Policy Regarding Use and Privacy of Data

Merkell, Inc. recognizes that privacy is important. We've written this policy to detail our practices regarding the privacy of our users and customers. This policy applies to all services available through Merkell, Inc. By visiting our websites or using our services, you agree to the terms and conditions of this Privacy Policy and you expressly consent to the use and disclosure of your personal data as detailed below. We reserve the right to change this policy from time to time. Such changes will be posted to this site, so please check this page periodically for updates. If you have questions about our Privacy Policy, please contact us.

1. Our Services
Merkell, Inc. provides online shopping portal websites with listing space for internet retailers. We sell "Retailer(s)" memberships to our shopping portal websites, and with each membership, retailers are permitted to post products on the shopping portal website(s).

Our services run on software developed and hosted by Merkell, Inc. and its third party contractors. Our shopping portal websites are viewed by members of the public ("User(s)"), who access our shopping portal websites via the World Wide Web.

Merkell, Inc. also hosts mailing lists, which Users may choose to subscribe to.

2. Collection of Data
Merkell, Inc. collects personal data when you:

Register with Merkell, Inc. to be a Retailer
Join mailing lists owned and operated by Merkell, Inc.
Request information from Merkell, Inc. and provide your name or return contact information
Provide comments or submit a problem to Merkell, Inc.

Merkell collects non-personal data when you access our websites, which we use for statistical purposes.

Retailers: During your interactions with Merkell, Inc., we may request certain information related to your business, your website and your use of our services. If you provide us with this information, Merkell may collect and store such personal information. Merkell may collect your name, company name, email addresses, mailing and billing address, payment/credit card information, IP address, and information about your website and its products.

Contractors: Merkell, Inc. may collect mailing and tax information. Merkell, Inc. will collect information regarding your activities through our services. Merkell, Inc. will collect any comments you may send to us and any information you may post to our sites.

Users: Merkell, Inc. may collect information through the use of Cookies (as defined below). We may also collect your name, address, or email address if you choose to disclose it.

3. Use of Cookies

"Cookies" are data files that may be downloaded to your computer when you visit the Merkell, Inc. website or one of our shopping portals. Cookies allow the Merkell, Inc. server to identify your browser when you interact with one or more of our websites. Merkell, Inc. uses cookies to recognize repeat visits from users of its service and to collect information about its users' interactions with our websites. These cookies contain identification information that enables us to streamline your experiences using the services and to report such information to our Retailers. You may set your browser software to reject cookies, but this may prevent you from accessing some of our services.

4. Updating Your Personal Data

Retailers: You may update your personal information by accessing your member account.

Contractors: You may update your personal information by accessing your contractor account.

Retailers and Contractors: Merkell, Inc. may store transactional history in order to document a transaction you may have had with Merkell, Inc.

5. Use of Personal Data

Users: We may share statistical, non-personal data about your visits to our websites with our Retailers. This includes the number of users who visit our websites, the number of click-throughs from our websites to our retailer websites, and the number of purchases made by users who have visited our sites. This information does not indentify individual users.

If you choose to subscribe to a mailing list, we will use your email address to send you updates. Mailing lists have sign up verification and an opt-out feature.

Retailers: We will use your billing information to charge your account as it accrues invoices. We will use your contact information to send you notices about your account or information about our service. All Retailers receive notifications from Merkell, Inc.'s member mailing list, but Retailers may choose to opt out of this feature.

Retailers, Users and Contractors: We reserve the right to disclose personal information about our Users, Contractors and Retailers if we are required by law to do so or if Merkell, Inc. has good faith belief that it is necessary to do so to defend and/or protect the rights of Merkell, Inc.

Submissions of creative suggestions, ideas, inventions, or other such information shall be the property of Merkell, Inc. and shall not be subject to any obligation of confidence. Merkell, Inc. will be entitled to unrestricted use of such submissions for any purpose, without compensation to any party.

If Merkell, Inc. is merged with or acquired by another company, all personal data we have on record may be transferred during this merger or acquisition.

6. Security of Data
Merkell, Inc. stores personal data obtained through registration for our services via secured, SSL-protected web pages. Personal data may also be collected through phone conversation. Although we make every effort to maintain the security and appropriate use of the data we collect, there is always a small risk of unintentional disclosure of data with any service such as this. By using our service, you agree that Merkell, Inc. will not be held liable or responsible if your data is intercepted and used by unintended recipients.

Retailers: Retailers are always expected to use an https:// connection to their account manager pages. This will help protect the security of Retailer's personal data. Retailers are expected to keep their passwords secure.

7. External Websites
Merkell, Inc.'s websites provide links to websites owned and operated by third parties. This in no way makes Merkell, Inc. responsible for the conduct of the owners of those websites. Please view the individual policies of these third party sites regarding privacy, content and data collection.