Privacy Policy

　At SmokingCats, we know privacy is part of shopping online. Customers trust us with information needed to process an order, deliver a package, answer questions, and keep the store running. We take that responsibility seriously.

　This Privacy Policy explains the types of information SmokingCats may receive, why we use it, when information may need to be shared with companies that help us operate the store, and the choices customers may have regarding their personal information.

Information You Give Us

　When you place an order, create an account, sign up for emails, send us a message, or contact customer service, you may provide information such as your name, email address, telephone number, billing address, shipping address, order details, and communications with us.

　We use this information mainly to do what you asked us to do. That includes processing an order, sending order updates, arranging delivery, answering questions, handling a return or damaged shipment, and providing customer service.

　We try not to collect personal information that we do not reasonably need for the operation of the store.

Information Collected When You Visit SmokingCats

　Like most online stores, SmokingCats may receive certain technical information when someone visits the website.

　Depending on your browser, device, privacy settings, and the services being used by our store, this information may include an IP address, device type, browser information, pages viewed, referring pages, approximate location based on an IP address, shopping activity, and interactions with the website.

　This information helps the website function, helps us identify technical problems, and gives us a better idea of how customers use the store.

How We Use Your Information

　Most of the information we collect has a practical purpose.

　We may use information to process and fulfill orders, verify transactions, provide order confirmations and tracking updates, communicate with customers, prevent fraudulent activity, maintain website security, improve the store, provide customer support, comply with legal obligations, and keep necessary business records.

　If you voluntarily subscribe to marketing messages, we may also use your contact information to send product updates, offers, new arrivals, or other SmokingCats news. You can unsubscribe from marketing emails using the unsubscribe link included in those messages.

Payments

　SmokingCats uses outside payment services to securely process card transactions.

　When you make a purchase, payment information is provided to the payment processor responsible for authorizing the transaction. SmokingCats does not directly store your full payment card number or card security code on our own website systems.

　Payment processors and financial institutions may retain transaction information when necessary for payment processing, fraud prevention, chargebacks, accounting, security, or legal requirements.

Shopify

　SmokingCats operates its online store using Shopify.

　Shopify provides technology that allows customers to browse products, maintain a shopping cart, complete checkout, and place orders. As part of providing those services, Shopify may process information associated with visits, accounts, purchases, and transactions.

　Shopify maintains its own privacy and security practices for the information it processes through its platform.

Order Fulfillment and Shipping

　When you order from SmokingCats, we need certain information to get the package to you.

　Shipping information may be provided to carriers and fulfillment services as necessary to prepare, route, track, and deliver your package. This may include your name, delivery address, and other information reasonably required by the carrier.

　SmokingCats ships from Texas and uses discreet packaging. Our current site states that orders are shipped in plain packaging without advertising what is inside.

Keeping Orders Private

　We understand that many SmokingCats customers care about discretion.

　We do not print product descriptions on the outside of the shipping box simply to advertise what someone purchased. Packages are intended to look like ordinary shipments during delivery.

　Privacy during shipping is different from online data privacy, but both matter to us. We try to limit the information used in each part of an order to what is reasonably needed to complete the transaction and delivery.

Fraud Prevention

　Online stores deal with attempted fraud, stolen payment information, chargebacks, and unauthorized transactions. SmokingCats may use information associated with an order to help identify suspicious activity and protect customers and the business.

　That information may include order details, billing information, payment verification results, IP information, account activity, device information, shipping information, and transaction history.

　We may decline or cancel an order when we reasonably believe a transaction is unauthorized, fraudulent, unlawful, or presents an unacceptable risk.

　When appropriate, suspected fraud may also be reported to payment processors, financial institutions, law enforcement, or other organizations responsible for investigating fraudulent activity.

Cookies

　SmokingCats uses cookies and similar technologies that help an ecommerce website work properly.

　Some of these technologies are necessary for basic functions such as remembering products in a cart, keeping account sessions active, completing checkout, maintaining website security, and remembering certain preferences.

　Other cookies or technologies may be used to understand website traffic, evaluate site performance, measure marketing activity, or improve how customers interact with the store.

　Available cookie and privacy choices may vary depending on your location, browser settings, and applicable law.

Analytics

　We may use analytics services to understand how visitors interact with SmokingCats.

　For example, analytics can help us understand which pages customers visit, where website problems occur, which devices people use, and how shoppers move through the store.

　We use this type of information to improve the website rather than simply collecting information for the sake of collecting it.

Advertising and Marketing Services

　SmokingCats may use advertising or marketing services to promote products and understand whether advertising is working.

　Depending on applicable privacy laws, your location, consent choices, and the services enabled on the website, some information may be processed by advertising or analytics providers.

　Those companies may also operate under their own privacy policies and legal obligations.

When Information May Be Shared

　Running an online store requires several companies to work together.

　SmokingCats may provide necessary information to companies that help us host and operate the store, process payments, prevent fraud, deliver packages, provide technology services, send requested communications, provide analytics, support marketing activities, or perform other legitimate business functions.

　We may also disclose information when reasonably required to comply with a law, court order, subpoena, valid legal process, or government request.

　Information may be disclosed when reasonably necessary to protect SmokingCats, our customers, our property, or the security of the website.

We Do Not Hand Out Customer Information Just Because Someone Asks

　Customer information is part of running the store, not something we casually hand to unrelated people.

　There are legitimate situations where information has to move between SmokingCats and a payment processor, shipping carrier, Shopify, fraud prevention service, or another provider helping complete an order. That is very different from giving customer information to someone who has no legitimate reason to receive it.

　We try to use customer information for reasonable business purposes connected to operating SmokingCats and serving our customers.

Your Privacy Choices

　Depending on where you live, privacy law may give you certain rights concerning your personal information.

　Those rights may include requesting access to certain information, asking that inaccurate information be corrected, requesting deletion of certain information, or opting out of particular forms of data processing.

　Some states provide additional rights regarding targeted advertising or certain forms of data sharing.

　Not every legal right applies in every situation. Certain transaction, tax, fraud prevention, accounting, security, and legal records may also need to be retained even after a deletion request.

　We may need to verify your identity before completing a privacy request.

State Privacy Rights

　Privacy laws differ from state to state and continue to change.

　Where an applicable state privacy law gives a SmokingCats customer additional rights, we will process valid requests in accordance with the requirements that apply to us.

　Customers can contact us if they want to ask about their information or submit an applicable privacy request.

How Long We Keep Information

　We do not keep every type of information for the same amount of time.

　Some order and payment records may need to be retained for accounting, tax, fraud prevention, chargeback, dispute, or legal purposes. Other information may no longer be needed once its original purpose has been completed.

　We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected and for legitimate business or legal requirements.

Security

　We use established ecommerce and payment services and take reasonable measures to protect information handled through SmokingCats.

　At the same time, no online store can truthfully promise that an internet connection, database, payment network, or electronic system will be completely immune from unauthorized access.

　Customers can also help protect their information by keeping account passwords private and by contacting us if they notice suspicious activity involving their account or an order.

Legal Age

　SmokingCats sells products intended for adults of legal purchasing age.

　You must meet the legal age requirements that apply to the products you purchase and the jurisdiction where you live. Our products are not intended to be purchased by children.

　We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 for the purpose of selling products to them. If we discover that information was collected from a child in circumstances where it should not have been collected, we may take reasonable steps to remove it as required by law.

Links to Other Websites

　You may occasionally find links on SmokingCats that lead to websites operated by other companies.

　We do not control how an independent third-party website collects or uses information after you leave SmokingCats.com. Its privacy practices are governed by its own privacy policy.

　You should review the privacy practices of another website before providing sensitive information to it.

Business Changes

　If SmokingCats is involved in a business sale, merger, acquisition, restructuring, or similar transaction, information associated with operating the business may be transferred as part of that transaction when permitted by law.

　Any successor responsible for that information would be expected to handle it subject to applicable privacy requirements.

Updates to This Policy

　Our store, technology, payment services, and privacy laws can change over time.

　We may update this Privacy Policy when necessary to reflect those changes. The current version will be published on SmokingCats.com.

　We recommend checking this page periodically if you want to know whether the policy has changed.