Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Ernie's Bites ("we", "us", or "our") is an Australian business based in Lauderdale, Tasmania. We are committed to protecting your personal information and handling it in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and disclose your personal information when you visit our website (www.erniesbites.com.au), make a purchase, or interact with us in any way.

2. What Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal information:

  • Contact details — name, email address, phone number, and postal address
  • Order and payment information — billing address, shipping address, and transaction details (payment card data is processed securely by our payment provider and is not stored by us)
  • Account information — if you create a customer account, your login credentials and order history
  • Marketing preferences — whether you have opted in to receive our newsletter or promotional offers
  • Website usage data — IP address, browser type, pages visited, and referring URLs, collected via cookies and analytics tools

3. How We Collect Information

We collect personal information:

  • Directly from you when you place an order, create an account, contact us, or subscribe to our newsletter
  • Automatically through cookies and analytics tools when you browse our website
  • From third-party platforms (e.g. Shopify, payment processors) that facilitate our online store

4. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information to:

  • Process and fulfil your orders and send order confirmations and shipping updates
  • Respond to your enquiries and provide customer support
  • Send you marketing emails and promotional offers, where you have opted in
  • Improve our website, products, and customer experience
  • Comply with legal and regulatory obligations

5. Marketing Communications

If you have subscribed to our newsletter or opted in at checkout, we may send you emails about new products, promotions, and exclusive offers. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any marketing email, or by contacting us directly.

6. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We may share your information with:

  • Service providers — such as Shopify (our e-commerce platform), payment processors, and shipping carriers, to the extent necessary to fulfil your order
  • Marketing tools — such as email marketing platforms, where you have consented to receive communications
  • Legal authorities — where required by law or to protect the rights and safety of our business or customers

All third-party service providers are required to handle your information securely and only for the purposes we specify.

7. Cookies

Our website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and help us understand how visitors use our site. Cookies are small text files stored on your device. You can disable cookies through your browser settings, though some website features may not function correctly as a result.

8. Data Storage and Security

Your personal information may be stored on servers located in Australia or overseas (including where our third-party service providers operate). We take reasonable steps to protect your information from misuse, loss, and unauthorised access, using industry-standard security measures including SSL encryption.

9. Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Access the personal information we hold about you
  • Correct any inaccurate or out-of-date information
  • Request deletion of your personal information, subject to any legal obligations we may have to retain it
  • Opt out of marketing communications at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details below.

10. Links to Third-Party Sites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites (e.g. social media platforms). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to review their privacy policies independently.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about how we handle your personal information, please contact us:

Ernie's Bites PO Box 105, Lauderdale TAS 7021, Australia 

Email: bitesernies@gmail.com

Phone Number: +61 (0) 437 938 830

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.