Privacy Policy

Last updated 2026-10-19

This policy explains what information mfgdate.com (the "Site"), operated by MfgDate, collects and how it is used.

Information we collect

Serial numbers entered in the lookup

The decoder runs entirely in your web browser. The serial number, brand and appliance type you enter are not transmitted to our server and are not stored. To learn which formats we don't support yet, our analytics may record the outcome of a lookup (for example "recognized" or "not recognized"), the brand and appliance type, and for unrecognized serials only the pattern of letters and numbers (such as "LLNNNNNN"), never the serial itself.

If you also enter the manufacture date printed on your label and it doesn't match what the serial decodes to (or the serial can't be decoded), we receive a short automatic notice so we can fix the decoder. It contains the brand, appliance type, the printed date, the decoded date and the letter-and-number pattern of the serial, never the serial itself and nothing that identifies you. The full serial is sent only if you click the button to send it.

Information you send us

If you use the contact form, the report form or email us, we receive what you send: typically your name, email address, message, and for reports a serial number, model number and dates. We use it only to respond to you and to improve our decoders. Serial numbers from reports may be added to our test data without any personal details. To block spam, when you send a form or report our server keeps a one-way hash of your IP address (not the address itself) for up to 24 hours.

Automatically collected information

Like most websites, our hosting provider and analytics tools receive technical information when you visit: IP address, browser and device type, pages viewed, referring page and the date and time of your visit. We use it to keep the Site secure and working and to understand which pages are useful.

Cookies and similar technologies

We use, or may use, these kinds of cookies:

• Analytics cookies to count visits and see how the Site is used (for example, Google Analytics).
• Advertising cookies placed by Google and its partners, described in the next section.
• Consent cookies that remember your privacy choices.

You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings. Some features may not work as expected if you do.

Advertising (Google AdSense)

We use, or plan to use, Google AdSense to show ads. Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this Site and other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visits to this Site and/or other sites on the internet.

• You can opt out of personalized advertising from Google at Google Ads Settings.
• You can opt out of personalized advertising from many third-party vendors at aboutads.info or the NAI opt-out page.
• Learn how Google uses information from sites that use its services at How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services.

Visitors in the European Economic Area, the UK and Switzerland will be asked for consent through a Google-certified consent management platform before personalized ads are shown. Visitors in US states with privacy laws will see a notice with the choices described below.

Fonts

The Site loads typefaces from Google Fonts, which means your browser connects to Google's servers and shares your IP address with Google when a page loads.

How we share information

We don't sell your personal information for money. We share information only with service providers that help us run the Site (hosting, analytics, form handling, email and advertising partners), when required by law, or to protect our rights and users. Under some US state laws, allowing advertising partners to use cookies for personalized ads can count as "selling" or "sharing" personal information; you can opt out as described below.

Your US state privacy rights (including California)

Depending on where you live (for example California, Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia, Utah, Texas, Oregon and other states with consumer privacy laws), you may have the right to:

• know what personal information we collect, use and disclose;
• access, correct or delete personal information we hold about you;
• opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information and of targeted advertising;
• not be treated differently for exercising these rights.

To opt out of targeted advertising, use the privacy message link shown on the Site (once advertising is enabled), the opt-out links above, or a browser signal such as Global Privacy Control, which we honor where required. To make any other request, email hello@mfgdate.com with the subject "Privacy request". We'll verify the request and respond within the time the law requires. You may use an authorized agent.

Data retention

Messages and reports are kept only as long as we need them to respond and to improve the Site, normally no longer than 24 months. Analytics data is kept according to the analytics provider's retention settings.

Children

The Site is meant for adults and is not directed at children under 13. We don't knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has sent us information, contact us and we'll delete it.

Security

The Site is served over HTTPS. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we take reasonable steps to protect the little information we hold.

Changes to this policy

We'll update this page when our practices change, for example when advertising is enabled, and revise the date at the top.

Contact

Questions about privacy: hello@mfgdate.com or the contact form.