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SOUTHERN STATES COOPERATIVE, INCORPORATED

Consumer Privacy Policy

Keeping customer information secure, while providing quality products and services, is a top priority for Southern States Cooperative, Inc. We understand your concerns about guarding your personal information. This notice describes our privacy policy, how we collect information about you and how we safeguard and use that information.

Collection of Information
To better serve you and manage our business, it is important that we collect and maintain accurate information about our customers. We collect non-public personal information about you from the following sources:

• Information you provide on applications or other forms, such as change of address forms and financial statements, by telephone or in person to our representatives, including but not limited to your name, address, telephone numbers, social security number and EIN employer and income
• Information about your transactions with us and our affiliates, including your account balance, payment history, purchase history and account activity
• From consumer reporting agencies, we obtain information related to your credit worthiness and credit history
• From verification of information you provide on applications and other forms, we obtain information about you from third parties such as your financial institutions, lenders, creditors and other sources

Accuracy of Information
It is important that the information we maintain about our customers is accurate and complete. If you see information in your monthly billing statement, which suggests that our information is incomplete or inaccurate, let us know so that we can update this information. Please write to us at:


Southern States Cooperative, Inc.,
Attn: Credit Department
6606 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA. 23230


Protection of Information
We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect the confidentiality of our customers’ information. We restrict access to non-public personal information about you to those employees who have a specific business purpose in utilizing such information. We limit the sharing of information with others and inform our employees regarding their obligations to maintain confidentiality regarding customer information.

Information Disclosure
We may disclose some or all of the information we collect as described above, including non-public personal information to:
• Non-affiliated companies that perform services directly for us
• Our affiliates and to non-affiliate third parties as permitted by law
We may disclose any information when we believe it is necessary for the conduct of our business, or where disclosure is required or permitted by law. We may disclose information, including non-public personal information, to assist us in processing a transaction for you and to enable third parties to provide business services to us, such as collection activities, account insurance, and general administrative activities such as mailing and data processing. We do not sell customer lists or individual customer information.

Further Information
Pursuant to federal privacy laws, once a year we will provide to our customers a description of our privacy policy. For additional information regarding our privacy policy, the customer may write to Southern States Cooperative, Inc. 6606 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA. 23230

Additional Information for Online Resources

A.  Collection of Information

Southern States Cooperative, Incorporated (“SSC”)* is committed to protecting your Personal Information (as defined below) while providing individualized service and customized technology. All of your Personal Information that is collected will be used for the purposes of fulfilling, tracking and storing orders, providing personalized services, conducting business, maintaining accounts, informing you about promotions and other marketing events and conducting research directly related to our business purposes. Information may be shared with third party service providers in order to accomplish these services. Under no circumstances will information you send us be sold, distributed, disclosed or otherwise shared with third parties, except as specified in this policy.  These Terms and Conditions apply to all users (“you” or “your”) of SSC’s Virtual Showcase, websites, computer or mobile applications (collectively, and together with any updates thereto, the “Services”). 

*For purposes of this policy, “SouthernStates.com”, and references to “website” will automatically include SouthernStates.com and any SSC owned, administered or sponsored website, mobile application or other media. 

1.  How Personal Information is Collected
SSC may collect information that that relates to identified or identifiable individuals (“Personal Information”), which are provided through use of the Services.  Such information and the means by which SSC may collect it may include without limitation the following:

Information You Provide:

  • Purchase, order, return or exchange any product on SouthernStates.com Visit any retail location where your information is submitted
  • Sign up to receive emails or other marketing communications from SSC or approved third parties Request information such as warranty or tax exempt information, or certain information about SSC’s products or services
  • Contact a Service, Managed Cooperative or Dealer, or call directly to one of SSC’s customer service centers
  • Respond to a survey
  • Download/ use any SSC mobile application
  • Participate in online activities such as SSC’s Facebook page, twitter, blogs or other social media
  • Enter a sweepstakes or sponsored promotion

B.  Information Collected Automatically: In addition to the Personal Information you provide, SSC and its subsidiaries, affiliates, and agents may collect and use diagnostic, technical and other usage information related to your use of the Services (“Non-Personal Information”).  Non-Personal Information collected may include, without limitation, device information such as IP address, device ID, operating system, browser and geo-location for any device you use to access the Services, and usage information such as clicks, interactions, pages or screens viewed, requests made, and features use.

Cookies

SSC uses a technology called “Cookies”. A Cookie is a piece of data that we can send to your browser which is then stored in your hard drive so our website can recognize you when you return to it. Any page where you are asked to log in, register or which is otherwise customized to your preferences, requires that you accept Cookies. Cookies are used to let us know who you are, allow us to access your account information (stored on our system) and to deliver personalized services and product information.

Cookies allow us to personalize our websites and applications in accordance with your set preferences. Cookies are also required to optimize the user or shopper experience on our websites. If you disable your Cookies setting on your Web browser, the functionality of our websites and applications may be limited.

C.  Uses of Information.

SSC may use or disclose your Personal Information and Non-Personal Information for the following purposes:

  1. To fulfill or meet the reason for which the information is provided;
  2. To administer, develop, or improve SSC Services;
  3. To carry out SSC’s obligations and enforce SSC’s rights arising from any contracts entered into between you and SSC, including for billing and collections.
  4. To better understand how users and customers are using SSC’s Services;
  5. As described to you when collecting your personal information or as otherwise set forth in applicable law.
  6. To prevent or investigate fraud and other prohibited or illegal activities and to otherwise comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements and industry standards;
  7. To protect the rights, safety, security and integrity of the Services, SSC’s property and SSC’s customers, employees and others;
  8. To respond to specific user requests;
  9. To provide the services and products you have ordered or purchased;
  10. To evaluate or conduct a merger, divestiture, restructuring, reorganization, dissolution, or other sale or transfer of some or all of SSC’s assets, whether as a going concern or as part of bankruptcy, liquidation, or similar proceeding, in which Personal Information and/or Non-Personal Information held by SSC is among the assets transferred;
  11. For SSC’s legitimate interests or those of a third party;
  12. Where you have otherwise given consent; and
  13. To enforce the Terms of Use and this Privacy Statement.

D.  Email Policy

When you sign up to receive email communications from SSC, SouthernStates.com or any application, the information will only be used to receive such communications, whether in the form of promotional emails, targeted mailings or other media. You may opt out at any time by editing your profile or by following the unsubscribe link on the communication. To opt in, you may edit your profile and select the information you would like to receive.

[Notice to California Residents] If you are a California Resident, you have the right to receive 1) information identifying third parties to whom Southern States may have disclosed, within the past twelve months, personal information for that third party’s direct marketing purpose; and 2) a description of the categories of personal information that was disclosed. To receive that information please contact Southern States.

E.   Marketing to Children

SouthernStates.com does not sell products for purchase by children. If a user is under the age of 18, he or she is encouraged to use SouthernStates.com with the guidance of an adult or parent. Information will never be knowingly requested from anyone under the age of 13 without making best efforts to obtain valid parental consent. If a child has obtained access and data was received without parental consent, please contact SouthernStates@sscoop.com and such data shall be removed as soon as possible.

F.   Third Parties

SouthernStates.com may contain links to third party websites to provide additional information about products or services sold or provided by SSC. Provision of these links is done so for convenience and informational purposes only and not as an endorsement. SSC claims no responsibility for the privacy and data security policies of third parties.

G. Intellectual Property

SSC is the exclusive owner of all intellectual property and other aspects of any SSC website or mobile application. Trademarks, logos, service marks, copyrights, patents and any other intellectual property are the sole property of SSC. Notwithstanding the foregoing, certain functionality provided via this website may be covered by U.S. Patent 5,930,474.

H.  User Generated Content

You also may be able to submit and upload information, comments, photographs or other images to message boards, blogs, galleries or comment boards once you have registered on SouthernStates.com, either on SouthernStates.com or on another SSC sponsored website, mobile application or other service. In order to register on SouthernStates.com and to use any other affiliated or sponsored website or any mobile application you will be asked to set up a username and password for access to personalized information. You are solely responsible for all activities occurring under a username and for keeping the password secure. SSC may, at its discretion, refuse to grant you a username that is vulgar, offensive or otherwise inappropriate.

You may not submit content that constitutes confidential or proprietary information. Further, you may not copy, change, distribute or display or sell any of SSC’s information, including posting and images from the website, both owned by SSC and generated by other users. By submitting information to the website you grant SSC a non-exclusive, irrevocable license to publicly display or redisplay the information, comment, photograph or other image on its websites and mobile applications and in all forms of media used by SSC in promotions, marketing and all other uses.

SSC makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of any user generated content and such information does not represent SSC’s opinions or advice. SSC may remove, without notice to you or other users, any content it finds, at its discretion, to be unlawful, fraudulent, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene or otherwise objectionable, or infringing or violating proprietary rights.

Neither SSC nor its employees shall be responsible for content that is misleading or otherwise false or for any results that are achieved by using or relying on such information. Furthermore, SSC may terminate your account or stop you from using SouthernStates.com or any mobile application at any time without notice and without liability. You are solely responsible for orders placed on the website prior to such termination. 

I.    Disclaimer

Users of SouthernStates.com assume all responsibility and risk for use of SouthernStates.com, and the internet generally. SouthernStates.com is provided AS IS. SSC makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to the operation of this website or the information, content, materials, or products included in the website to the fullest extent permissible by applicable law, SSC and its subsidiaries disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of intellectual property rights or other proprietary rights, and freedom from errors, viruses, bugs, or other harmful components. SSC and its subsidiaries will not be liable for any damages of any kind arising from the use of this website, including but not limited to direct, indirect, special, incidental, punitive, consequential damages or damages resulting from loss of use, data, profits or business interruption arising out of or in any way connected with the use of this website, or the internet in general, and delays on the website, or the inability to use the website, any portion therefrom or any hyperlinked website, whether based on contract, tort, negligence, strict liability or otherwise, even if SSC or any of its subsidiaries has been advised of the possibility of such damages. You shall indemnify Southern States and its affiliates, employees, officers, directors and members from any damages, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising out of or connected to the use of the website by Customers.

J.  Jurisdiction and Governing Law.

The use of SouthernStates.com shall be governed by and enforced by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Users agree that the venue for any actions relating to the use of the site or the terms and conditions herein, shall be in a court of competent jurisdiction in Henrico County, Virginia.

K.  Force Majeure

SSC is not responsible for delays, failures of the website or other changes due to reasons beyond its control including acts of God, natural disaster, weather delays, labor or governmental regulations, communication or computer failures or the failures and acts of third parties.

L.   Security 

SSC understands your concerns about the security of online transactions. The website is equipped with the most advanced Secured Socket Layer (SSL) technology to ensure the privacy of any information submitted on the website. The SSL encrypts the order into a highly difficult decipher code that is immediately processed. Once you have completed shopping and move to checkout, the entire checkout process is contained in the secure area. At all times, information collected on this site shall be kept strictly confidential.

Information collected to track user sessions is not linked to personal identities nor is information linked to other users who may be browsing the site. SSC uses cookies to track preferences and to personalize content on the website, however, you always have an option to deactivate cookies through your browser software.

M.  Use of Website and Applications

Making an online order, requesting information or downloading any applications from SouthernStates.com and or SSC is subject to your acceptance of these terms and conditions which is presumed when you use SouthernStates.com or its applications. SSC may limit or refuse access to you if we believe there has been a fraudulent or suspicious use of our website including but not limited to credit card fraud or other misuses of personal information. In such case, SSC shall contact you via the email address on the account.

N.   Sales Tax

SSC collects and remits sales tax as required by the states in which it does business. SSC cannot accommodate tax exempt status online. If you have tax exempt status and are not currently a customer of Southern States please visit your nearest Southern States retail location to fill out the appropriate paperwork for future in store purchases.

O.  Products Available at  SouthernStates.com

Because SSC is constantly upgrading and changing its inventory and products, it cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of information pertaining to products including but not limited to pricing, product images or specific details about the product.

Information about pricing, advertising, marketing, product information and availability may be changed or updated without notice. Pricing information may vary from advertised prices elsewhere due to availability and varying conditions in different geographical areas. SSC makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy of the content of the website and assumes no liability for any errors or omissions herein.

Pricing on this site may and will vary from same or similar products in SSC retail locations or in other advertising materials. Product prices do not include shipping and handling or sales tax which will be reflected on your invoice.

Furthermore, SSC tries to show the product image as close to the actual product as possible but cannot guarantee that colors online will match those of the in store products as color can be distorted by a computer monitor. 

P.   Warranty
 
Products sold on SouthernStates.com are the responsibility of the manufacturer or provider of those products and are covered by the warranties offered with those products. Please refer to the warranty information included in the products for directions on how to call the manufacturer to make a warranty claim.

SSC and its retail service agencies guarantee the seeds or bulbs sold are as represented on the label and have been labeled as required under state and federal seed laws. This express guarantee is in lieu of all other guarantees whether expressed or implied as to the merchantability or fitness. Our liability in this transaction is limited in amount to the purchase price of the seeds or bulbs. There is no guarantee unless patron reports within 30 days after discovery any conditions indicating unsatisfactory results. No representative of Southern States or its retail service agencies may vary any of the foregoing. 

Q. Product Suitability

Different states and locales have regulations as to the sale, construction and use of certain products for certain purposes which may vary from area to area. SSC tries to comply with such regulations but cannot guarantee compliance and is not responsible for how the product is used or installed. Please read any instructions or indications for the product and be familiar with any regulations pertaining to that product to be sure that your use and installation will be compliant.

R.  Changes to these Terms and Conditions 

These Terms and Conditions may be updated at any time in SSC’s sole discretion without notice to you to reflect changes in SSC’s business practices.  SSC encourages you to periodically review these Terms and Conditions to stay informed of how SSC is protecting your Personal Information.  Your continued use of the Services after any change to these Terms and Conditions constitutes your agreement to the new or changed terms.

S.   Contact SSC
 
If you would like to contact SSC for any reason regarding these Terms and Conditions or SSC’s privacy practices, please contact SSC as follows:
 
Southern States Cooperative, Incorporated
Attention:
6066 W Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23230