Last updated 2 October 2026
Hobby Shop Experts is run by me, Bill Belcamino. This page says what the site collects, why, and what I do with it. Short version: I use it to run the site and to reply to you. I don’t sell it.
What this site collects
- Analytics. The site uses Google Analytics to count visits and see which pages are read, and Microsoft Clarity, which records anonymised sessions and heatmaps so I can see where pages confuse people. Both set cookies and receive your IP address and browser details.
- The audit request form. If you fill in the form on the audit page, I get what you type: your name, email, phone number, shop name, website or Google Business Profile link, and your main goal. I use it to do the audit and reply to you.
- The free website check. When you run the free check, the site fetches the public web address you enter so it can test it. It doesn’t save that address. To stop abuse it keeps a short-lived counter tied to a scrambled version of your IP address, which clears itself within an hour.
- The newsletter. If you sign up, your email address is stored with Hostinger Reach, the email service I use, so I can send the newsletter. Every email has an unsubscribe link.
- Email. If you write to me, I keep your message and address so I can reply and have a record of the conversation.
- Link clicks. Some links on the site run through a link manager (Pretty Links) that counts clicks, including the IP address and browser of whoever clicked.
- Server logs. My host records standard technical data on each request (IP address, browser and page requested) for security and troubleshooting.
Cookies
Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity set cookies to tell visits apart. The caching layer may set a functional cookie so pages load correctly, and WordPress sets a login cookie for me when I’m signed in to manage the site. There are no advertising cookies.
Who else sees it
Google (Analytics), Microsoft (Clarity), Hostinger (hosting and the newsletter) and WPForms (the form plugin, which runs on this site) process data on my behalf. I don’t sell, rent or trade your personal information, and I don’t share it with anyone else unless the law requires it.
How long I keep it
Form requests and emails stay in my inbox for as long as they’re useful for working with you. Newsletter addresses stay until you unsubscribe. Analytics data follows Google’s and Microsoft’s retention settings.
Your choices
You can ask me what I hold about you, ask me to correct it, or ask me to delete it. Email hello@hobbyshopexperts.com and I’ll handle it. You can also block or delete cookies in your browser, or use Google’s opt-out add-on for Analytics.
Changes
If this changes, I’ll update this page and the date at the top.