Privacy Policy

Last updated: December 2024

At Sam's Club Gas Prices (samsclubgasprices.com), we are deeply committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website and services.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us, including:

• Name and contact information when you create an account or contact us
• Email address for communications, notifications, and account management
• Location data when you search for nearby gas stations (with your explicit consent)
• User-generated content such as price reports, station reviews, and feedback
• Account preferences and settings
• Survey responses and feedback forms

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain technical information, including:

• IP address and device information for security and analytics purposes
• Browser type, version, and language settings
• Operating system and device characteristics
• Pages visited, time spent on our site, and navigation patterns
• Referring website and search terms used to find our site
• Date and time of your visit
• Click-through rates and interaction data

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following legitimate business purposes:

• Service Provision: To provide and maintain our gas price information services, including price tracking and station locator features
• User Experience: To personalize content, remember your preferences, and improve website functionality
• Communication: To respond to your inquiries, send important service updates, and provide customer support
• Data Analysis: To understand usage patterns, identify popular features, and improve our services
• Security: To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, spam, and other harmful activities
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal obligations
• Research and Development: To develop new features and improve existing functionality

3. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

• Service Providers: With trusted third-party vendors who assist in operating our website (such as hosting providers, analytics services, and customer support tools)
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or to protect our rights, property, or safety
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets (with notice to users)
• Consent: When you have given explicit consent for specific sharing
• Public Information: User-generated content that you choose to make public (such as public reviews)

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience and analyze website traffic. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us:

• Remember your preferences and settings across sessions
• Understand how you use our website and which features are most popular
• Improve website performance, loading times, and functionality
• Provide personalized content and relevant advertisements
• Ensure website security and prevent fraudulent activity

You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. However, disabling cookies may affect website functionality and your user experience. We also use web beacons and similar technologies to track email engagement and website interactions.

5. Data Security and Protection

We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Our security measures include:

• SSL encryption for all data transmission between your browser and our servers
• Encryption of sensitive data stored in our databases
• Regular security assessments, vulnerability scans, and system updates
• Access controls and multi-factor authentication for administrative access
• Secure data storage and backup procedures
• Employee training on data protection and privacy best practices

While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we continuously work to improve our security measures.

6. Data Retention and Storage

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Our retention periods are as follows:

• Account information: Retained until account deletion or 3 years of inactivity
• User-generated content: Retained as long as it remains relevant and useful
• Analytics data: Aggregated and anonymized after 24 months
• Communication records: Retained for 3 years for customer service purposes

When we no longer need your information, we will securely delete or anonymize it according to our data retention schedule.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:

• Access: Request access to your personal information we hold
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
• Restriction: Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances
• Portability: Request a copy of your data in a portable format
• Objection: Object to processing for direct marketing or legitimate interests
• Withdrawal: Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the Contact section. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

8. Third-Party Links and Services

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, services, or content. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

Some third-party services we use include Google Analytics for website analytics and various hosting and infrastructure providers. These services have their own privacy policies governing their use of your information.

9. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take immediate steps to delete such information from our systems.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

10. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own, including the United States where our servers are located. We ensure that such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws and implement appropriate safeguards to protect your information.

When we transfer personal information internationally, we use standard contractual clauses and other appropriate safeguards to ensure your information receives adequate protection.

11. California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information we collect, how we use it, and whether we sell it. You also have the right to request deletion of your personal information and to opt-out of the sale of personal information.

As stated above, we do not sell personal information. To exercise your California privacy rights, please contact us using the information provided in the Contact section.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on our website with a new "Last updated" date
• Sending an email notification to registered users (for significant changes)
• Displaying a notice on our website (for substantial changes)

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, our data practices, or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us:

• Through our Contact page
• By email at privacy@samsclubgasprices.com
• By mail at our registered business address

We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days of receipt.