Privacy Policy
Last updated: August 2026
Auction Mule LLC, doing business as Auction Mule ("we," "us," "our"), operates auctionmule.com (the "Site"). This page explains what we collect, why we collect it, and — just as important — what we do not do with it. This Privacy Policy is incorporated into our Terms of Use.
What We Collect
When you register: your name, email address, phone number, and the billing and delivery addresses you give us. You choose a password, which we store only as a cryptographic hash — we cannot read it, and neither can anyone who obtains our database.
When you bid: every bid you place, when you placed it, and the maximum you authorized. Your maximum bid is never shown to other bidders, and other bidders never see your name or contact details.
When you buy: the invoice, what you paid, and how you paid it.
Automatically: a session cookie so you stay signed in, and standard web server logs, which include your IP address, browser type, and the pages you request. We use logs for security, fraud prevention, and troubleshooting — not for advertising.
Payment Information
We do not see, transmit, or store card numbers. Card payments are handled entirely by PayPal using their own software running in your browser. If you choose to save a card, PayPal gives us a token — a reference that only works for your account with us and is useless anywhere else. There is no card number in our records to lose.
PayPal's handling of your information is governed by PayPal's own privacy statement.
How We Use Your Information
To run the auction: to register you, take your bids, tell you when you have been outbid or have won, invoice you, and arrange pickup or delivery. We may contact you by email, phone, or text message about an active invoice or pickup — for example, a reminder before your scheduled pickup date.
To keep required records: tax and accounting law requires us to retain transaction records.
To protect the platform: to verify that bidders are real people bidding in good faith, and to detect and prevent fraud, shill bidding, and abuse.
To answer you when you contact us.
We do not sell or trade your information. We do not share it with advertisers. We do not send marketing email — every message we send relates to your account or an item you are involved with.
Who Else Sees It
PayPal, to take payment.
Our email and text-messaging providers, to deliver account and invoice notices to you.
A shipping carrier, if your item ships — they get the name and address needed to deliver it, nothing more.
Our accountant, and, where legally required, tax authorities.
Law enforcement or courts, if we are required to by subpoena, court order, or other legal process, or where disclosure is necessary to investigate fraud or protect the safety of our staff, sellers, or bidders.
A successor business, if Auction Mule is ever sold or merged — in which case your information transfers with the business under this same policy or one at least as protective.
That is the whole list. Nobody else.
How Long We Keep It
Bid and invoice records are kept for [7] years, because tax law requires it. Server logs are kept for [90] days and then deleted. If you ask us to close your account, we will — but records attached to a completed sale must remain for the required retention period.
Your Choices
You can see and correct most of your information from your account page. Write to us at [EMAIL] to request a copy of what we hold about you, ask us to correct it, or ask us to close your account. We will respond within [30] days.
Cookies
One cookie, to keep you signed in. It is marked Secure and HttpOnly. We use no advertising or tracking cookies, and we do not use third-party analytics that profile you across other sites.
Security
We use industry-standard measures to protect your information: encrypted connections (HTTPS) everywhere, hashed passwords, tokenized payments, and access limited to people who need it to serve you. No system is perfectly secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security — but we have deliberately designed the platform so that the most damaging data (your card number) never touches our systems at all.
Children
The Site is for adults. You must be at least 18 to register, and we do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18. If we learn we have, we will delete it.
Changes to This Policy
If we change this policy, we will post the updated version here and revise the date at the top. If a change meaningfully reduces your privacy, we will notify registered users by email before it takes effect. We will never retroactively apply a weaker policy to information collected under a stronger one.
Contact
Auction Mule LLC
Laingsburg, MI 48848
Contact@auctionmule.com
Questions about your information? Ask. We would rather explain it than have you wonder.