Privacy policy

PRIVACY POLICY

Last updated: July 12, 2026

MERIDIAN CONTAINER DEPOT ("we," "us," or "our") operates this website and associated storefront (the "Services"). We respect your privacy and are committed to processing your personal information lawfully, transparently, and securely in accordance with South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA) and international e-commerce standards, including Google Merchant Center policy guidelines.

Our store is hosted on Shopify Inc., which provides the e-commerce platform that enables us to sell our products and services to you.

1. Responsible Party & Contact Details

Under POPIA, MERIDIAN CONTAINER DEPOT acts as the Responsible Party for the personal information collected through our Services.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your legal privacy rights, or need to contact our designated Information Officer, please contact us using the details below:

  • Legal Business Name: MERIDIAN CONTAINER DEPOT

  • Physical Address: 274 Vause Road, Berea, KwaZulu-Natal, 4001, South Africa

  • Email Address: Meridiancontainerdepot@gmail.com

  • Telephone: [Insert your South African telephone number]

  • Information Officer: [Insert Name / Contact Details of Information Officer]

2. Personal Information We Collect

We collect personal information necessary to fulfill orders, provide customer service, improve user experience, and comply with legal obligations.

A. Information Provided Directly by You

  • Contact & Identity Details: Full name, physical/delivery address, billing address, phone number, and email address.

  • Account Information: Username, password, security preferences, and saved settings.

  • Transaction & Purchase History: Items viewed, items added to cart or wishlist, order history, returns, exchanges, and communications with customer support.

  • Financial & Billing Information: Payment method confirmation, transaction reference numbers, and partial billing details.
    (Note: We do not directly store full credit or debit card numbers on our servers. All payment transactions are securely processed by PCI-DSS compliant third-party payment gateways).

B. Information Collected Automatically (Cookies & Tracking)

  • Device & Network Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, unique device identifiers, time zone, and ISP.

  • Usage Data: Pages or products viewed, search terms entered, time spent on the site, and interaction logs.

  • Cookies & Similar Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and pixels to enable cart function, remember user preferences, gather analytics, and run targeted promotions.

3. Purpose and Legal Basis for Processing

Under POPIA Section 11, we process your personal information based on the following legal grounds:

Purpose Personal Data Involved Legal Basis (POPIA)
Order Fulfillment & Shipping: Processing payments, dispatching orders, communicating status updates, and handling returns/exchanges. Name, Shipping/Billing Address, Email, Phone, Order Details. Performance of a Contract
Customer Support: Resolving inquiries, warranty claims, and account management. Contact details, purchase history, communication records. Performance of a Contract / Legitimate Interest
Marketing & Direct Communication: Sending newsletters, promotional text messages/emails, and tailored ads. Email address, Phone number, Browsing history. Consent (Opt-in required for direct electronic marketing under POPIA s69)
Security & Fraud Prevention: Safeguarding against illegal activity, verifying identities, and securing payment portals. IP address, transaction logs, account details. Legitimate Interest / Legal Obligation
Compliance: Complying with tax laws, legal requests, and South African regulatory standards. Financial records, invoice records, identity data. Legal Obligation

4. How We Disclose Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We only share your data with trusted Operator third parties necessary to run our business or when required by law:

  1. E-Commerce & Infrastructure Providers: Shopify Inc. hosts our website and stores data securely on server infrastructure subject to strict confidentiality agreements.

  2. Logistics & Delivery Partners: Local couriers and freight operators in South Africa to deliver your orders.

  3. Payment Gateways: Secure third-party payment processors who handle credit card, debit card, or EFT payments adhering to PCI-DSS standards.

  4. Marketing & Analytics Partners: Third-party services (such as Google Analytics and advertising platforms) that help us understand site usage and run online advertisement campaigns.

  5. Legal Authorities: Regulatory authorities, law enforcement, or statutory bodies when required by applicable South African law or valid court order.

5. Direct Marketing & Opt-Out (POPIA Compliance)

In compliance with Section 69 of POPIA:

  • We will only send you electronic marketing communications (email, SMS, WhatsApp) if you have explicitly opted-in or if you are an existing customer who purchased goods directly from us.

  • You have the right to opt-out (unsubscribe) at any time, free of charge, by clicking the "Unsubscribe" link in any promotional email or contacting us directly at Meridiancontainerdepot@gmail.com.

6. International Data Transfers

Because our store is powered by Shopify, your personal information may be transferred to, stored, or processed outside South Africa (including servers located in Canada, the United States, and the European Union).

Pursuant to Section 72 of POPIA, we ensure that cross-border data transfers only occur if the recipient country provides an adequate level of data protection, or where adequate data transfer agreements (such as Standard Contractual Clauses or Shopify Binding Corporate Rules) are in place to safeguard your information.

7. Data Retention and Security

  • Security: We enforce administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information from loss, theft, misuse, unauthorized access, or destruction. Payment details are encrypted using SSL technology.

  • Retention: We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, or comply with statutory retention limits under South African law (e.g., SARS tax compliance requiring invoice retention for 5 years).

8. Your Data Protection Rights Under POPIA

As a South African data subject, you hold the following rights regarding your personal information:

  • Right of Access: Request confirmation of whether we hold personal information about you and receive a copy of that record.

  • Right to Correction/Correction: Request the correction, updating, or deletion of inaccurate, irrelevant, out-of-date, incomplete, or misleading information.

  • Right to Destruction/Deletion: Request the destruction or deletion of personal information where we are no longer authorized to retain it.

  • Right to Object: Object on reasonable grounds to the processing of your personal information (e.g., direct marketing).

  • Right to Submit a Complaint: Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa) if you believe your rights under POPIA have been infringed.

To exercise any of these rights, please submit a written request to Meridiancontainerdepot@gmail.com.

9. Children's Data

Our Services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18 ("children"). We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from children without verified parental or guardian consent. If we become aware that a child has provided us with personal information, we will delete it immediately.

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party platforms. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security, or content of external websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any site you visit.

11. Regulatory Body (South Africa)

If you are unsatisfied with our response to a privacy query or complaint, you have the right to contact the South African data protection authority:

The Information Regulator (South Africa)

  • Physical Address: JD House, 27 Stiemans Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2001

  • Postal Address: P.O Box 31533, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2017

  • Complaints Email: complaints.IR@inforegulator.org.za

  • General Inquiries: enquiries@inforegulator.org.za