Cookie notice
Last updated:
Exactly which cookies and browser storage SMA uses, what each one is for and how long it lasts. No advertising cookies.
1. Cookies and browser storage#
Cookies are small files a website stores in your browser. Browser storage (local storage and session storage) works in a similar way but is only read by the page itself and is never sent to our servers automatically. SMA uses both, for the purposes listed below. We do not use advertising or cross-site tracking cookies, and we do not let advertisers place cookies on SMA.
2. Cookies#
These are needed for signing in and for referrals to work. Without them you can still browse and order as a guest.
| Name | What it does | How long |
|---|---|---|
| sma_shopper | Keeps you signed in to your SMA shopper account on the marketplace. Only sent to SMA's own account service, and not readable by page scripts. | 30 days, or until you sign out |
| sma_customer_{shop} | Keeps you signed in to your account on one shop's site. Each shop has its own, and it is not readable by page scripts. | 30 days, or until you sign out |
| __session, __client_uat and other names beginning with __clerk | Set by Clerk, our sign-in provider, only when a seller signs in to the seller dashboard. Keeps the seller signed in securely. | Session, or as set by Clerk (up to about a year) |
| sma_ref | Remembers a referral code when you arrive through a seller's referral link, so the person who referred you is credited if you open a shop. | 30 days |
3. Storage needed for shopping#
These keep your carts and orders working. If you block them, carts will not be remembered between pages.
| Name | What it does | How long |
|---|---|---|
| sma:cartSession:{shop} | Your cart at each shop, so it is still there when you come back. | Until you check out or clear your browser data |
| sma:cartSnapshot:{shop} | A copy of each cart's contents and total so the cart count shows instantly in every tab. | Until the cart is emptied |
| sma:marketplaceAttempt:{shop} | A one-off reference for an order being sent, so a lost connection or a reload can never send the same order twice. | Until the order is confirmed |
| sma:marketplaceReceipts | Your order confirmations after checkout (session storage). | Until you close the tab |
| sma:shopper | Notes that this browser has a signed-in shopper account, so pages know to load it. | Until you sign out |
4. Preferences#
These remember choices you make, so you do not have to make them again.
| Name | What it does | How long |
|---|---|---|
| theme | Your choice of light or dark mode. | Until you change it or clear your browser data |
| sma:wishlist | Items you saved while signed out. When you sign in, they are added to your account. | Until you remove them or clear your browser data |
| sma:recentlyViewed | Products you looked at recently, shown so you can find them again. | Until you clear your browser data |
| sma.dashboard.appearance | Sellers only: dashboard appearance settings such as density. | Until changed |
| sma:table:{table}:v1 | Sellers only: which columns you chose to show in dashboard tables. | Until changed |
| sma.onboarding.shared, sma.onboarding.hidden | Sellers only: progress on the getting-started checklist. | Until you clear your browser data |
5. Shop analytics#
These help shops understand how many people visit and where they come from. The events they support (page and product views, items added to a cart and checkouts started) are stored by SMA in detail for 90 days and then only as daily totals. See our privacy policy for more.
| Name | What it does | How long |
|---|---|---|
| sma_vid | A random identifier for this browser, so a shop's visitor numbers count each visitor once. It contains no personal details. | Until you clear your browser data |
| sma_src | Where this visit came from (for example a social post or a search engine), so shops can see which channels bring visitors (session storage). | Until you close the tab |
6. Your choices#
You can delete cookies and site data at any time in your browser’s settings, and most browsers let you block them. If you do, you will be signed out and your carts on this device will be emptied, but you can still browse SMA and order as a guest. Signing out removes the sign-in cookies straight away.
Shops on their own domain use the same cookies and storage under that domain. Links to other sites, such as WhatsApp or social networks, are covered by those sites’ own cookie policies.
7. Questions#
If you have a question about this notice, contact us:
- Send us a message through our contact page.
- WhatsApp: +233247913462