Better World Books Privacy Policy

BETTER WORLD BOOKS LIMITED - WEBSITE PRIVACY POLICY (THE “PRIVACY POLICY”)

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Better World Books Limited, a company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 06570267 and having its registered office at Unit 150, Imperial Court, Exchange Street East, Liverpool L2 3AB (“Better World Books”, “we” or “us”) created this Privacy Policy in order to demonstrate our firm commitment to protecting the privacy of all of our customers and visitors to our website (the “Site”).  Please read the following Privacy Policy to understand what information we may collect, how we may collect it, with whom we may share it, and certain other matters related to such information, including the choices you have regarding our collection of information and our use and disclosure to other parties of information we may have collected from you.

We use the information we collect about you to facilitate commercial transactions and to provide you with a more personalised experience. We have created this Privacy Policy statement in order to demonstrate our firm commitment to protecting the privacy of all of our customers and visitors. The following Privacy Policy discloses the information-gathering and dissemination practices and policies of Better World Books.  By registering on and using this Site you consent to the collection, storage, use and transfer of your information under the terms of this Privacy Policy.

This Privacy Policy informs you about the following:

1. The Types of information that may be collected;
2. How the information is collected;
3. How we use the information that we collect;
4. Sharing your information;
5. The choices that you have about Better World Books collecting, using, and sharing your information;
6. The security precautions that are in place to protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of your information;
7. Chat Rooms, Blogs, Forums, and Message Boards;
8. Links to third party websites;
9. A special note for parents concerning privacy;
10. Limitation of liability;
11. Notification of changes and acceptance of is Privacy Policy;
12. Correcting and updating your personal data; and
13. Whom do I contact with questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy?

1. THE TYPES OF INFORMATION THAT MAY BE COLLECTED

The personal data we collect is used to facilitate delivery of products and/or services to our customers. In the process of providing these products and/or services, we require our customers to provide certain personal data. Specific details may include, but are not limited to the following and may be subject to change: 

In the case of:

• registering with us (“Registration”): Requesting services or otherwise, we may require personal details such as your name, contact details, email address etc;

• programme registrations: We may require all users and/or customers wishing to participate in our programmes or competitions to complete a Participant Registration Form (details of which are on our Site). During this registration process we generate and collect certain personal data from you such as: (i) customer's first and last name, (ii) postcode, (iii) Twitter user i.d. (if applicable), (iv) Facebook user i.d. (if applicable), (v) telephone number, (vi) age; and (vii) email address. In addition, some programme participants will also be required to provide additional personal data such as a shipping address;

• product purchases: In order to complete the purchase of a product, an online credit card transaction may be required. During this process we generate and collect certain verifiable personal data such as: (i) customer's first and last name, (ii) first and last name of the credit card owner, (iii) credit card billing address, (iii) credit card number, (iv) credit card expiration date, (v) card verification value (“CVV”), (vi) customer's shipping address, (vii) phone number, and (viii) email address. By making a purchase from the Site, you understand and agree that we may share information about you and your transaction with other companies for the purpose of processing your transaction, including, without limitation, for purposes of fraud prevention, vendor direct shipping and credit card authorisation.

• a customer sending us personal correspondence, such as emails or letters: We may collect such information into a file specific to such customer; or

• when you use the Site and if you post information on the Site, email or otherwise send information to us.

2. HOW THE INFORMATION IS COLLECTED 

We may collect information from you in several different areas on the Site including but not limited to those described below:

• Registration

• You may be asked first to complete a registration form and provide personal data; you may also be asked to choose a user ID and password in order to order our products or participate in a programme or a service feature (including, without limitation, our Blog) offered on or through the Site.

• Newsletters, Site Emails and Special Offers

• We may offer free newsletters to share information with you about the Site, about our special offers, about us and our affiliates and subsidiaries, or about our business partners, advertisers and sponsors. You may receive a newsletter either by registering for our newsletter on our Site, checking a box to register for our newsletter when you place your order or in conjunction with a special feature or membership for which you have registered on the Site. You may cancel your free email subscription by following the instructions provided on the Site or, in some instances, in the designated area of certain newsletters or emails.

• Competitions

• We may operate competitions through the Site, which may require registration. Your personal data may be used to contact you for winner notification, prize delivery confirmation or other related purposes. We may ask your permission to allow us to post publicly some of your information on the Site, such as on a winners’ page, in the event you win a competition. Except if required by any applicable law, we will not post your information without your permission. In some instances, a third party advertiser or sponsor may operate or host a competition on the Site, and collect your information. In those cases, where we are not the operator or host of the competition, we have no control over the information collected and accordingly urge you to review the advertiser's or sponsor's privacy policy applicable to the contest or sweepstakes before participating.

• Surveys or Voting

• From time-to-time we may ask you to take party in our surveys or voting polls.  Participation is voluntary, however, if you accept our survey/poll invitation we may ask you to disclose personal data in your answers to our survey/poll questions.  Please note, you will have the opportunity to decide whether or not to disclose certain information. At times, you may have to register to vote or to take part in a survey.

• Cookies

• As with many websites, the Site uses standard technology called "cookies," which are small data files that are transferred to your computer when you allow your browser to accept cookies. Cookies automatically identify your Web browser to the Site whenever you visit the Site and make using the Site easier for you by saving your passwords, purchases, and preferences. By tracking how and when you use the Site, cookies help us determine which areas are popular and which are not. Many improvements and updates to the Site are based on data obtained from cookies. Accepting cookies allows you, among other things, to personalise your experience on the Site. Cookies may also allow the Site to present to you advertising which may be of interest to you. In addition, the Site uses cookies during the ordering and checkout process. Please note if you are simply visiting the Site, we will not obtain or store any personal data about you.

• We use persistent cookies if you have registered or subscribed with us online.  These cookies allow us to make the logging-in process easier and more secure.  They will also be used to recognise you when you return to the Site.  We also use session cookies that will hold your data on our Site until such time as you log out. 

• You can disable the cookies that we attach if your browser supports this.  For further information on how to do this, please refer to the “Help” section of your browser.  However, you should bear in mind that if you exercise this option, you may be unable to use some of our online services or order our products.

• IP Addresses and Click-stream Data

• We may collect IP addresses and/or click-stream data for purposes of system administration.  An IP address is a number that is automatically assigned to your computer whenever you access the Internet. Our computers identify your computer by its IP address. When you request Web pages from the Site, our computers log your IP address.
  Click-stream data is information collected by our computers when you request Web pages from the Site. Click-stream data may include such information as the page served, the time spent reviewing the page, the source of the request, the type of browser making the request, the preceding page view and other such non-personal data. When analysed, this data helps us analyse, for example, how visitors arrive at the Site, what type of content is most popular, what type of visitors in the aggregate are interested in particular kinds of content on the Site and advertising.

• Transaction Information

• If you buy any products or services offered on our Site, we will ask you to complete an order form that will request certain information from you, including financial information such as: (i) a credit card number and expiration date; and (ii) general contact, billing and shipping information. We will use this information to complete the transaction that you have requested to deliver the product(s) or service(s) that you order, and to invoice you. Credit card numbers and other billing information are securely collected and transmitted to payment processor(s) through encrypted means for your protection. Other information is securely collected and stored through encrypted means for your protection.

• PayPal

• If you buy any products of services offered on our Site using Paypal, your personal information including financial information will be subject to the terms of Paypal’s Privacy Policy, the terms of which may be found on Paypal’s UK website at www.paypal.co.uk.  Please note we assume no responsibility for the information gathering practices of Paypal and we encourage you to review its privacy policy disclosing any personal data.

3. HOW WE USE THE INFORMATION THAT WE COLLECT

We use personal data about our customers to fulfill orders placed on the Site, to improve our marketing and promotional efforts, to statistically analyse site usage, to improve our content and product offerings and to customise our Site's content and layout. We believe these uses allow us to improve our Site and provide better service to our customers.

We occasionally may use a customer's email address and, in rare situations mailing address or phone number, to contact a customer regarding administrative or billing matters.

We also may use information in the file we maintain about a customer to resolve disputes.

4. SHARING YOUR INFORMATION

The information you provide to us will be treated as confidential.  Protecting the privacy and security of your personal data is a priority at Better World Books, and we do not sell or rent your personal data to third parties.  However, we may disclose your information to Better World Books in the US (“Our US Company”) or, as noted above, other third parties who act for us and to our business partners for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy or for purposes approved by you.

Better World Books will only share your personal data with:

• Our US Company

• Qumpus, Inc., d.b.a Better World Books who operate our US website at www.betterworldbooks.com will process your personal data on our behalf.  However, all of our Better World Books employees and data processors, who have access to, and are associated with the processing of personal data, are obliged to respect the confidentiality of our customer's personal data and will conform with the terms of the Privacy Policy.  When you place your order, you will asked to consent to the terms of this Privacy Policy and therefore, provide your consent to the transfer of your personal data out with the UK to our US Company.

• Third party providers of products and services you order

• If you buy a product on the Site that is operated by a third party, we may share your personal data with that third party for the purpose of fulfilling your order. Examples of this include, but may not be limited to, Marketplace orders (orders of books listed on the Site and fulfilled by independent booksellers) and new book orders (which may be fulfilled directly by a wholesaler).  Please note that countries outside the European Economic Area do not always have the same strong data protection laws.  However, we will always take steps to ensure that your information is used by third parties in accordance with the terms of this Privacy Policy.

• Other entities owned by Better World Books

• We manage or may manage in the future other websites owned by Better World Books. We may share your personal data within Better World Books and/or its affiliated entities (if any) in order to provide you a better experience on all of our websites.

• Service providers, subcontractors and agents who perform services on our behalf

• We provide personal data to third party service providers, sub-contractors, and agents that work under contract on our behalf to provide certain services. These third parties do not have the right to use the personal data we provide to them in any way that is not authorised by us. They are contractually obligated to use such data only as necessary to assist us and to maintain the confidentiality and security of such data.

• Credit Card Companies:

• Credit card transactions are handled by third party financial institutions and their vendors and contractors who receive credit card numbers and other personal data from us to verify the credit card numbers and process transactions.

• Protection of Better World Books and Others:

• We release account and other personal data when we believe release is appropriate to comply with the law; enforce or apply our Terms of Use and other agreements; or protect the rights, property, or safety of Better World Books, our users, or other third parties. This includes exchanging information with other companies and organisations for fraud protection and credit risk reduction. However, this disclosure does not include selling, renting, sharing, or otherwise disclosing personal data from customers for commercial purposes in violation of the commitments set forth in this Privacy Policy.

• Business Transfers

• As we continue to develop our business, we might sell or buy shops, subsidiaries, or other business units. In such transactions, customer information generally is one of the transferred business assets, but such information remains subject to the promises made in any pre-existing Privacy Policy (unless the customer consents otherwise). Also, in the event that Better World Books or substantially all of its assets are acquired, customer information will of course be one of the transferred assets to the acquirer in such transaction. In addition, if Better World Books becomes involved in a merger, acquisition, or any form of sale of some or all of its assets, personal data may be provided to the entities and advisors involved in such transaction, subject to a confidentiality agreement.

• From time to time, we may send you offers from Better World Books, and/or our partners based upon the information you have provided us.  Other than the foregoing or as provided in an amendment to this Privacy Policy, we will not intentionally share your personal data with third parties for promotional purposes.

5. THE CHOICES THAT I HAVE ABOUT BETTER WORLD BOOKS COLLECTING, USING, AND SHARING MY INFORMATION

It is possible for you to use much of our Site without giving us any personal data. When you do register with us or give us personal data, you will have an opportunity at the time we collect your information to limit email communications from Better World Books. You can request at any time that Better World Books not send future emails to you by unsubscribing from the communication through links contained therein (typically in the footer of the email). If you require further assistance, you may contact us at support@betterworldbooks.co.uk. If you have placed an order with us, please note that such requests do not include emails of a purely administrative nature (i.e., you cannot opt out of receiving order confirmations, shipping confirmations, or arrival confirmations). They do, however, include opting out of special offers and newsletters (as above).

6. THE SECURITY PRECAUTIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE TO PROTECT AGAINST THE LOSS, MISUSE, OR ALTERATION OF YOUR INFORMATION

We use industry standard efforts and have established reasonable security procedures to safeguard the confidentiality of your personal data. However, please keep in mind that "perfect security" does not exist on the Internet and/or the World Wide Web, and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary stated in this Privacy Policy and our obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998, Better World Books assumes no responsibility, and expressly disclaims liability, with regard to the loss or disclosure of your personal data due to causes outside of its direct control.

7. CHAT ROOMS, BLOGS, FORUMS, AND MESSAGE BOARDS

The Site may make chat rooms, forums and message boards available to its users. You are not required to provide any personal data when using these areas but you may choose to do so. If you post personal data online, it will be publicly available and you may receive unsolicited messages from other parties. Better World Books cannot ensure the security of any information you choose to make public in a chat room, forum, or message board. Also, we cannot ensure that parties who have access to such publicly available information will respect your privacy. Please exercise caution when deciding to disclose personal data in these areas.

8. LINKS TO THIRD PARTY WEBSITES

You should be aware that when you are on the Site you could be directed to other websites operated by third parties.  Please be aware that we do not control such websites. For example, if you "click" on a banner advertisement, the "click" may take you off the Site onto a different website. This includes links from advertisers, sponsors and partners that may use the Site's logo as part of a co-branding agreement. These other websites may send their own cookies to you, independently collect data or solicit personal data and may or may not have their own published privacy policies. If you visit a website that is linked to our Site, you should consult that website's privacy policy before providing any personal data.  This Privacy Policy does not apply to any information you submit to third party websites, including, without limitation, any websites that may be connected to our Site by hyperlink or otherwise

9. A SPECIAL NOTE FOR PARENTS CONCERNING PRIVACY

We do not encourage children to participate in providing us with any personal data. We ask that minors (12 years of age and under) do not submit any personal data to us.

10. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

By providing us with any personal data, to the fullest extent permitted by law, you expressly and unconditionally release and hold harmless Better World Books and its shareholders, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, trustees, employees, volunteers and agents (collectively, the “Releasees”) from any and all liability for any injuries, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with the use and/or misuse of your collected personal data.  In addition, while Better World Books makes efforts to ensure the proper and appropriate use of data provided by Better World Books to third party companies, promotional partners or vendors, the Releasees are not liable for any injuries, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with the use and/or misuse of your collected personal data by such third parties.

11. NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE PRIVACY POLICY

Better World Books may change this Privacy Policy from time to time. If so, we shall notify you of any such changes by posting them on our Site so that Better World Books may keep its users informed of its information collection practices. Accordingly, we recommend that you consult this Privacy Policy frequently so that you are aware of our latest privacy policy and/or any changes to this Privacy Policy.  Your continued use of the Site shall constitute your acceptance of any such new or revised Privacy Policy.  If at any point we decide to use your personal data in a manner different from that stated at the time it was collected, we will send you an email notifying you of such changes and give you the option as to whether to allow us to use such information in such different manner.  Without such consent, we will use your personal data in accordance with the privacy policy under which it was collected.

12. CORRECTING AND UPDATING YOUR PERSONAL DATA

If your personal data changes (such as your postcode), or if you no longer desire to access our Site, we will endeavour to provide a way to correct or update the personal data you have provided to us. This can be done by making changes to your profile, by using an option out message in an email, or by emailing us at support@betterworldbooks.co.uk.

13. WHOM DO I CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PRIVACY POLICY?

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, the practices of this Site, or your dealings with this Site, please contact Better World Books by sending a letter to:

Better World Books UK
Castle Industrial Centre - Unit 10
Queensferry Road
Dunfermline
KY11 8PU

You may also contact us by email at support@betterworldbooks.co.uk.