 |
This privacy statement covers the site AWorldOfPets.com. Because this Web site
wants to demonstrate its commitment to our users' privacy, it has agreed to
disclose its information practices for the following information:
- What personally identifiable information A World of Pets collects.
- What personally identifiable information third parties collect through
the Web site.
- What organization collects the information.
- How A World of Pets uses the information.
- With whom A World of Pets may share user information.
- What choices are available to users regarding collection, use and
distribution of the information.
- What types of security procedures are in place to protect the loss,
misuse or alteration of information under A World of Pets control.
- How users can correct any inaccuracies in the information.
If users have questions or concerns regarding this statement, they should first
contact us by e-mail
at customerservice@aworldofpets.com.
If they do not receive acknowledgment of their inquiry or their inquiry is not satisfactorily addressed,
they should then contact Gary Nudelman
at telltheboss@aworldofpets.com. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A World of Pets is the sole owner of the information collected on www.aworldofpets.com.
A World of Pets collects information from our users at several different points on our Web site. |
|
|
Registration
An option to personalize and improve the user experience at AWorldOfPets.com is
completing a registration form. During registration contact information (such
as name and email address) is given. |
|
|
Order
We request information from the user on our order form. A user must provide
contact information (such as name, email, and shipping address) and financial
information (such as credit card number, expiration date). |
|
|
|
|
Registration
Registration information is used to contact the user about services on our
site for which he has expressed interest. It is optional for the user to
provide demographic information (such as income level and gender), and
unique identifiers (such as, username and password), but encouraged so we
can provide a more personalized experience on our site. |
|
|
Order
Order 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. |
|
|
Profile
We store information that we collect through cookies, log files, clear gifs,
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 to them. We may
share your profile with other third parties but it will only be shared in
aggregate form only. |
|
|
Cookies
A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user's computer tied to information
about the user. Usage of a cookie is in no way linked to any personally
identifiable information while on our site. We use both session ID cookies
and persistent cookies. For the session ID cookie, once users close the
browser, the cookie simply terminates. 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.
Click here
for more information on cookies. |
|
|
|
By setting a cookie on our site, users would not have to log in a password more
than once, thereby saving time while on our site. If users reject the cookie,
they may still use our site. The only drawback to this is that the user will
be limited in some areas of our site. For example, the user will not be able
to purchase anything in our pet store. 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 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. |
|
|
Third Party Advertising
The ads appearing on this Web site are delivered to users by our advertisers and
our Web advertising partners. Information about users' visit to this site, such
as number of times they have viewed an ad (but not user name, address, or other
personal information), is used to serve ads to users on this site.
|
|
|
|
This privacy statement covers the use of cookies by AWorldOfPets.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. |
|
|
Clear GIFs (Web Beacons/Web Bugs)
We do not employ a software technology called clear GIFs (a.k.a. Web
Beacons/Web Bugs). Clear GIFs are tiny graphics with a unique identifier,
similar in function to cookies, and are used to track the online movements
of Web users. The main difference between the two is that clear GIFs are
invisible on the page and are much smaller, about the size of the period
at the end of this sentence. |
|
|
|
Clear GIFs can "work with" existing cookies on a computer if they are both
from the same Web site or advertising company. That means, for example,
that if a person visited "www.companyX.com", which uses an advertising
company's clear GIF, the Web site would match the clear GIF's identifier
and the advertising company's cookie ID number, to show the past online
behavior for that computer. This collected information would then be given
to the advertising company or Web site. |
|
|
|
In addition, we do not use clear GIFs in our HTML-based emails to let us know
which emails have been opened by the recipients. If users would like to opt-out
of these emails, please see the Opt-out section. |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
Newsletter
If a user wishes to subscribe to our newsletter, 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. |
|
|
|
|
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.
This is not linked to any personally identifiable information. |
|
|
Third Party Advertisers
A World of Pets shares Web site usage information about users with a reputable
third parties for the purpose of targeting our Internet banner advertisements
on this site and other sites.
|
|
|
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 partner with other third parties 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 A World of Pets 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 be, in most instances, part of the assets transferred.
Users will be notified via email and/or a prominent notice on our Web site 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. |
|
|
|
|
|
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
unsubscribe@aworldofpets.com.
We also offer an opt-out mechanism on the Account Information pages or the user
may contact us at any of our locations 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. |
|
|
|
|
|
This Web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we, A World of
Pets, 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. |
|
|
|
|
|
From time-to-time our site requests information from users via surveys and
promotions. Participation in these surveys or promotions 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 shared with the
survey and/or promotions sponsors, when appropriate. 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. |
|
|
|
|
|
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. A World of Pets will automatically
send the friend a one-time email inviting them to visit the site. A World of Pets stores
this information for the sole purpose of sending this one-time email and tracking the success
of our referral program. The friend may contact A World of Pets at
unsubscribe@aworldofpets.com to
request the removal of this information from our database. |
|
|
|
|
|
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'.
Click here to
learn more about SSL. |
|
|
|
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. Furthermore, ALL
employees are kept up-to-date on our security and privacy practices. 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, in a locked facility. |
|
|
|
If users have any questions about the security at our Web site, users can send an email to
questions@aworldofpets.com |
|
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
ID Verification
We use UPS and Wells Fargo Bank to verify a user's address to protect both user
and A World of Pets from fraud. |
|
|
Purchasing History
In order for this Web site to enhance its ability to tailor the site to a
user's preference, we may combine information about the purchasing habits
user profile. When a user makes a purchase from any of these partners,
the companies 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." |
|
|
|
|
|
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 Account Information
page or by emailing our Customer Support at
customerservice@aworldofpets.com. |
|
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
If users have any questions or suggestions regarding our privacy policy,
please feel free to contact us. |
|
|
 |
|
|