SympathyTree Privacy Statement
SympathyTree, Inc. ("SympathyTree") has created this privacy statement ("Statement") in order to demonstrate our commitment to user privacy. Privacy on the SympathyTree web sites (the "Sites") is of great importance to us. Because we gather important information from our visitors, we have established this Statement as a means to communicate our information gathering and dissemination practices. We reserve the right to change this Statement and will provide notification of the change at least thirty (30) business days prior to the change taking effect.
Collected Information:
We require people who register to use the services offered on our Sites (collectively, the "Service") to give us certain information, including but not necessarily limited to their name and e-mail address. When you register for the Service or certain features of the Service, or if you express interest in obtaining additional information, we may also ask for additional personal information. Users can opt out of providing this additional information by not entering it when asked. Users can update or remove their personal information at any time by contacting us at privacy@sympathytree.com, or, for registered users, by visiting the "My Account" section of our website.
SympathyTree uses the information that we collect to operate the Service. We may also use the information to contact users to further discuss interest in our company, the Service that we provide, and to send information regarding our company or partners, such as promotions and events. Users may be invited to receive an email newsletter by providing an email address. Users can opt out of being contacted by us, or receiving such information from us, at any time by sending an email to privacy@sympathytree.com. Separately, customers are also asked to provide an email address when registering for the Service, in order to receive a username and password. We may also email information regarding updates to the Service or company. Again, email will not be distributed or shared and customers can opt out of receiving any communication by emailing privacy@sympathytree.com or at the time any customer registers for the Service.
Except as we explicitly state at the time we request information, or as may be provided for or permitted under our Terms of Service (or other similar agreement you may have with SympathyTree), we do not disclose to third parties user email addresses or personal information provided. All financial and billing information that we collect through the Sites is used solely to check the qualifications of prospective customers and to bill for or provide the Service. This billing information is not used by SympathyTree for marketing or promotional purposes. SympathyTree uses a third-party intermediary to manage the credit card processing. This intermediary is solely a link in the distribution chain, and is not permitted to store, retain, or use the information provided, except for the sole purpose of credit card processing. Other third parties, such as content providers, may provide content on the Sites but they are not permitted to collect any information nor does SympathyTree share user information with these parties.
Customers of the Service may use the Sites to share, present and display text, images or other content ("Content"). SympathyTree will not review, share, distribute, print, or reference any such Content except as provided or permitted in our Terms of Service (or other similar agreement you may have with SympathyTree), or as may be required by law. Customers are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and security of their user registration and password.
SympathyTree may also collect certain information from visitors to and customers of the Site, such as Internet addresses. This information is logged to help diagnose technical problems, and to administer our Site in order to constantly improve the quality of the Service. We may also track and analyze non-identifying and aggregate usage and volume statistical information from our visitors and customers and provide such information to third parties.
If a user elects to use a referral service included within our Service for informing a friend about our site, we ask them for the friend's name and email address. SympathyTree will automatically send the friend an email inviting them to visit the site.
Cookies:
When you interact with the SympathyTree Sites we strive to make that experience easy and meaningful. When you come to our Sites, our Web server sends a cookie to your computer. Cookies are files that Web browsers place on a computer's hard drive and are used to tell us whether customers and visitors have visited the Sites previously.
Standing alone, cookies do not identify you personally. They merely recognize your browser. Unless you choose to identify yourself to SympathyTree, for example by responding to a promotional offer or registering as a customer, you remain anonymous to SympathyTree. Cookies come in two flavors: session and persistent-based. Session cookies exist only during an online session. They disappear from your computer when you close your browser software or turn off your computer. Persistent cookies remain on your computer after you've closed your browser or turned off your computer. They include such information as a unique identifier for your browser.
SympathyTree uses session cookies containing encrypted information to allow the system to uniquely identify you while you are logged in. This information allows SympathyTree to process your online transactions and requests. Session cookies help us make sure you are who you say you are after you've logged in and are required in order to use the SympathyTree web-based application. SympathyTree uses persistent cookies, that only SympathyTree can read and use, to identify the fact that you are a SympathyTree customer or prior SympathyTree website visitor (whatever the case may be). We are especially careful about the security and confidentiality of the information stored in persistent cookies. For example, we do not store account numbers or passwords in persistent cookies. Users who disable their Web browsers' ability to accept cookies will be able to browse our Sites.
Third Party Cookies: We may from time to time engage third parties to track and analyze non-personally identifiable usage and volume statistical information from visitors to our website to help us administer our website and improve its quality. Such third parties may use cookies to help track visitor behavior. Such cookies will not be used to associate individual website visitors to any personally identifiable information. All data collected by such third parties on behalf of SympathyTree is used only to provide us with information on site usage and is not shared with any other third parties.
Third-Party Sites:
The Site contains links to other web sites. SympathyTree is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of these other web sites. Customers and visitors will need to check the policy statement of these others web sites to understand their policies. Customers and visitors who access a linked site may be disclosing their private information. It is the responsibility of the user to keep such information private and confidential.
Security:
Our Site has security measures in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, and alteration of the Data under our control. We utilitze Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology to protect information using both server authentication and data encryption to help ensure that Data is safe, secure, and available only to you. SympathyTree also implements an advanced security method based on dynamic data and encoded session identifications, and hosts the Site in a secure server environment that uses a firewall and other advanced technology to prevent interference or access from outside intruders. Finally, SympathyTree provides unique user names and passwords that must be entered each time a customer logs on. These safeguards help prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the appropriate use of Data.
Opt-Out Policy:
SympathyTree offers its visitors and customers a means to choose how we may use information provided. If, at any time after registering for information or ordering the Service, you change your mind about receiving information from us or about sharing your information with third parties, send us a request specifying your new choice. Simply send your request to privacy@sympathytree.com.
Correcting & Updating Your Information:
If customers need to update or change registration information or a user profile they may do so by visiting the “My Account” section of our Site or by emailing support@sympathytree.com. SympathyTree will respond to your correction or update request within at most 30 days from the date of receipt of your request.
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Additional Information:
Questions regarding this Statement or the practices of the SympathyTree Sites should be directed to SympathyTree by e-mailing such questions to privacy@sympathytree.com, or by regular mail addressed to SympathyTree, Inc., Attn: Privacy Concerns,
4014 24th Street #308
San Francisco, California 94114
Policy Effective: May 19, 2008