Privacy Policy — ShopScout USA
What this app is (and is not)
ShopScout USA is an independent directory that gathers the top US stores, trending brands and deals — marketplaces, department stores, fashion & apparel, shoes, electronics, beauty, home, grocery, pharmacy, sports, luxury, kids and off-price — in one place and helps you reach them quickly. On top of the directory the app adds its own native features: category browsing, a unified multi-store item search (you type a term, the app passes it to each store’s own search), on-device saved favorites, and a “Search Nearby” tab that opens Google Maps to find shops around you. When you open a store, it loads in a Chrome Custom Tab / your default browser. ShopScout USA is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of the retailers or brands it links to (Amazon, Walmart, Target, eBay, Nike, Adidas, Best Buy, Sephora, Macy’s, Costco, and any others). All product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners; the in-app tiles use neutral monogram chips, not merchant logos.
What this app collects
ShopScout USA does not collect any personal information from you. There are no user accounts, no sign-in, and no server we control that stores your activity.
| Data | Collected? | Stored where |
|---|---|---|
| Name, email, account info | No | — |
| Device location | No — the app does not request the location permission | — |
| Contacts, camera, microphone | No — the app does not request these permissions | — |
| Saved stores | Only which of the built-in stores you tap the heart icon on (stored as short names) | App-private SharedPreferences on this device only |
| Search queries you type | Used at typing time to construct the store’s own search URL and open it. The query is sent to that store’s servers the same way it would be from any web browser; ShopScout keeps no search history of its own. | — |
| “Search Nearby” requests | When you tap a store type, the app hands a map query (e.g. pharmacy near me) to Google Maps, which uses your device location to show results. ShopScout never receives or stores your location. | — |
| Crash logs / analytics | No | — |
How “Search Nearby” works
The Nearby tab lists store types (malls, department stores, pharmacies, grocery, electronics, and so on). Tapping one fires a standard Android geo: map intent — for example “shoe store near me” — which your device hands to Google Maps (or your default maps app). That app uses its own access to your location to show shops around you, under its privacy policy. ShopScout USA itself does not request, receive, or store your location, and declares no location permission.
How opening a store works
Tapping a store — either to open its home page or to run your search against it — opens that retailer’s own public website in a Chrome Custom Tab or your default browser, scoped to the URL you selected. The page is served directly by the retailer. ShopScout does not inject scripts into those pages and does not read your cookies, login credentials, or the content you submit on them. For sign-in, checkout, or payment, the third-party site’s own privacy policy applies.
Advertising (Google AdMob)
ShopScout USA shows ads to keep the app free. Ads are served by Google’s AdMob SDK, integrated as a library inside the app. When AdMob is active it may collect or use certain device-level information, depending on whether you consent (in the EEA / UK / Switzerland) and on Google’s own policies:
- Advertising ID (a resettable, device-level identifier you can change at any time in Android > Settings > Privacy > Ads).
- IP address and approximate location derived from it.
- App interactions used to limit ad frequency and measure ad performance.
The app does not perform user tracking across other apps or websites that we own. To learn more or change your choices, see Google’s privacy notice at policies.google.com/technologies/ads and the device-level controls under Android > Settings > Privacy > Ads.
EEA / UK / Switzerland consent (UMP)
If you are located in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, on first launch the app shows a Google User Messaging Platform (UMP) consent form so you can manage how AdMob personalizes ads. Your choice is stored locally by the UMP SDK and is respected by the app when loading ads. You can reopen these choices from the “Ad Privacy Options” link in the app’s About tab.
Permissions used
| Permission | Why |
|---|---|
INTERNET | Loading store websites, sending search queries to those stores, and serving AdMob ads. |
ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE | Detecting whether you are online so the app can show an offline screen instead of failing silently. |
Children
ShopScout USA is a general-audience shopping directory and is not directed at children under 13. It does not knowingly collect personal data from children.
Internet required
ShopScout USA needs an internet connection to load store pages, run searches, and keep the app free with ads. When offline, the app shows a “You’re offline” screen and does not enable the directory.
Contact
If you have questions about this privacy policy, email moebahlawan87@gmail.com.