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GAVELNET.COM ASSURES YOUR PRIVACY.

GAVELNET.COM is a member of the TRUSTe program and complies with TRUSTe privacy principles and practices. We want you to know that any information you share with us is in good hands. This statement details privacy practices for GAVELNET.COM.

What is TRUSTe?

TRUSTe is an independent, non-profit initiative whose mission is to build users' trust and confidence in the Internet by promoting the principles of disclosure and informed consent. TRUSTe reviews and oversees members' privacy practices.

This website has agreed to participate in TRUSTe's formal resolution process. If you have questions or concerns regarding this statement, you should first contact privacy@GAVELNET.COM.

At GAVELNET.COM, we believe you're entitled to decide what information you share with us and how it is used!

As a TRUSTe member, GAVELNET.COM answers these privacy questions up front:

 

1. Why does GAVELNET.COM gather visitor information?

We gather information with three objectives in mind:

a.    To fulfill your request accurately and quickly.

b.    To learn how we can improve your bidding experience.

c.     To help us meet our commitment to privacy.

When you visit GAVELNET.COM, you have the option of getting a GAVELNET.COM bidding paddle number, which is required to place an bid on GAVELNET.COM. A GAVELNET.COM bidding paddle number also gives you free access to these valuable features:

ˇ  Save your selections for as long as you like.

ˇ  Get access to special Featured Auctions and our e-mail newsletter.

ˇ  View LIVE auction events instantly.

Getting a bidding paddle number is easy:

ˇ  Enter your name and e-mail address.

ˇ  Choose your bidding paddle password (we check that somebody else isn't already using it).
 

2. How does GAVELNET.COM remember me automatically?

GAVELNET.COM uses a technology called "cookies" to remember you and the information you are saving. When you visit GAVELNET.COM, we send you back a cookie, a small text file that includes a temporary inquiry number, your IP address, plus any items you've chosen. Your web browser has a special folder on your computer where it keeps cookies. Cookies cannot harm your computer in any way. Only the website that places a cookie on your computer is allowed to read it; no other website may access the cookie GAVELNET.COM places on your computer.

If you are visiting GAVELNET.COM from a computer that only you or your family use, cookies present no security concern. For instance, if you are using a shared computer in a public environment (i.e. a library, Cyber Café or work), others using that computer to visit GAVELNET.COM can log in as you. Although GAVELNET.COM never displays your credit card information on our website, someone logging in as you could access less confidential data, such as your name or shipping address.

Cookies make your auction experience much easier. If you are trying to decide between a fine art item or collectible, the cookie enables your computer to find those items again without doing a whole new search. Your browser looks in its cookie folder, finds your GAVELNET.COM cookie and tells GAVELNET.COM that you want to look at the same lot numbers again.

If you don't want any information stored in a cookie, you can set your browser not to accept cookies, but remember that cookies make your purchases easy. They enable your computer to keep a list of items you're considering or to place them directly in your Selections list (so you don't have to re-enter them manually).

When you get your GAVELNET.COM bidding paddle number, you also have the option of subscribing to our e-mail newsletter. Every newsletter offers you the option of unsubscribing.

 

3. What visitor information does GAVELNET.COM keep track of?

Information tracked automatically is generic and doesn't include any personal details:

ˇ  Our site keeps a general list of visitors' IP addresses. This gives us broad, generic information such as how many AOL(r) users log onto GAVELNET.COM and helps us maintain GAVELNET.COM's compatibility with many different Internet services.

ˇ  GAVELNET.COM records browser types and versions so we can answer questions such as, "How many of our visitors were using Netscape Communicator(r) 4.6 last month?" This tells us what features our visitors can make use of and helps us keep our website up to date.

ˇ  We record how many people visited each page on our site. This helps answer questions such as, "What items or pages are drawing a lot of interest this month?"

ˇ  We may also record which site or search engine referred you to GAVELNET.COM.

ˇ  This information enhances your experience: images look better, pages load more quickly, and GAVELNET.COM remains compatible with more browsers and systems. This has helped make GAVELNET.COM the #1 website in fine art auctions today.

Information you enter when getting your bidding paddle number or placing an bid makes your auction experience at GAVELNET.COM easy:

 

4. What does GAVELNET.COM do with this information?

GAVELNET.COM has an absolute commitment to keep your information secure. The information you share with us is used to fulfill your bid and to keep you up-to-date on the status of your bid. After you place a bid, we'll contact you with information about the bid as needed. However, if a GAVELNET.COM associate has referred you to us, we do share your contact information with them.

The financial institutions processing your payment or your financing application may send us supplemental information if there is a problem in completing the transaction. The manufacturer / shipper may send us supplemental information if there is a problem with delivery. This information is used only in processing your bid(s) from GAVELNET.COM.

If you sign up for our optional e-mail newsletter, we'll send you e-mail messages announcing what's new and exciting at GAVELNET.COM and making special offers available. Every  e-mail newsletter from GAVELNET.COM includes instructions for unsubscribing.

Information about your browser helps us improve the way our site appears on your computer and make sure our site is up to date and compatible with your system. Traffic reports (information about sites that refer visitors to us) help us select the best places to reach people interested in online auction bidding.

 

5. Does GAVELNET.COM ever share such information? With whom?

The information gathered as part of your bidding is used only to process your bidding and is never shared with anyone, except in connection with your bid. Credit card or check information is only shared with financial institutions that process your payment. Shipping information is shared with manufacturers / shippers. Information on financing applications goes directly to the financial institution that handles the financing, not to GAVELNET.COM; we never see your application information, only your approval code, name and address. Technically, this shared information does pass out of our direct control, but GAVELNET.COM makes clear to financial companies and manufacturers / shippers we work with that we expect your information to be handled appropriately. If a GAVELNET.COM associate has referred you to us, we do share your contact information with them.

Click here to learn how GAVELNET.COM's Transaction Guaranteed goes even further to protect valued customers like you.

We do not sell, rent, share, trade or give away any of the information you provide to us except to the financial institutions processing your payment or your financing application and the manufacturers / shippers that produce and/or deliver your auction item. No third party will solicit you as a result of information within our control.

Use the links on our Help page to contact us. In addition, you can write to us at privacy@GAVELNET.COM with comments or to ask for information about this privacy policy. Any e-mail you send us is kept confidential and will not be posted on our site without your written permission.

 

6. Can I tell GAVELNET.COM not to gather or keep track of information I've provided? How?

Yes. You can set your browser not to accept cookies, but remember that cookies make your bidding easy. They enable your computer to keep a list of items you're considering or to place them directly in your Selections list (so you don't have to re-enter them manually).

 

7. How do I correct or update information about me and my bid(s)?

To change, correct, or update information about you or your bid prior to shipment, please contact our Customer Care Representatives at 1-888-428-3571.

To change the e-mail address for your e-mail newsletter subscription, please follow the instructions in the newsletter for unsubscribing with the old address, and then resubscribe with your new e-mail address.

 

8. Can I have my name removed from GAVELNET.COM's active records? How?

To unsubscribe to our e-mail newsletter, follow the instructions at the end of any newsletter.

If you would like your name removed from our active records, please send e-mail to feedback@GAVELNET.COM.

 

9. How do I contact GAVELNET.COM with any questions about this policy?

If you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this site, or your dealings with this website, you can contact a GAVELNET.COM Customer Care Representatives at 1-888-428-3571.

 

 

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