Privacy Policy

Botshop (“we”, “us”, “our”) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle personal information when you visit botshop.co.za, contact us, purchase or evaluate our AI-robotics platforms, or interact with our documentation and support channels.

We process personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA) and applicable South African regulations. By using our website or services, you acknowledge this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our services.

The information we collect depends on how you interact with Botshop. We aim to collect the minimum data needed to deliver accredited hardware, documentation, and support.

• Contact details — name, email address, phone number, organisation, job title, and postal or delivery address when you enquire, request a quote, place an order, or register for updates.
• Institutional and tender information — procurement references, VAT numbers, purchase order numbers, and compliance documentation required for government, university, or bulk institutional orders.
• Technical and usage data — IP address, browser type, device information, pages viewed, and referral source when you browse our website. We may use cookies and similar technologies as described in our Cookie Policy.
• Support and correspondence — messages you send us, feedback on products, training requests, and records of our responses.
• Order and fulfilment data — products ordered, quantities, delivery status, warranty claims, and import or logistics records related to bulk supply.

Our accredited hardware platforms (including ESP32-P4 based products such as GoGoBot) are designed for local processing and education use. Unless you explicitly connect a device to a Botshop-hosted service, personal information is not collected from your robot or kit through the device itself via this website.

We use personal information for legitimate business purposes connected to our mission: accredited AI-robotics that implementers and educators can trust.

• Responding to enquiries, quotes, tender requests, and support questions.
• Processing, delivering, and invoicing orders — including bulk import and institutional rollouts.
• Providing accreditation documentation, specification sheets, and compliance support.
• Sending service-related communications such as order confirmations, delivery updates, and security notices.
• Improving our website, products, documentation, and MCP server resources.
• Complying with legal, tax, and regulatory obligations.
• Protecting our rights, users, and systems against fraud or misuse.

We will not sell your personal information. Marketing communications are sent only where permitted by law and, where required, with your consent. You may opt out at any time.

Under POPIA, we rely on one or more of the following grounds when processing personal information:

• Performance of a contract — for example, fulfilling a product order or providing agreed support.
• Legitimate interests — operating and improving our business, securing our website, and communicating with professional customers, balanced against your privacy rights.
• Legal obligation — retaining records for tax, import, or regulatory purposes.
• Consent — where you subscribe to newsletters or agree to optional analytics cookies.

We share personal information only when necessary and with appropriate safeguards:

• Service providers — such as hosting, email delivery (including future transactional email via Resend), payment processors, freight forwarders, and customs brokers involved in import and delivery.
• Retail and training partners — including Rebel Glitch, when you purchase through authorised retail channels or participate in community training programmes linked to Botshop products.
• Institutional buyers — where you place an order on behalf of a school, university, or government body, relevant details may appear on invoices, delivery notes, or tender documentation.
• Legal and regulatory authorities — when required by law, court order, or to protect rights and safety.

Where processors handle data on our behalf, we require contractual commitments consistent with POPIA. Cross-border transfers, if any, are made only with appropriate authorisation or safeguards as required by law.

We retain personal information only for as long as needed for the purposes described above, including to satisfy legal, accounting, warranty, and tender audit requirements. Typical retention periods include:

• Enquiry records — up to 24 months after last meaningful contact, unless a sale or project is active.
• Order and invoice records — as required by South African tax and commercial law (generally at least five years).
• Warranty and support records — for the warranty period plus a reasonable claims window thereafter.
• Marketing preferences — until you unsubscribe or withdraw consent.

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure; we encourage strong passwords and careful handling of institutional procurement credentials.

Subject to applicable law, you may have the right to:

• Request access to personal information we hold about you.
• Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Object to processing based on legitimate interests.
• Request deletion where we no longer have a lawful reason to retain data.
• Withdraw consent where processing is consent-based.
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa).

To exercise these rights, contact us at sales@botshop.co.za. We may need to verify your identity before responding.

Botshop products are used in educational settings. Our website and direct sales channels are directed at educators, institutions, implementers, and purchasers — not at children under 18 acting on their own. Where schools deploy our platforms, the institution remains responsible for obtaining any consents required for learner participation under applicable education and privacy policies.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The effective date at the top of this page indicates when it was last revised. Material changes will be posted on this website. Continued use after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy where permitted by law.

For privacy questions or to exercise your rights, email sales@botshop.co.za or write to Botshop, Republic of South Africa. General enquiries: sales@botshop.co.za.