Privacy Policy

The Short Version

ThePipeTool is a collection-tracking tool for pipe and tobacco enthusiasts, run by enthusiasts. We collect what we need to run your account and store the collection data you choose to record. We do not sell your personal information, we don't run third-party analytics or tracking pixels, and your collection is private to your account. You can export everything you've entered, and you can delete your data — or your whole account — yourself, at any time.

What We Collect

• Account information — your screen name, email address, and password. Passwords are stored as a one-way cryptographic hash; we cannot read them.
• Your collection data — the tobaccos, pipes, reviews, smoking sessions, wish lists, notes, and photos you add. This exists so the site can do its job; it belongs to you.
• Payment status — if you support the site through a premium subscription or donation, PayPal tells us the transaction status and an identifier. We never see or store your card or bank details — payment happens entirely on PayPal's side.
• Technical basics — standard web-server logs (IP address, browser type, pages requested) kept for security and debugging, like virtually every website.

Cookies

We use first-party cookies to keep you logged in and remember preferences (like dark mode or choosing the desktop site on a phone). Our security and delivery provider, Cloudflare, sets its own operational cookies. We do not use advertising or cross-site tracking cookies, and we do not run Google Analytics or any similar analytics service.

Third-Party Services We Use

A small number of outside services help run the site. Each sees only what it needs to do its job:

• Cloudflare — sits in front of the site for security and performance, and processes traffic the way any content-delivery network does. (Cloudflare's privacy policy)
• Google reCAPTCHA — protects the login and signup forms from bots. Google collects device and interaction signals on those pages to make that judgment. (Google's privacy policy and terms)
• PayPal — handles all payments for premium subscriptions and donations. (PayPal's privacy policy)
• AI image reading (limited beta) — if you use the tin/label scanner, the photo you submit is sent to a third-party AI service solely to read the label and identify the blend. Only the photo you choose to scan is sent — nothing else from your account.

Email

We send account emails (verification, password resets, two-factor codes) and, occasionally, site news and feature announcements from our own mail systems. Every news email includes a one-click unsubscribe link, and unsubscribing never affects account emails you need to use the site. We don't share your email address with anyone.

Advertising

Ads that appear on ThePipeTool are served by us, directly — typically for pipe makers, retailers, and community causes. We count ad impressions and clicks in aggregate to tell our advertisers how their spots performed. No ad network is involved, no third-party ad cookies are set, and no browsing profile of you is built or shared.

What's Shared and What Isn't

• Your cellar, pipes, reviews, smoke log, and wish lists are private to your account.
• When you add a brand or blend that isn't in our master catalog, the brand/blend name itself may be reviewed and added to the shared catalog that all users browse — never with your name or any personal information attached.
• We may look at aggregate, de-identified statistics (for example, "most cellared blends this month") to improve the site and share fun community stats. These never identify you.
• We do not sell or rent personal information. We'd disclose data only if legally compelled to.

Your Data, Your Control

• Export — download your tobacco cellar, pipes, smoke log, and reviews as CSV files any time from Account → Export.
• Delete in bulk — Account page options let you wipe all tobacco or all pipes permanently.
• Delete your account — the Account page includes Delete My Account, which permanently removes your account and your personal data. This is not recoverable.
• Questions, corrections, or requests we haven't automated? Email us and we'll handle it: [email protected].

Security

The entire site runs over HTTPS. Passwords are hashed with a modern one-way algorithm. Optional two-factor authentication is available for your account. Payments are handled by PayPal, so card data never touches our servers. No website can promise perfection, but we keep the attack surface small and patch promptly.

Age

ThePipeTool is a tool for cataloging pipe tobacco and pipes, and is intended for adults of legal smoking age in their jurisdiction. We do not knowingly collect information from minors, and no part of the site is directed at them. If you believe a minor has created an account, contact us and we will remove it.

Changes to This Policy

When we change this policy we'll update the date below, and for meaningful changes we'll mention it in the site's release notes. Continued use of the site after a change means you accept the updated policy.

Contact: [email protected]