This
Privacy Policy applies to each Big Lots (“Big Lots,” “us” or “we”) web site
(“Site”) and is a part of the Site’s User
Agreement. This Privacy
Policy was developed as an extension of our commitment to the highest level of
integrity in dealing with our customers. This Privacy Policy is designed to
assist you in understanding how we collect, use, disclose and safeguard the
personal information you provide to us when you use the Site or join the Buzz
ClubTM. By using the Site or
joining the Buzz ClubTM, you agree to the collection, use and
disclosure of your personal information as described in this Privacy
Policy. If you do not agree to the terms
of this policy, do not use the Site or join the Buzz ClubTM.
Providers. We use third parties to operate the Site,
collect information, conduct marketing and research, and perform other services
for us. We refer to those third parties
collectively in this Agreement as our “Providers.” Where we discuss our collection and use of
information, we may use our Providers to collect and/or use the information on
our behalf.
Collection
of Personal Information. We only collect personal information from you
when you provide it to us. For example,
we collect personal information from you when you: (1) sign up to receive our emails; (2) join
the Buzz ClubTM; (3) participate in the Site’s interactive features,
including those that invite you to submit an idea to us; (4) participate in a
sweepstakes or contest; (5) participate in a survey, chat room, message board,
blog or other forum; (6) make a purchase on the Site; or (7) contact
us for any reason. The information we
collect may include your name, email address, mailing address, telephone
number, payment information (such as credit card number), as well as the
contents of your communications with us.
We may combine the information we collect from you with information we
receive from you offline, as well as with information we receive about you from
other sources, such as address update services.
If
you use any of the Site’s tell-a-friend features, we ask for your friend’s
email address. We use this information
only to send the communication you requested and to monitor the effectiveness
of our tell-a-friend features.
Collection
of Non-Personal Information. Similar to other commercial websites, we utilize
“cookies” and web server logs to collect information about how the Site is
used. Cookies are small pieces of data
that are stored by your browser on your hard drive. Information gathered through cookies and web
server logs may include your browser type, operating system, IP address, the
date and time of visits, the pages and products viewed, time spent at the Site,
the websites visited just before and after the Site and other clickstream
information. None of this information is
associated with you as an individual. We use this information to: (1) conduct research, in order to improve the
Site, our products and services and to better serve our customers; (2) provide
you with customized content and advertising; and (3) monitor Site usage.
We
may also use web beacons on the Site and in our emails. Web beacons are tiny graphic images that are
used to collect information about your Site visit, such as the pages you view
and the features you use, as well as information about whether you open and/or
act upon one of our emails. Web beacons
help us analyze our Site visitors’ behavior and measure the effectiveness of
the Site and our email campaigns.
Protecting
Your Email Address, Log-In Information and Password.
It is solely your responsibility to
maintain the privacy of your email address, log-in information and password. Your failure to do so may result in
unauthorized access to your personal information. Please keep your email
address, log-in information and password in a safe place. We have no liability
to you for a stolen or misappropriated email address, log-in information or
password.
How
Do We Use the Information That You Provide to Us?
We use the information we collect from
and about you for the following purposes:
(1) to fulfill your requests for products, services, features and
information; (2) to provide you with targeted offers and advertising on the
Site; (3) to contact you with information and promotional materials and offers;
(4) to contact you when necessary; (5) to review Site usage and operations; (6)
to administer the Buzz ClubTM; (7) to address problems with the
Site, our business or our products and services; (8) to protect the security or
integrity of the Site and our business; and (9) as otherwise described in the
User Communications section of the Site’s User
Agreement. If you would
prefer to no longer receive commercial emails from us, you may follow the
opt-out instructions contained in the email or by emailing us at talk2us@BigLots.com.
If you are a Buzz ClubTM member,
you may also go to www.biglots.com/unsubscribe/ to revise your marketing
preferences.
Third
Parties’ Products, Services and Websites.
The Site may include third-party
advertising and links to third-party websites.
Such third parties may have privacy policies and user agreements that
differ from our own, and we are not responsible for their activities and
practices. Accordingly, we recommend
that you review the privacy policy and user agreement posted on any site that
you may access through the Site.
Sharing
Information with Strategic Partners and Affiliated Parties.
We may enter into strategic marketing
alliances and web development alliances where a third party (including
Providers) may be given access to the information we have collected from and
about you, for the purpose of providing you information regarding products and
services.
Do
We Disclose Information to Outside Parties (not already discussed above)?
We may also disclose information
collected from and about you as follows:
(1) to our Providers, including payment processors, if the disclosure
will enable them to perform a business, professional or technical support
function for us; (2) as necessary, if we believe that there has been a
violation of the Site’s User Agreement
or of our rights or the rights of any third party; (3) to respond to judicial
process and provide information to law enforcement agencies or in connection
with an investigation on matters related to public safety, as permitted by law,
or otherwise as required by law; (4) if we believe in good faith that such disclosure
is necessary to protect the rights, property or safety of Big Lots or any of
our affiliates, service providers, customers or others; and (5) if Big Lots or
substantially all of its assets are acquired, your personal information may be
one of the transferred assets. In
addition, we may provide aggregate, non-personally identifiable information to
third parties for research and other purposes.
Are
Information Transmissions Secured? We use encryption technology on our join,
login, account management and checkout pages.
How
Do We Protect Your Information? Our corporate values, ethical standards,
policies and practices are committed to the protection of customer information.
Accordingly, we have taken certain
physical, electronic, contractual and managerial steps to safeguard the
personal information we collect from Site visitors and Buzz ClubTM
members.
How
Can You Access, Update or Correct Your Information and Preferences?
To update or correct your personal information,
email us at talk2us@BigLots.com. You can also update your contact information
or marketing preferences by visiting “My Account
”
on the Site.
Your
California
Privacy Rights.
If
you are a California
resident, once a year, you may request certain information about our
disclosure, during the preceding calendar year, of personal information to
third parties for those parties’ own direct marketing purposes. Please send your request to:
Big
Lots
Attn: Customer Service
300
Phillipi Road
Columbus,
OH 43228-5311
Changes
to This Privacy Policy. We may change this policy from time to
time. When we do, we will post those
changes on the Site. If we change the
policy in a material way, we will provide appropriate online notice to you.
Children. We do not direct the Site to, nor do we
knowingly collect any personal information from, children under the age of
thirteen.
Contact
Us. If you have questions or concerns about this
Privacy Policy, contact us at talk2us@BigLots.com.
Effective
Date. This Privacy Policy is effective beginning on October 21, 2008.