Privacy Policy

Effective Date:   September 26, 2008

Welcome to WineStylesStore.com (this "Site").

The Winestyles® franchise system is a network of wine boutique franchises, with stores across the United States, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Each WineStyles franchise is locally owned and operated.

This Site is owned and operated by WineStyles, Inc. ("WineStyles," "we," "us," and "our"), the franchisor of the WineStyles® franchise system. We operate this Site for the benefit of our franchisees and their customers. This Site provides a quick and easy way for you to find and place orders with your local WineStyles store.

This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy covers the "personal information" we collect through this Site. Personal information" is information that identifies you personally, either alone or in combination with other information available to us.

This Privacy Policy is part of the Terms of Use that govern your use of this Site. To review our Terms of Use, click here.

Your Consent

Please take a few minutes to review this Privacy Policy. By accessing or using this Site, you are agreeing to the terms set forth in this Privacy Policy. IF YOU DO NOT CONSENT TO THE COLLECTION, USE AND DISCLOSURE OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION AS SET FORTH IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY, PLEASE EXIT AND DO NOT USE THIS SITE.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

As we add new features and functionality to this Site, we may need to update or revise this Privacy Policy. We reserve the right to do so, at any time and without prior notice, by posting the revised version on this Site. These changes will be effective as of the date we post the revised version on this Site. They will apply only to the personal information we collect after we have posted the revised version. Your use of this Site following any such change constitutes your consent to the terms of the revised Privacy Policy. For this reason, it is important to review this Privacy Policy regularly. If we modify this Privacy Policy, we will provide a notice at the top of this Privacy Policy for at least 30 days after the new effective date.

You may access the current version of this Privacy Policy at any time by clicking on the link marked "Privacy Policy" at the bottom of each page of this Site. For your convenience, we post the effective date of this Privacy Policy at the top of this page, so that you can see at a glance whether this Privacy Policy has changed since your last visit.

Privacy Notices

This Privacy Policy may be supplemented or amended from time to time by privacy notices ("Privacy Notices") provided at the time we collect your personal information. For example, certain pages of this Site may contain Privacy Notices providing details about the personal information we collect on those pages, why we need that information, and choices you may have about the ways we use that information. Our Privacy Notices are part of this Privacy Policy.

What Personal Information Do We Collect Through This Site?

Information You Provide. We collect the personal information you knowingly provide (using your mouse and keyboard) when you use this Site. The information we collect depends on how you use this Site.

Information Sent to Us by Your Web Browser. We collect information that is sent to us automatically by your Web browser. This information typically includes your IP address, the identity of your Internet service provider, the name and version of your operating system, the name and version of your browser, the date and time of your visit, and the pages you visit. An "IP address" is a unique number that is automatically assigned to your computer when you connect to the Internet. It is used to identify your computer's "location" in cyberspace, so that the information you request can be delivered to you. If you use a dial-up connection or a connection that assigns dynamic IP addresses, your computer will be assigned a new IP Address each time you connect to the Internet. If, however, your computer is permanently connected to the Internet using a static IP address, the IP address assigned to your computer will generally be the same each time you use your computer. Although it does not identify you by name, we treat your IP address as your personal information.

Generally, we do not link the information provided by your browser to information that identifies you by name. You should know, however, that when you respond to an electronic communication you receive from us, for example, by opening an email, downloading images or clicking on a link in an electronic newsletter, your browser tells us that you (or someone using your email address) has done so. We use this information to improve our marketing efforts. In addition, we review our server logs - which contain visitors' IP addresses -- for security and fraud prevention purposes. If criminal activity is suspected, we may share our server logs and the personal information we have collected through this Site with the appropriate investigative authorities who could use that information to trace and identify individuals.

Cookies and Similar Technologies. We use "cookies" and other Web technologies to collect information and support certain features of this Site. For example, we may use these technologies to

Generally, the information we collect using these Web technologies does not identify you personally. If, however, you have created a user identity, for example, by signing up to use a password-protected area on this Site, we may link the information we collect using Web technologies to other information that identifies you personally.

If you do not wish to receive cookies, you may set your browser to reject cookies or to alert you when a cookie is placed on your computer. You may also delete our cookies as soon as you leave a Site. Although you are not required to accept our cookies when you visit this Site, if you set your browser to reject cookies, you will not be able to use all of the features and functionality of this Site.

How Do We Use Your Personal Information?

Generally. We use the personal information we collect through this Site

"Email a Friend" Features. This Site may contain "Email a Friend" features that allow you to forward information published on this Site, together with your own message, to your friends. When you use one of these features, we will ask you to provide your friend's name and email address. We use this information only to customize and deliver your message. We do not add your friend's name or email address to our mailing lists.

With Whom Do We Share Your Personal Information?

With Our Franchisees. We operate this Site for the benefit of our franchisees and their customers. Our goal is to make it easy for you to locate and place an order with your local WineStyles store. When you use this Site, you will be asked to chose a WineStyles store to shop (your "Local WineStyles Store"). We will share your personal information, including your order, credit card, and contact information with your Local WineStyles Store. Your Local WineStyles Store will use this information to process and fulfill your order. Your Local WineStyles Store may also use this information

Service Providers. WineStyles and its franchisees share personal information with companies and organizations that perform services on our behalf, for example, companies that provide support services to WineStyles and/or its franchisees, such as credit card verification services and Web hosting services. These third parties are required by contract to use the personal information WineStyles and its franchisees share with them only to perform services on behalf of WineStyles and/or its franchisees and to treat your personal information as strictly confidential.

Business Transfers. Your personal information may be transferred to a company that has acquired the stock or assets of WineStyles or one of our franchisees, for example, as the result of a sale, merger, reorganization or liquidation. If such a transfer occurs, the acquiring company's use of your personal information will still be subject to this Privacy Policy.

Compliance With Laws and Protection of Our Rights and the Rights of Others. WineStyles and its franchisees may disclose personal information when we or they believe, in good faith, that disclosure is appropriate to comply with the law, a court order or a subpoena. WineStyles and its franchisees may also disclose personal information to prevent or investigate a possible crime, such as fraud or identity theft; to enforce or apply agreements; or to protect the rights, property or safety of WineStyles, its franchisees or others.

As Described in a Privacy Notice. On behalf of WineStyles and its franchisees, we reserve the right to disclose your personal information as described in any Privacy Notice posted on the Web page (or area) where you provide that information.

Your Choices

In General

We respect your right to make choices about the ways we collect, use and disclose your personal information. In most cases, we will ask you to indicate your choices at the time we collect your personal information. We will also include an "opt-out" link in any electronic newsletter or promotional email we send you so that you can inform us that you do not wish to receive such communications from us in the future.

If you would like us to remove you from our mailing lists, please contact us. Please provide your full name, address and email address so that we can find you on our mailing lists. Once we have the information we need, we will remove you from our mailing lists. Please give us a reasonable amount of time to honor your request.

If you would like your Local WineStyles Store to remove you form its mailing list, please contact your Local WineStyles store directly.

How Can You Access, Update or Correct Your Personal Information?

If you would like to access, update or correct your personal information, please contact us. We will respond to you within a reasonable time and within the time limits established by applicable law. We may ask you for additional information to verify your identity. In most cases, we will provide access and correct or delete any inaccurate information you discover. In some cases, however, we may limit or deny your request if the law permits or requires us to do so or if we are unable to verify your identify.

How Do We Protect the Personal Information We Collect Through This Site?

We take reasonable precautions to provide a level of security appropriate to the sensitivity of the personal information we collect through this Site. Although we use reasonable measures to help protect your personal information against unauthorized use or disclosure, we cannot guarantee the security of information provided over the Internet or stored in our databases.

Password Protected Areas of This Site

For your protection, certain areas of this Site are password protected. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your passwords. We have the right to assume that anyone accessing this Site using a password assigned to you has the right to do so. You will be solely responsible for the activities of anyone accessing this Site using a password assigned to you, even if the individual is not, in fact authorized by you. If you have reason to believe that your password has been compromised or used without authorization, you must promptly change it using the functionality provided on the Site.

Links to Other WineStyles Web Sites.

WineStyles operates other Web sites, each with its own content, features, and functionality. For example, we operate a Web site at http://www.winefranchise.net to provide for the benefit of individuals who are interested in learning more about WineStyles franchise opportunities. These other sites are not governed by this Privacy Policy.

Links to Franchisee and Other Third-Party Web Sites

This Site contains links to Web sites operated by our franchisees and by third parties. This Privacy Policy does not apply to personal information collected on any of these third-party Web sites. When you access third-party Web sites through a link on this Site, please take a few minutes to review privacy policy posted on that site.

Use of Cookies, Web Beacons and Similar Technologies by Third Parties

Marketing Consultants. Our marketing consultants use Web beacons, cookies and other Web technologies to collect information about visitors to this Site. For example, our consultants may count how many visitors access this Site, what links they use, and what pages they view. They may also track which Web sites and advertisements refer traffic to this Site and the URLs of the sites to which this Site refer traffic (that is, the Web sites on which our visitors land when they leave this Site). Our consultants use this information to compile statistics and prepare reports that provide the feedback and analysis we need to understand the needs and interests of our visitors, improve the content, functionality and usability of this Site, and improve the effectiveness of our advertising and marketing efforts. The information our consultants collect does not identify you personally, but may include your computer's IP address.

Advertising Companies. From time to time, we may use third-party advertising companies to target our online advertisements. These advertising companies may engage in "behavioral targeting" or "behavioral advertising." "Behavioral advertising" is advertising that is targeted to the user or users of a specific computer, based on the user or users' previous Web surfing behavior. Generally, here is how it works: Behavioral advertising companies place Web beacons on their clients' Web sites. When you visit those Web sites, the Web beacon "tags" your computer with a "cookie." The information stored on the cookie does not identify you personally and is not combined with any information that identifies you personally, but it does permit the advertising company to recognize your computer every time you access one of their clients' sites. These advertising companies use the information they collect about your use of their clients' Web sites to customize the advertisements you see when you visit their clients' sites. The information they collect about your use of their clients' Web sites is covered by their privacy policies, not by this Privacy Policy. If you do not wish to receive their cookies, you may "opt-out" by following the directions in their privacy policies.

NOTE:   At the present time, we do not engage in "behavioral advertising," however, we reserve the right to do so in the future. If and when we do, we will provide the name of each advertising company that we use and a link to each advertising company's Web site on this page. If you would like us to notify you by email when we update this page, please click here

Children

We do not use this Site to knowingly solicit data from or market to children under the age of 13. If you are under the age of 13, do not provide us with any personal information. If we learn that someone under 13 has provided personally identifiable information through one of this Site, we will use reasonable efforts to remove such information from our databases.

Special Notice for Visitors Who Reside Outside the United States

WineStyles is a U.S. corporation. Our headquarters are located in Margate, Florida, U.S.A. Our Web servers and databases are located in the United States. We may transfer your personal information to our service providers and others located in the United States or other countries for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy. Different countries have different privacy laws and requirements, and some, including the United States, provide less legal protection for your personal information than others. Please know, however, that no matter where your personal information is collected, used, transferred or stored, if it was collected through this Site, it will be protected by the terms of this Privacy Policy and any privacy notices or other agreements that apply to you.

BY USING THIS SITE, YOU ARE CONSENTING TO THE COLLECTION, USE, AND TRANSFER OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IN OR TO THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

Governing Law

This Privacy Policy is governed under the laws of the State of Florida, United States of America without regard to its conflicts of law provisions.

Questions Concerning Our Privacy Practices

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices: