Sample privacy policies

[BigV]

This is the email I sent to the Buy.com people. After reading the first paragraph of their privacy policy, I hoped to find some of the vaunted exceptions to why they would disclose my personally identifiable information. My hope was in vain but in reading the rest of the several screens long policy I was rewarded with this jewel:

"For example, on our Cellular Store, we may ask you for your social security number, driver's license number and date of birth and share that information with the third-party telephone service provider that you have selected."

I was not reassured by their candor.

I found another site that offered the products I was seeking. Here is their (whole) privacy policy. I copied it into the email to Buy.com's customer service page.

--begin email--

This is an example of a privacy policy that respects customer privacy. You would do well to copy it. I will be shopping with them.

--Begin quote--

Privacy Statement for www.compuplus.com

Comp-U-Plus Direct has created this privacy statement in order to demonstrate our firm commitment to consumer privacy. The following discloses our information gathering and dissemination practices for www.compuplus.com.

We use your IP address to help diagnose problems with our server, and to administer our Web site. Additionally, your IP address is used to help identify you and your shopping cart.

Our site's checkout process requires you to provide us with your contact, shipping, and financial information, information. This information is used to for order fulfillment, and to keep you updated on the status of your order. We do not maintain a mailing or email list, and definitely do not sell our customer information.

--End quote--

--Begin quote--



Overview
Our Internet Superstore allows you to buy products and services, sign up for a gift registry, enter contests, receive special discounts, apply for credit, fill out surveys, and receive newsletters, e-mails or other promotional information from us. We use the information that we collect about you to fulfill your product and service purchases and to create a more personalized online experience. This is just a brief overview, so please read on for more details about our Privacy Policy. This Policy may change from time to time, so please check back periodically. Except as limited below, we reserve the right to use or disclose your personally identifiable information for business reasons in whatever manner desired

--End quote--
(their emphasis)

This is an example of a privacy policy that offers NO PRIVACY to the customer. I will not be shopping at Buy.com.

Yours,

--end email--

The final irony was that the selection box for category of communication to them had no choice for Complaint. No suggestion, no concern, no improvements. I finally selected "Compliments". I figured that in a company that views "privacy" this way, "Compliments" would be the most appropriate category. It was only a matter of learning their language.