Information Collection and Use
Information Collection
Garden-Helper.com is the sole owner of the information collected on Garden-Helper.com. Garden-Helper collects information from our users at several different points on our Web site.
Registration - Membership
In order to use this Web site, a user must first complete the registration form. During registration a user is required to give contact information (such as a username and email address). We use this information to contact the user about services on our site for which he has expressed an interest in receiving and information
when required for purposes of billing. It is optional for the user to provide demographic information (such as zip code), but encouraged so we can provide a more personalized experience on our site.
We may also require financial information (such as credit card number, expiration date). This information is used for billing purposes and to fill customer's orders.
If we have trouble processing an order, the information is used to contact the user.
Product Orders - Shopping
We may at times request information from the user in order to facilitate ordering of services or products in the Shop section of our site.
A user must provide contact information (such as name, email, and shipping address) and financial information (such as credit card number, expiration date). This information is used for billing purposes and to fill customer's orders.
If we have trouble processing an order, the information is used to contact the user.
Information Use
Information provided by our members is used solely for the purpose of managing content to suit their interests and geographies.
Financial information is used solely for the purpose of billing for services or products selected by our members.
Garden-Helper.com does not sell or share your information to third parties without express permission from you, and never shares
financial information submitted to us by our members.
Profile
We store information that we collect through cookies, log files, clear gifs, surveys, content submissions and/or third parties to
create a profile of our users. A profile is stored information that we keep on individual users that details their viewing preferences.
Consequently, collected information is tied to the users personally identifiable information to provide offers and
improve the content of the site for the user. This profile is used to tailor a user's visit to our Web site, and to direct pertinent
marketing promotions and gardening related content to them.
We do not share your profile with other third parties.
Cookies
A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user's computer tied to information about the user.
We use persistent cookies. A persistent cookie is a small text file stored on the user's hard drive for an extended period of time.
Persistent cookies can be removed by following Internet browser help file directions.
Persistent cookies enable us to track and target the interests of our users to enhance the experience on our site.
See the "Profile" section.
Some of our business partners may use cookies on our site (for example, advertisers).
However, we have no access to or control over these cookies, once we have given permission for them to set cookies for advertising.
This privacy statement covers the use of cookies by Garden-Helper.com only and does not cover the use of cookies by any advertisers.
Log Files
Like most standard Web site servers we use log files. This includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, platform type, date/time stamp, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the site, track user's movement in the aggregate, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses, etc. are not linked to personally identifiable information. [IP addresses are tied to personally identifiable information to enable our Web-based service.] [We use a tracking utility called [XXXX] that uses log files to analyze user movement.][Webtrendslive users may have further obligations of particular language per their license with Webtrendslive. See your license agreement.] [See the Profile section below.]
Communications from the Site
Special Offers and Updates
We send all new members a welcoming email to verify password and username. Established members will occasionally receive information on products, services, special deals, and a newsletter. Out of respect for the privacy of our users we present the option to not receive these types of communications. Please see the Choice and Opt-out sections.
Newsletters
If a user wishes to subscribe to any of our newsletters, we ask for contact information such as name and email address.
Out of respect for our users privacy we provide a way to opt-out of these communications. Please see the Choice and Opt-out sections.
Service Announcements
On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement.
For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email.
Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account. However, these communications are not promotional in nature. [Users may opt-out of these communications. Please see our Choice and Opt-out section.]
Customer Service
We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regards to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone, in accordance with the users wishes.
Sharing
Legal Disclaimer
Though we make every effort to preserve user privacy, we may need to disclose personal information when required by law wherein we have a good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with a current judicial proceeding, a court order or legal process served on our Web site.
Aggregate Information (non-personally identifiable)
We share aggregated demographic information with our partners and advertisers.
For example we share the number of members by region or gardening zone, although this is not linked to any personally identifiable information.
These are the instances in which we will share users' personal information:
We DO NOT Share Personal Information with Third Parties
Third Party Intermediaries
We use an outside shipping company to ship orders, and a credit card processing company to bill users for goods and services. These companies do not retain, share, store or use personally identifiable information for any secondary purposes.
Service Providers
We may at times partner with other third to provide specific services. When the user signs up for these particular services, we share names, or other contact information that is necessary for the third party to provide these services. These third parties are not allowed to use personally identifiable information except for the purpose of providing these services.
Business Transitions
In the event Garden-Helper.com goes through a business transition, such as a merger, being acquired by another company, or selling a portion of its assets, users' personal information will, in most instances, be part of the assets transferred. Users will be notified via [email] [prominent notice on our Web site for 30 days] prior to a change of ownership or control of their personal information. If as a result of the business transition, the users' personally identifiable information will be used in a manner different from that stated at the time of collection they will be given choice consistent with our notification of changes section.
Choice/Opt-out
Our users are given the opportunity to 'opt-out' of having their information used for purposes not directly related to our site at the point where we ask for information. For example, our order form has an 'opt-out' mechanism so users who buy a product from us, but don't want any marketing material, can keep their email address off of our lists.
Users who no longer wish to receive our newsletter and promotional communications may opt-out of receiving these communications by replying to unsubscribe in the subject line in the email or email us at [EMAIL ADDRESS] [We also offer an opt-out mechanism on the [MEMBER INFORMATION PAGES] or the user may contact us at [PHONE] [EMAIL] or [POSTAL MAIL] to opt-out.]
Users of our site are always notified when their information is being collected by any outside parties. We do this so our users can make an informed choice as to whether or not they should proceed with services that require an outside party.
Links
This Web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we, Garden-Helper.com, are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every Web site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this Web site. [Discuss co-branding and/or framing relations where the user may not know who is collecting the information].
Surveys [& Contests]
From time to time our site requests information from users via surveys or contests. Participation in these surveys or contests is completely voluntary and the user therefore has a choice whether or not to disclose this information. The requested information typically includes contact information (such as name and shipping address), and demographic information (such as zip code). Contact information will be used and possibly shared with the contest or survey sponsors as well as to notify the winners and award prizes. [Anonymous] Survey information will be used for purposes of monitoring or improving the use and satisfaction of this site. Users' personally identifiable information is not shared with third parties unless we give prior notice and choice. Though we may use an intermediary to conduct these surveys or contests, they may not use users' personally identifiable information for any secondary purposes.
Tell-A-Friend
If a user elects to use our referral service for informing a friend about our site, we ask them for the friend's name and email address. Garden-Helper.com will automatically send the friend a one-time email inviting them to visit the site. Garden-Helper.com stores [or does not store] this information for the sole purpose of sending this one-time email [and tracking the success of our referral program]. The friend may contact Garden-Helper.com at [INSERT URL OR EMAIL ADDRESS] to request the removal of this information from our database.
Security
This Web site takes every precaution to protect our users' information. When users submit sensitive information via the Web site, their information is protected both online and off-line.
When our registration/order form asks users to enter sensitive information (such as credit card number and/or social security number), that information is encrypted and is protected with the best encryption software in the industry - SSL. While on a secure page, such as our order form, the lock icon on the bottom of Web browsers such as Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer becomes locked, as opposed to un-locked, or open, when users are just 'surfing'. [To learn more about SSL, follow this link [INSERT LINK].]
While we use SSL encryption to protect sensitive information online, we also do everything in our power to protect user-information off-line. All of our users' information, not just the sensitive information mentioned above, is restricted in our offices. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job (for example, our billing clerk or a customer service representative) are granted access to personally identifiable information. Our employees must use password-protected screen-savers when they leave their desk. When they return, they must re-enter their password to re-gain access to user information. Furthermore, ALL employees are kept up-to-date on our security and privacy practices. Every [quarter], as well as any time new policies are added, our employees are notified and/or reminded about the importance we place on privacy, and what they can do to ensure our users' information is protected. Finally, the servers that store personally identifiable information are in a secure environment, [behind a locked cage][in a locked facility]. [Be sure that your actual practices are reflected in this section. For example, if your employees are updated on privacy every 6 months, then state that, rather than a statement that is false. Another example, must employees use password-protected screensavers?]
If users have any questions about the security at our Web site, users can send an email to admin@garden-helper.com
Supplementation of Information
In order for this Web site to properly fulfill its obligation to users it is necessary for us to supplement the information we receive with information from 3rd party sources.
Credit Check
For example, to determine if users qualify for one of our credit cards, we use their name and social security number to request a credit report. Once we determine a user's credit-worthiness, this document is destroyed.
Purchasing History
In order for this Web site to enhance its ability to tailor the site to a user's preference, we combine information about the purchasing habits of users with similar information from our partners, [COMPANY Y & COMPANY Z], to create a personalized user profile. When a user makes a purchase from either of these two companies, the companies [we] collect [and share] personal [and demographic] information back with us.
Enhancement of Marketing Profile
We purchase third party marketing data and add it to our existing user database to better target our advertising and provide pertinent offers we think our users would be interested in. We use this information to enhance or overlay the 'profile' of individual users. This aggregate marketing data is therefore tied to the users' personally identifiable information. See also the "Profile."
Correcting/Updating/Deleting/Deactivating Personal Information
If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as zip code, phone, email or postal address), or if a user no longer desires our service, we provide a way to correct, update or delete/deactivate users' personally identifiable information. This can usually be done at the [member information page] or by emailing our Customer Support at [EMAIL ADDRESS]. [Or, contact us by telephone or postal mail at the contact information listed below].
Notification of Changes
If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes to this privacy statement, the homepage, and other places we deem appropriate so our users are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances, if any, we disclose it. We will use information in accordance with the privacy policy under which the information was collected.
If, however, we are going to use users' personally identifiable information in a manner different from that stated at the time of collection we will notify users via email. Users will have a choice as to whether or not we use their information in this different manner. However, if users have opted out of all communication with the site, or deleted/deactivated their account, then they will not be contacted, nor will their personal information be used in this new manner. In addition, if we make any material changes in our privacy practices that do not affect user information already stored in our database, we will post a prominent notice on our Web site notifying users of the change. In some cases where we post a notice we will also email users, who have opted to receive communications from us, notifying them of the changes in our privacy practices.
Contact Information
If users have any questions or suggestions regarding our privacy policy, please contact us at:
Phone (802) 372 - 6992
Email admin@garden-helper.com
Postal Address 19 Lake View Rd. Grand Isle, VT 05458
Web site URL http://www.garden-helper.com
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