Privacy Policy
Last updated: 3 September 2026
Pandian Stores operates TheRiceStore.com, an online store for purchasing rice and related products in Erode, Tamil Nadu.
We respect your privacy and are committed to handling personal information responsibly and securely. This Privacy Policy explains what information we may collect when you visit or use TheRiceStore.com, why we collect it, how it may be used or shared, and the choices available to you.
In this Privacy Policy, “Pandian Stores”, “TheRiceStore.com”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to Pandian Stores, Erode. “You” and “your” refer to customers, website visitors and other users of TheRiceStore.com.
We process personal data in accordance with applicable Indian laws and regulations, including applicable provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and related rules, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and rules made under it, as and when applicable.
1. Information We Collect
We collect only information that is reasonably required to operate our website, process orders, provide customer service and meet our legal or business obligations.
Information You Provide to Us
When you place an order, create an account, contact us or submit an enquiry, we may collect information such as:
Your name.
Mobile number.
Email address.
Billing and delivery address.
PIN code and delivery-location information.
Account username and password where an account is created.
Products ordered, quantities and order history.
Order notes or delivery instructions provided by you.
Information you submit through our contact or wholesale-enquiry forms.
Messages or information you send to us through WhatsApp, email or telephone.
Information necessary to process a return, refund, cancellation or customer-service request.
We do not require customers to provide medical information, biometric information, sexual orientation or similar information for the normal use of TheRiceStore.com.
2. Payment Information
Payments made through TheRiceStore.com may be processed using third-party payment service providers and payment gateways.
Depending on the payment options currently available, these may support methods such as UPI, Paytm, PhonePe, net banking, debit cards or credit cards.
Payment credentials are processed through the relevant payment provider or banking system. We do not intentionally store complete credit-card or debit-card numbers, CVV numbers, UPI PINs or internet-banking passwords on TheRiceStore.com.
We may receive and retain transaction-related information such as payment status, payment method, transaction or reference number, amount paid and refund status where required for processing an order, resolving a payment issue, accounting or record-keeping.
Your use of a third-party payment service is also subject to that provider’s own privacy and security practices.
3. Information Collected Automatically
When you visit TheRiceStore.com, certain technical information may be collected automatically by our website, hosting infrastructure, security systems, WooCommerce, cookies or analytics tools.
This information may include:
IP address.
Browser type.
Device type.
Operating system.
Pages visited.
Date and time of access.
Referring website or page.
Shopping-cart and session information.
Website-performance and error information.
Approximate location information derived from technical data.
This information is generally used to operate and secure the website, understand website usage, identify technical problems and improve the customer experience.
4. Cookies
TheRiceStore.com uses cookies and similar technologies that are necessary for the website and WooCommerce store to function correctly.
Cookies may be used for purposes such as:
Keeping products in your shopping cart.
Remembering account or session information.
Supporting checkout and account functionality.
Maintaining website security.
Remembering certain preferences.
Measuring website traffic and performance.
Understanding how visitors use the website.
We may use Google Tag Manager and measurement or analytics tools configured through the website to help us understand website usage and improve performance.
You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain essential cookies may prevent parts of the website, cart, account or checkout from functioning correctly.
5. How We Use Your Information
We may use personal information for purposes including:
Creating and managing customer accounts.
Processing and confirming orders.
Preparing invoices and transaction records.
Processing payments and confirming payment status.
Arranging local delivery or order fulfilment.
Contacting you regarding an order or delivery.
Responding to enquiries sent through our website, WhatsApp, telephone or email.
Processing cancellations, returns, exchanges and refunds.
Handling wholesale or bulk rice enquiries.
Providing customer support.
Preventing fraud, misuse and security incidents.
Maintaining and improving our website and services.
Troubleshooting technical problems.
Maintaining tax, accounting and business records.
Complying with applicable legal or regulatory requirements.
Sending promotional or informational communications where you have chosen to receive them or where otherwise permitted by applicable law.
We do not sell your personal information.
6. When We Share Information
We may share information only where reasonably necessary to operate our business, complete your order or comply with law.
This may include sharing appropriate information with:
Local delivery or logistics partners who require your name, telephone number, address and delivery information to complete an order.
Payment gateways, banks and payment-service providers used to process payments and refunds.
Website hosting, technology, security, email and other service providers that support TheRiceStore.com.
Accounting, tax, auditing or professional service providers where information is required for legitimate business or statutory purposes.
Government authorities, regulators, courts or law-enforcement agencies where disclosure is required by applicable law or a valid legal process.
Service providers are expected to use information only for the purpose for which it is provided and subject to applicable confidentiality and security obligations.
We do not sell or rent customer personal information to third parties for their independent marketing purposes.
7. WhatsApp, Email and Telephone Communications
If you contact Pandian Stores through WhatsApp, email or telephone, we may retain the information you provide and the relevant conversation where necessary to respond to your enquiry, process an order, provide customer support or maintain appropriate business records.
When you use WhatsApp or another third-party communication platform, that service may separately process information according to its own privacy policy and terms.
Please avoid sending sensitive payment credentials, passwords, UPI PINs, card PINs or other confidential authentication information through WhatsApp, email or contact forms.
8. Delivery Information
TheRiceStore.com currently delivers within Erode.
When delivery is arranged, necessary customer details such as name, mobile number, delivery address, order information and delivery instructions may be provided to the person or local delivery partner responsible for completing the delivery.
Delivery partners receive only information reasonably required to fulfil the delivery.
9. How Long We Keep Information
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected or where retention is required for business, accounting, taxation, legal, security, dispute-resolution or regulatory purposes.
Order and transaction records may therefore be retained even after an order has been completed or an account has been closed where we are legally or operationally required to keep those records.
Information that is no longer required will be deleted, anonymised or otherwise handled in accordance with applicable requirements and our reasonable data-retention practices.
10. Information Security
We take reasonable administrative, technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information from unauthorised access, misuse, alteration, disclosure or destruction.
These measures may include secure website connections, access controls, passwords, software updates, security tools, backups and restrictions on access to business systems.
However, no website, internet transmission or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Customers should also protect their account credentials and should not share passwords, OTPs, UPI PINs or other authentication information with anyone.
11. Your Choices and Rights
Subject to applicable law and our legitimate legal or record-keeping requirements, you may contact us to:
Ask what personal information we hold about you.
Request correction or updating of inaccurate personal information.
Request deletion of personal information where applicable.
Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent and withdrawal is legally available.
Raise a concern regarding how your personal information is handled.
Request assistance with your customer account.
Opt out of promotional communications that you no longer wish to receive.
We may need to verify your identity before acting on certain privacy-related requests.
Some information cannot be immediately deleted where retention is necessary to comply with tax, accounting, fraud-prevention, dispute-resolution or other legal obligations.
12. Customer Accounts
Customers may choose to create an account on TheRiceStore.com.
Account information may be used to provide access to order history, simplify future purchases and support account-related functionality.
You are responsible for keeping your account password confidential. If you believe your account has been accessed without permission, please contact us promptly.
13. Children’s Privacy
TheRiceStore.com is intended for customers purchasing household and grocery products and is not specifically directed at children.
We do not knowingly seek to collect personal information directly from children for independent use of the service. Where a minor is involved, a parent or lawful guardian should make the purchase or communicate with us as appropriate.
14. External Websites and Services
TheRiceStore.com may contain links to third-party websites or services such as payment providers, Google Maps, WhatsApp or other external platforms.
Once you leave our website or use a third-party service, its own privacy policy, terms and security practices may apply.
Pandian Stores is not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites or services that we do not control.
15. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our website, services, technology, business practices or applicable law.
The latest version will be published on this page together with the date on which it was last updated.
We encourage customers to review this page periodically.
16. Privacy Queries and Grievance Redressal
If you have a question, complaint or request relating to your personal information or this Privacy Policy, please contact:
Grievance Contact: Jayanth
Pandian Stores / TheRiceStore.com
20, East Kongalamman Kovil Street
Behind Bharani Silks
Erode – 638001
Tamil Nadu, India
Email: care@thericestore.com
Phone / WhatsApp: +91 96262 52214
We will review privacy-related concerns and respond within a reasonable period in accordance with applicable requirements.