Mapela

Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 17, 2026

Mapela is designed to respect your privacy. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have.

1. Information We Collect

The only personal information we collect is what you choose to give us:

  • Location (on request). When you click "Use my current location," your browser shares your approximate coordinates so we can sort nearby restaurants. This happens in your browser; we do not store your location on our servers.
  • Contact form submissions. If you submit the contact form, we receive your name, email address, and message so we can reply. Submissions are handled by Netlify (our hosting provider) on our behalf and delivered to our team.
  • Direct email. If you email us at jeremy@mapela.com, your message and email address arrive in our inbox, which we use to reply and to follow up on the conversation.
  • Standard server logs. Our hosting provider logs technical information (IP address, browser type, pages visited, timestamps) for security and to keep the site running. We do not use these logs to build a profile of you.

We do not require accounts, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

2. How We Use Information

We use the limited information we collect to:

  • Operate, maintain, and improve the Mapela site and its deal listings.
  • Respond to messages you send us.
  • Measure aggregate, non-identifying usage to understand what's working.
  • Detect abuse, protect against security issues, and comply with legal obligations.

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it with advertisers.

3. Cookies & Local Storage

We use browser local storage and a minimal set of essential cookies to remember preferences like your chosen search area. We do not use advertising cookies or cross-site tracking. You can clear cookies and local storage at any time through your browser settings.

4. Third-Party Services

We rely on a small number of third-party services to deliver Mapela:

  • Netlify — hosts the site and processes contact form submissions.
  • OpenStreetMap & CARTO (via Leaflet) — serve the base map tiles.
  • Nominatim (OpenStreetMap) — performs location-name lookups when you search by city or zip.
  • Google Maps / Google Places — we query Google to enrich restaurant listings with ratings, hours, phone numbers, and business status. When you click a "Directions" or favicon link, you are also handed off to Google. These interactions are governed by Google's Privacy Policy.

Each of these providers has their own privacy policy and may collect technical information (such as IP address) as part of delivering their service.

5. Data Retention

We keep contact-form submissions for up to two years so we can follow up on conversations, then delete or archive them. Server logs from our hosting provider are retained according to their standard policies (generally 30–90 days). You can ask us to delete your contact submission sooner by emailing us.

6. Your Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have specific rights over your personal information — for example, under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA) or the EU / UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). These typically include the right to:

  • Know what personal information we hold about you.
  • Request correction or deletion of that information.
  • Opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information (we do not sell or share it).
  • Object to or restrict certain processing.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us via our Contact page. We will respond within the time frame required by applicable law.

7. Security

We take reasonable technical and organizational steps to protect the small amount of personal information we hold. No online service can be perfectly secure, but we limit who has access and store data with reputable providers.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we'll update the "Last updated" date above. Material changes will be called out on the homepage or in a notice on the site.

9. Contact Us

Questions or requests about this policy can be sent through our Contact page.