Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how The Piercing Urge ("we", "us", "our") collects, uses, stores, and shares your personal information when you interact with us online or in-store.

Online Purchases & Website Use

What Personal Information We Collect

When you visit or make a purchase from our website, we collect:

  • Device Information: (e.g. browser, IP address, cookies, pages viewed, referral sources)
  • Order Information: (e.g. name, billing and shipping address, payment info, email, phone)
  • Other Information: (provided via forms, emails, or customer service interactions)

How We Use Your Personal Information

We use your information to:

  • Process and deliver your orders
  • Communicate with you about your orders or enquiries
  • Screen for potential risk or fraud
  • Improve our website, marketing, and services
  • Send marketing communications (see below)

Cookies and Tracking

  • Our website uses cookies, log files, and similar technologies to collect and track usage data. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though some site features may not work.

Marketing Communications

  • We may use your email or phone number provided during purchase, booking, or consent form completion to send you marketing communications about our products, offers, and news. If you do not wish to receive marketing messages, you can opt out at any time using the unsubscribe link in every message, or by contacting us directly.
  • We do not knowingly send marketing to individuals under 16 without parental consent. If you are under 16, or are a parent/guardian and wish to have a minor’s details removed from our marketing list, please contact us and we will promptly remove your information.

Sharing Your Personal Information

  • We share your personal information only with trusted service providers, such as payment processors, booking and scheduling platforms, shipping and delivery providers, shipping insurance providers, subscription and recurring billing platforms, email and SMS marketing platforms, and consent form platforms, as needed to run our business and deliver your orders and services.
  • If you would like more information about which service providers we use, or a copy of their privacy policies, please contact us.

We never sell your personal data.
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International Transfers

  • As we use global service providers, your personal information may be transferred and stored outside Australia (including in the USA, EU, UK, NZ, or Canada). We ensure any transfers comply with relevant privacy laws.

Data Retention

  • We keep your order information for as long as necessary to fulfil orders, comply with our legal obligations, and for our business records. You may request deletion of your data, except where we are legally required to retain it.

Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

  • Access, correct, or update your personal information
  • Request deletion of your data (unless we are required to retain it)
  • Withdraw consent to marketing communications
  • Object to certain processing, or request data portability

If you wish to exercise these rights, please contact us.

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Automated Decision-Making

  • We may use automated tools to send marketing based on your purchase or browsing behaviour. No decisions with legal or significant effects are made solely by automated means.

Do Not Track

  • Our website does not respond to browser “Do Not Track” signals.

Children

  • We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 16 for online orders or marketing. If we become aware we have collected such information, we will promptly delete it.

In Store Consent Forms & Procedure Records

When you have a piercing or procedure in our studio, Victorian law requires us to collect and keep certain personal details. This is separate from online shopping.

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What Information Is Collected

  • Full name
  • Address
  • Phone number
  • Date of birth
  • Photo ID (image)
  • Details about your piercing or procedure

How This Information Is Used

  • To comply with Victorian legal requirements (minimum ages, parental consent, proof of service)
  • To verify your identity and ensure responsible service
  • For safety, quality, and health record keeping

How and Where This Information Is Stored

  • Consent forms are completed via StabPad and are stored in both StabPad and our secure Gmail account
  • Photo IDs are stored only in our Gmail account with the consent form
  • All studio staff (piercers and admin) have access to these records

Who May Access This Information

  • Your personal information and consent form will never be sold or shared for marketing purposes.
  • Your consent form may be shared only if required by law, for example:

  • Health authorities (e.g. Department of Health)
  • Police or law enforcement
  • Medical professionals (with your consent or if required for your safety)
  • Our insurance company

How Long Records Are Kept

We retain consent forms and procedure records indefinitely (longer than the Victorian legal minimum of 5 years).
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Requesting a Copy of Your Consent Form

You automatically receive a copy by email when completing your form. If you need another copy, you may request it; we will only provide it if you can prove your identity matches the details on the form. We will not provide access to anyone else’s records.

Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information using secure digital storage, restricted staff access, and trusted providers. However, no internet transmission or electronic storage is ever 100% secure.

Data Breach Notification

In the event of an eligible data breach involving your personal information, as defined under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), we will notify affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) in accordance with our obligations under the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme.

Policies & Questions

  • This policy forms part of our full set of policies, which are incorporated together and can be found on our Policy Index page.
  • We may update this policy at any time. The current version will always be available on our website.
  • For any questions, please visit our Contact page for information on how to get in touch.
  • You also have the right to complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) or your local privacy regulator.