Stone Planet (“we”, “us”) values visitor privacy on stoneplanet.com.au. This policy outlines data collection, use, and your rights. Contact us for questions on [email protected]
What Information do we collect?
When you interact with our website, visit our showroom, or speak with our team, we collect certain information to help us provide you with the best service possible. We generally group this information into two categories:
1. Information You Give Us Directly
This is the personal information you provide when you fill out a form, request a quote, or make a purchase. It includes:
- Contact Details: Your name, email address, phone number, and physical address.
- Professional Details: If you are a builder, architect, or landscaper, we may collect your company name and job title.
- Project Information: Details about your renovation or construction project, such as the type of stone you are interested in and your project timeline.
- Preferences: Your interests in specific materials (like Travertine, Marble, or Limestone) and how you prefer us to contact you.
- Financial Details: If you make a purchase, we collect payment information (processed securely) to complete your order.
2. Information We Collect Automatically
When you browse our website, we use technology to understand how you use our site so we can make it better. This includes:
- Device Information: Your IP address (a unique code for your computer/phone), the type of web browser you use, and your operating system.
- Usage Data: Which pages you visit on our site, how long you stay on those pages, and what links you click.
- Location Data: General information about where you are located (such as your city or country) based on your IP address.
- Cookies: Small files saved on your computer that remember your preferences and help us recognize you when you return to our site.
3. Information for Specialized Services
Depending on your needs, we might also collect:
- Employment Details: If you apply for a job with us, we collect your resume and work history.
- Social Media Interaction: If you “like” or “share” our content via Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram, those platforms may share certain data with us based on your privacy settings with them.
Why Do We Need This Information?
We don’t collect data just for the sake of it. We use it to:
- Send you the quotes or samples you’ve requested.
- Improve our products and the way our website works.
- Send you updates on new stone arrivals or special offers (you can opt out at any time).
- Ensure our website stays secure and works correctly on your device.
How do we collect the information?
We collect information in a few different ways, depending on how you choose to interact with us. Our goal is always to make your experience smoother and more personalized.
1. Directly From You
The most common way we get information is when you give it to us directly. This happens when you:
- Fill out a form: Such as requesting a quote, ordering a sample, or using our “Contact Us” page.
- Sign up for updates: When you subscribe to our newsletter to receive design tips or product news.
- Visit our showroom: If you drop in to see our stone collections and leave your details with our team for a follow-up.
- Make a purchase: When you provide your billing and delivery details so we can get your stone products to your project site.
- Communicate with us: Whether through an email, a phone call, or a live chat on our website.
2. Automatically Through Your Technology
As soon as you visit our website, certain technical information is gathered automatically. This is done through:
- Cookies: These are small files placed on your device that help our website remember who you are and what you looked at. They help us understand which stone products are popular so we can improve our range.
- Analytics Tools: We use tools (like Google Analytics) to see how people move through our site. This doesn’t tell us exactly who you are, but it shows us things like which pages are being read the most and where our visitors are coming from.
3. From Third Parties
Sometimes, we receive information about you from other sources, such as:
- Social Media: If you interact with our pages on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest, those sites may share basic information with us according to the privacy settings you have chosen on those platforms.
- Business Partners: If you are working with a builder or an architect who is sourcing stone through us, they may provide us with your delivery address or contact details to help coordinate the project.
4. Publicly Available Sources
In some cases, especially for professional accounts (like landscapers or developers), we may collect information from public directories or professional websites to ensure we are providing the right trade services to the right people.
What do we do with the information gathered?
We use the information we collect to provide you with high-quality products and a smooth shopping experience. Specifically, we use your data in the following ways:
1. To Fulfill Your Requests
This is our primary goal. We use your details to:
- Process and deliver your orders accurately.
- Provide the specific quotes or stone samples you asked for.
- Answer your questions and provide technical support for your project.
2. To Improve Our Products and Services
By looking at what our customers like, we can do a better job. We use your feedback and website data to:
- Decide which new stone types or finishes (like honed or exfoliated) to bring into our collection.
- Improve our website layout so it is easier for you to find what you need.
- Understand market trends to keep our pricing and products competitive.
3. To Keep You Informed
If you have given us permission, we may use your contact details to:
- Send you email updates about new arrivals, special sales, or design inspiration.
- Notify you of any important changes to our services or policies.
- Note: You can “opt-out” or unsubscribe from these marketing emails at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of the email.
4. For Security and Legal Reasons
To protect both you and our business, we use information to:
- Verify your identity and prevent fraudulent transactions.
- Ensure our website remains secure and free from technical errors.
- Comply with Australian laws and regulations regarding taxes and business reporting.
5. For Professional Coordination
If your project involves other professionals, we may use your information to:
- Coordinate delivery times with your builder, landscaper, or architect.
- Ensure the right materials are delivered to the correct job site at the right time.
Our Promise on Sharing: We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes. We only share your data with trusted partners who help us run our business—such as delivery couriers and payment processors—and they are required to keep your information private and secure.
To Whom Do We Disclose Your Information?
We value your privacy and do not sell your personal information to anyone. However, to run our business and complete your projects effectively, we sometimes need to share your details with trusted third parties. These include:
1. Service Providers and Delivery Partners
We share necessary information with companies that help us get our products to you. This includes:
- Couriers and Transport Companies: To deliver your stone pavers, wall cladding, or accessories to your home or project site.
- Payment Processors: To securely handle your credit card or bank transactions.
- IT and Website Support: Professionals who help keep our website running smoothly and securely.
2. Professional Advisors
We may share information with our own professional consultants, such as:
- Accountants and Auditors: For business reporting and tax purposes.
- Legal Advisors: If we need advice or are required to protect our legal rights.
3. Your Project Team
If you are working with other professionals, we may coordinate with them to ensure your project is a success. This might include:
- Your Builder, Landscaper, or Architect, especially when discussing delivery schedules or technical stone specifications for your specific site.
4. Legal and Regulatory Authorities
We will only disclose your information to government or law enforcement agencies if we are required to do so by Australian law (for example, to prevent fraud or comply with a court order).
Overseas Disclosure
In some cases, we may use service providers located outside of Australia. This typically happens when we use global technology platforms for things like:
- Data Storage: Using “cloud” servers that might be located in the USA, Europe, or Singapore.
- Email and Marketing Tools: Some of the software we use to send newsletters or manage customer inquiries is based overseas.
- Sourcing Materials: If we are coordinating a specialized order directly from an international quarry (for example, in Turkey, Italy, or Asia), we may need to share specific project delivery details with our international partners to ensure accuracy.
Our Commitment: Whenever we send your data overseas, we take reasonable steps to ensure that the recipient handles your information with the same level of care and privacy protection that we do here in Australia.
Do We Use Cookies?
Yes, we use cookies. A “cookie” is a small text file that our website places on your computer or mobile device while you are browsing. It acts like a digital memory, helping our site remember your preferences and actions.
How Cookies Help You
- Faster Browsing: Cookies help the website load more quickly when you return to a page you have visited before.
- Remembering Your Choices: If you add a specific stone type to your “favorites” or start a quote request, cookies help the site remember those choices, so you don’t have to start over.
- A Personal Experience: They allow us to show you products or blog articles that match the styles you’ve looked at previously, such as minimalist luxury designs or specific stone finishes.
How Cookies Help Us
- Understanding Trends: We use cookies to see which pages the most popular and which stone products people are searching for. This helps us improve our collection.
- Website Performance: They tell us if a page is running slowly or has an error, so we can fix it quickly.
- Advertising: Sometimes we use cookies to show you relevant updates or reminders about our products when you are on other websites (like social media).
Your Choices
You are in control of your cookies.
- Browser Settings: You can set your web browser to block cookies or to alert you when a cookie is being sent.
- Clearing Cookies: You can delete the cookies already stored on your device at any time through your browser settings.
Please Note: If you choose to disable cookies, some parts of our website may not work perfectly, and you might not be able to use all our online features.
How Long Do We Keep Your Information?
We don’t keep your personal information forever. We only hold onto it for as long as we have a valid reason to do so. Here is how we decide when it’s time to let go:
1. For Active Projects and Orders
If you have an active order or ongoing project with us, we keep your information to ensure we can complete the delivery, provide technical support, and answer any questions you might have about your stone materials.
2. For Warranty and Support
Natural stone is a long-term investment. We often keep basic details of your purchase (like the type of stone and the date of sale) for several years. This allows us to help you if you have a warranty claim or if you need to match the same stone for a future renovation or extension.
3. To Meet Legal and Tax Rules
Under Australian law, we are required to keep certain records for specific periods:
- Financial & Tax Records: We generally keep records of sales and transactions for at least 5 to 7 years to comply with Australian Taxation Office (ATO) requirements.
- Contracts: Information related to formal contracts is usually kept for the life of the contract plus a few extra years to cover any potential legal disputes or warranty periods.
4. Marketing Preferences
If you have signed up for our newsletter, we keep your contact details until you tell us to stop. As soon as you click “unsubscribe,” we remove you from our active mailing list, though we may keep a small record of your request to ensure we don’t accidentally email you again.
5. Safe Disposal
When we no longer need your information for any of the reasons above, we take steps to securely destroy it. This means:
- Digital Files: These are permanently deleted from our systems.
- Physical Documents: Any paper records are professionally shredded.
- De-identification: In some cases, we might remove your name and personal details but keep the “data” (like what stone was popular in a certain year) for our internal business research.
Your Right to Ask: If you are ever curious about what information we hold about you or if you would like us to delete it sooner, you can contact us at any time. We will fulfill your request unless we are legally required to keep the data for tax or compliance reasons.
Children’s Privacy
1. Our Audience
Our website and services are designed for adults—specifically homeowners, builders, architects, and landscapers. We do not knowingly target or market our stone products or services to children under the age of 18.
2. We Do Not Collect Data from Minors
We do not intentionally collect personal information from anyone under the age of 18. If you are a parent or guardian and you believe your child has provided us with their personal details (such as their name or email address) without your permission, please contact us immediately.
3. What We Do If Data Is Found
If we discover that we have accidentally collected personal information from a child under 18, we will take steps to:
- Delete that information from our servers as quickly as possible.
- Ensure that the information is not used for any marketing or business purposes.
4. Parental Control
We encourage parents to monitor their children’s internet usage and to help enforce our Privacy Policy by instructing their children never to provide personal information on this website without permission.
Contact Us: If you have any concerns regarding a minor’s data, please reach out to us through our contact page, and we will handle the matter with the highest priority.
Disclaimer
The information provided on stoneplanet.com.au is for general informational purposes only. While we strive to provide high-quality content, your use of our website is subject to the following terms:
1. Accuracy of Information
We do our best to ensure the information on this site is correct and up to date. However, stone is a natural product, and specifications, availability, or trends may change. Stone Planet does not guarantee that all content is 100% accurate, complete, current, or suitable for every specific purpose.
2. Natural Variations
Please be aware that images and descriptions of natural stone (such as Travertine, Marble, or Granite) are intended as a guide. Because these are products of nature, variations in color, texture, and veining are expected and are not considered defects.
3. No Liability
Stone Planet will not be held responsible for:
- Any errors or omissions in the content.
- Any delays in the information being updated.
- Any losses, injuries, or damages that may result from using or displaying the information found on this website.
4. Professional Advice
The content on this website—including technical guides and design tips—does not substitute for professional architectural or engineering advice. We always recommend consulting with a qualified professional before starting your specific installation or construction project.
5. External Links
Our website may contain links to other websites. We do not have control over the content or accuracy of those third-party sites and are not responsible for any information found through those links.
By using our website, you agree to this disclaimer. If you have any specific questions about our products or technical details, please feel free to contact our team directly.