ready to Learn More?
Protecting customer information is an important part of running a successful online business.
Continue reading: GDPR and Data Tracking to learn how privacy regulations affect businesses that sell to customers in the European Union.