Privacy Policy
This privacy policy covers what information we collect from you when you visit the Oakwells.com site, how we use it, and under what circumstances we disclose it.
By using the Oakwells.com site, you agree with the terms and conditions of this privacy policy.
1. The information we collect
When you use our site, we receive and collect certain information. The information that we receive and collect depends on what you do when you visit Oakwells.com.
- Automatically Collected Information . Some information is automatically received and sometimes collected from you when you visit the Oakwells.com site. We receive and collect the name of the domain and host from which you access the Internet; the Internet protocol (IP) address of the computer you are using; the browser software you use and your operating system; the date and time you access our site; and the Internet address of the web site from which you linked directly to our site. We use this information to monitor the usage of our site. Also, when we send emails to you, we may be able to identify information about your email address, such as whether you can read graphic-rich HTML emails. All of the information we automatically capture provides us with the ability to enhance our customers' search and shopping experiences and to determine aggregate information about our user base and usage patterns.
- Information Collected via Cookies . We use cookies to enhance the browsing and shopping experience on the Oakwells.com site. "Cookies" are small files or records that we place on your computer's hard drive to collect information about your activities on the Oakwells.com site. The cookies transmit this information back to the computers at Oakwells.com or our third-party distributors of banners; these computers are, generally speaking, the only computers which are authorized to read such information.
- You can choose to have your browser warn you every time a cookie is being sent to you or you can turn off cookie placement. If you refuse cookies, you will not be able to open a Oakwells.com Shopping Cart and therefore will not be able to complete an order with us online. Also, by not using cookies, your overall Internet browsing experience will be affected.
- Information You Actively Submit to Oakwells.com . For most of the browsing services we provide, we neither require nor collect "Personal Customer Information" -- your name, email address, billing address, shipping address(es), phone number and credit card information. You can browse the Oakwells.com site and take as much time as you want to review our books and other products, services and reviews without having to submit such Personal Customer Information.
However, we do need you to actively submit Personal Customer Information when you want to open an account or complete an order.
- Creating a Oakwells.com Account or Completing an Order. You can create a customer account with Oakwells.com. To open an account, you will need to create a password-protected account with us. In doing so, we require that you provide us with all of the following Personal Customer Information: your name, email address, billing address, shipping address(es), and credit card information. We use industry standard e-commerce security technology to protect the Personal Customer Information that you transmit to us when you establish your account and each time you access your account information. See our Security Policy. When setting up the account, we ask you to create a password. When you want to make a purchase or change your stored Personal Customer Information, we approve your access by verifying your email address with your password.
2. How we use and share Personal Customer Information
Oakwells.com shares Personal Customer Information that we collect only as follows:
- Subcontractors. We send Personal Customer Information to third-party subcontractors and agents that work on our behalf to provide certain services. These third parties do not have the right to use the Personal Customer Information beyond what is necessary to assist us. They are contractually obligated to maintain the confidentiality and security of the Personal Customer Information and are restricted from using such information in any way not expressly authorized by Oakwells.com.
- Service Providers. We send Personal Customer Information to third-party providers of goods and services that you may purchase from time to time on our site (e.g., magazines). Like subcontractors, these third parties do not have the right to use the Personal Customer Information beyond what is necessary to assist us. They are contractually obligated to maintain the confidentiality and security of the Personal Customer Information and are restricted from using such information in any way not expressly authorized by Oakwells.com.
- Credit card companies. Credit card transactions are handled by a third-party financial institution and their vendors, which receive the credit card number and other personal identifying information only to verify the credit card numbers and process transactions.
- Affiliates. To facilitate special orders from certain stores of our affiliates, we provide such affiliates with limited access to billing and shipping addresses of our customers. Such affiliates do not have access to credit card information or order history and cannot make changes to customer accounts.
- Law Enforcement Investigations. Oakwells.com may release Personal Customer Information when we believe, in our good judgment, that such release is reasonably necessary to comply with law, enforce or apply the terms of any of our policies or user agreements, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Oakwells.com, our users, or others.
3. Communications from Oakwells.com
As a customer, you may receive the following communications from the Oakwells.com:
- Communications related to transaction and account maintenance activities. These communications include without limitation: order confirmations; order update notices; order problem notices; and notices regarding material changes to site policies and account management procedures.
4. Underage customers
Our products and services are marketed for purchase by adults or with the consent of adults. This is why Oakwells.com requires a credit card that has been authorized for use to complete purchases on our site.
5. Linking to third-party web sites
When you click on links and banners on our site that take you to third-party web sites, you will be subject to the third parties' privacy policies. While we support the protection of privacy on the Internet, Oakwells.com cannot be responsible for the actions of any third-party web sites. We encourage you to read the posted privacy statement of any and every site you visit, whether you are linking from our site or browsing on your own.
6. Changes to Privacy Policy
Oakwells.com reserves the right to modify or amend this policy at any time by posting the revised privacy policy on our site. The changes will only affect the information we collect after the effective date of the change to our privacy policy unless we clearly express otherwise.
7. Questions or comments
If you have any questions regarding our privacy policy, please email us at customerservice@oakwells.com
Security Policy
1. Protecting your information
The Personal Customer Information you provide -- including your credit card information -- to establish an account with us and to make purchases from us is secured using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption technology. We use this SSL technology to prevent such information from being intercepted and read as it is transmitted over the Internet. The encrypted data goes to a secure site where your information is stored on restricted-access computers located at restricted-access sites.
2. Password security
To further secure your Personal Customer Information, we require you to create a customer password when you establish an account with us. We encourage you to use a password that is not easily guessed (i.e., don't use your name or street name). Keep your password secret; do not share it with anyone. The only way you can place an order with us online is by entering both your registered email address and password.
If you forget your password, you can contact Customer Service and they will send you your password. It will be sent to the email address under which your Oakwells.com Account is assigned
3. Safe Shopping Guarantee
Under federal law, a credit card issuer cannot make you liable for charges in excess of $50.00 that result from the unauthorized use of your credit card. There are similar federal laws that relate to debit cards. Exceptions do apply, and you will have to comply with the rules of your credit card or debit card issuer, so please contact your card issuer for further details.
4. Changes to security
This security policy was last changed on August 6, 2004 . Oakwells.com reserves the right to modify or amend this policy at any time by posting the revised security policy on our site.