Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

The Cash Spot (“we,” “us,” or “our”) operates a licensed pawn shop in 1507 S Arlington St, Akron, OH 44306, United States, and this website. We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we handle personal information.

This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use and share it, how long we keep it, your privacy rights, and how to contact us. It applies to information collected through our website, contact forms, phone calls, text messages, email, social media pages, and in-person transactions at our store.

By using our website or doing business with us, you acknowledge that you have read this Privacy Policy. Our Terms & Conditions govern your use of this website and our services.

2. Who We Are

The Cash Spot is a brick-and-mortar pawn shop located at 1507 S Arlington St, Akron, OH 44306, United States. We provide pawn loans, buy and sell personal property (including gold, jewelry, electronics, tools, and other valuables), and offer free in-store appraisals.

For purposes of applicable privacy laws, The Cash Spot is the business responsible for deciding how your personal information is collected and used when you interact with us directly.

3. Scope of This Policy

This Privacy Policy covers:

• Visitors to our website and users of our online contact forms
• Customers who visit our store for pawn, buy, or sell transactions
• Individuals who contact us by phone, email, text message, or social media

This policy does not apply to third-party websites or services we link to (such as Facebook, Google Maps, or payment processors). Those parties have their own privacy policies, and we encourage you to review them before providing information to them.

4. Legal and Regulatory Framework

Because we operate as a pawn shop and financial services business, our handling of personal information may be subject to multiple laws and regulations, including but not limited to:

• Ohio Pawnbroker laws (Ala. Code Title 5, Chapter 19A and related regulations), including record-keeping and law enforcement reporting requirements for pawn transactions
• Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and Regulation Z, which require certain disclosures on pawn loan transactions
• Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) and Regulation P, which govern privacy notices for certain financial institutions
• Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and FinCEN rules, including IRS/FinCEN Form 8300 reporting for qualifying cash transactions
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rules regarding fair advertising and data practices
• State consumer privacy laws, where applicable to residents of certain states (see Section 16)
• Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and related rules for text messages and marketing communications, where applicable

Where a law requires us to collect, retain, or disclose information, we will do so even if you request deletion or restriction of that information.

5. Information We Collect

We collect personal information in the categories below. The specific information we collect depends on how you interact with us.

5.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Identifying information: Full legal name, mailing address, phone number, email address, date of birth, and signature
• Government-issued identification: Type, number, issuing state or authority, expiration date, and a copy or scan of photo ID as required for pawn and regulated transactions
• Physical description: Information required under Ohio pawn regulations (such as height, weight, sex, race, and eye and hair color), when applicable
• Transaction information: Descriptions of items pawned, sold, or purchased; serial numbers; photographs of items; loan amounts; purchase prices; payment method; pawn ticket numbers; redemption and forfeiture records
• Communications: Messages you send through our contact form, email, phone calls, text messages, or social media
• Marketing preferences: Your choices regarding promotional emails, text messages, or other communications, where applicable

5.2 Information Collected Automatically (Website)

When you visit our website, we or our service providers may automatically collect:

• Internet Protocol (IP) address
• Browser type, operating system, and device type
• Pages viewed, links clicked, time spent on pages, and referring/exit URLs
• General geographic location derived from IP address (city/region level)
• Cookies, pixels, and similar tracking technologies (see Section 11)

5.3 Information from Third Parties

• Law enforcement or regulatory inquiries, where permitted by law
• Payment processors or website hosting providers, as needed to operate our business
• Publicly available sources, where permitted by law and relevant to a transaction

5.4 Sensitive Personal Information

We may collect sensitive information when required by law or necessary to complete a transaction, including government ID numbers, date of birth, and financial transaction details related to pawn loans or large cash payments. We use this information only for lawful business and compliance purposes.

6. How We Use Your Information

We use personal information for the following purposes:

• Processing pawn loans, purchases, sales, and redemptions
• Verifying your identity and eligibility to transact
• Preparing pawn tickets and other legally required disclosures (including finance charges and APR where applicable)
• Complying with Ohio pawn broker reporting and record-keeping requirements
• Reporting transactions to law enforcement or regulatory agencies when required by law
• Filing IRS/FinCEN Form 8300 or other reports for qualifying cash transactions over federal thresholds
• Responding to inquiries submitted through our website, phone, email, or text
• Providing customer service and transaction-related notifications
• Preventing fraud, theft, money laundering, and other illegal activity
• Maintaining security of our store, website, employees, and customers
• Improving our website, services, and customer experience
• Analyzing website traffic and usage trends
• Sending service-related or promotional communications, where permitted by law and subject to your preferences
• Defending our legal rights and complying with court orders, subpoenas, or lawful government requests

7. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information for money. We do not rent or trade your personal information to third parties for their independent marketing purposes.

We may share personal information in the following circumstances:

7.1 Required by Law or Regulation

• Law enforcement agencies, as required under Ohio pawn broker laws and valid legal process
• State or local regulatory authorities overseeing pawn brokers
• IRS, FinCEN, or other federal agencies for required cash transaction reporting (such as Form 8300)
• Courts, attorneys, or parties to litigation when required by subpoena, court order, or applicable law

7.2 Service Providers

We may share limited information with trusted vendors who help us operate our business, such as:

• Website hosting and maintenance providers
• Email and communication service providers
• Payment processors (if applicable for in-store or online payments)
• Security, IT support, and data storage providers
• Professional advisors (accountants, attorneys) under confidentiality obligations

These providers may use your information only to perform services for us and must protect it consistent with this policy and applicable law.

7.3 Business Transfers

If The Cash Spot is involved in a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or similar business transaction, personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to applicable law and continued protection of your information.

7.4 With Your Consent

We may share information for other purposes when you direct us to do so or provide consent, where required by law.

8. Ohio Pawn Transaction Records

Under Ohio law, pawn brokers must collect and maintain specific customer and transaction information for pawn loans and certain transactions. This typically includes, among other things:

• Customer identification and verification information
• Item descriptions, serial numbers, and identifying marks
• Loan amounts, dates, fees, and redemption information
• Records of transactions reported to law enforcement as required by statute

This information must be retained for the period required by Ohio law and may be disclosed to law enforcement upon lawful request. You cannot opt out of these legal requirements when conducting a pawn transaction.

9. IRS / FinCEN Cash Reporting

Federal law requires businesses to report certain cash transactions. If you pay or receive more than $10,000 in cash in a single transaction or in related transactions, we may be required to file IRS/FinCEN Form 8300 and collect additional identifying information. We will inform you when this reporting is required.

10. Text Messages and Phone Communications

If you provide your phone number and consent to receive text messages from The Cash Spot (including appointment reminders, transaction updates, or promotional messages), we may use an automated or manual system to send SMS/MMS messages to the number you provide.

• Message frequency varies based on your interactions with us
• Message and data rates may apply depending on your mobile carrier plan
• You may opt out of marketing text messages at any time by replying STOP
• For help, reply HELP or call +1 330-351-8990.
• Consent to receive marketing texts is not required to complete a pawn, buy, or sell transaction
• We do not share your phone number with third parties for their own marketing purposes

Phone calls to or from our business may be recorded or monitored for quality assurance, training, and security purposes, where permitted by law.

11. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our website may use cookies, web beacons, pixels, and similar technologies to:

• Remember your preferences and improve site functionality
• Understand how visitors use our website
• Measure the effectiveness of our online content

Types of cookies we may use:

• Essential cookies: Required for basic website operation
• Analytics cookies: Help us understand traffic and usage (for example, Google Analytics or similar tools, if enabled)
• Functional cookies: Remember settings and improve user experience

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may limit certain website features. If we use analytics or advertising tools that share data in ways classified as a “sale” or “share” under certain state privacy laws, we will provide applicable opt-out mechanisms as required by law.

12. Third-Party Services and Links

Our website may include links or embedded content from third parties, including:

• Facebook — The Cash Spot Facebook Page
• Google Maps — embedded maps for directions to our store
• Google Fonts and Font Awesome — website typography and icons

These third parties may collect information about you according to their own privacy policies. We do not control and are not responsible for their data practices.

13. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information, including:

• Restricted access to customer records on a need-to-know basis
• Secure storage of physical pawn records and identification copies
• Password protection and security measures for electronic systems, where applicable
• Staff training on confidentiality and legal compliance

No method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

14. Data Retention

We retain personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Retention periods vary by record type, including:

• Pawn transaction records: As required under Ohio pawnbroker laws and regulations
• IRS/FinCEN Form 8300 records: At least five (5) years, as required by federal law
• Website contact form submissions: As needed to respond to your inquiry and for reasonable business records
• Marketing and communication records: Until you opt out or as required for compliance
• Website analytics data: According to the retention settings of our analytics provider, if used

When information is no longer needed, we securely destroy, delete, or de-identify it in accordance with our policies and applicable law.

15. Children’s Privacy

Our website and pawn services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18 through our website.

Pawn transactions, purchases of certain items, and other regulated transactions require valid government-issued photo identification and are available only to adults who meet legal age requirements. If you believe we have collected information from a minor in violation of this policy, please contact us and we will take appropriate steps.

16. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information. These rights may include:

• Right to know/access: Request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you
• Right to correction: Request correction of inaccurate personal information, where applicable
• Right to deletion: Request deletion of personal information, subject to legal exceptions
• Right to opt out: Opt out of certain data “sales” or “sharing” for cross-context behavioral advertising, where applicable under state law
• Right to non-discrimination: Not receive discriminatory treatment for exercising privacy rights, where applicable

16.1 California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, you may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). Because we are a financial institution subject to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, certain CCPA/CPRA rights may not apply to personal information collected in connection with pawn loans and related financial transactions. We do not sell personal information for monetary consideration.

To submit a privacy request, contact us using the information in Section 18. We will verify your identity before fulfilling a request and respond within the timeframes required by applicable law.

16.2 Other State Privacy Laws

Residents of Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Texas, and other states with consumer privacy laws may have similar rights. Contact us to learn more or submit a request. We will honor applicable legal requirements for residents of those states.

16.3 Limitations on Deletion

We may deny deletion or correction requests when we are legally required to retain information, including pawn records, law enforcement reports, tax and cash reporting records, and information needed to complete an active transaction or defend legal claims.

17. Marketing and Promotional Communications

We may send promotional emails or text messages if you have opted in or where otherwise permitted by law. You may opt out of marketing emails by clicking the unsubscribe link in any promotional email. You may opt out of marketing texts by replying STOP. You will continue to receive transactional or legally required communications related to your pawn loans or purchases even if you opt out of marketing.

18. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will post the updated policy on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of our website or services after changes are posted constitutes acknowledgment of the updated policy, except where further consent is required by law.

19. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or need to submit a privacy-related request, contact us:

• The Cash Spot
• 1507 S Arlington St, Akron, OH 44306, United States
• Phone: +1 330-351-8990
• Online: Contact Page
• Facebook: The Cash Spot on Facebook

Store Hours: Monday – Sunday, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Closed Saturday and Sunday)

We will verify your identity before processing privacy requests and respond within the timeframe required by applicable law.