Privacy policy

Last updated: 2 May 2026

BarkLab operates this website and online store to provide customers with practical dog products, online shopping, order processing, delivery support, customer service, and related services.

This Privacy Policy explains how BarkLab collects, uses, stores, shares, and protects your personal information when you visit our website, use our online store, place an order, create an account, contact us, or interact with our services.

By using our website or purchasing from BarkLab, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

1. Personal information we collect

We may collect personal information when you use our website, place an order, contact us, or interact with our store.

This may include:

your name and surname;
email address;
phone number;
billing address;
shipping address;
payment and transaction details;
order history;
account details, if you create an account;
customer support messages or enquiries;
delivery and fulfilment information;
device, browser, IP address, and website usage information;
marketing preferences, where applicable.

We only collect information that is reasonably necessary for operating our online store, processing orders, providing customer support, improving our services, and complying with legal or operational requirements.

2. How we collect personal information

We may collect personal information:

directly from you when you place an order, create an account, complete a form, contact us, or subscribe to marketing;
automatically when you browse our website, through cookies and similar technologies;
from Shopify and other service providers that help us operate the store;
from payment, delivery, fulfilment, marketing, analytics, or customer support partners where necessary.

3. How we use your personal information

BarkLab may use your personal information to:

process and fulfil your orders;
confirm payments and transactions;
arrange shipping and delivery;
provide order updates and customer support;
manage returns, refunds, exchanges, or complaints;
communicate with you about your order or account;
improve our website, products, services, and customer experience;
send marketing emails or offers where you have opted in or where allowed by law;
prevent fraud, abuse, unauthorised transactions, or security issues;
comply with legal, tax, accounting, regulatory, or operational requirements.

We do not sell your personal information as a business product.

4. Payments

Payments are processed through secure third-party payment providers. BarkLab does not store your full card details on our own systems.

Your payment information may be processed by Shopify, payment gateways, banks, fraud-prevention providers, and other relevant service providers required to complete or verify your transaction.

5. Shopify

BarkLab uses Shopify to host and operate this online store.

When you use our store, certain personal information may be processed by Shopify to provide ecommerce, checkout, payment, security, customer account, analytics, and related store services.

Shopify may process information according to its own privacy practices and legal obligations. You can review Shopify’s privacy information through Shopify’s own privacy resources.

6. Sharing your personal information

We may share your personal information with trusted third parties where necessary to run our business and provide our services.

This may include:

Shopify;
payment processors;
courier and delivery companies;
suppliers or fulfilment partners;
IT, hosting, email, analytics, and security service providers;
marketing or advertising platforms, where applicable;
professional advisers, where required;
authorities, regulators, or law enforcement where legally required.

We only share information where it is necessary for a legitimate business, operational, service, security, or legal purpose.

7. Suppliers and fulfilment partners

Some BarkLab products may be supplied, packed, shipped, or fulfilled by approved suppliers or fulfilment partners.

Where this applies, we may share the information needed to process and deliver your order, such as your name, shipping address, contact number, order details, and delivery instructions.

Suppliers and fulfilment partners may only use this information for order fulfilment, delivery, returns, or related support.

8. Marketing communications

If you subscribe to marketing communications, we may send you product updates, offers, promotions, newsletters, or related BarkLab content.

You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link in our emails or by contacting us at:

info@barklab.co.za

Even if you unsubscribe from marketing, we may still send you important non-marketing messages, such as order confirmations, delivery updates, payment notices, refund notices, or customer service replies.

9. Cookies and tracking technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to:

keep the website working properly;
remember preferences;
improve website performance;
understand how visitors use the site;
support checkout, cart, account, and security features;
support marketing or advertising where applicable.

You may be able to manage or block cookies through your browser settings. Some website features may not work properly if cookies are disabled.

10. Data security

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

However, no online system, website, email, or internet transmission is completely secure. You should avoid sending highly sensitive information through unsecured channels.

11. How long we keep your information

We keep personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including:

processing orders;
providing customer support;
managing returns or refunds;
meeting tax, accounting, legal, or regulatory obligations;
resolving disputes;
preventing fraud or abuse;
maintaining business records.

When information is no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to delete, anonymise, or securely retain it according to applicable requirements.

12. Your rights

Depending on applicable law, you may have the right to:

request access to personal information we hold about you;
request correction of inaccurate information;
request deletion of certain personal information;
object to certain processing;
withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
opt out of marketing communications;
ask questions about how your personal information is used.

To make a privacy-related request, contact us at:

info@barklab.co.za

We may need to verify your identity before processing certain requests.

13. Children’s privacy

BarkLab does not knowingly collect personal information from children without appropriate consent.

If you believe that a child has provided personal information to us without proper permission, please contact us at info@barklab.co.za so that we can review and delete the information where appropriate.

14. Third-party links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, apps, platforms, or services.

BarkLab is not responsible for the privacy practices, content, security, or policies of third-party websites. You should review their privacy policies before providing personal information to them.

15. International processing

Because BarkLab uses Shopify and other online service providers, your personal information may be processed or stored outside South Africa.

Where this happens, we rely on service providers to process personal information using appropriate privacy, security, and legal safeguards.

16. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our business, website, services, legal requirements, or operational practices.

The updated version will be posted on this website with a revised “Last updated” date.