Effective date: October 11, 2026

String & Amp (“we”, “us”) runs stringandamp.com, a directory of guitar and amp repair shops in the United States. This page explains what information we collect when you use the site, why we collect it, who we share it with and the choices you have.

The short version

  • You can browse the whole site without giving us your name or email.
  • We use Google Analytics to count visits and see which pages are useful.
  • If you write to us through the contact form, we get what you type in it.
  • We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use advertising trackers.

Information we collect

When you contact us. The contact form asks for your name, email address, a subject and a message. The form is handled by Formspree, a form service, which passes your message to our email inbox. We use it only to read and answer your message.

When you leave a review. If you post a review of a shop, we collect the name, email address and optional website you enter, along with your review and rating. Your name and review are shown publicly. Your email address is never shown. We also store the IP address your review was sent from, to help protect the site from spam.

When you browse. Like most websites, our servers and our content delivery network automatically record technical details for each visit: your IP address, browser type, the page you asked for, the page you came from and the date and time. We use these logs to keep the site running, fix errors and protect it from abuse, such as automated copying of the directory.

Analytics. We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how people use the site, for example which pages are visited and how visitors found us. Google Analytics uses cookies and collects information such as your approximate location (city level), device and browser type, and the pages you view. We do not use Google Analytics to identify you personally, and we have turned off Google Signals and advertising features.

Maps. Our maps are provided by Google Maps. When a map loads, your browser connects to Google, which receives your IP address and other technical information under Google’s own privacy policy.

Cookies

Cookies are small files a website stores in your browser. We use:

  • Analytics cookies from Google Analytics (for example, cookies starting with “_ga”) to tell new visits from returning ones.
  • Site cookies that help the site work, such as remembering details you entered in the review form or keeping pages loading quickly.

We do not use advertising or retargeting cookies. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, and the site will still work. You can also opt out of Google Analytics with Google’s browser add-on at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

Who we share information with

We share information only with the service providers that help us run the site:

  • Google (Analytics and Maps)
  • Formspree (contact form delivery)
  • Hostinger (web hosting)
  • Fastmail (email delivery)
  • QUIC.cloud (content delivery network that speeds up and protects the site)

These providers handle data for us under their own privacy terms. We may also share information if the law requires it, or to protect the site, our users or others from fraud or abuse. We do not sell or rent personal information.

How long we keep it

  • Contact messages: up to 12 months, then deleted, unless we need them to follow up on a listing issue.
  • Reviews: for as long as the review is shown on the site.
  • Server logs: Our host (Hostinger) and content delivery network (QUIC.cloud) automatically log technical request data such as IP address, browser, page requested and time. These logs are used only for security and troubleshooting and are typically deleted within 30 days, though our providers’ own schedules may vary.
  • Google Analytics data: detailed event data is kept for 2 months, and user-level data for up to 14 months. The 14-month period resets each time a visitor returns.

Your choices

  • You can ask us to see, correct or delete personal information we hold about you, including a review you posted. Use the contact form at https://stringandamp.com/contact/ or email privacy@stringandamp.com and we will reply within 30 days.
  • Shop owners can ask us to correct or remove their listing the same way.
  • You can block cookies or opt out of Google Analytics as described above.

Children

This site is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child has sent us information, contact us and we will delete it.

Security

We take reasonable steps to protect the site and the information we hold, including encrypted connections (HTTPS) and restricted access to our systems. No website can be completely secure, so please do not send sensitive information through the contact form.

Changes to this policy

If we change this policy, we will update it on this page and change the effective date at the top.

Contact

Questions about this policy: email privacy@stringandamp.com or use our contact form at https://stringandamp.com/contact/.