Privacy Policy for Three Things Before
Last Updated: January 2025
Welcome to Three Things Before (accessible at threethingsbefore.com). We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we collect, use, and safeguard your information. This Privacy Policy explains our practices regarding data collection and your rights as a visitor to our website.
Information We Collect
Personal Information
Three Things Before collects personal information only when you voluntarily provide it to us. This may include:
- Email address when you subscribe to our newsletter or contact us
- Name and contact details if you submit comments or inquiries
- Any information you choose to include in messages sent through our contact forms
We do not require registration or account creation to read our content. Most visitors can browse threethingsbefore.com anonymously.
Automatically Collected Information
When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain technical information through standard web technologies:
- IP address and general geographic location
- Browser type and version
- Device information (desktop, mobile, tablet)
- Pages visited and time spent on our site
- Referring website or search terms used to find us
- Date and time of your visit
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Three Things Before uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience and analyze site traffic. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us remember your preferences and understand how visitors use our site.
We use the following types of cookies:
- Essential Cookies: Necessary for basic site functionality
- Analytics Cookies: Help us understand visitor behavior and improve our content
- Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and choices
You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. However, disabling certain cookies may limit your ability to use some features of threethingsbefore.com.
How We Use Your Information
Three Things Before uses collected information for the following purposes:
- To deliver and improve our content about consumer technology purchasing decisions
- To send newsletters and updates if you have subscribed
- To respond to your inquiries and provide customer support
- To analyze website traffic and user behavior to enhance our services
- To detect and prevent technical issues or fraudulent activity
- To comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms of service
We are committed to helping normal American buyers make informed purchasing decisions, and we use data insights to create more relevant and useful content for our readers.
Third-Party Sharing and Services
Three Things Before does not sell your personal information to third parties. However, we may share information with trusted service providers who assist us in operating our website:
Analytics Providers
We use third-party analytics services (such as Google Analytics) to understand how visitors interact with threethingsbefore.com. These services may collect information about your visits to our site and other websites to provide us with aggregated statistics and insights.
Email Service Providers
If you subscribe to our newsletter, your email address is stored with our email service provider. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for delivering our communications.
Advertising Partners
We may work with advertising networks and affiliate programs to support our blog. These partners may use cookies and tracking technologies to deliver relevant advertisements. We participate in affiliate programs where we may earn commissions on purchases made through links on our site, but this does not affect the price you pay or the objectivity of our recommendations.
Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or governmental regulation, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.
Data Retention
Three Things Before retains your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy. Specific retention periods include:
- Newsletter subscriber information: Until you unsubscribe or request deletion
- Contact form inquiries: Typically 2-3 years for customer service purposes
- Analytics data: Aggregated data may be retained indefinitely; individual user data is typically anonymized after 26 months
- Cookie data: As specified in individual cookie settings, typically from session-based to 2 years
After the retention period expires, we will delete or anonymize your personal information in accordance with applicable laws.
Your Privacy Rights
As a visitor to threethingsbefore.com, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:
Right to Access
You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you. We will provide this information in a commonly used electronic format.
Right to Correction
If you believe any information we have about you is inaccurate or incomplete, you may request that we correct or update it.
Right to Deletion
You may request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain legal exceptions (such as compliance with legal obligations or completion of transactions).
Right to Opt-Out
You can opt out of receiving marketing communications from Three Things Before at any time by:
- Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any email we send
- Contacting us directly using the information provided below
- Adjusting your cookie preferences through your browser settings
Right to Object
You may object to our processing of your personal information for certain purposes, including direct marketing and analytics.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact information provided at the end of this policy.
Children's Privacy
Three Things Before is a consumer technology blog intended for adult readers making purchasing decisions. Our website is not directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.
If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.
International Data Transfers
Three Things Before operates primarily for an American audience, and our servers and service providers are located in the United States. If you access threethingsbefore.com from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate.
By using our website, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries that may have different data protection laws than your country of residence. We take reasonable steps to ensure that your information receives adequate protection in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
Security Measures
We take the security of your personal information seriously. Three Things Before implements reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:
- Secure socket layer (SSL) encryption for data transmission
- Regular security assessments and updates
- Access controls limiting who can view personal information
- Secure storage practices with reputable service providers
- Employee training on data protection and privacy practices
However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any passwords or account credentials you may use on our site.
Third-Party Links
Our blog at threethingsbefore.com contains links to third-party websites, including retailer sites, manufacturer pages, and other resources. This Privacy Policy applies only to our website. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any external sites you visit through links on our blog.
When we include affiliate links to products we recommend, clicking those links may result in cookies being set by the retailer or affiliate network. These third parties have their own privacy policies governing their data practices.
California Privacy Rights
If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):
- Right to know what personal information we collect, use, and share
- Right to request deletion of your personal information
- Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (note: Three Things Before does not sell personal information)
- Right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights
To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information below. We will verify your identity before processing your request.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
Three Things Before reserves the right to update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy and may provide additional notice through our website or email newsletter.
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically when you visit threethingsbefore.com. Your continued use of our website after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact Information
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact Three Things Before:
Website: threethingsbefore.com
Email: [email protected]
We will respond to your inquiry within a reasonable timeframe, typically within 30 days of receiving your request.
Your Consent
By using threethingsbefore.com, you consent to the collection, use, and sharing of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with any part of this policy, please do not use our website.
Thank you for trusting Three Things Before as your resource for making smart, efficient consumer technology purchasing decisions.