At Tropical Essentials, we are committed to giving you quality service. As part of that commitment, we gather information about our customers and website visitors so we can better serve you. Because we realize that your privacy is important to you, your privacy is also important to us. You can be assured that we respect the confidentiality of personal information that identifies you and treat that information responsibly. As described in this Privacy Statement, we do not authorize the selling or renting of your personal information to third parties for their business purposes.

By using our site, you accept the practices that are described in this privacy statement, which is effective as of October 5, 2005. We may change or add to this statement from time to time. When that happens, we will post the revised statement here. Your use of our site after changes to this privacy statement have been made constitutes acceptance of those changes going forward.

Tropical Essentials is not responsible for the privacy policies or practices of the websites from which you access our site, sites we link to, or of any sites that are linked to our site.

This privacy statement tells you what kinds of customer information we collect, how we use that information and with whom we may share it, and how you can access and change our information about you. If you have additional questions about Tropical Essentials’ privacy practices or would like more information, please contact customerservice@tropicalessentials.com.

What personal information do we collect about our customers?

Customer information is gathered so we can better serve you, and we make reasonable efforts to insure the security of your personal information and to treat that information responsibly. We collect the personal information that our customers give us when they choose to purchase a product from Tropical Essentials or use our site. For example, when you register with Tropical Essentials we will ask you to provide your name, e-mail address, physical address and telephone number. If you purchase a product, we will also ask you for financial information such as your credit card number and a shipping address. Registration with Tropical Essentials is required to make a purchase. Similarly, we will ask you for contact information if you use our E-mail to a Friend, or if you request that Tropical Essentials send you E-newsletters.

What other kinds of customer information do we collect?

If you ask us to ship a purchase to somebody else or you use our E-mail to a Friend program, we will ask you for the name and address or e-mail address of the person to whom you are sending or recommending the product, as well as your name and contact information. Our system also keeps track of which browser and Internet Provider (IP) you use to access our site. In addition, to help us understand the use of our site by our visitors and improve your shopping experience, we automatically collect information as to how you were directed to the site, how you navigate around it and what products you browse, as well as your purchasing activities.

How do we collect this information?

When you register with Tropical Essentials, we compile the personal information you give us about yourself into an individual profile. We add other personal information about you to that profile as you give it to us. We gather other information through the use of cookies.

How do we use cookies?

Cookies are pieces of text that allow a website to store on your own computer an identification code associated with you which can later be retrieved and associated with your visit to the site. Session cookies terminate shortly after you close your Internet browser. Persistent cookies are stored on your hard drive until they expire or are deleted. Both types of cookies enhance our ability to serve you by recalling information about you such as your shopping preferences and shopping cart. This saves you time on your next visit to our site and personalizes your shopping experience. We understand that not everyone wants to permit the use of cookies. The Help portion of the toolbar on most browsers will tell you how to prevent your browser from accepting cookies and how to disable cookies, but we recommend that you leave cookies turned on so that you can take full advantage of the shopping features available on our site.

Do visitors need to provide personal information to use our site?

Personal information is not required to access or navigate around the site. However, you will be asked to register and provide personal information if you want to make a purchase. Personal information is also required to request information or assistance from us or to take advantage of certain optional features of our site such as our E-mail to a Friend program.

What if a visitor doesn’t want to give us personal information over the Internet?

You are free to look for products on either our show or our site and place a telephone order by calling 1-800-643-3152 toll-free. We respect the confidentiality of all your personal information as described in this Privacy Statement whether you give it to us via the telephone or the Internet.

How do we protect customers’ personal information?

All of your personal information is encrypted by Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) software when it is transmitted to us via the web. We maintain the servers that store this information in a locked facility with restricted access. We also truncate your credit card number to the last four digits when we communicate with you about your order.

How do we use information about our customers?

We use your personal information to process your orders. This includes for example, contacting you to confirm your order, fulfilling the order, and shipping it. We may also contact you if we want to communicate with you about your order. Additionally, we will use your contact information to send you E-newsletters, or to respond to requests for information, or assistance from you.

How do we share customers’ personal information with third parties?

In order to process your orders and requests, we make your name, address, and sometimes your e-mail address or telephone number available to other entities such as credit card companies and package delivery services (for example, Federal Express, Visa, UPS, and USPS). Similarly, if you order a product that is shipped directly from another company we will share personal information about that order with the other company. No credit card information is shared with other companies with the exception of credit card processing companies such as MasterCard or Visa.

It is possible that Tropical Essentials or part of its business or one of its affiliates could merge with, acquire or be acquired by another business entity and your personal information could be among the assets transferred. If this occurs, you will be notified of the change by e-mail or notice on this site. We reserve the right to share personal information about you with our affiliates in the course of our business operations. We also reserve the right to share personal information about you as required by law or in cooperation with legal authorities and to enforce the General Terms and Conditions governing use of this site or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Tropical Essentials and its customers.

How can visitors to our site check or change the information we collect about them?

You can always review your personal profile at Tropical Essentials and correct or update it by going to the My Account area on our website and clicking on Account Maintenance. You can also change personal information such as your shipping address or payment method when ordering. You can subscribe to or unsubscribe from E-newsletters and other promotional notices by going to the My Account area on the site and clicking on E-mail Services. You can opt out of Tropical Essentials use of cookies to recall information about you by setting your browser not to accept cookies or to disable cookies. You cannot access or change the non-personal information that Tropical Essentials collects.

Do we collect personal information from children?

Our site is not intended for use by children, and our General Terms and Conditions require that you must be at least 14 years old to use the site. In addition, we do not solicit or collect information from anyone who tells us that he or she is under 18 years of age.