Cookie Policy
Cookie Policy
Effective Date: January 1, 2024 Last Updated: April 19, 2026
1. Introduction
Sumtuches Inc. ("we", "us", "our", or "Company") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website (www.sumtuches.com) and mobile applications to enhance your experience, analyze usage, and deliver personalized content.
This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, which cookies we use, why we use them, and how you can manage your cookie preferences. By accessing our Website, you consent to our use of cookies in accordance with this policy.
This Cookie Policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy for complete information about how we collect and use your data.
2. What Are Cookies?
2.1 Definition
Cookies are small text files stored on your device (computer, tablet, smartphone) when you visit a website. They contain information about your browsing activity and preferences. When you visit our Website again, cookies allow us to recognize you and remember your choices.
Cookies are harmless files containing no executable code or viruses. They cannot access other files on your device or spread malware.
2.2 Persistent vs. Session Cookies
Session Cookies:
- Temporary files deleted when you close your browser
- Used only during your current visit
- Contain your login information and preferences for that session
- Do not store long-term data on your device
Persistent Cookies:
- Remain on your device even after closing your browser
- Stored until they expire (weeks, months, or years)
- Used to remember your preferences on future visits
- Enable features like "remember me" functionality
2.3 Similar Technologies
Beyond cookies, we may use:
- Web Beacons (Pixels): Invisible 1x1 pixel images embedded in pages to track page views
- Local Storage: Client-side storage for data persistence across sessions
- Tracking Scripts: JavaScript code tracking user behavior and interactions
- Device Identifiers: Unique identifiers for mobile app users
3. Types of Cookies We Use
We use the following categories of cookies:
3.1 Essential Cookies
These cookies are necessary for our Website to function properly. Without essential cookies, certain features would not work.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| sumtuches_session | Maintains your user session and login status | Session (expires when you close browser) | Sumtuches |
| sumtuches_auth_token | Verifies your authentication and permissions | 30 days | Sumtuches |
| PHPSESSID | Tracks your current session on our servers | Session | Sumtuches |
| csrf_token | Prevents cross-site request forgery attacks | Session | Sumtuches |
| language_preference | Remembers your chosen website language | 1 year | Sumtuches |
| cookie_consent | Records your cookie preferences | 1 year | Sumtuches |
| payment_session | Secure payment processing during checkout | Session | Stripe/PayPal |
Purpose: Enabling core functionality such as:
- Logging in and staying logged in
- Accessing your account and membership information
- Processing class registrations and payments
- Protecting against fraud and security threats
- Maintaining website security and stability
Necessity: These cookies cannot be disabled. Doing so would break website functionality.
3.2 Analytics Cookies
These cookies help us understand how you interact with our Website, allowing us to improve user experience and services.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Tracks unique visitors and sessions | 2 years | Google Analytics |
| _gid | Identifies sessions; resets daily | 24 hours | Google Analytics |
| _gat | Throttles request rate for tracking | 1 minute | Google Analytics |
| _gat_gtag_UA | Google Analytics property tracking | 1 minute | Google Analytics |
| __utma | Records first and last visit times | 2 years | Google Analytics |
| __utmz | Records referring source | 6 months | Google Analytics |
| hotjar_device_id | Enables Hotjar session recording | 1 year | Hotjar |
| hj_testCookie | Determines if cookies are enabled | Session | Hotjar |
Purpose: Understanding user behavior:
- Pages most frequently visited
- How long users spend on pages
- Where users come from (referral sources)
- Devices and browsers used
- Geographic location (city/country level)
- Flow through the website
- Conversion paths and user journeys
Data Collection: Analytics cookies collect anonymized data and do not identify you personally. Data is aggregated and reported as statistics (e.g., "45% of users visit the Services page").
Opt-Out: You can disable analytics cookies in your cookie preferences without affecting website functionality.
3.3 Functional Cookies
These cookies enhance your Website experience by remembering choices and preferences.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| sumtuches_preferences | Saves class schedule preferences, notification settings | 1 year | Sumtuches |
| sumtuches_favorites | Remembers favorite classes and instructors | 1 year | Sumtuches |
| sumtuches_bookmarks | Tracks bookmarked retreat or class information | 1 year | Sumtuches |
| sumtuches_search_history | Remembers recent class searches | 6 months | Sumtuches |
| timezone_preference | Stores your timezone for class scheduling | 1 year | Sumtuches |
| video_playback_prefs | Remembers video quality and autoplay settings | 1 year | Sumtuches |
| text_size_preference | Stores text size preference for accessibility | 1 year | Sumtuches |
Purpose: Improving your experience by:
- Remembering your class preferences
- Maintaining search and browsing history
- Personalizing content and recommendations
- Remembering notification preferences
- Storing accessibility settings
- Auto-filling frequently entered information
- Maintaining playlist preferences for meditation audio
Opt-Out: You can disable functional cookies, though this may reduce personalization and convenience.
3.4 Marketing Cookies
These cookies help us deliver targeted advertising and measure marketing campaign effectiveness.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| sumtuches_utm_source | Tracks marketing campaign source | 6 months | Sumtuches |
| sumtuches_utm_medium | Tracks marketing campaign medium | 6 months | Sumtuches |
| sumtuches_utm_campaign | Tracks specific marketing campaign | 6 months | Sumtuches |
| fbp | Facebook Pixel tracking for ads | 3 months | |
| fr | Facebook cookie for ad delivery and measurement | 3 months | |
| _fbp | Facebook conversion tracking | 3 months | |
| GoogleAdServingTest | Google Ads test and delivery | Session | Google Ads |
| IDE | Google DoubleClick advertising ID | 2 years | |
| ANID | Google interest-based advertising | 2 years | |
| NID | Google ad personalization and reporting | 6 months |
Purpose: Marketing and advertising:
- Tracking which ads led you to our Website
- Showing you relevant ads across other websites
- Measuring ad campaign performance and ROI
- Creating lookalike audiences for targeted advertising
- Retargeting to users who visited but didn't convert
- A/B testing ad variations
- Understanding user demographics and interests
Data Sharing: Marketing cookies may share data with advertising platforms (Google, Facebook, etc.) to enable targeted advertising. These platforms use your data according to their own privacy policies.
Opt-Out: You can disable marketing cookies in your preferences. You may still see ads, but they won't be personalized to your interests.
4. Third-Party Cookies
We work with third-party companies that place cookies on our Website:
4.1 Google Analytics
Provider: Google LLC Purpose: Website analytics, user behavior tracking, conversion measurement Cookies: _ga, _gid, _gat, __utma, __utmz Duration: 2 years Data Shared: Anonymized user data, page views, traffic sources, device information Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy Opt-Out: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
4.2 Google Ads / Google DoubleClick
Provider: Google LLC Purpose: Targeted advertising, conversion tracking, ad measurement Cookies: IDE, NID, ANID, GoogleAdServingTest Duration: 2 years Data Shared: Browsing history, interests, demographic information Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy Opt-Out: https://adssettings.google.com
4.3 Facebook Pixel
Provider: Meta Platforms Inc. Purpose: Ad targeting, conversion tracking, audience building Cookies: fbp, fr, _fbp Duration: 3 months Data Shared: User interactions, pixel events, conversion data Privacy Policy: https://facebook.com/policies/cookies Opt-Out: https://facebook.com/ads/preferences
4.4 Hotjar
Provider: Hotjar Ltd Purpose: Session recording, heatmaps, user behavior analysis Cookies: hotjar_device_id, hj_testCookie Duration: 1 year Data Shared: Session recordings, mouse movement, clicks, scrolling Privacy Policy: https://hotjar.com/legal/policies/privacy-cookie-information Opt-Out: https://hotjar.com/opt-out
4.5 Stripe / PayPal
Provider: Stripe Inc. / PayPal Inc. Purpose: Payment processing, transaction security, fraud detection Cookies: payment_session and related payment cookies Duration: Session Data Shared: Payment information (processed securely, never stored by us) Privacy Policy: https://stripe.com/privacy / https://paypal.com/privacy Opt-Out: N/A (essential for payment processing)
4.6 Mailchimp
Provider: Mailchimp (part of Intuit) Purpose: Email marketing, subscriber tracking, campaign analytics Cookies: Various tracking cookies for email engagement Duration: Varies Data Shared: Email opens, clicks, conversion tracking Privacy Policy: https://mailchimp.com/legal/privacy/ Opt-Out: Unsubscribe link in emails
5. How to Manage Cookies
5.1 Cookie Preference Center
When you first visit our Website, you'll see a cookie consent banner. You can:
- Accept All: Accept all non-essential cookies
- Essential Only: Disable all non-essential cookies
- Customize: Choose specific cookie categories to enable/disable
Your preferences are saved and applied on future visits. You can change preferences anytime by clicking "Cookie Settings" in your account or footer.
5.2 Browser Settings
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Instructions for major browsers:
Google Chrome
- Click menu icon (⋮) in top right
- Select "Settings"
- Click "Privacy and security" on left sidebar
- Click "Cookies and other site data"
- Choose options:
- "Allow all cookies"
- "Block all cookies" (not recommended)
- "Block third-party cookies in Incognito"
- "Manage exceptions" to customize per-site
- Click "All cookies and site data" to view/delete cookies
Mozilla Firefox
- Click menu icon (≡) in top right
- Select "Settings"
- Click "Privacy & Security" on left sidebar
- Under "Cookies and Site Data", choose:
- "Accept cookies and site data from websites" (default)
- "Reject all cookies"
- "Only accept cookies from sites I visit" (limits third-party)
- Click "Manage Data" to view and delete specific cookies
Apple Safari
- Click "Safari" menu
- Select "Settings" (or "Preferences")
- Click "Privacy" tab
- Under "Cookies and website data", choose:
- "Always block"
- "Allow from websites I visit"
- "Always allow"
- Click "Manage Website Data" to delete specific cookies
Microsoft Edge
- Click menu icon (⋯) in top right
- Select "Settings"
- Click "Privacy, search, and services" on left sidebar
- Under "Clear browsing data", select timeframe and "Cookies and other site data"
- Click "Choose what to clear" and select "Cookies and other site data"
- Uncheck other options if you only want to clear cookies
- Click "Clear now"
Important Notes:
- Disabling cookies may affect website functionality
- Clearing cookies logs you out of your account
- Some features may not work properly without cookies
- Settings differ between regular and private/incognito browsing
5.3 Third-Party Opt-Out Tools
You can opt out of third-party cookies through:
- Google Analytics: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
- Google Ads: https://adssettings.google.com or https://www.aboutads.info
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/ads/preferences
- Network Advertising Initiative: https://optout.networkadvertising.org
- Digital Advertising Alliance: https://optout.aboutads.info
These tools allow you to opt out of tracking across multiple advertisers and websites.
5.4 Do Not Track (DNT)
Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" feature that sends a signal to websites requesting no tracking.
- Enable in Chrome: Settings > Privacy > Send a "Do not track" request
- Enable in Firefox: Settings > Privacy > Browser Privacy > "Do not track"
- Enable in Safari: Preferences > Privacy > "Ask websites not to track me"
- Enable in Edge: Settings > Privacy > "Tracking prevention"
Our Compliance: We honor DNT signals from browsers. If DNT is enabled, we:
- Disable marketing and analytics cookies
- Continue using essential cookies for functionality
- Do not share data with advertising platforms
- Limit third-party data collection
6. Do Not Track Signals
We respect Do Not Track (DNT) browser settings. When DNT is enabled:
- We disable non-essential tracking cookies and pixels
- We do not share your information with advertising networks
- We do not engage in cross-site behavioral tracking
- We do not enable third-party cookie-based targeting
- We continue using essential cookies for security and functionality
Please note that:
- Not all browsers support DNT
- Some third-party services may not honor DNT signals
- DNT is different from blocking cookies in browser settings
- You should also adjust your browser cookie settings for maximum privacy
7. Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect:
- Changes in our cookie usage
- New technologies or tracking methods
- Regulatory requirements
- User feedback and preferences
- Third-party service updates
When we update this policy:
- We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top
- Material changes will be announced via email (if we have your email)
- We will request your consent for new non-essential cookies
- Updated policy becomes effective 30 days after announcement
- Your continued use constitutes acceptance
We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about our cookie usage.
8. Specific Cookie Use Cases
8.1 Class Registration and Booking
When you register for classes or book private sessions:
- Session cookies maintain your registration data
- Persistent cookies remember your preferences and booking history
- Authentication cookies verify your identity
- Payment cookies process your transaction securely
8.2 Membership Management
For membership features:
- Authentication cookies keep you logged in
- Preference cookies remember your membership level and benefits
- Analytics cookies track which membership features you use
- Functional cookies personalize your member experience
8.3 Online Classes and Content
For accessing live and on-demand classes:
- Session cookies track your video playback
- Functional cookies remember video quality and subtitle preferences
- Analytics cookies measure class completion and engagement
- Storage cookies maintain your watched/unwatched status
8.4 Email Communications
When we send emails:
- Tracking pixels measure email opens
- Cookies track email link clicks
- Analytics identify which content resonates with subscribers
- Preferences prevent sending to uninterested users
8.5 Advertising and Remarketing
When you see our ads elsewhere:
- Cookies identify you as previous visitor
- Data shows you ads relevant to your interests
- Conversion cookies measure if you return and book classes
- Analytics track ad campaign performance
9. International Considerations
9.1 GDPR Compliance (EU/UK Users)
If you're in the European Union or United Kingdom:
- You must explicitly consent to non-essential cookies before we place them
- You can withdraw consent anytime
- We provide clear information about each cookie's purpose
- You have rights under GDPR (access, deletion, portability, etc.)
- See our Privacy Policy for additional GDPR rights
9.2 CCPA Compliance (California Users)
If you're in California:
- Cookies are considered "personal information" under CCPA
- You have right to know what cookies we use
- You can opt-out of sale or sharing of cookie data
- See our Privacy Policy for additional California privacy rights
9.3 Canada (PIPEDA)
If you're in Canada:
- We seek consent before placing non-essential cookies
- We describe how cookies are used
- You can withdraw consent anytime
- See our Privacy Policy for additional Canadian privacy rights
10. Contact Us
If you have questions about our cookie usage, this policy, or your privacy:
Sumtuches Inc. Data Protection Officer 1247 Wellness Boulevard, Suite 200 San Francisco, CA 94103
Email: [email protected] Phone: +1 (555) 234-7890 Business Hours: Monday-Friday 6am-8pm PST
Online Privacy Tools:
- [Cookie Settings] - Manage your cookie preferences
- [Privacy Policy] - Full privacy information
- [Terms & Conditions] - Website terms
We will respond to privacy inquiries within 30 days.
Summary: We use cookies to enhance your experience, improve our services, understand user behavior, and deliver targeted content. You have full control over cookie preferences. Essential cookies cannot be disabled as they're necessary for website functionality. All other cookies can be managed through your browser, our cookie preference center, or third-party opt-out tools.