Last updated: June 2024
This Cookie Policy explains how Sweep and Sift ("we", "us", "our", accessible at sweepandsift.com) uses cookies, localStorage, and similar technologies when you visit our website. We've tried to keep things simple: this site is a metal detecting review and resource hub, and we use the minimum amount of tracking necessary to understand how our content is used and to improve it.
What Are Cookies and localStorage?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. localStorage is a similar browser technology that allows a website to store small pieces of information directly in your browser, without an expiration date, until it is manually cleared. We use a combination of both on sweepandsift.com.
Our Consent Banner and localStorage
When you first visit Sweep and Sift, you'll see a cookie consent banner asking whether you accept or decline non-essential cookies, specifically analytics. Whatever choice you make — "Accept" or "Decline" — is saved as a small entry in your browser's localStorage. This entry does nothing more than remember your preference so that we don't show you the banner on every single page load or repeat visit.
- Purpose: Remembering your cookie consent choice.
- Type: localStorage entry (not a traditional cookie).
- Duration: Persists until you clear your browser storage or manually reset it.
- Necessity: This is considered strictly necessary, as it allows the site to function in compliance with cookie consent regulations.
Analytics Cookies (Only If Accepted)
If you click "Accept" on our consent banner, we load a lightweight analytics tool that helps us understand which articles, detector reviews, and buying guides are most useful to our readers. This may involve third-party cookies set by our analytics provider.
These analytics cookies typically collect information such as:
- Pages visited and time spent on the site
- General geographic location (country or region level)
- Device and browser type
- Referring website or search terms that led you to us
This information is aggregated and anonymized where possible, and it is never used to personally identify you. If you click "Decline", none of these analytics scripts or cookies are loaded, and no such data is collected during your visit.
Third-Party Cookies
Our analytics provider may set its own cookies on your device once consent is given. These third parties have their own privacy and cookie policies governing how they handle data, and we encourage you to review those policies directly on their websites. We do not control third-party cookies directly; we only enable or disable the scripts that create them based on your consent choice.
We do not use cookies for advertising or retargeting purposes, and we do not sell visitor data to third parties.
Essential Technical Storage
Beyond the consent preference, our site may use minimal technical storage necessary for basic functionality, such as remembering display preferences (like dark mode, if offered) or maintaining session stability while you browse. These do not track you across other websites and are not used for advertising.
How to Withdraw or Change Your Consent
You are always in control of your cookie preferences. If you'd like to withdraw your consent for analytics cookies or reset your choice so the banner appears again, you can do so by clearing your browser's storage for sweepandsift.com. Here's how, generally:
- Chrome: Open Site Settings for sweepandsift.com via the padlock icon in the address bar, then choose "Clear data" or "Reset permissions".
- Firefox: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Manage Data, search for sweepandsift.com, and remove it.
- Safari: Go to Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data, search for sweepandsift.com, and remove it.
- Edge: Open Site permissions from the address bar padlock icon and clear cookies and site data for this domain.
Once cleared, revisiting sweepandsift.com will show the consent banner again, allowing you to make a fresh choice. You can also typically clear localStorage for a single site through your browser's developer tools (usually accessible via F12 or right-click > Inspect, under an "Application" or "Storage" tab).
Browser-Level Controls
Most browsers also allow you to block all cookies or receive a notification before a cookie is set, through your browser's general privacy settings. Please note that blocking all cookies may affect the functionality of other websites you visit, though Sweep and Sift will continue to function with only minor impact (you may simply see the consent banner repeatedly).
Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" signal. Because there is no industry-standard way to interpret this signal consistently, our site currently does not respond to it directly. Instead, we rely on the explicit accept/decline choice made through our consent banner.
Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy occasionally to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or the tools we use. Any updates will be posted on this page with a revised "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy or how we handle cookies and localStorage data, please reach out to us through the contact information provided on our website. We're happy to clarify anything related to your privacy while using Sweep and Sift.