Information We Collect

Depending on how you use the Shells by Elaine website, we may collect information such as:

• your name;
• email address;
• phone number, when provided;
• billing and shipping addresses;
• order and purchase information;
• account information, if you create a customer account;
• information you submit through our contact or custom-order forms;
• newsletter subscription information; and
• basic technical information associated with use of the website, such as browser, device, IP address, or security-related data.

We do not ask for more personal information than is reasonably necessary to provide the service or interaction you request.

Orders and Customer Accounts

When you place an order, we use the information you provide to:

• process and fulfill your purchase;
• arrange shipping and provide tracking information;
• communicate with you about your order;
• provide customer service;
• process returns, refunds, or replacements when applicable; and
• maintain appropriate business and transaction records.

If you create a customer account, information associated with that account may be stored so that you can access order history and other account features.

Payment information is handled through the payment services made available at checkout. Additional information about the payment provider used by Shells by Elaine will be added to this policy once our payment system is finalized.

Contact and Custom-Order Forms

When you contact Shells by Elaine through the website, we receive the information you choose to provide.

This information is used to respond to your inquiry, discuss custom orders, provide customer service, or otherwise handle the reason you contacted us.

Submitting a contact form does not automatically subscribe you to marketing emails.

Newsletter

Visitors may choose to subscribe to the Shells by Elaine newsletter.

Newsletter signup is voluntary and currently uses a confirmation process to help ensure that the person subscribing actually controls the email address provided.

We may use newsletter information to send occasional updates about:

• new designs;
• product releases;
• custom-order availability;
• seasonal offerings;
• promotions; and
• other Shells by Elaine news.

You may unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link included in marketing emails.

Unsubscribing from marketing emails does not prevent us from sending necessary transactional messages related to an order, account, refund, shipment, or customer-service request.

Cookies and Website Technology

The Shells by Elaine website may use cookies or similar technologies that are necessary for the website to function properly.

These may support features such as:

• shopping carts;
• checkout;
• customer accounts;
• site security;
• form operation;
• spam prevention; and
• basic website functionality.

We currently favor a limited approach to tracking and do not intentionally use unnecessary behavioral or advertising tracking simply for the sake of collecting visitor data.

If additional analytics, advertising, or tracking technologies are added in the future, this Privacy Policy will be updated as appropriate.

Spam Prevention and Security

We use security and anti-spam tools to help protect our website, forms, customers, and business from automated abuse, fraudulent activity, and malicious traffic.

These services may process limited technical information, such as IP address, browser information, or interaction data, for security purposes.

How We Use Personal Information

Personal information collected through Shells by Elaine may be used to:

• process and fulfill orders;
• provide shipping and tracking information;
• respond to questions or requests;
• manage customer accounts;
• process returns and refunds;
• provide custom-order services;
• send newsletters when you have chosen to subscribe;
• protect the website and prevent abuse or fraud;
• maintain business, accounting, and transaction records; and
• comply with applicable legal obligations.

We do not use customer information for unrelated purposes simply because we have access to it.

How We Share Information

Shells by Elaine does not sell personal information.

Information may be shared with trusted service providers when reasonably necessary to operate the business or provide services you request.

This may include providers involved with:

• website hosting;
• ecommerce and order processing;
• payment processing;
• email delivery;
• newsletter management;
• shipping and package delivery;
• website security and spam prevention; and
• other technical services necessary to operate the website.

Only the information reasonably necessary for those services is provided.

We may also disclose information when required by law or when reasonably necessary to protect the rights, property, security, or safety of Shells by Elaine, our customers, or others.

Shipping Information

Information necessary to deliver your order, including your name, shipping address, and other required shipment details, may be provided to shipping carriers and shipping-service providers.

Tracking information associated with an order may also be stored with the order so that both Shells by Elaine and the customer can follow shipment progress.

Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including:

• completing and documenting transactions;
• maintaining appropriate tax and accounting records;
• providing customer service;
• handling returns, disputes, or other order-related matters;
• maintaining customer accounts;
• managing newsletter subscriptions; and
• meeting legal or business recordkeeping requirements.

Newsletter information may remain stored until you unsubscribe or otherwise request removal, subject to any records that must reasonably be retained.

Your Choices

You may contact Shells by Elaine to request that we:

• correct inaccurate personal information;
• provide information about personal data we maintain about you; or
• delete personal information that we no longer need to retain for legitimate business or legal purposes.

Certain information may need to be retained when required for transaction records, taxes, accounting, fraud prevention, dispute resolution, or other legitimate obligations.

Newsletter subscribers may unsubscribe at any time using the link provided in each marketing email.

Protecting Your Information

We take reasonable steps to protect customer and visitor information from unauthorized access, misuse, loss, or disclosure.

No website, internet connection, or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, however, and we cannot promise absolute security.

Third-Party Services

Our website relies on certain third-party services to provide ecommerce, email, security, shipping, payment, and other website functions.

Those providers may process information according to their own privacy policies and legal obligations.

Shells by Elaine is not responsible for the privacy practices of independent third-party websites that you may visit through external links.

Children’s Privacy

The Shells by Elaine website and products are intended for a general audience and are not directed toward children under the age of 13.

We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13.

Contact Us

Questions about this Privacy Policy or requests concerning your personal information may be sent to:

Shells by Elaine
[email protected]

Alternatively, you may use our contact form.

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