As used in this Privacy Policy, “Kootenay Country Store Co-operative”, “Kootenay Co-op”, “Co-op”, “us”, “we”, and “our” refers to the Kootenay Country Store Co-operative.
The Kootenay Co-op values the privacy of its members’ and customers’ information. This Privacy Policy describes how we acquire personal information and how we use, share and protect that information. We collect personal information through our Website and social media platforms, through member enrollment and other forms, and through video monitoring at our store. By purchasing shares as a member-owner, entering our store, completing online or paper entry forms or surveys, or by visiting our website, you are consenting to the information collection, use and disclosure practices described in this Privacy Policy.
Privacy Principles
We follow the following principles in order to protect your privacy:
- We do not collect any more personal information about you than is necessary;
- We only use your personal information for the purposes we specify in this Privacy Policy unless you agree otherwise;
- Other than as we specify in this Privacy Policy, we do not share your personal information with third parties.
Types of Information Gathered
We may obtain personal information from and about you in a number of different ways, including:
- Information that you give to us voluntarily while using a feature of our website;
- When you purchase, order, return, exchange or request information about our products and services in our store or on our website;
- As described in the section titled “Cookies” below, or when you participate in interactive features of our website;
- When you sign up for our e-mails, mobile messages, or social media notifications;
- When you enter a contest or sweepstakes;
- When you complete a paper form; or
- When you send us email messages, call us by telephone, or visit our stores (including when you provide us with comments, suggestions or other input).
During such activities, we may collect personal information about you that is not publicly available and can identify you, such as your name, mailing address, email address, phone number, birth date, gender and financial information, such as credit card number. We do so to fulfill our contractual and legal obligations (such as governing the co-op, providing our services or completing orders) and for our legitimate business purposes (such as improving the Website or services). We may also collect personal information with your consent for promotional, educational, or research purposes.
Use of our Website
Cookies
This information helps us customize your experience while visiting our website and makes our marketing messages more relevant. You can opt-out of IP-based geolocation web services at any time by changing your browser or device settings. You may also modify your cookie settings in your browser through your browser settings.
Analytical tools
We also may use third-party website analytics tools (such as Google Analytics), that collect information about user traffic on our website. The information we collect by automated means may include, but is not limited to, the following:
- information about the devices you use to access the Internet (such as the IP address and the type of the device, operating system, and web browser);
- dates, times, and duration of visits to our website (including whether you are a registered member or first-time visitor); and
- information on actions taken on our website (such as page views and site navigation patterns)
Hyperlinks
Our website may contain hyperlinks to third-party websites. This Privacy Policy does not apply to information collected at any such third-party websites. The Kootenay Co-op is not responsible for the privacy practices of such third-party websites. We encourage you to carefully review the privacy policies applicable to any website or service you visit so that you understand the policies applicable to those sites or services.
Online Surveys and Polls
From time to time, users of our website may be asked to participate in voluntary surveys and polls. As a part of this process, you may be asked to supply personal information, such as demographic information and lifestyle preferences. These surveys will be strictly voluntary and you can choose to disclose this information or not.
Use of Information
We may use information to:
- Provide services to you;
- Administer our business activities;
- Process, fulfill, manage requests for information;
- Understand demographics and content preferences;
- Better serve you and other Co-op customers:
- Deliver coupons, mobile coupons, newsletters, promotions, new services, in-store messages, emails and ;
- Send marketing communications and other information regarding our products, services and promotions;
- Administer and improve our website;
- Conduct research and analysis, including focus groups and surveys;
- Administer sweepstakes and contests;
- Provide notice of changes to our website;
- Prevent fraudulent transactions and monitor against theft;
- Provide information relevant to governance and operation of the co-op as it pertains to the co-op’s member-owners; and
- Assist law enforcement, respond to subpoenas or disclose information when legally compelled to do so or when the Co-op, in good faith, believes that the law requires it or for the protection of our legal rights or those of a third party.
Disclosure of Information
We will not sell or otherwise share personally identifying information with third parties or nonaffiliated companies except for those purposes described above, or as required by law.
Information from Public Forums
Any information you submit in a blog, chat room, social network or other public forum can be read, collected, or used by us and others, including, for example, to personalize your experience on our website. You are responsible for the information you disclose in these forums and such information is not protected under this Privacy Policy.
Your Rights
Choice Regarding Promotional Communications
If you receive a promotional email from us, you may unsubscribe at any time by following the instructions contained within the email. You may also opt-out from receiving promotional email from us, and any other promotional communications that we may send to you from time to time (e.g. by postal mail) by sending your request to us via the contact information at the end of this Privacy Policy. We will try to address these requests as quickly as possible, although you may receive promotional communications from us before we implement your request. Additionally, even after you opt out of receiving promotional messages from us, you will continue to receive administrative messages from us, for example, regarding your membership.
Accessing, Amending and Deleting your Personal Information
If we offer the ability to create user accounts or profiles on our website, you may have the ability to access and update many categories of personal information that you provide to us by logging in to your account and accessing your account settings. If you wish to access or amend any other personal information we hold about you, you may contact us as outlined at the end of this Privacy Policy. We may request proof of your identity before sharing or updating such personal information.
If you request that we delete the personal information that we have collected, we will do so within a reasonable period of time, but we may need to retain some of your personal information in order to satisfy our legal obligations, or where we reasonably believe that we have a legitimate reason to do so.
Modifications to this Privacy Policy
Kootenay Country Store Co-operative reserves the right to make changes to this Privacy Policy at any time, and such changes will be effective immediately upon being posted on our website. When we do, we will also revise the “last updated” date at the beginning of this Privacy Policy. If we change this Privacy Policy in a manner that is materially less restrictive of our use or disclosure of your personal information, we will use reasonable efforts to notify you of the change and to provide you with an opportunity to opt-out of such new or different use. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy from time to time for any changes.
How We Respond to “Do Not Track” Signals
Your web browser may let you choose your preference as to whether you want to allow the collection of information about your online activities over time and across different websites or online services. Our website may not respond to the preferences you may have set in your web browser regarding such collection of your information, and our website may continue to collect information in the manner described in this Privacy Policy.
Children’s Privacy
Kootenay Co-op does not knowingly solicit and does not wish to receive any information from children. If you believe we might have any information from or about a child under the age of 18, please contact us using the contact information below. Our website, surveys, and promotions are not intended for use by anyone under the age of 18 years.
Security and Retention
We have attempted to take all reasonable steps to have physical, electronic and procedural safeguards in place to protect all personal information we gather.
On our website, our effort includes compliance with related federal regulations and may include use of industry-standard Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption to prevent any loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, or modification of personal information. Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. As a result, while we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee or warrant the security of any information you transmit to or from our web sites, and you do so at your own risk.
We will retain your personal information for as long as needed to fulfill your requests, provide our website, comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes and enforce our agreements. If you are a member-owner, we will keep your personal information in perpetuity, unless you cease to be a member-owner and request to have your information removed. If you request to have your information removed, we will keep your personal information only as long as we are required to do so by relevant provincial and federal statutes.
International Visitors
Our servers and data centers are located in Canada. If you choose to use the Services from outside Canada, then you should know that you are transferring your Personal Information outside of your region and into Canada for storage and processing. You should know that each region can have its own privacy and data security laws, some of which may be less stringent as compared to those of your own region.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us:
Kootenay Co-op
777 Baker Street
Nelson, BC V1L 4J5
(250) 354-4077
info@kootenay.coop