Bid Venues takes the privacy concerns of our customers very seriously.  This Privacy Policy discloses the privacy practices for BidVenues.com. By using this website, you agree to this Privacy Policy.  We will change and update our Privacy Policy from time to time, and we encourage you to periodically review our policy to stay informed about what information we collect, why we collect it and how it is used.

INFORMATION COLLECTED:  We only collect information that you voluntarily provide to us through email and direct engagement with you through our on-line and on-site processes. This includes names, addresses, phone and email contacts, bidding/purchase content information and specific financial information (see below).

INFORMATION USE:  We only use your information for business practices directly associated with our core mission to liquidate merchandise through our sales venues. We do not sell, rent or indiscriminately share or disseminate your information for any other purpose. Your information is used primary to respond to your specific requests market our products, services and events if you’ve signed up to receive that content. Note that you may request otherwise (‘Opt-Out’).

NEED TO KNOW/USE POLICY: We limit access of your information to our employees and associates who need specific information to perform a specific function for our business. For example: bidding, billing, payment, shipping and various other forms of customer service.

THIRD PARTY SHARING:  We share your information with reputable third-parties working with us to deliver customer services for you. Additionally, you may also (voluntarily) share your information with a third-party support service in the process of conducting business with us. We will only expose you to third party services of this nature if we’re confident the third party is reputable and secure. We encourage you to review third party Privacy Policies as you voluntarily register for their services.

Industry standard ecommerce processes may involve multiple parties when executing ordinary everyday purchase and delivery transactions. For example, we use a third-party website for on-line bank card authorizations and payment.  The third-party, in turn utilizes a gateway and also a processor to execute the specific bank card financial transaction. Similarly, we use a multi-party bank card processing system at our on-site auction premises. To the best of our knowledge these industry standard multi-party financial transactional systems does not use, share or retain your personal information beyond the one-time transaction use.

PERSONAL IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION: We are very careful with business processes that utilize personal identifiable information, including but not limited to financial transactions. We only use these forms of sensitive data for specific and well controlled functions that are required to deliver services to you. We research and qualify reliable and secure services for these functions.

NON-PERSONAL IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION:  We make a distinction between data with and without connection to an identifiable person. We collect, pool, analyze and may even share anonymous data that is not personally identifiable. For example, certain auction sales data may be shared with our established consignors.

PERMISSIVE DISCLOSURES:  Occasionally the Seller or Buyer requests contact with the other. We screen and filter such requests prior to contacting you. But when we judge the contact worthy of brokering, we’ll seek your permission to share your contact information with the other party. Generally speaking we do not connect the Buyer and Seller. But typical situations that might arise include an item left behind at the Seller’s premise, a Seller having located additional parts or manuals for a previously purchased item, or title/record transfer procedures requiring follow up. In these cases we reasonably vet the requesting party before contacting you for your permission.

NON-PERMISSIVE DISCLOSURES: There are cases where we provide information without specifically seeking your permission. Some auctions require disclosure of Buyers to Sellers, such as when merchandise originates from sources such as bankruptcies, receiverships and various governmental agencies. Such disclosure constraints are described in the respective auction terms and conditions as a sale participation requirement. Another example of non-permissive disclosures occurs when law authorities request information in the course of an investigation. In this case we use our discretion accordingly to protect you, our customers and ourselves from liability. Please see YOUR CHOICES below, should this be a concern to you.

SECURITY: We take precautions to protect your information on-line and off-line.  This involves secure procedures, including but not limited to using Sign-In and Sign-Out processes for operations where sensitive information is submitted through a website.  A variety of technologies are utilized, including but not limited to security certificates. We also utilize robust business processes, such as the ‘Need to Know/Use’ policies, and we don’t share your personal information. 

NO GUARANTY OR WARRANTY: We do not represent that we can successfully protect your information under all circumstances. Judging from the on-going data breaches at world class ecommerce websites, financial institutions and box stores, no one can make this claim. We can assure you that protecting your information is very important to us and we take this responsibility very seriously.

YOUR CHOICES: Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have concerns, questions or suggestions. In the meanwhile, we’re working to provide you with choices.  For example, we’ve included ‘Opt Out’ provisions within our website should you change your mind after selecting to receive contact from us. You may also contact us by either email or phone and we can look up, correct, or delete any data that we may have recorded for you. A few of the services that we provide are:

Correcting any inaccuracies or discrepancies that we have in your information;
Withdrawing your prior authorized consent to allow us to contact you (Opt-Out);
Withdrawing your consent for us to store your information (lost services);
Adding a requirement for your consent to disclose your information.