Website Privacy Policy
At VIPS, Inc. ("VIPS"), we are committed to maintaining the privacy and accuracy of personal information that we may collect. This privacy policy describes our data collection, use and disclosure practices. Please note that this privacy policy applies only to the web pages, tools and content owned and operated by VIPS at this website. It does not apply to the collection, use or disclosure of information offline.
Please read this privacy policy carefully. Questions regarding this privacy policy should be directed to privacy@vips.com.
What personal information may we collect?
You do not need to provide any information that identifies you or your company such as your name, your company's name, your e-mail or physical address, your company's email or physical address, your home or work telephone number or other information about you or your company ("personal information") in order to review this website. In general, you can visit this website without revealing your identity or providing any personal information. However, when you request information from us, complete the "contact us" form, ask questions related to products, services, tools, events, or job listings described on the VIPS website or utilize any tools provided on this website, including the Risk of Exposure Calculator tool, VIPS may collect personal information from you. We also may collect more general information, such as demographic data, when you complete a customer survey or other online questionnaire.
How may we use this information?
Our primary purpose in collecting and processing your personal information is to: (1) provide the information that you request; (2) respond to questions related to the products, services, tools, events, job listings, and information offered through this website; (3) understand your use of the VIPS website; (4) send you materials on certain VIPS products and services about which you may be interested; (5) help evaluate and modify existing VIPS services and products; and (6) help develop additional services and products that are likely to be of interest to our users. We also may use your personal information to notify you about updates to the site or to send you marketing materials or promotional offers that may be of interest to you.
With whom may we share your personal information?
In certain limited instances, we may share your personal information with unaffiliated third parties. For example, we may share this information when necessary to provide products or services to you. We also may share this information with select unaffiliated third parties who may assist us in providing you with information about, and contact you to discuss, our products or services. Finally, we may use this information to respond to a subpoena or other legal process, and/or to protect and defend the rights or property of VIPS and the safety of our users. We reserve the right to contact appropriate authorities when activities that are illegal or violate our policies are taking place on this website.
VIPS may provide you with third-party content to enhance your experience; in those cases, VIPS may need to provide aggregate data to the third-party content provider. Please note that this aggregate information will not identify any personal information individually.
How will we protect your personal information?
We take reasonable measures to protect the privacy, accuracy, and reliability of any personal information you choose to provide to us and to protect such information from loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration and destruction. We also safeguard your personal information by limiting the number of employees and agents who may have access to such information, by permitting access only for business purposes, and by having in place processes for disciplinary action where appropriate.
Please note that, while we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot ensure the security of any information you choose to transmit through the use of the VIPS website. We are not responsible for any breach of security, or for any actions of any third parties that inadvertently receive your personal information.
How can you access and correct your personal information?
If you have submitted personal information through the VIPS website and you would like to access that information, you may send an e-mail to privacy@vips.com. We will use reasonable efforts to supply you with this information and correct any factual inaccuracies that you identify.
What non-personal information will we collect?
In some instances when you access this website, we may collect information about you that is not personally identifiable, as described below.
Internet Protocol Addresses
Every computer connected to the Internet is given a domain name and a set of numbers that serve as that computer's "Internet Protocol" or IP address. When a visitor requests a page which is part of or accessible from this website, our web servers automatically recognize that visitor's domain name and IP address. This information is used solely for the purpose of internal tracking of content usage and user usage patterns, identifying forum messages with the users who create them, and ensuring that restricted areas are accessed only by those with permission. These usage patterns are used solely by VIPS and will never be distributed, sold, or leased to any third-party organization.
Cookies
VIPS also may collect certain non-personal information through the use of "cookies." A cookie is a small piece of data that is sent to your browser from a web server and stored on your computer's hard drive. A cookie can't read data off your hard disk or read cookie files created by other sites. Cookies do not damage your system. We use cookies to identify which areas of the website you have visited, so the next time you visit, those pages may be readily accessible. We also may use this information to better personalize the content, banners, and promotions that you see on this website.
You can choose whether to accept cookies by changing the settings of your browser. For example, you can reset your browser to refuse all cookies, or allow your browser to show you when a cookie is being sent. If you choose not to accept these cookies, please note that your experience within this website and at other websites may be diminished and some features may not work as intended.
Safeguarding children's privacy
The VIPS website is not directed at children and the information and services offered on this site are designed for individuals who are 18 years of age or older. It is VIPS' policy not to collect personal information or any other identifying data from children under 18 years of age, without first obtaining verifiable consent from a parent or legal guardian. If a child whom we know to be under 18 sends personal information to us, it is our policy not to use that information except to respond directly to that child to inform him or her that it is our policy not to accept the submission.
What else should you know about your privacy online?
The VIPS website may provide links to various websites that we do not control. When you click on one of these links, you will be transferred from the VIPS website and connected to the website of the organization or company that you selected. Even if an affiliation exists between VIPS and a third-party website, VIPS exercises no control over linked sites and this privacy policy does not govern the data collection and use practices of those sites. Each of these linked websites maintains its own independent privacy policies and procedures. If you visit a website that is linked to the VIPS website, you should consult that site's privacy policy before providing that site with any of your personal information.
Please keep in mind that whenever you voluntarily disclose personal information online - for example through e-mail, discussion lists, or elsewhere - that information can be collected and used by others. In short, if you post personal information online that is accessible to the public, you may receive unsolicited messages from other parties in return.
Ultimately, you are solely responsible for maintaining the secrecy of your personal information. Please be careful and responsible whenever you're online.
Changes to this privacy policy
If we decide to change our privacy practices, we will post those changes here so that you are always aware of what information we may collect, how we may use it, and under what circumstances we may disclose it. The date of the last revisions made to this privacy policy is indicated below. If you have any questions or comments about this policy or our use of personal information, you may send an e-mail to privacy@vips.com or send a letter to the following address:
VIPS, Inc.
One West Pennsylvania Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21204
Attention: IS Director
We will use reasonable efforts to promptly investigate any complaint you may have regarding our use of personal information.
(Last Updated: January 15, 2002)
