Privacy Policy

We take your privacy seriously - here's how we handle your info

Last Updated: November 6, 2025

Look, we get it - nobody really enjoys reading privacy policies. But here at Zephyr Aethereal Auto Repair, we're pretty straight-up about how we handle your personal details. We've been working on high-end European cars for years, and just like we treat your vehicle with respect, we treat your data the same way.

This policy covers what happens when you interact with our shop - whether that's dropping by our West Vancouver location, calling us up, or poking around our website. We're not gonna sell your info to some random marketing company or spam you with junk. We're mechanics, not data brokers.

By using our services or website, you're basically agreeing to what's laid out here. If something doesn't sit right with you, give us a shout at service@zephyraethereal.info and we'll talk it through.

Personal Details You Give Us

When you book an appointment or drop off your ride, we're gonna need some basics:

  • Your name and how to reach you (phone, email)
  • Address - mainly for billing and if we need to arrange a pickup/dropoff
  • Vehicle info (make, model, VIN, year) - kinda important when we're working on it
  • Payment details when you settle up
  • Service history and any notes about what's been done to your car
Stuff We Collect Automatically

When you're browsing our site, we pick up some technical bits:

  • IP address and browser type
  • Which pages you checked out and when
  • Device info and screen size (helps us make the site work better)
  • Referring website - basically how you found us
Diagnostic Data

When we hook up your European beauty to our diagnostic equipment, we're pulling data from your vehicle's computer systems. This includes error codes, performance metrics, and system readings. We keep this on file 'cause it helps us track patterns and fix issues faster next time around.

We're not collecting this stuff just for fun. Here's what we actually do with it:

Service Delivery

Scheduling appointments, performing repairs, ordering parts for your specific vehicle, and keeping track of your service history.

Communication

Sending you updates about your repair, answering questions, and occasionally reminding you about scheduled maintenance.

Billing & Records

Processing payments, generating invoices, and keeping financial records straight for tax purposes.

Improvement

Making our website better, understanding which services you guys need most, and improving our overall operation.

We won't hit you up with marketing stuff unless you've said it's cool. And even then, it'll be relevant - like letting you know about seasonal maintenance specials or new services we're offering.

We're pretty protective of your info, but there are a few situations where we might need to share it:

Parts Suppliers & Specialists

Sometimes we need to order specific parts or consult with specialized techs. We'll share your vehicle info and contact details, but only what's necessary to get the job done right.

Payment Processors

When you pay by card, that info goes through secure payment processors. We don't actually store your full credit card details on-site.

Insurance Companies

If you're doing an insurance claim, we'll need to share repair estimates and documentation with your insurance provider. That's just how the game works.

Legal Requirements

If the law says we gotta hand over information (like a court order or regulatory requirement), we don't really have a choice. But we'll only share what's legally required.

We do NOT sell your personal information to third parties. Period.

Just like we wouldn't leave a client's Porsche unlocked in the parking lot, we don't leave your data hanging out in the open. Here's what we do to keep things secure:

  • Encrypted connections: Our website uses SSL/TLS encryption - that's the little padlock you see in your browser.
  • Secure storage: Physical records are locked up, and digital files are password-protected with limited access.
  • Regular backups: We backup our systems regularly so nothing gets lost if something goes sideways.
  • Staff training: Our team knows the deal about handling customer info responsibly.
  • Updated systems: We keep our software and security measures up to date - no ancient, vulnerable systems here.

Real talk: No security system is 100% foolproof. We do our absolute best to protect your info, but if you notice anything sketchy or have concerns, let us know right away at service@zephyraethereal.info.

Yeah, we use cookies - not the chocolate chip kind, unfortunately. These are little files that help our website remember you and work better.

What we use 'em for:
  • Keeping you logged in if you've got an account
  • Remembering your preferences and settings
  • Understanding which pages people visit most
  • Making sure the website loads properly
  • Analyzing traffic patterns to improve the site
Types of cookies we use:
Type Purpose Duration
Essential Make the site actually work Session
Functional Remember your choices Up to 1 year
Analytics Help us understand usage Up to 2 years

You can disable cookies in your browser settings if you want, but heads up - some parts of the site might not work as smoothly. Most browsers let you manage cookies pretty easily these days.

Under Canadian privacy laws (specifically PIPEDA), you've got some solid rights when it comes to your personal info. Here's what you can do:

Access Your Data

You can ask to see what personal info we've got on file for you. We'll show you what we have within a reasonable timeframe.

Correct Inaccuracies

If something's wrong in our records - wrong phone number, outdated address - just let us know and we'll fix it up.

Request Deletion

Want us to delete your info? We can do that, as long as we don't have a legal reason to keep it (like warranty records or tax documents).

Opt-Out

Don't wanna get marketing emails? No problem. You can unsubscribe anytime or tell us to stop contacting you for promotional stuff.

Data Portability

You can request a copy of your data in a format that's easy to use if you wanna take it elsewhere.

Lodge a Complaint

If you think we're not handling your data properly, you can file a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

To exercise any of these rights: Just shoot us an email at service@zephyraethereal.info or call (604) 555-2847. We'll get back to you within 30 days.

We don't keep your info forever - that'd be weird and unnecessary. Here's our general approach:

  • Service records & vehicle history: We keep these for 7 years minimum. It's partly legal requirement, partly helpful for tracking long-term issues with your vehicle.
  • Financial records: Gotta keep invoices and payment info for 7 years for tax and accounting purposes. Canadian tax law, not our choice.
  • Contact information: As long as you're an active client or until you ask us to delete it.
  • Marketing data: Until you unsubscribe or tell us to stop. We're not gonna keep bugging you if you're not interested.
  • Website analytics: Usually aggregated and anonymized after 26 months.

After the retention period's up, we securely delete or destroy the info. For physical documents, that means shredding. For digital stuff, permanent deletion from our systems.

If you haven't been in for service in a while and we don't have a reason to keep your info, we might reach out to see if you wanna stay on our books or if we should remove your details.

Our services aren't aimed at kids under 16. We don't knowingly collect personal information from minors without parental consent.

If you're under 16 and somehow ended up giving us your info through the website, please have a parent or guardian reach out to us so we can delete it. And honestly, if you're under 16 and worried about luxury European car repairs, you're probably overthinking your future a bit (though we appreciate the planning ahead!).

If you're a parent and think your kid's info somehow ended up in our system, contact us immediately and we'll sort it out.

Sometimes we gotta update this privacy policy - maybe laws change, we add new services, or we find better ways to protect your info. When we make changes, we'll update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.

If it's a major change that affects how we handle your data in a significant way, we'll let you know directly - probably via email if we've got your address on file.

It's worth checking back here once in a while to see if anything's changed. We won't make it a habit of changing things just for fun, but when updates are necessary, they'll show up here.