Privacy Policy
Bamboo Ark ("we", "us", "our") runs the online store at https://bamboo-ark.com/. We sell bamboo products for the home, kitchen, bathroom and garden, and we ship them to customers around the world. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect from you, why we collect it, how we keep it safe, and what choices you have. Please read it before you place an order or sign up for anything on our site. By using bamboo-ark.com you agree to the practices described here.
Who We Are
Bamboo Ark is owned and operated by David Harvey. You can reach us at any time by email at bambooplants@timberbamboonursery.com or by phone at 850-841-0459. If you would rather write to us, our postal address is United States. We are the party responsible for the personal information collected through this website.
Information We Collect
We only ask for the information we need to run the shop and get your order to you. This falls into a few simple groups.
• Order details. Your full name, billing address, shipping address, email address and phone number. We need these to take your order, deliver it, and contact you if there is a problem.
• Account details. If you create an account, we store your name, email address, password in encrypted form, saved addresses and your order history.
• Payment details. Your card type, the last four digits of the card, and the result of the payment. See the payment section below for what we do not store.
• Communication records. Emails, contact form messages, chat messages and notes from phone calls, so we can answer you properly and keep track of what was agreed.
• Technical details. Your IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, the pages you visit, how long you stay, and the site you came from.
• Marketing preferences. Whether you have asked to receive our emails, and whether you have opened or clicked them.
How We Collect It
Most of the information above comes straight from you when you place an order, open an account, fill in the contact form, subscribe to emails or send us a message. Technical information is collected automatically by cookies when you browse the site. We also receive information from our payment providers, such as confirmation that a payment cleared, and from our shipping partners, such as tracking updates.
Why We Use Your Information
We use your personal information for clear, limited reasons:
• To process your order, take payment, and send your goods to the right address.
• To send order confirmations, shipping notices, tracking links and delivery updates.
• To handle returns, refunds, replacements and warranty questions.
• To answer your questions and provide customer support.
• To manage your account and keep your order history available to you.
• To improve our products, our range and the way the website works.
• To send you marketing emails about new arrivals and offers, but only if you have asked for them.
• To meet our legal, tax and accounting duties.
We rely on your consent for marketing, on the performance of our contract with you for order handling, and on our legitimate business interests for security and site improvement.
Payment Information
We accept credit cards, MasterCard and PayPal. Payments are handled by third party payment processors on their own secure systems. Bamboo Ark does not see, handle or store your full card number, expiry date or security code at any point. Our processors are required to follow the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. When you pay with PayPal, your details are handled under PayPal's own privacy policy, and we receive only confirmation of the payment and the delivery address you supplied.
Sharing Your Information
We do not sell your personal information to anyone, and we never rent or trade our customer list. We share only what is needed, only with parties who need it, and only for the purposes above. These parties include our product suppliers and fulfilment partners, who receive your name, delivery address and phone number so they can pack and dispatch your order; our couriers; our payment processors; our hosting and technical support providers; our email platform; and our accountants. We may also disclose information if the law requires it, if a court orders it, or if it is needed to protect our rights, our customers or the public. If our business is ever sold or merged, customer records may transfer to the new owner, who would remain bound by this policy.
Cookies
Our website uses cookies, which are small text files stored on your device. Essential cookies keep your shopping cart working, remember that you are logged in, and keep the checkout secure. Analytics cookies tell us which pages are popular and where visitors leave the site, which helps us improve it. Marketing cookies may be used to show you relevant adverts on other websites. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings at any time, but please note that the cart and checkout may stop working correctly if essential cookies are turned off.
Marketing Emails
If you subscribe, we will email you about new bamboo arrivals, seasonal offers and useful care tips. Every email includes an unsubscribe link at the bottom, and one click is enough to stop them for good. You can also email us and ask to be removed. Unsubscribing from marketing does not stop service emails such as order confirmations and shipping notices, because those are part of your purchase.
Keeping Your Information Safe
Our site runs on an SSL secured connection, so information you send to us is encrypted in transit. We limit access to customer records to the people who need it to do their jobs, we use strong passwords, and we keep our software updated. Please help us by choosing a strong password for your account and never sharing it. No website can promise perfect security, but we take every reasonable step and we will tell you promptly if a breach ever affects your data.
How Long We Keep It
We keep order records for as long as we need them to support you and to satisfy tax and accounting law, which is usually seven years. Account details are kept while your account is open. Marketing contacts are kept until you unsubscribe. Technical logs are kept for a short period and then deleted.
Your Rights
You may ask us for a copy of the information we hold about you, ask us to correct anything that is wrong, ask us to delete your data where we are not required to keep it, object to marketing, or ask us to restrict how we use your information. Email us and we will respond within thirty days. We will never charge you for making a request or treat you differently for doing so.
Children
Our shop is intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under sixteen. If you believe a child has given us their details, contact us and we will delete the record promptly.
Changes To This Policy
We may update this policy as our shop grows or the law changes. The current version will always sit on this page with the date it was last updated at the top. Significant changes will be announced on the site or by email.
Contact Us
If you have any question about this Privacy Policy or about the information we hold, contact Bamboo Ark at bambooplants@timberbamboonursery.com or 850-841-0459. We are happy to explain anything that is not clear.