Privacy, Child Protection and Security Policy
Last Updated December 5, 2005
VS Direct Inc. ("The Vitamin Shoppe" or "we") cares about the privacy of each user of its Web site ("user" or "you"), including those who trust us enough to place orders. In order to protect the privacy of its users, The Vitamin Shoppe has adopted the following policy:
- General Information
- Personal Information; Changes to Personal Information
- Cookies
- Use/Sharing of Personal Information
- Your Privacy Rights - California
- Credit Card Security
- Information and Law Enforcement
- Preventing the Use of Personal Information
- Collecting Information from Children Younger than 13
- Affiliates
- Changes to Privacy, Child Protection and Security Policy
- Miscellaneous
1. General Information
When you use the Web site some basic general information is collected. This information is used to improve the Web site and make your use of the Web site as enjoyable and efficient as possible. Cookies are also used to help us determine the various services you use and the support you may need, and to help us detect and solve any problems you may have when using the Web site.
This general information is used internally in connection with The Vitamin Shoppe's business, including The Vitamin Shoppe's personal, marketing and advertising efforts.
2. Personal Information; Changes to Personal Information
When you set up an account on the Web site or purchase an item from the Web site, we collect personal information (which you provide) that may include your: (i) first and last name; (ii) billing address; (iii) shipping address; (iv) other shipping addresses; (v) email address; (vi) phone number; (vii) credit card account number; (viii) items purchased from us; and (ix) browsing, buying and selling patterns (collectively, "Personal Information").
You can change or update your Personal Information on the Web site by changing your account information.
3. Cookies
A cookie is a text file stored on your computer's hard drive. Web sites create cookies to record information about your preferences, such as the items you add to your shopping cart, and for security reasons (see Credit Card Security below). Most cookies expire after a certain time period. The most popular browsers, such as Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer, can be set to give you the option of accepting or rejecting all cookies.
To shop online at The Vitamin Shoppe, your browser will need to be configured to accept cookies. Here's how to do it:
Explorer 4.x
- Select "View | Internet Options..." from the main menu.
- Change to the "Security" tab.
- Select "Custom" and click "Settings..."
- Scroll down to the "Security" section.
- To enable: Select "Always accept cookies"
To disable: Select "Disable all cookie use"
To get a prompt: Select "Prompt before accepting cookies" - Click "OK"
Explorer 5.x
- Select "Tools | Internet Options..." from the main menu.
- Change to the "Security" tab
- Click "Custom Level..."
- Scroll down to the "Cookies" section.
- To enable: Set "Allow cookie that are stored on your computer" to "Enable" Set "Allow per-session cookies" to "Enable"
To disable: Set "Allow cookie that are stored on your computer" to "Disable" Set "Allow per-session cookies" to "Disable"
To get a prompt: Set "Allow cookie that are stored on your computer" to "Prompt" Set "Allow per-session cookies" to "Prompt" - Click "OK"
Navigator 3.x
- Select "Options | Network Preferences..." from the main menu.
- Change to the "Protocols" tab.
- Navigator 3.x does not have an option to completely disable accepting cookies.
To get a prompt: Check "Accepting a Cookie" under "Show an Alert Before" - Click "OK"
Communicator 4.x
- Select "Edit | Preferences..." from the main menu.
- Select "Advanced"
- To enable: Select "Accept all cookies" or "Accept only cookies that get sent back to the originating server"
To disable: Select "Disable cookie"
To get a prompt: Check "Warn me before accepting a cookie" and select "Accept all cookies" or "Accept only cookies that get sent back to the originating server" - Click "OK"
Pop-up blockers or stoppers prevent extra pop-up windows (usually advertisements) from opening in your browser. Pop-up blocking software often has negative effects on other "good" software. If you disable JavaScript pop-up ad windows, you may also disable other website functionality that uses JavaScript. If you're using a pop-up blocker that allows you to manage a list of "pop-up friendly" sites, please refer to your Help files and add www.VitaminShoppe.com to your approved list.
4. Use/Sharing of Personal Information
In order to provide you with the goods that you purchase on the Web site, we need to ask for your name, shipping and billing addresses, email address and credit card number(s). We use your email address as a customer identifier, and provide you with information about your order and its status. We also may send out emails, including newsletters, to people who have placed an order online, offering them more great deals and valuable information from The Vitamin Shoppe.
The Vitamin Shoppe wants you to know that your Personal Information is used internally only for marketing and advertising efforts at The Vitamin Shoppe, in a manner which does not readily identify you to any third party.
The Vitamin Shoppe currently does not share with any third party any Personal Information that is obtained from our customers who have purchased merchandise exclusively at our website or through purchases in our retail stores. However, The Vitamin Shoppe will share a list of customers who have purchased merchandise through our catalog (and possibly also through our website and/or retail stores) with third parties who may wish to offer you their goods and services. Vitamin Shoppe would provide to such third parties names and addresses (post office and/or email) of some of The Vitamin Shoppe's customers who have purchased through our catalog, together with information on how recently the customer made a purchase from The Vitamin Shoppe. No other Personal Information is shared. If you do not want us to share any of your Personal Information, you may send us "Do Not Share" instructions - see Preventing the Use of Personal Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, The Vitamin Shoppe will not divulge any user's credit card information or any Personal Information not identified above to any third party without such user's prior consent.
5. Your Privacy Rights - California
California residents have the right to under California Law (Civil Code Section 1798.83) to require that Vitamin Shoppe not disclose any personal information of such person to third parties for the third parties' direct marketing purposes. (Vitamin Shoppe will also honor such request from a person who is not a resident of California). If you would like us to not disclose any of your personal information to third parties for direct marketing purposes, please use our unsubscribe page and we will not do so. Please note that our parent corporation, Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., will be fulfilling your order, and we share all of the personal information related to your order with Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. If you do not want us to share this information, we will be unable to fulfill your order. In such case, please use our unsubscribe page and we will not share such information.
6. Credit Card Security
The Internet is a vast network of computers. Because the data passes from computer to computer, some Internet shoppers worry that unauthorized persons may intercept the data and gain access to credit card numbers. Taking the steps below will lower the chances of interception of your credit card number:
- Limit your online shopping to Internet merchants, such as The Vitamin Shoppe, with sites equipped with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology. SSL prevents unauthorized people from intercepting your data.
- Use a browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer, that supports SSL. These browsers show a symbol in the status bar, such as a key or lock, when you are on a site that uses SSL.
Credit card information collected by The Vitamin Shoppe is encrypted through Secure Sockets Layer before it is transmitted over the Internet.
7. Information and Law Enforcement
The Vitamin Shoppe fully cooperates with law enforcement agencies in identifying those who use our services for illegal activities, and may in its sole discretion disclose Personal Information or other information to satisfy any law, regulation, subpoena, or government request, or in connection with litigation. The Vitamin Shoppe reserves the right to release Personal Information or other information about users who we believe are engaged in illegal activities or are otherwise in violation of our Terms of Use, even without a subpoena, warrant or court order, if we believe in our sole discretion that such disclosure is necessary or appropriate to operate the Web site, or to protect the rights or property of The Vitamin Shoppe, its affiliates, or any of their officers, directors, or employees, agents, third-party content providers, suppliers, sponsors, or licensors. The Vitamin Shoppe also reserves the right to report to law enforcement agencies any activities we reasonably believe in our sole discretion to be unlawful.
8. Preventing the Use of Personal Information
If you would like to make sure that we do not share your Personal Information with third parties, just use the unsubscribe page. Please provide your name, address and current email address on the form.
If you do not want to receive promotional emails about Vitamin Shoppe, please follow one of the three options below:
- You may "unsubscribe" when setting up your account. When providing your account information, simply uncheck the box on the notice that asks whether you would like to receive email updates about our new features, services and special offers, and we will not send you any promotional information via email. Click here to unsubscribe now.
- When you receive an email from Vitamin Shoppe, you will be provided with a link that allows you to stop the delivery of email messages from us. If you decide to use the option to 'unsubscribe', you will no longer receive special offers, valuable coupons, new product introductions and informational health and wellness newsletters from Vitamin Shoppe.
- California residents have the right to under California Law (Civil Code Section 1798.83) to require that Vitamin Shoppe not disclose any personal information of such person to third parties for the third parties' direct marketing purposes. (Vitamin Shoppe will also honor such request from a person who is not a resident of California). If you would like us to not disclose any of your personal information to third parties for direct marketing purposes, please use our unsubscribe page and we will not do so. Please note that our parent corporation, Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., will be fulfilling your order, and we share all of the personal information related to your order with Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. If you do not want us to share this information, we will be unable to fulfill your order. In such case, please use our unsubscribe page and we will not share such information.
9. Collecting Information From Children Younger than 13
The Vitamin Shoppe does not knowingly collect or use any Personal Information from children younger than 13 years of age without obtaining verifiable parental consent.
10. Affiliates
VS Direct Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. All orders accepted herein are fulfilled by Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc., which is subject to all of the provisions set forth in this Privacy, Child Protection and Security Policy.
11. Changes to Privacy, Child Protection and Security Policy
Our Privacy, Child Protection and Security Policy was last updated on January 1, 2005 and is subject to change at any time. Please check this Policy periodically for changes. Use of this website after any modification to this Policy implies that you consent to this Policy as modified. In the event of any change, the date shown at the beginning of this Policy will be changed, but you will not receive ay other notice of such change.
If you have questions about this Privacy, Child Protection and Security Policy, or believe that The Vitamin Shoppe has acted inconsistently with this statement, please Contact Us.
12. Miscellaneous
The Vitamin Shoppe would like to inform you that anytime you click on links (including advertising banners), which take you to third-party Web sites, you will be subject to the third parties' privacy policies. While we support the protection of our customer's privacy on the Internet, The Vitamin Shoppe expressly disclaims any and all liability for the actions of third parties, including but without limitation to actions relating to the use and/or disclosure of Personal Information by third parties.