Privacy policy

1. Who we are

ZippyTurnips develops Phone Shop Simulator and operates this website. This policy explains the information we handle in connection with the game, this website and support requests. For that information, ZippyTurnips is the data controller.

Contact: phoneshopsimulator@gmail.com.

2. Playing the game

Local saves and settings

The game stores progress, preferences, shop layout, inventory, in-game finances, your chosen shop name and sign text, achievement progress and save backups on your device. A save may include an in-game screenshot preview. Customer accounts and financial records inside the simulation are fictional game data.

Where Steam Cloud is enabled, saves may also be synchronised through Steam. You can manage cloud saving through Steam. Local saves are not automatically sent to ZippyTurnips as bug reports.

Steam

The Steam version uses Steam account services to read and unlock achievements and record progression milestones, such as completing early trading days, expanding the shop, completing online orders and fitting screen protectors. These records are associated with your Steam account; they are not anonymous at the point they are recorded. We use aggregate statistics to understand progression and improve the game.

Epic Games

The Epic version uses Epic Online Services to authenticate the signed-in player and read or unlock achievements. It requests Basic Profile permission and uses Epic account and product-user identifiers for these features. Authentication credentials are handled by the integration and are not included in game saves or bug-report attachments. The game does not request friends-list or social-presence permissions through this Epic integration.

Storefront providers handle their own account, purchase and service data under their own policies. This policy describes our integration; it does not replace their privacy notices.

Discord activity

If Discord is running, the game can share an activity description, your in-game day, shop level and session start time with the Discord desktop app. This setting is enabled by default. Turn it off in Options → Privacy → Share game activity on Discord. Discord’s own activity settings also affect who can see it. This integration does not send your shop name or save file.

3. Optional bug reports and support

When you choose to submit an in-game bug report, we receive your description, reproduction steps, game version, operating-system/platform information, a generated report identifier and whether you included a save.

The save-attachment checkbox is off by default. If you enable it, the latest save is included. It can contain your chosen shop name, custom sign text, gameplay progress and a screenshot preview from the game. We do not separately capture your desktop or upload a log file with this report. Please avoid entering personal or sensitive information in a report or shop sign.

Reports are delivered through a Google-hosted receiver, stored privately in Google Drive and emailed to our support mailbox. If you email us directly, we receive your email address, message and any attachments you send. We use this information to investigate problems, reply to you and improve the game.

4. This website

This is an information website. We have not added advertising, visitor analytics, a newsletter, a contact form or marketing cookies. Email links open your email application; the website does not collect your message through a form.

The site is hosted using OpenAI Sites and Cloudflare infrastructure. Hosting services may process technical request information, such as an IP address, browser information, the requested page and request time, and may use necessary security or service cookies to deliver and protect the site. Provider handling is explained in their privacy notices.

5. Why information is used and shared

We use information to provide the game’s account features, deliver this website, respond to support requests, resolve bugs and understand overall game progression. We do not sell personal information or use it for targeted advertising.

Where UK or European data-protection law applies, we rely on:

• Providing a service: information necessary to deliver requested game and account features.
• Legitimate interests: maintaining and securing the game and website, resolving support issues and understanding progression to improve the experience.
• Consent: optional submissions or permissions where consent is requested. You can withdraw consent for future processing, without affecting earlier lawful use.
• Legal obligations: keeping or disclosing information where the law requires it.

Information is handled by the service providers described above as needed for those purposes. We may also disclose information when legally required or necessary to protect rights and security. Providers may process information outside your country. Their notices explain their international processing and safeguards; contact us if you need further information about a transfer connected with our services.

Provider privacy notices: Steam / Valve · Epic Games · Discord · Google · OpenAI · Cloudflare.

6. How long information is kept

Local saves, backups and preferences remain on your device until replaced or deleted. Uninstalling the game may leave them behind. Cloud saves and platform records are managed separately through the relevant storefront.

Bug reports, attached saves and support emails do not currently have automatic deletion. They are kept in private support storage to investigate and resolve issues and retain useful support history. When deciding whether to retain a record, we consider whether an issue remains open, whether the record is needed for follow-up or recurring faults, and any legal requirements. You can ask us to review or delete information you have supplied using the contact below.

Storefront account records, Discord activity and hosting-provider records follow the relevant provider’s retention arrangements. Deleting your local save does not by itself delete information already sent to a provider or submitted in a bug report.

7. Your choices and rights

• You can play without submitting a bug report, and can submit a report without attaching a save.
• You can disable Discord activity sharing in the game’s Privacy settings.
• You can manage storefront permissions and cloud saves through the relevant platform.
• You can contact us to request access, correction or deletion of personal information we hold.

Depending on your location and the lawful basis, you may also have rights to restrict processing, object to processing, receive a portable copy of your information or withdraw consent. Some rights have legal exceptions. We may ask for enough information to verify and locate your request; please do not send passwords or sign-in codes.

For an in-game bug report, include the report identifier if you have it, or the approximate submission date and a description of the issue. Requests about platform accounts should also be directed to the relevant provider.

You can complain to your local data-protection authority. In the UK, this is the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).