PRIVACY STATEMENT
SearchDSM Privacy Policy Statement
This website (the "Site") is operated by SearchDSM, a division of Bell Tower Media, LLC ("SearchDSM"). The Privacy Statement (the "Statement") that follows describes SearchDSM's collection, use and disclosure of information practices in connection with the Site. This Statement applies to the national version of the Site, located at www.SearchDSM.com, as well as to any versions of the Site that SearchDSM co-brands or private labels with its affiliates and other partners (collectively, "Affiliates"). For example, you may have arrived at a co-branded version of the Site from an Affiliate's website, in which case, that Affiliate will be clearly identified at the top of the home page of this Site. In this Statement SearchDSM refers to those versions of the Site as "Affiliate Versions." Please be aware that an Affiliate Version is customized by SearchDSM for the Affiliate, with whom SearchDSM may share any information you submit through this Site, as described below. During your visit to any Affiliate Version, the Affiliate may independently collect other information from you.
This Statement does not describe SearchDSM's collection, use and disclosure of information through means other than this Site (e.g., off-line) or the collection, use and disclosure practices of any Affiliate or other third party. For information on the privacy policy applicable to an Affiliate's information collection, use and disclosure practices, please review the privacy policy on the applicable Affiliate's website. Also, please note that this Site contains links to other websites. SearchDSM and its Affiliates are not responsible for the websites, content or privacy practices of any third party.
Notification of Changes:
Any changes to this Statement will be posted on the Site in this location and this Statement will be identified as "Updated". Your continued use of the Site after such notice constitutes acceptance of such changes. In the event of such changes, you can then choose to do nothing, modify the personally identifiable information in your Account, change your email preferences, or deactivate your Account.
By using this Site, you acknowledge that you have read this Statement and agree that you are subject to the SearchDSM Terms of Service.
If you have any questions about this Privacy Statement, please email us at legal@SearchDSM.com
SearchDSM is committed to safeguarding your privacy online. Please read the following policy to understand how your personal information will be treated as you make full use of SearchDSM.
- What personally identifiable information is collected from you
- What cookies are and how they are used
- How your information is used
- Who is collecting your information
- With whom your information may be shared
- What choices are available to you regarding collection, use, and distribution of your information
- How you can access, update or delete your information
- The kind of security precautions that are in place to protect the loss, misuse, or alteration of your information
- How SearchDSM Protects the Rights of Children
- What else you should know about your online privacy
What personally identifiable information is collected from you.
SearchDSM collects information in several ways from different parts of our web site. The Site automatically collects information and may also customize your visit through technical means, including the following:
Cookies: Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer's hard drive by computers (or servers) to identify your computer.
Web Beacons: Web beacons (also known as pixel tags, Internet tags, clear GIFs, or single-pixel GIFs) are electronic images embedded into a webpage.
IP Address Logs: SearchDSM also logs Internet Protocol (IP) addresses — the location of your computer on the Internet.
You are not required to provide any personally identifiable information to visit the Site. SearchDSM automatically collects Usage Data (as described below) and may collect ZIP codes and other information in connection with your use of the Site (e.g., the type of item you are looking for).
SearchDSM collects personally identifiable information only when you provide it. For instance, some personal information is gathered when you register. During registration, we may require your name and email address. The system will also ask for your street address, city, state/province, zip/postal code, country, telephone number, and the URL of your web site, although only fields that are marked with an asterisk (*) on the registration field are required. This information is used solely to assist you in navigating the system by automatically filling in certain forms with your information so that you don't have to continually re-enter it. Once you register you are no longer anonymous to SearchDSM - you have a User ID and are able to take full advantage of the many offerings of SearchDSM. If you contact us, we may keep a record of that correspondence.
In addition, you may submit personally identifiable information through the Site in other ways, including: (a) participating in online surveys, promotions, contests and sweepstakes; (b) subscribing to newsletters, editorial content, or promotional content sent via email, (c) using the Site's "Feedback" and "More Information" forms; and (d) in connection with other products, services, features, or requests made available through the Site. We also may publish toll-free phone numbers for many of the Businesses that list their Business on the Site. If you dial one of these phone numbers, SearchDSM or a service provider operating on SearchDSM's behalf may record the date, time and length of your call and the phone number from which the call originated. Any Usage Data or personally identifiable information resulting from such calls may be used as described in this Statement. The types of personally identifiable information that you provide will depend on the nature of the submission, but could include your name, address, phone number, email address and credit card information.
What cookies are and how they are used.
As part of offering and providing customizable and personalized services, SearchDSM may use cookies to store and sometimes track information about you. Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer's hard drive by computers (or servers) to identify your computer. Several features of SearchDSM require that you accept cookies in order to work properly. (See "What choices are available to you regarding collection, use, and distribution of your information" for more information on cookies.)
Generally, we use cookies for the following purposes:
(1) To identify and label all "new" posts since your last visit to the site.
(2) Optionally to permanently save your password on your computer so you don't have to re-enter it each time you visit our site.
(3) To enable you to "checklist" posts that you want to mark for future retrieval and viewing.
(4) To personalize your experience and generally to serve you better. For example, if you enter your name, address or ZIP code on one of the Site's forms, it may be stored in a cookie so you do not have to enter it again on other forms on the Site.
(5) Cookies and web beacons can tell us what advertising you have seen on the Site, which allows SearchDSM to offer you a more diverse selection of advertising information and may also be used together to measure the effectiveness of SearchDSM advertising campaigns.
(6) Cookies, web beacons and IP addresses are also used to compile data regarding Site usage (what website you came from, what pages of the Site you visit, how long you were on the Site, what type of browser you are using, what website did you go to, etc.).
(7) Web beacons may also be included in emails sent by SearchDSM to determine when and if such emails are opened or forwarded.
Advertising networks or other third parties that serve posts, ads, or listings onto SearchDSM may also use their own cookies. SearchDSM may also collect IP addresses for system administration and to report aggregate information to our advertisers.
Anonymous information regarding Site usage that is collected and/or aggregated by SearchDSM through the use of such technical means or otherwise is referred to in this Statement as "Usage Data."
How your information is used.
The primary goal of SearchDSM in collecting personal information is to provide you, the user, with a customized experience and to assist your navigation throughout SearchDSM. Personally identifiable information collected by SearchDSM through your use of the Site may be stored on servers or in a cookie on your computer and may be used by SearchDSM for any of the following purposes:
(1) To confirm or fulfill a request that you make (e.g., in order to send you a price quote or other information you have requested, SearchDSM may share your contact information with a participating SearchDSM seller, business, or advertiser).
(2) To follow up on any request that you have previously made (e.g., SearchDSM may contact you to determine whether the seller or business responded to your original request).
(3) To communicate with you regarding the SearchDSM service (e.g., SearchDSM may send you emails or call you to confirm a price quote or to notify you that you have received an email or to request that you participate in a survey).
(4) To send promotional materials, newsletters, or other content via email. You will have the opportunity to opt-out of promotional materials and newsletters by clicking on unsubscribe links or by following unsubscribe instructions within the communication.
(5) To permit Affiliates or other third parties to whom SearchDSM may disclose personally identifiable information in accordance with this Statement (including its partners or advertisers) to send you promotional or informational messages, but only if you have first affirmatively agreed to receive such messages.
(6) To improve your user experience.
(7) For Site administration, analysis, research, development, optimization and other internal purposes and to compile aggregate and anonymous information.
Usage Data is used by SearchDSM for administrative, analytical, research, optimization and other purposes. For example, SearchDSM may use statistical analyses of Usage Data in order to measure interest in the various areas of the Site, for development purposes and to inform advertisers and partners in aggregate and anonymous terms about consumers who click on their advertising or other messages. IP Addresses are also used for systems administration and troubleshooting purposes.
As part of your registering for the Service, some email communications are required, such as, by way of example and not limitation, customer service messages regarding your account with SearchDSM, updates to the Service and other information. In order to opt-out of receiving such communications you must cancel the Service.
With respect to promotional materials and newsletters that SearchDSM may send from time to time, SearchDSM will not continue to send you such communications if you ask us not to. You will have the opportunity to opt-out of promotional materials and newsletters by clicking on unsubscribe links or by following unsubscribe instructions within the communication.
However, please note that by submitting your personally identifiable information via the Site, you agree that SearchDSM may send to you and you cannot opt out of, communications of a transactional or relationship nature, including, but not limited to, communications regarding fraudulent or illegal activity, the status of your Account, changes to this Statement or the SearchDSM Terms of Service, as well as communications to confirm, fulfill and follow up on your Account registration or a request submitted through the Site.
Who is collecting your information.
Generally, when you are asked for personal information on SearchDSM, you are sharing that information with SearchDSM alone. However, if you make a payment to SearchDSM by credit card, SearchDSM may share your personally identifiable information and credit card information with a third party vendor in order to process credit card transactions. In such cases, SearchDSM asks that the third party maintain your personally identifiable information as confidential and use the information only to perform the services specified by SearchDSM. However, some activities will, by their very nature, result in your personal information being revealed to other users of SearchDSM. For example, when you enter personal information in a post, ad, posting form, forum, enhanced business listing or free business listing, this information will generally be included in your post or listing, unless specifically stated otherwise.
Affiliates and other third parties may collect information about you when using the Site through the use of cookies and web beacons. For example, SearchDSM uses third-party companies to serve advertisements when you visit the Site and to collect statistical information regarding Site usage. Third-party advertising companies may use non-personally identifiable information about your visits to the Site and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. In addition, SearchDSM may share statistical and behavioral data about visitors to our Sites with these third-party advertising companies for the purpose of managing and targeting advertisements on the Site and on other websites. These third-party advertising companies may note some of the pages you visit on the Site through the use of web beacons. In the course of serving advertisements to you, these third-party advertising companies may also place or recognize a unique "cookie" on your computer to allow them to recognize web beacons and otherwise improve advertising effectiveness.
With whom your information may be shared.
SearchDSM may share personally identifiable information that you provide with third parties in the following cases:
(1) Affiliates. SearchDSM may share your personally identifiable information with Affiliates on the condition that the Affiliates' disclosure and use of the information is consistent with this Statement.
(2) Site Requests. If you request information or services from a third party through the Site, you agree that SearchDSM may share your personally identifiable information as may be necessary for third parties to provide such information to or perform such services for you. For example, if you request a price quote from a Seller through the Site, SearchDSM will share the information you entered with that Seller (or its designee) and any other parties providing that listing (e.g., if a Seller provides the listing to us on behalf of a Business). Similarly, if through the Site you request additional information from a financial institution, SearchDSM will share your information with that institution. Personally identifiable information also may be included in reports to these third parties, but only when you have intended to submit the information to the third party as described above. After the information is provided to such third parties, SearchDSM does not control their subsequent use or disclosure of information.
(3) Sweepstakes/Promotions. In the event that you participate in a sweepstakes, contest, or other promotion on the Site that is sponsored by SearchDSM and a third party, SearchDSM reserves the right to share personally identifiable information collected in conjunction with the sweepstakes, contest or promotion with the third party. After the information is provided to such third parties, SearchDSM does not control their subsequent use or disclosure of information.
(4) Direct Marketing. Except as provided herein, it is SearchDSM's policy not to disclose personally identifiable information of our customers to third parties for the third parties' direct marketing purposes. If you are 18 years of age or older and have affirmatively agreed to receive third party direct marketing materials, SearchDSM may share personally identifiable information with third parties for direct marketing purposes. Although SearchDSM will notify all third-party direct marketers that the information provided to them is confidential, SearchDSM does not control their subsequent use or disclosure of information.
(5) Service Providers. SearchDSM may work with third parties that provide analytical, development, research and other services on its behalf. For example, SearchDSM may ask that a third party conduct an online survey or sweepstakes or send newsletters on its behalf. Similarly, if you make a payment to SearchDSM by credit card, SearchDSM may share your personally identifiable information and credit card information with a third party in order to process credit card transactions. In such cases, SearchDSM asks that the third party maintain your personally identifiable information as confidential and use the information only to perform the services specified by SearchDSM.
(6) Email List Opt-Outs. In the event SearchDSM sends promotional e-mails to you on behalf of third-party advertisers and you inform SearchDSM you wish to opt out of future promotional e-mails from a particular third party, SearchDSM may share your email address with that third party so the third party may add you to its opt-out lists.
(7) Other. SearchDSM expressly reserves the right to release any personally identifiable information or other information you provide to third parties under the following circumstances: (a) when required by law or legal process, (b) to investigate and/or take action against illegal activity, suspected abuse, or unauthorized use of the Site, (c) to protect the property or safety of our users or others, (d) to enforce our Terms of Service and (e) in connection with any sale or other transfer of ownership of all or a part of SearchDSM.
(8) Free Classified Ads. When placing a Free Classified Ad, it is important to note that any information you choose to include in an Free Classified Ad may be made publicly available via the Site. You are required to include at least your phone number, and optionally, an email address to allow users to contact you regarding your Free Classified Ad. As such, you may receive unsolicited phone calls and emails from third parties. Except for required information, you should not include any contact or other information in a Free Classifed Ad that you do not want other parties to see or use.
(9) Message Boards. SearchDSM also may offer message boards, bulletin boards, chat rooms, or other forums ("Forums") on some versions of the Site for use by visitors who are 18 years of age or older. Any information you disclose when posting a message in these Forums may become public. You should not include any information in your posting that you do not want other parties to see or use. Moreover, if you post any messages in the Forums that include your email address or phone number you may receive unsolicited email or calls from third parties.
(10) Email a Page. The Site offers you the ability to email certain pages of the Site to a friend or other third party. The "Email a Page" functionality is for informational purposes only and may not be used for any unlawful purpose, including any harassment or threats. Information collected by SearchDSM through the "Email a Page" functionality shall be used in accordance with this Statement.
(11) Enhanced of Free Business Listing. When placing an Enhanced or Free Business Listing, it is important to note that any information you choose to include in an Enhanced or Free Business Listing may be made publicly available via the Site. You are required to include at least your address, phone number, and optionally, an email address to allow users to contact you regarding your Enhanced or Free Business Listing. As such, you may receive unsolicited phone calls, postal mail, and emails from third parties. Except for required information, you should not include any contact or other information in an Enhanced or Free Business Listing that you do not want other parties to see or use.
(12) Event Listing. When placing an Event Listing, it is important to note that any information you choose to include in an Event Listing may be made publicly available via the Site. You are required to include at least your address, phone number, and optionally, an email address to allow users to contact you regarding you. As such, you may receive unsolicited phone calls, postal mail, and emails from third parties. Except for required information, you should not include any contact or other information in an Event Listing Listing that you do not want other parties to see or use.
Please note that the messages that SearchDSM sends to you to confirm, fulfill, or follow up on a request may include promotional material or other content from SearchDSM or its partners. In the case of these messages, SearchDSM is not sharing your personally identifiable information with those third parties. SearchDSM reserves the right to share Usage Data with any third party for any reason.
What choices are available to you regarding collection, use, and distribution of your information
If you choose not to register or provide personal information, you can still use most of SearchDSM, but you will not be able to access areas or use features that require registration. You also have choices with respect to cookies. By modifying your browser preferences, you have the choice to accept all cookies, to be notified when a cookie is set, or to reject all cookies. If you choose to reject all cookies you will be unable to use those services of SearchDSM that require registration in order to participate. These services include the identification of new posts that have been posted since your last visit, auto-filling of the logon form, and the Checklist feature. You can still use most of the features of SearchDSM even if you do not accept cookies.
How you can access, update or delete your information
We will provide you with the means to ensure that your personal information is correct and current. If you wish to access, verify the accuracy of, or change the personally identifiable information in your User ID registration; or deactivate your Account, you can do so anytime by clicking on the "My Account" link on the SearchDSM home page, and then entering your User Name and Password. Next, choose the “My Profile” link near the top of the page to verify the accuracy of, or change the personally identifiable information in your User ID registration; or deactivate your Account.
If you no longer wish to receive a particular email newsletter or other promotion from SearchDSM, you must follow the opt-out instructions included in such email newsletters and promotions.
Once you have logged onto the system during a given session, wherever you go on SearchDSM, your information will stay with you until or unless you exit the SearchDSM website. If you are a previously registered user and you have lost or forgotten your password, you may obtain it by email by using our "Forgot Password" feature. Click the “Forgot Password” link on the Account login page to request that your password be emailed to you. We cannot provide your password by any other means.
Your SearchDSM account can be deleted, but doing so will result in not being able to access any of the features of the program that require user registration. If you delete your Account, personally identifiable information in your Account will no longer be actively used by SearchDSM or made available to third parties except in an aggregate or anonymous form or as required by law. Please note that SearchDSM indefinitely maintains archival copies of information submitted by or relating to you.
The kind of security precautions that are in place to protect the loss, misuse, or alteration of your information
Your personally identifiable information is one of our most valuable assets. Other than the administrator of SearchDSM or other authorized personnel of SearchDSM, you are the only person who has access to your personal information. Your user registration is password-protected to prevent unauthorized access.
We recommend that you do not divulge your password to anyone. SearchDSM will never ask you for your password in an unsolicited phone call or in an unsolicited email. As an extra security precaution, you may want to logoff once you have completed a session in SearchDSM. This is to ensure that others cannot access your personal information and correspondence if you share a computer with someone else or are using a computer in a public place like a library, coffee shop, or Internet cafe.
Please keep in mind that despite these measures, SearchDSM cannot guarantee or warrant 100% security of its servers and databases. Moreover, SearchDSM cannot guarantee that personally identifiable information that you submit through the Site will not be intercepted. As a result, while we strive to protect your personal information. Once we receive your transmission, we make our best effort to ensure its security on our systems.
How SearchDSM protects children's privacy
SearchDSM believes that it is especially important to protect children's privacy online. SearchDSM is a general audience web site. Children should always ask a parent for permission before sending personal information to anyone online. SearchDSM does not knowingly collect or use any personally identifiable information from children under the age of 18 and SearchDSM does not knowingly provide any personally identifiable information, regardless of its source, to any third party for any purpose whatsoever from visitors younger than 18 years old. No information should be submitted to or posted at SearchDSM by visitors younger than 18 years old.
What else you should know about your online privacy
Please keep in mind that whenever you voluntarily disclose personal information online - for example in posts, ads, or listings that you post or through email - that information can be collected and used by others. In short, if you post personal information online that is accessible to the public, you may receive unsolicited messages from other parties in return.
Ultimately, you are solely responsible for maintaining the secrecy of your passwords and/or any account information. Please be careful and responsible whenever you're online.
This Site contains links to other sites. While SearchDSM encourages our business partners and users to adopt privacy policies that build users' trust and confidence in the Internet, SearchDSM is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of websites linked to the Site or any third-party products or services offered through the Site.
©2006 Bell Tower Media, LLC, 2833 High Street, Des Moines, IA 50312
Last updated on 12/01/06
