This website ("spongecandy.com") is owned and operated by Sponge Candy. SpongeCandy.com recognizes the importance of maintaining the privacy of our customers ("Customers"), registered members ("Members") and other website users (collectively "Users"), and we have posted this privacy policy ("Policy") to describe our practices regarding the collection and use of information gathered through SpongeCandy.com. This Policy applies only to Users accessing SpongeCandy.com from within the United States. This Policy is effective as of 12/26/2009. We may from time to time update this Policy and invite you to review this page periodically. In the event this Policy changes, we will inform you by posting an updated Policy on this web page. All changes will go into effect on the date that is posted in our Policy. The new Policy will apply to all past and current users of SpongeCandy.com and will replace any prior Policies.
Note: You must be a U.S. resident 18 years or older to register as a Member to use SpongeCandy.com.
What Information We Collect and How We Use It
SpongeCandy.com does not collect personally identifiable information from individuals unless they provide it to us voluntarily and knowingly. This means we don't require Users to register or provide information to us in order to view our site. If you choose to become a Member, we collect the following information about you: name, address, phone number, email address, username, password, birth date. We also collect the names, addresses, and phone numbers of those persons whom you add to your personal address book as a Member, which is only accessible by using the Member's log-in information. We use the information you supply for the purpose of providing the services you have requested. In addition, SpongeCandy.com may from time-to-time contact you via email or regular mail, unless you opt-out by following the instructions in the "opting out" section of this policy.
If you shop with us via SpongeCandy.com, we collect the following information about you: name, address, phone number, email address, billing information including credit card number and expiration date as well as the names, addresses and phone numbers of gift recipients (if any). We use your name, address, phone number, billing information/credit card information to process your order or otherwise described in this privacy policy. The email address you provide is used for internal purposes, such as confirming and tracking your order or otherwise as described in this privacy policy. We may also contact you via email or regular mail from time-to-time to keep you up-to-date on the latest SpongeCandy.com news or to send you our latest catalog. Also, while we will not share your email address with third parties, we may rent, share, sell or exchange your postal address with third parties that we think may be of interest to you. If you would like to opt out of receiving mailings from Sponge Candy or our third parties, please follow the instructions in the "opting out" section of this policy. Additionally, gift recipients may, from time to time, receive our latest catalog as well as offers from us regarding new products and services that we think may be of interest to them. We allow gift recipients the option to opt out of receiving future marketing related mailings from us.
In certain instances we may disclose your personally identifiable information when we have reason to believe that it is necessary to identify, contact or bring legal action against persons or entities who may be causing injury to you, Sponge Candy or others. We may also disclose your personally identifiable information when we believe the law requires it. In the event of a merger, consolidation or sale or transfer of all or substantially all of our company or its assets, it is possible that all User information collected by SpongeCandy.com will be transferred to the purchaser or the new company.
Cookies and Web Beacons
SpongeCandy.com uses "cookies". A cookie is a small file that is sent to your browser from a web server and stored on your computer's hard drive. We use cookies to help us determine whether a User has visited SpongeCandy.com before or if they are new User. Cookies also allow Members to save time during checkout in return visits. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but they should also allow you to instruct your browser to prevent the use of cookies. Please note that if you disable cookies certain aspects of SpongeCandy.com will not function properly, such as the shopping bag. The cookie doesn't track any personal information about you or provide us with any way to contact you, and the cookie doesn't extract any information from your computer. SpongeCandy.com also tracks users with "web beacons", a commonly used technology. This allows us to anonymously track purchases and other website information. These web beacons may be used to provide data to third parties for tracking purposes. However, no personal information is collected or transferred using web beacons on SpongeCandy.com
Sweepstakes/Promotions
SpongeCandy.com sometimes includes notices of sweepstakes or other promotions we are conducting, and we may permit you to enter electronically in some cases. If that occurs, we will use the information you provide for the purpose of conducting the promotion (e.g., to contact you if you're a winner). In addition, we may participate in internet related promotions sponsored by third parties. In these instances, if you are a participant in such promotions, we may provide certain personally identifiable information to these third parties in furtherance of the promotion. These parties have agreed to hold this information in confidence, not use it for any purpose except to carry out the requested service, and honor SpongeCandy.com's privacy and security policies in the way this information is handled.
Market Research
From time to time, SpongeCandy.com may also conduct questionnaires and surveys and we may contact you via email, postal mail or phone. Survey information is treated like all of the information we collect, and it is used to help us improve the appeal of our products and our site.
Live Customer Service Assistance
SpongeCandy.com offers Users live customer service assistance. Users of this service may disclose personally identifiable information to SpongeCandy.com. This personally identifiable information is used to help facilitate the customer service representative in assisting with the inquiries they receive from the User.
Third Parties Service Providers
SpongeCandy.com sometimes employs other companies and individuals to perform services for us. For example, we hire agencies to help administer consumer promotions, to analyze data, to fulfill orders you place, and to provide customer service. These parties have agreed to hold this information in confidence, not use it for any purpose except to carry out the requested service, and honor Sponge Candy privacy and security policies in the way this information is handled.
Security
SpongeCandy.com takes your privacy and security seriously. For this reason we have established security measures including locked doors and files, electronic security and managerial controls that limit the potential for misuse of information by employees, contractors and other third parties.
If you would rather not receive mailings from our third parties, please email us at cs@spongecandy.com or write to us at Customer Service, Sponge Candy, 908 Niagara Falls Blvd, Suite 400, North Tonawanda, NY 14120.
Your California/Rhode Island Privacy Rights
SpongeCandy.com may disclose your personal information to third parties for their use in marketing to you unless you tell us not to. In order to opt out of our third party mailings, please email us at cs@spongecandy.com or write to us at Customer Service: Sponge Candy, 908 Niagara Falls Blvd, Suite 400, North Tonawanda, NY 14120.
If you have any questions about our Policy, you can e-mail us at cs@spongecandy.com or contact us by mail at Sponge Candy, 908 Niagara Falls Blvd, Suite 400, North Tonawanda, NY 14120. We'll be happy to answer your questions or hear your concerns.