Information Collection

Computer Geeks is the sole owner of the information collected on www.geeksnet.com & www.computer-geeks.com. Computer Geeks collects information from our users at several different points on our Web site.

Registration
Users signing up online for Internet service, making online payments, checking E-mail, tracking orders, or purchasing products from our site must first complete the registration form. During registration a user is required to give contact information (such as name and E-mail address) and unique identifiers (such as, username and password). We use contact information to contact the user about services on our site for which he has expressed interest. Any unique identifiers are used to login to services for ease of use. Unique Identifiers are not shared with any third party organization. It is optional for the user to provide demographic information (such as income level and gender) but encouraged so we can provide a more personalized experience on our site.

Order
We request information from the user on our order forms. A user must provide contact information (such as name, E-mail, and shipping address) and financial information (such as credit card number, expiration date). This information is used for billing purposes and to fill customer’s orders. If we have trouble processing an order, the information is used to contact the user.

Information Use

The information we collect is used to fill orders, apply payments to your account, or sign you up for an Internet Access account. We do not use this information to send solicitations to you through E-mail. The only information that will be shared is shipping information for the purpose of shipping goods purchased through an approved carrier (such as UPS, USPS, Federal Express).

Profile
We store information that we collect through cookies, log files, clear gifs, and/or third parties to create a profile of our users. A profile is stored information that we keep on individual users that details their viewing preferences. Consequently, collected information is tied to the users personally identifiable information to improve the content of the site for the user. This profile is used to tailor a user’s visit to our Web site, and to direct pertinent marketing promotions to them. We do not share your profile with other third parties.

Cookies
A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user’s computer tied to information about the user. We use both session ID cookies and persistent cookies. For the session ID cookie, once users close the browser, the cookie simply terminates. A persistent cookie is a small text file stored on the user’s hard drive for an extended period of time. Persistent cookies can be removed by following Internet browser help file directions.

If you use Mygeeksnet, we will use a cookie to store your preferences (such as news feeds, weather) once you log in. This cookie is not accessible by third party web sites. By setting a cookie on our site, users would not have to log in a password more than once, thereby saving time while on our site. If users reject the cookie, they may still use our site. The only drawback to this is that the user will be limited in some areas of our site. For example, the user will have to log in to Mygeeksnet to view his/her custom news content. Persistent cookies enable us to track and target the interests of our users to enhance the experience on our site. See the “Profile” section.

Log Files
Like most standard Web site servers we use log files. This includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, platform type, date/time stamp, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement in the aggregate, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses, etc. are not linked to personally identifiable information. We use a tracking utility called WebTrends that uses log files to analyze user movement.

Communications from the Site

Special Offers and Updates
We send all new members a welcoming E-mail to verify password and username. Established members will occasionally receive information on products, services, special deals, and a newsletter. Out of respect for the privacy of our users we present the option to not receive these types of communications. Please see the Choice and Opt-out sections.

Service Announcements
On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an E-mail. Users may opt-out of these communications. Please see our Choice and Opt-out section. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service
We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regards to issues relating to their account we reply via E-mail or phone, in accordance with the user’s wishes.

Sharing

Legal Disclaimer
Though we make every effort to preserve user privacy, we may need to disclose personal information when required by law wherein we have a good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with a current judicial proceeding, a court order or legal process served on our Web site.

These are the instances in which we will share users’ personal information:

Third Party Intermediaries
We use an outside shipping company to ship orders, and a credit card processing company to bill users for goods and services. These companies do not retain, share, store or use personally identifiable information for any secondary purposes.

Business Transitions
In the event Computer Geeks goes through a business transition, such as a merger, being acquired by another company, or selling a portion of its assets, users’ personal information will, in most instances, be part of the assets transferred. Users will be notified via E-mail or prominent notice on our Web site for 30 days prior to a change of ownership or control of their personal information. If as a result of the business transition, the users’ personally identifiable information will be used in a manner different from that stated at the time of collection they will be given choice consistent with our notification of changes section.

Choice/Opt-out
Our users are given the opportunity to ‘opt-out’ of having their information used for purposes not directly related to our site at the point where we ask for information. For example, our order form has an ‘opt-out’ mechanism so users who buy a product from us, but don’t want any marketing material, can keep their E-mail address off of our lists.

Users who no longer wish to receive our newsletter and promotional communications may opt-out of receiving these communications by replying to unsubscribe in the subject line in the E-mail or E-mail us at webmaster@geeksnet.com or the user may contact us at 252-355-3339 or Computer Geeks, 111A W. Firetower Rd., Winterville, NC 28590 to opt-out.

Users of our site are always notified when their information is being collected by any outside parties. We do this so our users can make an informed choice as to whether or not they should proceed with services that require an outside party.

Links
This Web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we, Computer Geeks, are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every Web site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this Web site.

Surveys & Contests
From time-to-time our site requests information from users via surveys or contests. Participation in these surveys or contests is completely voluntary and the user therefore has a choice whether or not to disclose this information. The requested information typically includes contact information (such as name and shipping address), and demographic information (such as zip code). Contact information will be used to notify the winners and award prizes. Anonymous Survey information will be used for purposes of monitoring or improving the use and satisfaction of this site. Users’ personally identifiable information is not shared with third parties unless we give prior notice and choice. Though we may use an intermediary to conduct these surveys or contests, they may not use users’ personally identifiable information for any secondary purposes.

Referrals
If a user elects to use our referral service for informing a friend about our site, we ask them for the friend’s name, phone number, and E-mail address. Computer Geeks will call the friend inviting them to try our service. Computer Geeks stores this information for the sole purpose of making this one-time phone call and tracking the success of our referral program. The friend may contact Computer Geeks at webmaster@geeksnet.com to request the removal of this information from our database.

Security
This Web site takes every precaution to protect our users’ information. When users submit sensitive information via the Web site, their information is protected both online and off-line.

When our registration/order form asks users to enter sensitive information (such as credit card number and/or social security number), that information is encrypted and is protected with the best encryption software in the industry - SSL. While on a secure page, such as our order form, the lock icon on the bottom of Web browsers such as Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer becomes locked, as opposed to un-locked, or open, when users are just ‘surfing’.

While we use SSL encryption to protect sensitive information online, we also do everything in our power to protect user-information off-line. All of our users’ information, not just the sensitive information mentioned above, is restricted in our offices. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job (for example, our billing clerk or a customer service representative) are granted access to personally identifiable information. Our employees must use password-protected to access this information. Furthermore, ALL employees are kept up-to-date on our security and privacy practices. Every quarter, as well as any time new policies are added, our employees are notified and/or reminded about the importance we place on privacy, and what they can do to ensure our users’ information is protected. Finally, the servers that store personally identifiable information are in a secure environment, in a locked facility.

If users have any questions about the security at our Web site, users can send an E-mail to support@geeksnet.com.

Supplementation of Information
In order for this Web site to properly fulfill its obligation to users it is necessary for us to supplement the information we receive with information from 3rd party sources.

Credit Check
For example, to determine if users qualify for credit, we use their name and social security number or business information to request a credit report.

Purchasing History
In order for this Web site to enhance its ability to tailor the site to a user’s preference, we combine information about the purchasing habits of users to create a personalized user profile. When a user makes a purchase from us we collect personal information.

Correcting/Updating/Deleting/Deactivating Personal Information
If a user’s personally identifiable information changes (such as zip code, phone, E-mail or postal address), or if a user no longer desires our service, we provide a way to correct, update or delete/deactivate users’ personally identifiable information. This can usually be done by E-mailing our Customer Support at support@geeksnet.com. Or, contact us by telephone or postal mail at the contact information listed below:

Computer Geeks
111A W. Firetower Rd.
Winterville, NC 28590
252-355-3339

 

Notification of Changes
If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes to this privacy statement and other places we deem appropriate so our users are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances, if any, we disclose it. We will use information in accordance with the privacy policy under which the information was collected.

If, however, we are going to use users’ personally identifiable information in a manner different from that stated at the time of collection we will notify users via E-mail. Users will have a choice as to whether or not we use their information in this different manner. However, if users have opted out of all communication with the site, or deleted/deactivated their account, then they will not be contacted, nor will their personal information be used in this new manner. In addition, if we make any material changes in our privacy practices that do not affect user information already stored in our database, we will post a prominent notice on our Web site notifying users of the change. In some cases where we post a notice we will also E-mail users, who have opted to receive communications from us, notifying them of the changes in our privacy practices.

Contact Information
If users have any questions or suggestions regarding our privacy policy, please contact us at:

Computer Geeks
111A W. Firetower Rd.
Winterville, NC 28590
252-355-3339