Privacy Policy

(last updated: July 17, 2013)

ShopLocal.us and CertifiedLocallyOwned.com (the domains of ShopLocal.us, referenced herein as “ShopLocal”) respects the privacy of our users and has created this statement to demonstrate that commitment. The following statement describes the general information-gathering and usage practices of our sites. By using this site, you acknowledge that you have read, understand and agree to all terms and conditions stated both in our Privacy Policy and in our Terms and Conditions.

Disclosure

ShopLocal is committed to fully disclosing our policies regarding the collection, use, maintenance, disclosure and security of personal information obtained from users of our site. The term “personal information” includes a name, address, email address, or any other information which could be used to contact you directly or to identify you personally. Our staff, contractors, Internet service providers and others involved in this site follow this policy or similarly strict policies regarding your information.

Use and Disclosure Limitations

ShopLocal only uses personal information about its Web site users for specific purposes. We do not share user information with third parties except when we have told users about the disclosures, when we have prior consent, or when required by law.

Use Policy: When ShopLocal gathers personal information from users, we ask for permission first including but not limited to requiring user to verify participation via confirmation email. Personal information is used for activities such as auto-completion of commonly-used forms and helping us contact you when you solicit information from ShopLocal.

Disclosure Policy: We do not normally disclose personal information to anyone outside of ShopLocal unless we have previously informed users about the disclosures. However, some data may be used from time to time by outside contractors, including auditors or consultants, to assist us in carrying out necessary financial or operational activities. These uses will be consistent with this privacy policy and all contractors using this potential personal information must agree to safeguard it, to use it only for the authorized purpose, and to return it or destroy it upon completion of the activity.

ShopLocal might be required to disclose personal information in response to a valid legal process such as a subpoena, search warrant or court order. Although unlikely, it is possible that we may have to make certain disclosures to ensure the security of our Web site, to protect its integrity, or to take precautions against potential liability. In any of these situations, we will take any reasonable steps to limit the scope of the data disclosed. Finally, ShopLocal reserves the right to transfer, sell and/or distribute all information collected on its site for any purpose, including, but not limited to, for satisfaction of any debt or upon liquidation of the company should such a situation arise.

Specific Information Collection Activities

“Contact” Functions. Some pages on our sites offer users the opportunity to email either ShopLocal, its affiliate organizations or other companies or organizations about specific issues. To do so, users are asked to provide certain personal information to facilitate these communications. This information often includes the user’s name, email address, and, depending on which contact method the user chooses, postal address or phone number. This information is used to create a template letter or message from the user to the organization or company and, if the user chooses to email the message using our automated function, it will include the user’s email address to as part of the email message. This provides the organization or company a way to respond to users regarding the content of the message.

“Join” or “Referral Program” Functions. To contribute to ShopLocal in any way, users are asked to provide certain personal information. This information may include the user’s name, email address, phone number and postal address. This information is used to process and fulfill your membership(s) or donation and to provide relevant information to you for tax purposes.

“Survey” Function. We occasionally ask users to complete surveys on our sites and may ask for personally-identifying information as part of that process. Unless otherwise clearly specified at the point of the request, this information is not used for ShopLocal for any purpose other than to process or analyze the results of the survey or to fulfill a request that you make as part of the survey.

“Subscription” Function. To subscribe to email newsletters offered by ShopLocal, users are asked to provide certain personal information. This information may include the user’s name, email address, and postal address. This information is used exclusively to fulfill requests related to your email newsletter subscription and to contact you about participation in ShopLocal membership and programs.

“Certification” Function. To apply for business certrification, users are asked to provide certain business information. This information may include the company’s name, contact name, email address, phone number, postal address, website address, hours of operation, and business description. This information is used to display general details about certified businesses listed at the ShopLocal.us website. Certified businesses are also asked to provide proof of ownership in order to attain certification. This information may include a copy of a business license or DBA filing. Unless otherwise clearly specified at the point of the request, this information is not used for ShopLocal for any purpose other than to verify ownership and authenticate the business entity as part of certification.

All our employees and processors who have access to the personal data of users and are associated with the processing of that data are obliged to respect the confidentiality of users’ personal data.

Security of Collected Information

ShopLocal takes steps to secure your information to ensure convenient, reliable and timely service. While we work to ensure the security of personal information, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure and some of these tools and techniques may affect your privacy concerns.

As a result, while we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us or from our online products or services, and you do so at your own risk. Once we receive your transmission, we make our best effort to ensure its security on our systems.

Cookies: ShopLocal occasionally uses “cookies” to provide convenience features to return visitors. “Cookies” small digital signature files that are stored by Your web browser on your hard drive that allow Your preferences to be recorded when visiting or returning to the Website. As you activate certain information services at our Website, we create a cookie to help our program remember who you are. The information stored in the cookie we send you contains personally identifiable information but is automatically deleted from your hard disk when you close your browser. ShopLocal uses cookies only when appropriate and we never use cookies to retrieve information from your computer that was not originally sent in a cookie from us. You may be able to block cookies via Your browser settings but this may prevent You from access to certain features of the website.

Web Logs: ShopLocal maintains standard Web logs that record basic information about visitors to our Web site. These logs contain:

• The Internet domain from which you came to our Web site.

• Your IP address. An IP address is a series of numbers which uniquely identifies your connection to the Internet. Although it is possible in some instances, certain types of IP addresses may be used by interested persons to identify users but we do not attempt to identify users in this way.

• The type of browser (e.g., Internet Explorer or Netscape) and operating system (e.g., Windows 98) you use.

• The date and time you visited the site, and the pages you saw.

We use Web log information to design our Web site, identify popular features, and in similar ways. We do not try to identify individuals from Web logs or to link Web logs to other user information. However, if someone tries to damage our Web site or use it in an unauthorized or illegal way, we may share Web log information with law enforcement agencies. ShopLocal may provide aggregate information such as the number of users who visit particular pages of the site, or the number of people who link to certain external sites from our site, to other parties.

Links to Other Sites: ShopLocal does carry advertising on some of its sites and provides links to other sources of information which we believe may be of interest to site visitors. We have no control over the content of the sites to which we link in ShopLocal’s sites and these sites may have different privacy policies, which we encourage you to review. When you click through to other Web sites, you may get cookies directly from them. ShopLocal does not see or use these cookies, and we do not control how other sites use cookies.

Credit Card Information: ShopLocal does not maintain or collect any credit card information. All payments are processed through an independent merchant account provider (PayPal or other provider) not affiliated with ShopLocal. Please refer to provider’s website for its security policies.

Information Retention Policy

To preserve the integrity of our databases, standard procedure calls for us to retain information submitted by members for an indefinite length of time. ShopLocal understands your submissions as consent to store all your information in one place for this indefinite length of time, if we so wish. If required by law, we will nullify member information by erasing it from our database. We will also respond to written member requests to nullify account information. If you wish to make such a request, which requires that we verify your identity, or if you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact us. Also, by using this site, you do hereby represent and warrant that you understand and agree that all information submitted by you to ShopLocal becomes the property of ShopLocal and may be used in the sole discretion of ShopLocal in accordance with this Privacy Policy and the Terms of Use.

Opt-in/Out Policy

ShopLocal easily provides users the opportunity to opt-out of receiving unwanted communications. Users have the option to remove their information from our database, to not receive future communications, and/or to no longer receive our service by sending an email request to support@shoplocal.us or may click on unsubscribe link included in email communications from ShopLocal.

Editing of Your Information

ShopLocal believes strongly in giving you the ability to access and edit your personal information. To update your personal info, click on the links under “My Settings” on the left after you log in. There you can view, update and correct your account information. You may edit your profile at any time — all you need is your username and password. Please contact us if you run into any difficulty in making profile changes. Our databases automatically update any personal information you edit in your profile, or that you request we edit. Information transmitted through boards, chats, polls or through any other means remain in our databases and become the property of ShopLocal upon submission.

Links and Information

ShopLocal features links to many other websites. We not only feature certified business sites, but we actually invite all members to list some of their favorite links in their profiles. So you will see a variety of other websites accessible from ShopLocal. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such websites.

From time to time, Members may have the opportunity to participate in special programs and will be able to opt in to programs that will transfer their information to other third parties. This will occur only with prior permission from the User. ShopLocal expressly disclaims any liability that may arise from the provision of any User of any information whatsoever to this site. You, the User, agree to hold ShopLocal harmless from any liability that may arise from the provision of any information to this site. Pursuant to the Terms and Conditions, you agree that all information provided to ShopLocal shall become the property of ShopLocal for the specific purpose of providing you and other users with the best service possible, subject to any exclusions so stated herein.

Changes to Privacy Policy

ShopLocal’s security and Privacy Policy are periodically reviewed and enhanced as necessary. This policy might change as ShopLocal updates and expands its services. While our philosophy of protecting user information from inappropriate uses and disclosures will not change, this policy might change as ShopLocal updates and expands its services. ShopLocal post notification if there are any material changes in its privacy practices, or email you at our discretion. ShopLocal recommends that you check the privacy policy periodically, for your convenience we post the revision date at the top of the Policy. By using the site, you do hereby represent and warrant that you have read, understand, and agree to all terms of this Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. Each time you use the site, you agree to all updated terms set forth by ShopLocal in both its Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions and any other policies published by ShopLocal on the site. If you do not understand any of the terms or conditions of any of ShopLocal policies, you may inquire via electronic correspondence.

Contacting the Web Site

If you have technical problems, questions or other issues related to your use of ShopLocal or CertifiedLocallyOwned.com please click the link “Contact Us” on the home page of the Web sites. You can also contact us via email at support@shoplocal.us. If you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this site, or your dealings with this Web site, you may contact us via email.

Acceptance of Privacy Statement

Your use of our website(s), including any dispute concerning privacy, is subject to this privacy statement and the applicable Terms and Conditions. BY USING OUR WEBSITE, YOU ARE ACCEPTING THE PRACTICES SET OUT IN THIS PRIVACY STATEMENT AND THE APPLICABLE Terms and Conditions.

Effective Date:
This privacy statement was last revised on July 17, 2013.