Cookie Policy
The short version: one essential cookie remembers your choice, and analytics/advertising cookies only load once you say yes.
1. What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files stored on your device by websites you visit, typically used to remember preferences or track activity. Related technologies include local storage — a way for your browser to remember things on your device without sending anything to a server.
2. Strictly necessary cookies
When you choose an option on our cookie banner (Accept all, Essential only, or your own
preferences), we set one cookie — cbd_consent — that remembers your choice for
182 days so we don't ask again on every visit. This cookie is strictly necessary for the
consent mechanism itself to work, so it is set regardless of which option you choose. It
stores only your preference (yes/no per category), never your identity.
3. What we store in your browser instead
Separately from cookies, we use your browser's local storage for two things: your theme preference (light or dark mode) and your saved favourite sales. This data stays on your device, is never sent to our servers, and you can clear it at any time through your browser's site data settings.
4. Analytics and advertising cookies
We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors use the site (pages viewed, approximate location, device type) and Google AdSense to show adverts that help fund the directory. Both are implemented with Google Consent Mode v2: by default, analytics and advertising cookies are set to "denied" and do not load. They are only switched to "granted" — and only then set their cookies — after you choose "Accept all" (or enable that specific category) on our cookie banner. Choosing "Essential only" keeps them denied. You can change your choice at any time using "Cookie settings" in the footer.
5. Third-party content
Our interactive maps use map tiles from third-party providers (OpenStreetMap/CARTO via Leaflet); loading tiles involves your browser requesting images from those providers, who see your IP address as with any web request, but they do not set cookies through our pages. Cloudflare, which delivers and protects the site, may set a small number of strictly-necessary security cookies (for example to distinguish real visitors from bots or to keep the site available during an attack) — these are essential to keeping the site online and are not used for advertising. We also use Google Search Console to monitor our search performance; it is a webmaster tool that reads publicly available search data and does not set any cookies in your browser.
6. How to control cookies and site data
Use "Cookie settings" in the footer at any time to change your analytics/advertising choice. You can also manage cookies through your browser settings — block, delete or allow them per website; Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari all explain how in their help pages. Blocking all cookies will stop the consent banner from remembering your choice (it will reappear each visit) but will not otherwise break the site; clearing site data will reset your theme preference and favourites too.
7. Updates to this policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time — in particular if we add or remove a third-party service. The new version will be posted here with an updated date.
8. More information
For full details on how we collect and use your data, see our Privacy Policy. If you have any questions about this policy, email us at [email protected] or use our contact page.