Privacy Policy (US)

Astound knows that your privacy is important to you and takes user privacy very seriously. We are committed to protecting your personal data in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

1. About this Privacy Policy

Updated: March 2022

Thank you for visiting Astound Commerce. A reference to “Astound Commerce,” “we,” “us,” or “the Company” is a reference to astoundcommerce.com and the relevant affiliates involved in the processing activities (including astoundcommerce.com, sfgroove.com, marketforceagency.com, and configureid.com). At Astound Commerce, we take your privacy and your trust very seriously. This privacy policy (“Privacy Policy”) describes the types of information we may collect from you, our practices for collecting, maintaining, protecting, and disclosing your personal information, and your rights in relation to the personal data (“Personal Data”) we hold.

Astound Commerce complies with the EU-US Privacy Shield Framework and Swiss-US Privacy Shield Framework as set forth by the US Department of Commerce regarding the collection, use, and retention of personal information transferred from the European Union and Switzerland to the United States. Astound Commerce has certified to the Department of Commerce that it adheres to the Privacy Shield Principles. If there is any conflict between the terms in this privacy policy and the Privacy Shield Principles, the Privacy Shield Principles shall govern. To learn more about the Privacy Shield program and to view our certification, please visit https://www.privacyshield.gov/.

This Privacy Policy supersedes any previous Privacy Policy draft. The following policies are only in effect for the Sites.

Please read this policy carefully to understand our policies and practices regarding your information and how we will treat it. We generally keep this Privacy Policy posted on our website, and you should review it periodically, as it may change from time to time without notice. Any changes will be effective immediately upon the posting of the revised Privacy Policy. YOUR USE OF AND INTERACTION WITH THE SITES CONSTITUTES YOUR UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE PRACTICES DESCRIBED IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY, AS THEY MAY BE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH AND ACCEPT ALL OF THE PRACTICES DESCRIBED IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY, DO NOT USE THE SITES AND DO NOT PROVIDE OR SUBMIT ANY PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION WHILE USING THE SITES. BY PROVIDING PERSONAL INFORMATION TO US, YOU CONSENT TO OUR COLLECTION, USE, AND DISCLOSURE OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS PRIVACY POLICY.

2. Information We Collect and How We Collect It

We collect information about you in two ways: directly from your input (Personal Data) and through automated technologies on our Sites (non-personally identifiable information).

2.1 Definitions

“Aggregate and Anonymous Information” is any information that cannot identify or be linked to a specific individual. For example, Astound Commerce may collect anonymous group data (demographics, online browsing habits, interests and preferences, aggregate traffic data, and so on) about users of our Sites.

“Personal Data” means personal information relating to you, as an identified or identifiable natural person, which may allow the natural person to be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier, or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural, or social identity of that natural person. Personal Data is also commonly referred to as “personal

information” or “personally identifiable information.”

2.2. Data you provide to us through optional, voluntary submissions

The types of personal information that we collect directly from you may include

  • Contact details, such as your name (in whole or in part), your email address, your postal address, date of birth, and/or telephone number
  • Any other information you choose to provide to us

2.3 Data from Site use, including cookies, web beacons, and embedded scripts

We collect data about how you and your devices interact with our Sites to provide better user experiences. As you navigate through and interact with our Sites, we may use automatic data collection technologies to collect certain information about equipment, browsing actions, and patterns, such as details of your visits to our Sites and other communication data and resources that you access and use on the Sites. Through our servers and the use of cookies and other automated technologies, we collect the following information:

  • Computer, device, and connection information, such as IP address, browser type and version, operating system and other software installed on your device, mobile platform, unique device identifier and other technical identifiers, error reports, and performance data
  • Usage data, such as the features you used, the settings you selected, your URL clickstream data—including date and time stamp and referring and exit pages—search terms you used, and pages you visited or searched for on the Sites.

2.3.1 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 cannot 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 Astound Commerce’s website you have visited so the next time you visit, those pages may be readily accessible. We may also use cookies to ascertain how many times you’ve visited a particular page. We may use this information to better personalize the content that you see on our Sites.

If you are concerned about the storage and use of cookies, you may be able to direct your Internet browser to refuse all cookies or notify you and seek approval whenever a cookie is being sent to your hard drive. You may also delete a cookie manually from your hard drive through your Internet browser or other programs. Please note, however, that some parts of our website will not function properly or be available to you if you refuse to accept a cookie or choose to disable the acceptance of cookies.

2.3.2 Web Beacons

A web beacon is a small graphic image (often invisible) or other web programming code (also known as "1x1 GIFs" or "clear GIFs") usually used in conjunction with cookies that may be included in our web pages and email messages. Web beacons or similar technologies may be used for a number of purposes, including to count visitors to our Sites, to monitor how users navigate our Sites, to count how many emails that were sent were actually opened, or to count how many particular articles or links were actually viewed.

2.3.3 Embedded Scripts

An embedded script is a programming code that is designed to collect information about your interactions with our Sites, such as the links you click on. The code is temporarily downloaded onto your computer from our web server or a third-party service provider, is active only while you are connected to our website, and is deactivated or deleted thereafter.

2.3.4 Social Media Widgets

Our Sites include social media features, such as the Facebook Like button and widgets. These features may collect your IP address and which page you are visiting on our site and may set a cookie to enable the feature to function properly. Social media features and widgets are either hosted by a third party or hosted directly on our Sites. Your interactions with these features are governed by the Privacy Policy of the company providing it.

3. How We Use Your Information

The information you provide is used solely by Astound Commerce and its affiliated companies. We use this information to

  • Prepare a proposal to you regarding the services we offer
  • Assess the needs of your business to determine suitable products
  • Send you requested product or services information
  • Deal with any complaints or feedback you may have
  • Send you a newsletter
  • Provide you with promotional messages and other information about our products, events, and/or services
  • Respond to your questions and concerns
  • Improve our website and marketing efforts
  • Conduct research and analysis
  • Display content based upon your interests
  • For any other authorized or the approved purpose for which you provide us with your Personal Data
  • Notify you about changes, updates, and other announcements related to our products and/or services
  • Identify usage trends and develop data analysis, including for purposes of research, audit, reporting, and other business operations
  • Comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements

In summary, Astound Commerce will only use Personal Data in ways that are compatible with the purposes for which it was collected or subsequently authorized by you. In accordance with applicable

international regulations, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) and the Swiss-

US Privacy Shield Principles. You have the option to opt out of any secondary communications such as promotional communications by clicking on "unsubscribe" at the bottom of any Astound Commerce promotional email.

Further, consistent with international legislation, we will never knowingly request personally identifiable information from anyone under the age of 13 without requesting parental consent.

4. Sharing of Your Information

Astound Commerce uses reasonable precautions to keep the information you disclose to us secure. We do not sell, rent, share, or trade your Personal Data with any third party. We only disclose Personal Data for the purposes of providing our services and as required by law.

4.1 Performance of a contract with you.

Astound Commerce may disclose your information to

  • Third parties whom we engage to assist in delivering the services to you
  • Our professional advisers where it is necessary for us to obtain their advice or assistance, including lawyers, accountants, IT, or public relations advisers
  • Other third parties such as intermediaries who we introduce to you
  • Our storage providers

4.2 Legitimate interests:

Astound Commerce may disclose your information

  • For marketing to you
  • For administration and management of our business
  • For seeking advice on our rights and obligations, such as where we require our own legal advice—n this respect we will share your Personal Data with the following:
    • Our advisors or agents where it is necessary for us to obtain their advice or assistance
    • Third parties and their advisers where those third parties are acquiring, or considering acquiring, all or part of our business

4.3 Legal reasons:

Astound Commerce will disclose personal information when required by law or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary in order to

  • Conform to the law or comply with a legal process served on Astound Commerce
  • Protect and defend the rights or property of the Astound Commerce network of sites or visitors to Astound Commerce
  • Identify persons who may be violating the law, the legal notice, or the rights of third parties
  • Respond to lawful requests by public authorities, including meeting national security or law enforcement requirements

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill our obligations and/or for other essential purposes such as complying with our legal obligations, maintaining business and financial records, resolving disputes, maintaining security, detecting and preventing fraud and abuse, and enforcing our agreements.

6. Data Security

Astound Commerce implements technical and organizational measures to seek to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk to the personal information we process. Astound Commerce servers are protected with security technologies, including firewalls and data encryption. These technologies are designed to prevent unauthorized access, but no guarantee can be made that your information and data will be secure from intrusions and unauthorized releases to third parties. The security of your personal information is important to us. Unfortunately, the transmission of information via the internet is not completely secure. In the context of an onward transfer, Astound Commerce is responsible for processing personal information it receives under the Privacy Shield Principles and subsequent transfers to a third party acting as an agent on its behalf. Astound Commerce shall remain liable under the Privacy Shield Principles if its agent processes such personal information in a manner inconsistent with the Privacy Shield Principles unless the organization proves that it is not responsible for the event giving rise to the damage.

7. Modifications to the Privacy Policy

If we make any changes to our Privacy Policy, we will post those changes on this web page so that you are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances we disclose it. We encourage you to periodically review this web page for the latest information on our privacy practices.

8. What are your Privacy Choices?

You have rights regarding the information we collect and how it’s used:

  • You may opt out of emails from us by clicking the “unsubscribe” link provided in marketing emails that you have previously received from us or by contacting us at privacy@astoundcommerce.com
  • You may submit requests to opt out of phone and postal marketing by contacting us at privacy@astoundcommerce.com
  • You may access, review, and correct your Personal Data and preferences by contacting us at privacy@astoundcommerce.com to request a copy of the information we have stored about you and request any desired changes or deletions
  • You have the right to object to, limit, or restrict the use of your data 

  However, please note the following:

Your opt out will stop your further receipt of marketing and promotional communications from us BUT will NOT stop further communications from Astound Commerce of a transactional, administrative, or relationship nature or as required by law, such as notification of a material change in this Privacy Policy for the Sites or notification of an actual or suspected security breach that affects your Personal Data stored by or for Astound Commerce.

Astound Commerce will retain your Personally Identifiable Information for as long as is needed to provide your products or services and as necessary to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. Aggregate and Anonymous Information may be retained indefinitely.

If you choose to object to, limit, or restrict the use of your data, this decision may impair the functioning of some of our Sites or services.

9. California Privacy Rights

Residents of the State of California, under certain provisions of the California Civil Code, have the right to request from companies conducting business in California a list of all third parties to which the company has disclosed certain personally identifiable information as defined under California law during the preceding year for third-party direct marketing purposes. You are limited to one request per calendar year. In your request, please attest to the fact that you are a California resident and provide a current California address for our response. You can request this information by contacting us directly per Section 12 below.

10. US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Enforcement

Astound Commerce commitments under the Privacy Shield are subject to the investigatory and enforcement powers of the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

11. Withdrawal of Consent

If you have given your consent and you wish to withdraw it, you may do so at any time by contacting us at privacy@astoundcommerce.com.

12. Contact Information and Complaints

In compliance with the Privacy Shield Principles, Astound Commerce commits to resolve complaints about our collection or use of your personal information. EU and Swiss individuals with inquiries or complaints regarding our Privacy Shield policy should first contact Astound Commerce at

Legal Department – Privacy
Astound Commerce Corporation
30 Broad St., 33rd Floor
New York, NY 10004
USA

privacy@astoundcommerce.com

Astound Commerce has further committed to refer unresolved Privacy Shield complaints to JAMS, an alternative dispute resolution provider located in the United States. If you do not receive timely acknowledgment of your complaint from us or if we have not addressed your complaint to your satisfaction, please visit https://www.jamsadr.com/ for more information or to file a complaint. The services of JAMS are provided at no cost to you. If neither Astound Commerce nor our dispute resolution provider resolves your complaint, you may invoke binding arbitration. For detailed information, please visit https://www.privacyshield.gov/article?id=ANNEX-I-introduction.

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