Privacy policy

Effective July 7, 2026

The Plain Exchange is a classified ads service for Holmes County, Ohio that runs on plain text messages and this website. This page says, in plain words, what information we collect, what we do with it, and the choices you have. If anything here is unclear, ask us — see Questions at the bottom.

The short version

• We collect what we need to run the service and nothing more.
• We do not sell your information to anyone.
• We never share your phone number or your text-message opt-in with other companies for their marketing.
• You can stop the texts any time by replying STOP.

What we collect

Your phone number. It is how the service knows you — for digests, for posting ads, and for signing in to this website.

Your email address, only if you give it to us for the email edition or add it to your account.

Your ads — the text you send, and any picture you attach.

Messages to and from the service. We keep a record of the text messages and emails the service sends and receives, so we can answer questions, fix problems, and keep the service honest.

Payment records. Card payments are handled by Stripe, our payment processor. We never see or store your full card number. We keep a record of your credit purchases and how credits are spent.

Sign-in basics. A password (stored scrambled, never as plain text) and a cookie that keeps you signed in on this website.

How we use it

• To send the ad digests you signed up for, by text or email.
• To run your ads and let buyers reach you.
• To review every ad before it runs, and keep the service safe and honest.
• To handle payments, credits, and refunds.
• To answer you when you write or call for help.

We do not use your information for advertising other people’s products, and we do not track you around the internet.

Text messaging consent

You only get texts from us if you asked for them — by texting SUBSCRIBE (or START) to (330) 960-7170, or by using the service to post and manage ads. Message frequency varies: up to four ad digests a day, plus replies to the commands you send. Message and data rates may apply, charged by your phone company.

Reply STOP any time to stop the digests. Reply HELP for help, or call or text (330) 960-7170.

We will not share your mobile phone number, or your consent to receive text messages, with third parties or affiliates for their marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent are never sold and never passed to any third party for marketing.

What we share

We share information only with the companies that help us run the service, and only so they can do their jobs for us:

• Our text-message carrier, to deliver the texts.
• Our email provider, to deliver the email edition.
• Stripe, to process card payments.
• Our hosting and database providers, to run the website and store the records.

None of them may use your information for their own marketing. Beyond that, we share information only if the law requires it, or to protect the service and its members from fraud or abuse. We do not sell personal information.

What’s public

Ads are public — that is the point of an ad. The ad text and picture you submit appear in the digests, in the email edition, and on this website. Your contact details inside an ad are masked on the website until a visitor signs in. Keep in mind that anything you put in an ad can be seen by the people who get the ads.

Cookies

This website uses one kind of cookie: the one that keeps you signed in. No advertising cookies, no analytics trackers, no third-party cookies.

How long we keep things

We keep account, ad, message, and payment records while your account is active and as long as we need them to run the service, settle disputes, and meet legal and tax obligations. If you want your account or information removed, ask us — see Questions.

Security

Records are stored with reputable providers, connections to this website are encrypted, and passwords are stored scrambled. No system is perfect, but we keep the service small, plain, and careful.

Children

The service is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect information from them.

Your choices

• Stop the texts: reply STOP to any digest, or text STOP to (330) 960-7170.
• Stop the emails: every email edition has an unsubscribe link.
• See or correct your information: sign in to your account, or ask us.
• Delete your account: ask us and we will remove it, keeping only what the law requires us to keep.

Changes to this policy

If we change this policy, we will post the new version here with a new effective date. A meaningful change will be announced in the digest or by email.

Questions

Call or text (330) 960-7170, or write to us through the website. See also the terms and conditions and how it works.