Information Collection and Use
Information Collection
Herdzone.net
(Hereinafter referred to as "we", "our" or
"ours"), the sole owner of the information collected on http://www.Herdzone.net,
http://toolbar.Herdzone.net, http://shopping.Herdzone.net,
http://email.Herdzone.net, etc., collects information from our users at
several different points on our Web sites.
Registration
In order to use the services of this Web site, a user may first complete the
registration form. During registration a user is required to give us contact
information such as name and address in order to create a username@Herdzone.com.
We use this information to contact the user about services on our site for
which he has expressed interest. We do not require users to provide demographic
information, but do require unique identifiers such as a username, e-mail
address, and member ID. We may require a user’s social security and/or
driver’s license number as well as a routing and account number if the
user would like to pay via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).
Order
We request information from the user on our order form. A user must provide
contact information and financial information. 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
Profile
We store information that we collect through cookies, log files, and/or third
parties to create a profile of our users. A profile is stored information that
we keep on individual users that gives details of 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
sites and to direct pertinent marketing promotions 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 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.
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. 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. However, we have no
access to or control over these cookies.
Third Party Advertising
The ads appearing on this Web site are delivered to users by BeFree.com, CJ.com,
Linkshare.com, and Performics.com, and our other Web advertising partners.
Information about users’ visit to this site, such as number of times they
have viewed an ad, is used to serve ads to users on this site. This privacy
statement covers the use of cookies by us 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.
Communications from the Site
Special Offers and Updates
We send all new members a welcoming e-mail to verify password and username.
Established members will occasionally receive information on products,
services, special deals, and a newsletter. Out of respect for your privacy, we
provide you a way to unsubscribe from these communications. If you no longer
wish to receive our newsletter you may opt-out of receiving them by following
the instructions included in each newsletter or by contacting customer support.
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.
These are the instances in which we will share users’ personal
information:
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
such as credit card processing. These third parties are not allowed to use
personally identifiable information except for the purpose of providing these
services.
Business Transitions
In the event VSI 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. You will be notified via notice on our website or by e-mail of any
change in ownership or control of your personal information.
Links
This Web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we 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.
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 to notify the winners and award prizes.
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.
Chat Rooms, Message Boards, and Public Forums
Please keep in mind that whenever you voluntarily disclose personal information
online - for example on message boards, through e-mail, or in chat areas - that
information can be collected and used by others. In short, by posting personal
information online that is publicly accessible, you may receive unsolicited
messages from other parties in return.
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 industry standard encryption software -
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’.
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 are granted access to personally identifiable
information. . Furthermore, ALL employees are kept up-to-date on our security
and privacy practices. 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.
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.
ID Address Verification
We use third party software to verify a user’s identity and address to
match billing information records.
Correcting/Updating Personal Information
If a user’s personally identifiable information changes (such as zip code,
phone, e-mail or postal address), or if a user no longer desires our service, we
provide a way to correct and update a users’ personally identifiable
information. This can usually be done by contacting Customer Support or by
updating your account information in our user profile area.
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.
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 by posting a notice on our Web site for 30 days.
Services
PROVIDING MULTIPLE-USER ACCESS TO A GLOBAL COMPUTER INFORMATION NETWORK FOR THE
TRANSFER AND DISSEMINATION OF A WIDE RANGE OF INFORMATION
Contact Information
If users have any questions or suggestions regarding our privacy policy, please
contact us at:
www.Herdzone.net
TechSupport@Herdzone.com
08.20.2004