Plain-English Summary: We use cookies to keep the platform working, understand how people use it, and measure our advertising. You can opt out of non-essential cookies at any time — though some things (like your shopping cart) won't work without essential cookies.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, phone, or tablet) when you visit a website. They help websites remember information about your visit — like items in a shopping cart or that you're logged in — and they help website operators understand how people are using their sites.
Cookies are not programs and cannot execute code or deliver viruses. They are simply stored text that websites can read back when you return.
Similar technologies to cookies include:
- Local storage — data stored in your browser that persists longer than a session
- Session storage — data stored only for the duration of a single browser session
- Pixels (web beacons) — tiny invisible images that can record page visits or ad interactions
- Fingerprinting — collecting device/browser attributes to identify users without cookies
When we say "cookies" in this policy, we mean all of these technologies collectively.
2. How We Use Cookies
LocalShop uses cookies and similar technologies on getlocalshop.com and all storefronts powered by LocalShop for the following purposes:
- Platform functionality — keeping you logged in to your Merchant admin panel, maintaining shopping cart contents, remembering checkout progress
- Analytics — understanding how visitors navigate the platform, which pages are most visited, and where users drop off
- Behavioral analysis — recording user sessions and generating heatmaps to improve the user experience
- Advertising measurement — measuring the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns on platforms like Facebook/Instagram
- Performance — identifying and diagnosing technical issues
3. Types of Cookies We Use
Essential Essential / Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are required for the platform to function. Without them, core features like the shopping cart, checkout, and Merchant login would not work. Because they are necessary for the service you have requested, you cannot opt out of essential cookies while using the platform.
Examples: session cookies, cart state cookies, authentication tokens for the Merchant admin panel.
Analytics Analytics Cookies
We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with LocalShop and Merchant storefronts. These cookies collect information such as pages visited, time spent on site, browser type, and referral source. This data is aggregated and anonymized — it helps us understand trends, not individual users.
You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking at any time (see Section 6).
Behavioral Behavioral / UX Analysis Cookies
We use Microsoft Clarity to record user sessions and generate heatmaps. Clarity shows us how users scroll, click, and navigate the platform — helping us identify confusing interfaces or broken flows. Session recordings may capture mouse movements, clicks, and page content, but Clarity is configured to automatically mask sensitive fields like passwords and payment information.
You can opt out of Microsoft Clarity (see Section 6).
Advertising Advertising / Marketing Cookies
We use the Facebook Pixel to measure the effectiveness of our advertising on Facebook and Instagram. The Pixel can tell us when someone who saw one of our ads later visited getlocalshop.com or signed up as a Merchant. It may also enable us to show LocalShop ads to people who have previously visited the site (retargeting).
You can opt out of Facebook's advertising cookies through your Facebook ad settings or your browser (see Section 6).
4. Third-Party Cookies
Some cookies on LocalShop and powered storefronts are set directly by third-party services we use, not by LocalShop itself. These include:
Each of these third parties has its own cookie and privacy policies. We encourage you to review them. We do not control how these third parties use their own cookies.
5. Cookie Reference Table
Below is a reference list of the primary cookies used on LocalShop and powered storefronts.
| Cookie Name |
Type |
Purpose |
Duration |
ls_session |
Essential |
Maintains Merchant admin session |
Session |
ls_cart |
Essential |
Stores shopping cart contents |
7 days |
ls_checkout |
Essential |
Preserves checkout state |
Session |
_ga |
Analytics |
Google Analytics — distinguishes users |
2 years |
_ga_XXXXXXX |
Analytics |
Google Analytics — session state |
2 years |
_gid |
Analytics |
Google Analytics — distinguishes users (short-term) |
24 hours |
_clsk |
Behavioral |
Microsoft Clarity — connects page views to a session |
1 day |
_clck |
Behavioral |
Microsoft Clarity — persists Clarity user ID |
1 year |
CLID |
Behavioral |
Microsoft Clarity — first-party data collection |
1 year |
_fbp |
Advertising |
Facebook Pixel — identifies browsers for ad delivery |
3 months |
__stripe_sid |
Essential |
Stripe — fraud prevention during checkout |
Session |
__stripe_mid |
Essential |
Stripe — fraud prevention (machine ID) |
1 year |
This list may not be exhaustive. Third-party services may update or change their cookie names without notice to us. For a definitive list of cookies set by each third party, refer to their respective privacy and cookie policies.
6. How to Opt Out or Manage Cookies
You have several options for controlling cookies. Note that disabling essential cookies will impair or break key platform functionality.
Browser Settings
Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies through their settings. Find instructions for your browser:
Chrome •
Firefox •
Safari •
Edge
Microsoft Clarity Opt-Out
To opt out of Microsoft Clarity session recording, visit Microsoft's Privacy Statement for opt-out options, or block the clarity.ms domain in your browser or ad blocker.
Ad Blockers and Privacy Extensions
Browser extensions like uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger, or Ghostery can block tracking scripts and third-party cookies. These tools will prevent most analytics and advertising cookies from being set.
7. Do Not Track
Some browsers send a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal to websites, requesting that they not track your browsing activity. Currently, there is no industry-standard interpretation of DNT signals, and LocalShop does not alter its data collection practices in response to DNT signals.
We encourage you to use the opt-out mechanisms described in Section 6 if you wish to limit tracking on the LocalShop platform.
8. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time as we add or change the tracking technologies we use. When we make significant changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. If you are a Merchant, we may also notify you via email.
We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies.