Cookie Policy
How we use cookies and similar technologies
Last updated: December 4, 2025
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit our website.
They help us provide you with a better experience by remembering your preferences, keeping you logged in, and understanding how you use our platform.
This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how Tambala Market uses them, and your choices regarding their use. This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy.
2. Cookies We Use
Essential Cookies (Required)
These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly. Without them, you would not be able to use basic features like logging in or making purchases.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| auth-token | Keeps you logged in securely. Contains your encrypted authentication session. | 15 days (30 days with "Remember me") |
| __session | Firebase session management for secure authentication. | Session |
| cart | Stores your shopping cart items so they persist across pages. | 30 days |
| checkout-session | Maintains your checkout progress and payment session. | 1 hour |
Functional Cookies
These cookies remember your preferences and choices to provide a more personalized experience.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| theme | Remembers your preferred display theme (light/dark mode). | 1 year |
| currency | Stores your preferred currency display (MWK). | 1 year |
| recently-viewed | Tracks products you've recently viewed for personalized recommendations. | 30 days |
| notification-prefs | Remembers your notification preferences. | 1 year |
Performance & Analytics Cookies
These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website, allowing us to improve our services.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _sentry-* | Error tracking and performance monitoring via Sentry. Helps us identify and fix issues quickly. | Session |
| vercel-* | Vercel analytics for page performance and load times. | Session |
Third-Party Service Cookies
These cookies are set by third-party services we use to provide certain features.
| Service | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Firebase | Authentication, database, and cloud storage services. |
| PayChangu | Payment processing for mobile money and card payments. |
| Sentry | Error tracking and application monitoring. |
| Vercel | Website hosting and performance analytics. |
3. Local Storage & Similar Technologies
In addition to cookies, we also use local storage and session storage to store data on your device. These work similarly to cookies but can store more data.
What We Store Locally:
- • Shopping Cart: Your cart items are stored locally so they persist even if you close your browser.
- • User Preferences: Display settings, language preferences, and notification settings.
- • Browsing History: Recently viewed products for personalized recommendations.
- • Form Data: Temporarily saved form inputs to prevent data loss.
4. Managing Your Cookie Preferences
Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can:
- View what cookies are stored on your device
- Delete all or specific cookies
- Block all cookies or only third-party cookies
- Set preferences for specific websites
Browser-Specific Instructions
Google Chrome
Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
Mozilla Firefox
Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
Safari
Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
Microsoft Edge
Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies
Important Note
Disabling essential cookies will affect your ability to use Tambala Market. You may not be able to log in, add items to your cart, or complete purchases.
5. Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers have a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature that sends a signal to websites requesting that your browsing activity not be tracked.
Currently, there is no industry standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals. However, we respect your privacy choices and limit tracking to what is necessary for providing our services.
6. Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons.
When we make changes, we will:
- Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
- Notify you of significant changes via email or platform notification
- Provide clear information about any new cookies we introduce
7. Contact Us
If you have questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us:
Email: dev@25points.com
Phone: +265 894 053 137
Address: Likonde Building, Area 47, Lilongwe
This Cookie Policy explains how we use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience on Tambala Market.