Privacy Policy
Last updated: May 2025
Overview
CostcoGasHours.com ("we," "our," or "the site") is an independent information directory. This policy explains what data is collected when you use this site, why it is collected, and which third-party services process it on our behalf. We do not sell personal data to third parties.
Third-Party Services That Collect Data
Google Analytics 4 (GA4)
We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors use the site — which pages are visited, how long people stay, and where traffic originates. GA4 collects data through browser cookies and sends it to Google's servers. The information collected includes anonymized IP addresses, browser type, device type, pages visited, and session duration. We do not enable Google Signals or cross-device tracking, and we do not share identifiable GA4 data with any third party.
Google AdSense
We display advertisements served by Google AdSense (publisher ID: ca-pub-4183031888320028). Google uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this site and other sites on the internet. Google may use the DoubleClick cookie to serve interest-based advertising. You can opt out of personalized advertising in your Google account settings or via the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page.
Brevo (Email Service)
If you opt in to price alert emails, your email address is transmitted to and stored by Brevo (formerly Sendinblue), our transactional email provider. We use Brevo solely to send price alert notifications you have requested. We do not share your email address with any other third party, and we do not use it for marketing unrelated to the alert service you signed up for. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any alert email.
Google Maps & Google Places API
Station pages optionally display a "View on Google Maps" link and may show supplemental data (such as a phone number or listed fuel price) fetched live from the Google Places API. This data is not stored permanently; fuel prices are cached in memory for up to 55 seconds. If you click a Google Maps link, you are subject to Google's privacy policy for that interaction. We store only a Google Place ID per station and no other Google Places content.
Data We Collect Directly
IP Addresses (Rate Limiting)
Our server logs and temporarily stores hashed IP addresses solely to enforce rate limits on price report submissions. This prevents automated abuse of the community reporting feature. Hashed IPs are not linked to any personally identifiable information and are not used for tracking or advertising. Raw IP addresses are not stored in our database.
Community Price Reports
When you submit a fuel price, we record the price, fuel type, station, and submission timestamp. No account is required. Optionally, you may provide a display name (shown alongside the report) and an email address (used only if you request a confirmation receipt; never published). We store a hashed version of the submitting IP address to detect duplicate or spam submissions.
Location Data
The "Near Me" feature requests your device's GPS location through your browser. This location is used client-side only to sort stations by distance. We do not transmit or store your GPS coordinates on our servers.
Cookies
This site does not set first-party cookies for tracking or authentication. Cookies are set by Google Analytics and Google AdSense as described above. You can disable or delete cookies through your browser settings at any time.
Your Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of personal data associated with your email address (if you signed up for price alerts). To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@costcogashours.com.
For California residents: we do not sell personal information as defined by the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). For EU/EEA residents: our legal basis for processing analytics data is legitimate interest. You may object to this processing by using the Google Analytics opt-out tool linked above.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page will reflect any changes. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
Questions? Contact us →