Privacy Policy

Who We Are

WattWorks (wattworks.bike) is operated by K&L Engineering LLC, a Maryland limited liability company. WattWorks is an e-bike parts database and build configurator. We are not a store and do not sell products directly.

Information We Collect

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit WattWorks, we may automatically collect the following information:

• Anonymous session identifier: We use Firebase Authentication to create an anonymous session for non-bot visitors. This generates a random identifier (not tied to your identity) that allows you to save builds before creating an account.
• IP address: Your IP address is used temporarily in server memory for rate limiting and view-count deduplication. We do not store IP addresses in our database or log files.
• Analytics data: If you consent to analytics cookies, Google Analytics 4 collects standard usage data including pages visited, session duration, device type, browser, approximate geographic location (derived from IP, then discarded by Google), and referring URL. See the "Cookies & Analytics" section below.

Information You Provide When You Sign In

If you sign in with Google, we receive the following from your Google account:

• Email address
• Display name
• Profile photo URL

This information is stored in our database to identify your account. We do not access your Google contacts, calendar, or any other Google services.

Information You Create

• Build configurations: Components you select, frame specifications, build names, and sharing preferences.
• User preferences: Theme (light/dark/system), measurement units (metric/imperial), and avatar color.

Information Stored Locally on Your Device

We store the following data in your browser's local storage (this data never leaves your device unless you sign in, at which point preferences are migrated to your account):

• Theme and unit preferences (before sign-in)
• Build wizard draft state (cleared when you save a build)
• Recently viewed components (up to 10 items)
• Sign-in reminder dismissal timestamp
• Cookie consent preference

Firebase Authentication also stores session tokens in local storage to maintain your signed-in state.

Cookies & Analytics

WattWorks uses Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to understand how visitors use the site. GA4 is loaded only after you consent via the cookie banner shown on your first visit.

• If you accept, GA4 scripts are loaded and collect standard analytics data (pages visited, session info, device type).
• If you decline, GA4 is never loaded and no analytics data is collected. The official Google Analytics opt-out flag is set in your browser.

Your consent preference is stored in your browser's local storage and persists across sessions. You can change your preference at any time by clearing the wattworks-cookie-consent key from your browser's local storage and reloading the page.

We do not use advertising cookies, retargeting pixels, or any other third-party tracking beyond Google Analytics.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide and maintain the WattWorks service
• Save and display your build configurations
• Check component compatibility
• Display pricing information from third-party retailers
• Improve the site based on aggregate usage patterns (analytics)
• Prevent abuse and enforce rate limits

Data Sharing & Third-Party Services

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We share data with the following service providers solely to operate WattWorks:

• Firebase / Google Cloud: Authentication services. Google receives your sign-in credentials and session tokens. See Firebase Privacy and Security.
• Google Analytics: If you consent, anonymized usage data is processed by Google. See Google's Privacy Policy.
• Cloudflare: Product images are stored and served via Cloudflare's content delivery network. Cloudflare may process your IP address as part of standard CDN operations.
• Amazon Web Services: Encrypted database backups are stored on AWS S3 for disaster recovery.

Affiliate Links

WattWorks participates in affiliate programs with retailers listed on the site, including:

• Amazon Associates Program
• AliExpress Affiliate Program
• Flipsky referral program
• VEVOR influencer program

When you click a product link on WattWorks, the URL may contain an affiliate tracking parameter. If you make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. These affiliate relationships do not influence our product database, compatibility logic, or the order in which products are displayed.

For more details, see our Disclaimer & Affiliate Disclosure.

Data Retention & Deletion

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. You may delete your account at any time from your account settings, which will:

• Delete your user profile from our database
• Delete all your saved builds
• Delete your Firebase Authentication account

Anonymous session data (builds created without signing in) is associated with a temporary identifier and may be retained indefinitely, as we cannot verify ownership of anonymous sessions.

Database backups containing your data may persist for up to 30 days after deletion as part of our disaster recovery process.

Your Rights

California Residents (CCPA / CalOPPA)

If you are a California resident, you have the right to:

• Know what personal information we collect and how it is used
• Request deletion of your personal information
• Opt out of the sale of your personal information — we do not sell your personal information to third parties
• Non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected] or delete your account directly from your account settings.

Do Not Track

WattWorks respects Do Not Track (DNT) signals. If your browser sends a DNT signal, Google Analytics will not be loaded regardless of your cookie consent preference.

Children's Privacy

WattWorks is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us at [email protected] and we will delete it promptly.

International Users

WattWorks is operated from the United States. If you access WattWorks from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States. By using WattWorks, you consent to such transfer and processing.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Your continued use of WattWorks after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, contact us at: [email protected]