Cookie & Local Storage Policy
Version 3.0 · Last updated: 5 November 2025
This policy explains how Alter TCS uses browser storage technologies. We focus on privacy-first design: no advertising cookies, no cross-site tracking, and no sale of data.
Zero Tracking Cookies
1. Storage categories we use
We categorise storage so you know exactly what happens behind the scenes. Anything marked essential is required to deliver the service you request.
Essential functionality
Mandatory for checkout, security, accessibility preferences, and maintaining your collection state. These are required to deliver the services you request.
- ✓Cart contents, wishlist entries, and recent views
- ✓Theme, retro mode, and interface animation preferences
- ✓Audio ambience toggles (sound effects and lo-fi music)
- ✓Weekly gacha eligibility timestamps
Security & fraud prevention
Short-lived session cookies issued by PayFast during checkout. They protect you against tampering and are removed once the transaction is complete.
- ✓Payment authorisation tokens
- ✓Session identifiers needed to complete 3-D Secure flows
2. Local storage keys in use
These keys reside on your device. They do not automatically transmit to our servers unless you perform an action like checking out.
| Key | Purpose | Lifespan | Essential |
|---|---|---|---|
| altertcs:cart | Persist items you intend to purchase across sessions | Until you clear browser storage or check out | Essential |
| altertcs:wishlist | Save cards or products you want to revisit | Until manually removed | Essential |
| recently-viewed | Display the last items you inspected for quick navigation | 14 days | Essential |
| theme / retro:enabled | Remember your preferred theme and retro styling | 1 year | Essential |
| fx-enabled / fx-density / fx-sound | Control interface animation density and effects | 1 year | Essential |
| sound-effects-enabled / lofi-music-enabled | Store audio ambience choices | 1 year | Essential |
| gacha:lastWeek | Record when you last participated in the weekly gacha so limits reset fairly | 7 days | Essential |
| altertcs:analytics-opt-out | Ensures Plausible analytics does not record your anonymous events | Until deleted | Essential |
3. Payment processing cookies
During checkout, PayFast may issue short-lived session cookies strictly for authentication and 3-D Secure verification. These cookies are generated on PayFast infrastructure, expire once the transaction is finalised, and are required to comply with card-network rules.
4. Managing your preferences
- Clear data: Use your browser settings to clear cookies and site data at any time. This will reset cart contents and preferences.
- Private browsing: Open a private/incognito window to prevent local storage from persisting after the session.
- Browser controls: Modern browsers allow you to block storage on a per-site basis. Blocking essential storage will limit checkout functionality.
- Analytics opt-out: Set
altertcs:analytics-opt-outtotrueto disable Plausible event tracking for your browser.
5. No consent banner?
Because we only use essential cookies and cookie-free analytics, POPIA and GDPR do not require an intrusive consent banner. Should we introduce non-essential cookies in the future, we will deploy an opt-in mechanism and update this policy before enabling them.
6. Questions & contact
For any cookie or privacy concern, email us at privacy@altertcs.co.za or review our Privacy Policy.