Last updated: 18 June 2026
Behind the Book respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013, commonly known as POPIA.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect your personal information when you visit our website, buy from our bookstore, contact us, register for events, subscribe to our newsletter or interact with us online.
1. Who we are
Behind the Book is a South African website and online bookstore sharing South African stories of dreams, love, loss, healing and courage.
Our website address is: https://behindthebook.co.za/https://behindthebook.co.za/
For privacy-related questions, you can contact us at:
2. Information we collect
We may collect the following personal information when you use this website or communicate with us:
Your name and surname
Your email address
Your phone number, where provided
Your billing and delivery details
Your order and payment information
Your communication preferences
Information submitted through contact forms, event forms or newsletter forms
Website usage information such as IP address, browser type, device information and pages visited
Any other information you choose to send to us
We only collect information that is reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it is provided.
3. How we collect your information
We may collect personal information when you:
Place an order through the bookstore
Create or use a customer account
Contact us through the website
Subscribe to our newsletter
Register interest in an event
Respond to marketing or promotional communication
Browse the website
Communicate with us by email or other channels
4. Why we use your information
We use your personal information for the following purposes:
To process and fulfil orders
To deliver physical or digital products
To communicate with you about your order
To respond to enquiries
To send newsletters or updates where you have subscribed
To manage events, promotions or book-related updates
To improve our website, products and services
To prevent fraud, spam or misuse of the website
To comply with legal, accounting and tax obligations
We will not sell your personal information.
5. Newsletter and marketing communication
If you subscribe to our newsletter, we may use your email address to send you book news, updates, event information, author features, promotions or related content.
You may unsubscribe at any time by using the unsubscribe link in the email or by contacting us at office@behindthebook.co.za.
We will only send direct marketing where we are legally allowed to do so, or where you have given consent.
6. Online payments
Payments may be processed through secure third-party payment providers. Behind the Book does not store your full card details on this website.
Payment providers may collect and process payment information according to their own privacy and security policies.
7. Cookies and website analytics
This website may use cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience, keep the cart working correctly, remember preferences, improve security and understand how visitors use the website.
Cookies are small files stored on your device. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but some parts of the website, including cart or checkout functions, may not work correctly.
8. Comments, forms and user-submitted content
If comments, reviews, contact forms or other submission features are available on the site, we may collect the information shown in the relevant form, together with technical information needed for security and spam prevention.
Please do not submit personal information that you do not want us to process.
9. Embedded content and third-party websites
Pages on this website may include embedded content or links to third-party websites, such as videos, social media posts, payment providers, newsletter platforms or external resources.
Third-party websites may collect information about you and may use cookies or tracking technologies. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of external websites. Please review their privacy policies before using them.
10. Who we share your information with
We may share limited personal information with trusted service providers where necessary to operate the website and provide our services. This may include:
Website hosting providers
Payment processors
Courier or delivery providers
Email and newsletter service providers
Security, spam prevention and analytics tools
Accounting, legal or compliance service providers
Technology providers who help us operate the website
We only share information where necessary and where there is a lawful reason to do so.
11. How long we keep your information
We keep personal information only for as long as necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, unless we are legally required to keep it for longer.
Order, tax and accounting records may need to be retained for legal and financial compliance reasons. Newsletter information is kept until you unsubscribe or ask us to remove your details, unless we are legally entitled or required to keep certain records.
12. How we protect your information
We take reasonable technical and organisational steps to protect your personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration or destruction.
These steps may include secure hosting, restricted access, password protection, website security tools, secure payment processing and regular maintenance.
No online system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, but we take reasonable care to protect the information we process.
13. Your rights under POPIA
You have the right to:
Ask what personal information we hold about you
Request access to your personal information
Ask us to correct or update inaccurate information
Ask us to delete personal information where legally allowed
Object to certain processing of your personal information
Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
Object to direct marketing
Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa
To exercise your rights, please contact us at office@behindthebook.co.za.
14. Children’s privacy
This website is not intended to knowingly collect personal information from children without appropriate consent from a parent or legal guardian.
If you believe that a child has submitted personal information to us without the required consent, please contact us so that we can take appropriate steps.
15. Cross-border processing
Some of our service providers may store or process information outside South Africa. Where this happens, we take reasonable steps to ensure that your personal information remains protected in line with applicable privacy laws.
16. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The latest version will always be published on this page with the updated date.
17. Contact us
For questions about this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is handled, please contact:
Behind the Book
Email: office@behindthebook.co.za
Website: https://behindthebook.co.za/