Privacy on the Pacific Writing Instruments Web Site

At Pacific Writing Instruments we are committed to protecting your privacy. We use the information we collect about you to process orders and to provide a more personalised shopping experience. Please read on for more details about our privacy policy.

If you don't find your concern addressed here, feel free to contact us by e-mail, phone or mail.

What information do we collect? How do we use it?
When you order, we need to know your name, e-mail address, delivery address, credit card number and the card's expiration date. This allows us to process and fulfill your orders and to notify you of the status of your order. We also ask for your telephone number which enables us to contact you urgently if there is a problem with your order. For some international deliveries this number may be given to our couriers.

When you signup for a newsletter, we also ask for your e-mail address. When you enter a contest or other promotional feature, we may ask for your name, address and e-mail address so we can administer the contest and notify winners. We also monitor customer traffic patterns and site usage to help us develop the design and layout of the site.

If you have given us explicit permission to do so, we may also use the information we collect to notify you about important functionality changes to the Web site, new Pacific Writing Instruments services and special offers we think you'll find valuable. If you would rather not receive this information, you may cancel this service by contacting us via email, phone or mail. Make sure you indicate which e-mail address you have given us.

How does Pacific Writing Instruments protect customer information?
When you place orders or access your account information, we offer the use of a secure server. The secure server software (SSL) encrypts all information you input before it is sent to us. Furthermore, we follow strict security procedures in the storage and disclosure of information which you have given us, to prevent unauthorised access. Our security procedures mean that we may occasionally request proof of identity before we are able to disclose sensitive information to you.

What about "cookies"?
Cookies are small pieces of information that are stored by your browser on your computer's hard drive. Pacific Writing Instruments employs the use of cookies to improve site usability and the shopping experience. Most Web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually change your browser to prevent that. Even without a cookie, you can still use most of the features on our site, including placing items in your Shopping Cart and purchasing them.

Will Pacific Writing Instruments disclose the information it collects to outside parties?
Pacific Writing Instruments does not sell, trade or rent your personal information to others without your permission. If you have opted in the receive this service, you may cancel it at any time by sending a blank e-mail message to never@penagain.com. (If you use more than one e-mail address to shop with us, send this message from each e-mail account you use.)

Also, Pacific Writing Instruments may provide aggregate statistics about our customers, sales, traffic patterns and related site information to reputable third-party vendors, but these statistics will include no personally identifying information.

We employ other companies and individuals to perform functions on our behalf. Examples include fulfilling orders, delivering packages, sending postal mail and e-mails, removing repetitive information from customer lists, analysing data, providing marketing assistance, processing credit card payments and providing customer services. Such companies and individuals will have access to personal information needed to perform these functions, but may not use it for any other purposes and are required to process the data.

Security Guarantee
None of our customers has reported fraudulent use of a credit or debit card as a result of purchases made with us. We are so confident about the transaction security we offer on our site that we back every purchase with a security guarantee.

• Our secure-server software encrypts all your personal information including credit or debit card number and name and address. The encryption process takes the characters you enter and converts them into bits of code that are then securely transmitted over the Internet.
  
• In the event of unauthorized use of your credit or debit card, most banks and card issuers either cover all the charges or may limit your liability to just $50.00.
  
• If your bank or card issuer holds you liable, Pacific Writing Instruments will cover your liability up to $50.00 provided that the unauthorised use of your credit card resulted through no fault of your own from purchases made at Pacific Writing Instruments while using the secure server.
  

A Few Important Notes: this guarantee only applies to credit card purchases made using Pacific Writing Instruments's secure server. This guarantee covers a maximum liability of $50.00. In the event of unauthorised use of your credit card, you must notify your card provider in accordance with its reporting rules and procedures.

Your consent
By using our Web site, you consent to the collection and use of this information by Pacific Writing Instruments. If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes on this page so that you are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances we disclose it.

Please note that the information you enter may be transferred outside the United States for the purposes of processing by Pacific Writing Instruments and its affiliates around the world and in order to maintain customer accounts for you at other Pacific Writing Instruments Web sites. Any transfer of personal information outside of the United States is done in circumstances ensuring that the information is processed only in accordance with this Privacy Policy. By submitting your order, you consent to this transfer. Your personal information may also be used by us and our affiliates to occasionally notify you about important functionality changes to our Web site, new Pacific Writing Instruments services and special offers we think you'll find valuable. If you would rather not receive this information, you may opt out by contacting us and indicating your preference.

In summary
We are committed to protecting your privacy. We use the information we collect on the site to make shopping at Pacific Writing Instruments possible and to enhance your overall shopping experience. We do not sell, trade or rent your personal information to others without your permission. We guarantee the security of your information.