Cookie Policy
How Lebzology uses cookies and similar technologies on our website, and how you can control them.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer, smartphone, or other device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the website owners.
Cookies allow a website to recognise your device and store some information about your preferences or past actions. They cannot access data on your hard drive, run programs, or deliver viruses to your computer.
In addition to cookies, we may use other similar technologies such as web beacons, pixel tags, and local storage to collect information about your browsing behaviour and interactions with our website.
2. Why We Use Cookies
Lebzology uses cookies for several purposes, which can be grouped into the following categories:
2.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the website to function properly. They enable core features such as security, network management, and accessibility. You cannot opt out of these cookies because the website cannot operate without them.
- Maintaining your session as you navigate between pages
- Remembering items in your shopping cart
- Enabling secure login to your account
- Preventing fraudulent activity
2.2 Performance & Analytics Cookies
These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. They allow us to measure and improve the performance of our site.
- Counting visits and traffic sources
- Identifying which pages are most and least popular
- Measuring how visitors move around the site
- Detecting and reporting errors
2.3 Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages.
- Remembering your language and region preferences
- Storing your login details for faster access
- Remembering your display and accessibility settings
- Enabling live chat support
2.4 Targeting & Advertising Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other sites.
- Delivering personalised advertising based on your browsing behaviour
- Measuring the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns
- Limiting the number of times you see an advertisement
- Sharing data with social media platforms for targeted advertising
3. Cookies We Use
The table below lists the specific cookies and similar technologies we use on our website, along with their purpose and duration.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| _session | Lebzology | Maintains your login session | Session |
| _csrf_token | Lebzology | Security — prevents cross-site request forgery | Session |
| cart_items | Lebzology | Stores items in your shopping cart | 30 days |
| _ga | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique users | 2 years |
| _gid | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique users for 24 hours | 24 hours |
| _gat | Google Analytics | Throttles request rate | 1 minute |
| _fbp | Meta (Facebook) | Delivers personalised advertising | 3 months |
| fr | Meta (Facebook) | Tracks ad performance and user behaviour | 3 months |
| cookie_consent | Lebzology | Stores your cookie preference choices | 1 year |
| language_pref | Lebzology | Remembers your selected language | 1 year |
Note: This list is reviewed and updated regularly. Third-party cookies may change as we update our services or add new partners. We recommend checking this page periodically for the latest information.
4. How We Obtain Your Consent
Under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), we are required to obtain your informed consent before placing non-essential cookies on your device.
When you first visit our website, you will see a cookie consent banner that explains our use of cookies and invites you to manage your preferences. By clicking “Accept All” or adjusting your preferences and clicking “Save Preferences,” you provide your voluntary, specific, and informed consent for the categories of cookies you have selected.
Consent under POPIA must be:
- Voluntary — You have a genuine choice and are not forced to accept cookies to use basic features of the website
- Specific — You consent to each category of cookies individually, not through a blanket acceptance
- Informed — You are clearly told what cookies are used, why they are used, and what data they collect before you consent
We do not use “cookie walls” that block access to our website unless you accept all cookies. Essential cookies are activated by default because they are necessary for the website to function, but all other categories require your explicit opt-in consent.
5. Managing Your Cookie Preferences
You can change your cookie preferences at any time by clicking the “Cookie Preferences” link in the footer of our website, or by using the controls below.
5.1 Browser Controls
You can also manage cookies through your web browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:
- View cookies that have been set and delete them individually
- Block third-party cookies
- Block cookies from particular sites
- Block all cookies from being set
- Delete all cookies when you close your browser
Please note that if you choose to block or delete cookies, some features of our website may not function correctly, and your experience may be degraded.
Find out how to manage cookies in your browser:
6. Third-Party Cookies
Some cookies on our website are placed by third-party services that we use to enhance our website functionality, analyse traffic, and deliver advertising. These third parties may collect data about your online activities over time and across different websites.
We work with the following third-party providers who may set cookies on your device:
- Google Analytics — For website traffic analysis and performance measurement. Google Privacy Policy
- Meta (Facebook) — For social media integration and targeted advertising. Meta Privacy Policy
- PayFast — For secure payment processing during checkout. PayFast Privacy Policy
- Intercom / Zendesk — For live chat and customer support. Intercom Privacy Policy
- Cloudflare — For website security and performance optimisation. Cloudflare Privacy Policy
We do not control these third-party cookies, and we encourage you to review the privacy policies of these providers to understand how they collect and use your data.
7. Cookie Duration
Cookies can remain on your device for different periods of time:
- Session cookies — These are temporary cookies that are deleted when you close your browser. They are used to maintain your session as you navigate our website.
- Persistent cookies — These remain on your device for a set period (as specified in the table above) or until you manually delete them. They are used to remember your preferences and settings for future visits.
8. Data Subject Rights
Under POPIA, you have the following rights regarding cookies and the personal information they may collect:
- Right to be informed — You have the right to know what personal information is being collected and for what purpose
- Right to access — You can request access to the personal information we hold about you
- Right to correction — You can request that we correct any inaccurate or outdated personal information
- Right to deletion — You can request that we delete your personal information, subject to legal retention requirements
- Right to object — You can object to the processing of your personal information for direct marketing purposes
- Right to withdraw consent — You can withdraw your consent to non-essential cookies at any time via the Cookie Preferences panel or by contacting us directly
To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Information Officer using the details provided at the end of this policy.
9. Children’s Privacy
Our website is not intended for children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children through cookies or any other means.
If we become aware that a child under 18 has provided us with personal information without parental or guardian consent, we will take steps to delete that information as soon as possible. If you believe we may have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.
10. Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legislation, or our business practices. When we make material changes, we will notify you by:
- Updating the “Last Updated” date at the top of this policy
- Displaying a notice on our website
- Sending an email to registered users (where applicable)
We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies.
11. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy, our use of cookies, or your data subject rights under POPIA, please contact our Information Officer:
Cookie & Privacy Queries
Our Information Officer is ready to assist with any questions about cookies or your personal data.