SpecialsLast updated 21 October 2026
Who this policy covers
This policy covers the Specials mobile app, published by Specials, for users in South Africa and anywhere else the app is available. It's written to meet South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
Information we collect
| What | When | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Email address, password | You create an account | To sign you in and keep your saved deals, alerts and submissions attached to your account |
| Display name | You create an account | Shown back to you in the app (e.g. on the Account screen) |
| Device location (GPS coordinates) | You allow location access | To rank deals by distance from you. Sent with each search — we don't keep a location history |
| Deals you save | You tap the heart icon on a deal | So your saved list is there next time you open the app |
| Notification and brand-follow preferences | You set alert toggles | To know which alerts you've asked for (push notifications aren't sent yet in this version) |
| Deal submissions: photo, brand, store, price, and location if available | You submit a deal you've spotted | So our team can review and, if it checks out, add it as a real deal for everyone |
| Deal reports | You report a deal as wrong | To catch stale or incorrect listings |
| Usage statistics: which screens and deals you open, taps on "Open in the app" and "Get directions", saves, and a random install ID | You use the app | To count how many people use Specials and how often deals are opened, so we can improve the app and show brands overall usage numbers. The install ID is a random code created on your device. It is not your name, email, phone number or location, and we do not link it to your account |
| Website enquiries: name, email, optional phone number and your message | You send us an enquiry through the form on our website | To reply to you. The enquiry is emailed to us and a copy is stored securely with our provider, Supabase |
| Pickup codes generated | You get a code to show at the till | To create a single-use code tied to your account |
We don't collect payment information — Specials doesn't process payments or deliveries itself.
Usage statistics, specifically
Specials records simple usage events, such as opening the app, viewing a deal, saving a deal, or tapping through to a brand's app. Each event is stored with a random install ID, the deal or brand it was about, and the device type and app version. We use these to produce overall numbers, for example how many people used the app this month or how many were sent to a particular brand's app. We share only these overall numbers with brands, never information about an individual. Deleting your account does not remove these events because they are not linked to your account; uninstalling the app and clearing its data creates a new random ID.
Location, specifically
Location access is optional. If you decline it, or your device doesn't support it, Specials falls back to a default city (Sandton, Johannesburg) so the app still works. When you do share it, your coordinates are sent to find nearby deals and are not stored in a location history — each request just uses your current position at that moment.
Photos, specifically
When you submit a deal, the photo you attach is stored privately and is visible only to you and to our moderators reviewing submissions — it is never shown publicly or to other users unless a moderator uses it to create a real deal listing (without your photo, unless we ask you separately).
How we store and protect your data
Data is stored with our backend provider, Supabase, using row-level security so your account data (saved deals, alerts, submissions, pickup codes) is only ever readable by you and by our moderators — never by other users. Connections between the app and our servers are encrypted (HTTPS/TLS).
Who we share data with
We don't sell your personal information. We share it only with:
- Supabase, our backend and hosting provider, which stores the data described above on our behalf.
- Law enforcement or regulators, only if legally required.
We do not share your data with fast-food brands or franchisees. If we build a paid brand dashboard in future, it will show aggregate deal performance, not your personal information.
Your rights
Under POPIA, you can:
- Ask what personal information we hold about you
- Ask us to correct inaccurate information
- Ask us to delete your account and associated data
- Object to a particular use of your information
To do any of these, contact us at [email protected]. We'll respond within a reasonable time and in any case within the timeframes POPIA requires.
Deleting your account
You can delete your account at any time inside the app: open the Account tab and tap Delete account. This immediately and permanently removes your account, saved deals, alert preferences, pickup codes, deal reports, submissions and submission photos.
You can also read these steps at our delete account page. If you can't access the app, email [email protected] from the address you signed up with, with the subject "Delete my account", and we'll delete your account and data.
Data retention
We keep your account data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we delete your personal data within a reasonable period, except where we're required to keep it longer by law.
Children's privacy
Specials isn't directed at children, and we don't knowingly collect information from children under 18 without parental consent, in line with POPIA.
Changes to this policy
If we make material changes to this policy, we'll update the "last updated" date above. Continuing to use Specials after a change means you accept the update.
Contact us
Questions about this policy or your data: [email protected]