Privacy Guide

Our Privacy Promise to You: We value your trust above all else. In simple terms, this policy explains that we only collect the information we need to get you your new engine, support you as a customer, and improve our services. We never sell your data, and we're committed to keeping it secure.

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

This Privacy Policy outlines the commitment of Mercury Outboards ("we," "us," or "our") to the protection of your personal information. As a customer-focused e-commerce company, we're dedicated to being transparent and trustworthy in how we collect, use, and secure your data.

This Policy is designed to comply with Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), applicable provincial privacy legislation, including British Columbia's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), and international privacy standards where applicable.

Key Terms

• Personal Information: Any information that can be used to identify you, such as your name, address, email, or phone number.
• Cookies: Small data files stored on your device that help our website remember your preferences and improve your experience.
• Service Providers: Trusted companies we partner with to perform essential functions, like shipping your order or processing your payment.
• Consent: Your informed and voluntary agreement to allow us to collect, use, or disclose your personal information for specified purposes.
• Breach of Security Safeguards: The loss of, unauthorized access to, or unauthorized disclosure of personal information resulting from a breach of our security measures.

Who We Are

Mercury Outboards is a Canadian e-commerce company that exclusively sells Mercury® outboard engines ranging from 2.5 hp to 25 hp. Our head office is located in Langley, British Columbia. From our headquarters, we proudly serve boaters across all of Canada.

Important: We are not the manufacturer. The engines are manufactured by Mercury Marine®. We're an authorized retailer providing sales and customer support.

For this policy and applicable privacy laws, Mercury Outboards is the data controller responsible for the personal information we collect from you.

Information We Collect

We limit the collection of personal information to what is necessary for the purposes identified in this policy. We collect information in the following ways:

Information You Provide Directly

When you purchase an engine, create an account, or contact us for support, you may provide us with:

1. Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses
2. Transactional Information: Purchase history, payment details (processed securely by our payment provider), order preferences
3. Communications: Emails, chat messages, phone call records, and support tickets
4. Account Information: Username, password (encrypted), account preferences

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may use cookies and other tracking technologies to collect:

• Technical Data: IP address, browser type and version, device type, operating system
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, click patterns, referring website
• Location Data: General geographic location based on IP address (not precise location)

Information We Do Not Collect

We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under the age of majority in their province or territory of residence. We also do not collect sensitive personal information such as health data, religious beliefs, or political opinions.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience. Here's what you need to know:

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic website functionality, such as keeping items in your shopping cart. These cannot be disabled.
• Performance Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website so we can improve it. These are anonymous and aggregated.
• Marketing Cookies: Used to show you relevant advertisements. We obtain your consent before using these cookies.

Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You have control over the use of cookies. We honour any "opt-out" or "do not track" signal from your browser. You can also adjust your preferences at any time through the "Cookie Preferences" link in our website's footer. Most browsers also allow you to block or delete cookies through their settings.

How We Use Your Information

Our use of your personal information is purpose-driven and grounded in our commitment to providing you with exceptional service. We use your information to:

• Fulfill Your Orders: Process your payment, ship your outboard engine, and manage warranty registration with Mercury Marine®.
• Communicate with You: Send order confirmations, shipping updates, and tracking information so you know exactly when to expect your engine.
• Provide Customer Support: Respond to your inquiries, resolve issues, and provide technical assistance.
• Improve Our Services: Analyze website traffic and user behaviour to enhance our site's functionality and your overall experience.
• Ensure Security: Protect against fraudulent transactions and monitor our site for security threats.
• Meet Legal Obligations: Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes.
• Send Marketing Communications: With your consent, send promotional emails about products, services, and special offers. You can opt out at any time.

Consent

We obtain your meaningful consent before collecting, using, or disclosing your personal information, except where permitted or required by law. Your consent is meaningful when you understand the nature, purpose, and consequences of what we're asking.

How we obtain consent:

• Express consent: For sensitive information or marketing communications, we ask you to actively agree (for example, by checking a box).
• Implied consent: For information necessary to complete a purchase, your consent is implied when you provide the information voluntarily.
• Withdrawal of consent: You may withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions. We'll explain the implications of withdrawal.

Sharing and Disclosure of Information

⚠️ We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

Your personal information may be shared with trusted third parties under the following limited circumstances:

Service Providers

We share information with essential service providers who perform functions on our behalf:

• Payment Processors: To securely process your credit card or other payment
• Shipping Carriers: To deliver your engine to your specified address
• Email Service Providers: To send transactional and marketing communications
• Website Hosting and Analytics: To maintain our website and understand how it's used

These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and may only use it for the specific purposes we've authorized.

Manufacturer for Warranty

We share the necessary purchase information with Mercury Marine® to activate and manage your product warranty. This ensures you receive full manufacturer support for your engine.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, such as in response to a court order, subpoena, or other legal process, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Mercury Outboards, our customers, or others.

Your Rights and Control Over Your Information

In accordance with PIPEDA and applicable provincial privacy laws, you have the following rights concerning your personal information:

1. Right to Access: You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you. We'll respond within 30 days.
2. Right to Correction: You have the right to request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete information.
3. Right to Withdraw Consent: You may withdraw your consent to receive marketing communications at any time by clicking the "Unsubscribe" link in our emails or by contacting us directly.
4. Right to Deletion: You can ask us to delete your personal information, subject to exceptions for warranty records, legal obligations, or financial record-keeping purposes.
5. Right to Data Portability: Upon request, we'll provide your personal information in a commonly used electronic format.
6. Right to Challenge Compliance: You can challenge our compliance with this policy by contacting our Privacy Officer.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Privacy Officer using the information provided below. We'll require you to verify your identity before we can process your request.

Data Security and Safeguards

We take the security of your personal information seriously. We've implemented appropriate physical, technical, and administrative safeguards to protect it from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure:

• Encryption: All data transmitted between your browser and our website is encrypted using SSL/TLS technology.
• Secure Payment Processing: We don't store your full credit card number. Payment processing is handled by PCI-DSS compliant providers.
• Access Controls: Employee access to personal information is limited to those who need it to perform their job functions.
• Regular Security Assessments: We periodically review and update our security measures to address new threats.
• Employee Training: Our team receives regular training on privacy and security best practices.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected:

When your information is no longer needed, it will be securely destroyed or anonymized in accordance with our data retention procedures.

Data Breach Notification

In the unlikely event of a breach of security safeguards involving your personal information, we're committed to responding quickly and transparently:

• Assessment: We'll promptly assess whether the breach creates a real risk of significant harm to you.
• Notification to You: If there's a real risk of significant harm, we'll notify you as soon as feasible with details about what happened, what information was involved, and steps you can take to protect yourself.
• Notification to Authorities: We'll report qualifying breaches to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada as required by law.
• Record Keeping: We maintain records of all breaches, regardless of whether they meet the notification threshold.
• Remediation: We'll take immediate steps to contain the breach and prevent future occurrences.

International Data Transfers

As a Canadian company, we primarily store and process your data in Canada.

However, some of our trusted third-party service providers may be located in other countries, including the United States. When your personal information is transferred outside of Canada, it may be subject to the laws of that jurisdiction. We take the following steps to protect your data:

• We carefully select service providers with strong privacy and security practices.
• We require contractual commitments to protect your information to a standard that meets Canadian requirements.
• We inform you about transfers when you provide your information.

Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or technology. When we make significant changes:

• We'll post the revised policy on our website with a new "Last Updated" date.
• For material changes, we'll notify you by email (if you're a customer) or through a prominent notice on our website.
• We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

Contact Us

We're accountable for our privacy practices. If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact our designated Privacy Officer:

Privacy Officer
Mercury Outboards
8-27272 Gloucester Way
Langley, BC V4W 4A1

Email: privacy@mercuryoutboards.ca
Phone: 1-604-949-3846

Filing a Complaint

If you're not satisfied with our response to your privacy concern, you have the right to file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada:

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
30 Victoria Street
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 1H3
Toll-free: 1-800-282-1376
Website: www.priv.gc.ca