Privacy Policy – Quiksilves

At Quiksilves, we know that your trust is as important as the gear you rely on for your adventures. Whether you’re shopping for the latest clothing, accessories, surfboards, or snowboard gear, we’re committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your data, so you can focus on planning your next wave or slope session with confidence.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal information to enhance your shopping experience and support your outdoor lifestyle:

Contact Information: Names, email addresses (including [email protected] for communications), phone numbers, and shipping/billing addresses when you place an order, create an account, or sign up for updates about new surf or snowboard collections.
Account Information: Usernames, passwords (encrypted), and preferences (such as favorite gear categories, size charts for clothing, or preferred surf/snow conditions) when you register for an account.
Payment Information: Credit/debit card details, billing addresses, and payment processing data. Rest assured, we do not store full credit card information—this is securely handled by trusted third-party payment processors specializing in e-commerce for outdoor gear.
Usage Data: Information about your interaction with our website (quiksilves.com), including IP addresses, browser types, operating systems, pages visited (e.g., specific snowboard bindings, wetsuit sizes, or accessory collections), time spent on the site, and search queries (such as “best surfboards for beginners” or “waterproof backpacks”). This is collected via cookies and similar tracking technologies.
Demographic Information: Optional details such as your favorite outdoor activities (surfing, snowboarding, or casual wear), skill level (beginner, intermediate, advanced), or preferred adventure locations (e.g., “Hawaii surf spots” or “Colorado ski resorts”), which you may provide voluntarily (e.g., in account profiles or surveys).
Communications: Content of messages, emails, or other correspondence you send to us, including inquiries about gear sizing (e.g., “What snowboard length is best for my height?”), product care (e.g., “How to wax a surfboard”), or shipping updates for your new wetsuit.

2. How We Use Your Information

Your personal information is used to ensure a seamless, personalized experience—whether you’re gearing up for a surf trip or a snow weekend:

Order Processing: To process purchases of clothing, accessories, surfboards, or snowboard gear, arrange delivery, send order confirmations, tracking updates, and receipts.
Customer Support: To respond to your questions (e.g., about returns for ill-fitting snow pants, warranty details for a surf leash, or sizing for a rash guard), resolve issues, and provide assistance via email ([email protected]) or other channels.
Account Management: To maintain your account, update your information, and personalize your shopping experience (e.g., suggesting new surf wax based on your past purchases or reminding you of your preferred snowboard boot size).
Marketing Communications: To send you updates about new collections (e.g., a limited-edition line of waterproof jackets or pro-model surfboards), exclusive deals on accessories, or tips for gear maintenance. You can opt out of these communications at any time (see Section 7).
Website Improvement: To analyze how users interact with our site (e.g., which snowboard bindings are most viewed, how customers navigate our wetsuit size guides), optimize navigation, and develop new products that reflect your needs (e.g., designing a backpack with more surfboard storage).
Safety and Security: To protect our website, users, and business from fraud (especially important for high-value gear like snowboards or wetsuits), unauthorized access, or other threats—ensuring a secure environment for all adventure seekers.
Legal Compliance: To adhere to applicable laws and regulations, such as those governing e-commerce, data protection, and the sale of outdoor equipment.

3. How We Share Your Information

We never sell your personal information to third parties. We may share it only in the following circumstances:

Service Providers: Third-party companies that assist us in operating our business, such as payment processors (specializing in secure transactions for outdoor gear), shipping carriers (experienced in delivering bulky items like surfboards), email service providers, and analytics firms. These partners are contractually obligated to use your information solely to perform services for us and to protect it with strict security measures.
Gear Manufacturers and Repair Services: If you purchase a custom surfboard or need warranty repairs for snowboard bindings, we may share necessary details (such as size specifications or defect descriptions) with our manufacturing partners to ensure your gear meets our quality standards—these partners are bound by confidentiality agreements.
Legal Authorities: If required by law, court order, or to protect our rights, property, or safety, or the rights, property, or safety of others (including customers), we may disclose your information to relevant authorities—particularly in cases involving fraud or counterfeiting of high-value gear.
Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or part of our business assets, your information may be transferred as part of the transaction—with safeguards to protect your data, consistent with our commitment to privacy.
With Your Consent: We may share your information with third parties only if you give explicit permission (e.g., partnering with a surf camp for a promotional event you opt into, or sharing your gear preferences with a local snowboard instructor).

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar tools to enhance your experience with our outdoor gear:

Essential Cookies: Necessary for basic functionality, such as adding a snowboard to your cart or processing orders for wetsuits.
Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how users navigate our site (e.g., which pages on surfboard care are most popular) to enhance content and usability—ensuring you can easily find the gear that fits your adventure.
Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver personalized ads (e.g., showing you waterproof accessories if you’ve searched for surf gear) and measure the effectiveness of our campaigns, particularly for new seasonal collections.

You can adjust your browser settings to block cookies, but this may limit features like saving favorite gear, accessing your order history for past purchases, or using our size recommendation tool for clothing. For more details, see our Cookie Policy on the website.

5. Data Security

We take rigorous steps to protect your information—treating it with the same care we put into testing our gear for durability:

Encrypted data transmission (via SSL/TLS) for all online transactions, ensuring your payment and personal details for high-value items like snowboards or wetsuits remain secure.
Secure server storage with restricted access, protected by industry-standard firewalls and multi-factor authentication protocols—critical for safeguarding information related to your outdoor purchases.
Regular security audits and updates to our systems to address emerging threats, particularly those targeting e-commerce platforms for outdoor equipment.

While no method is 100% secure, we strive to maintain the highest standards to safeguard your information. You can help by keeping your account password confidential, especially when storing details about gear preferences or past orders.

6. Data Retention

We retain your information only as long as needed to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law:

Order details are kept for 7 years for tax, accounting, and warranty purposes (important for gear like snowboards or surfboards with multi-year warranties).
Account information is stored until you request deletion (contact [email protected] to close your account), with the option to retain purchase history for reordering your favorite clothing or accessories.
When information is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it—preserving only data necessary for legal or warranty purposes.

7. Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal information, subject to applicable laws:

Access: Request a copy of the information we hold about you (e.g., your order history for gear or account preferences).
Correction: Ask us to update inaccurate details (e.g., a changed shipping address or updated size for snow pants).
Deletion: Request removal of your information, where we are not legally required to retain it (e.g., after warranty periods for your gear have expired).
Restriction: Ask us to limit processing of your data in specific cases (e.g., if you dispute its accuracy).
Data Portability: Request a copy of your information in a machine-readable format (e.g., a CSV file of your purchases).
Opt-Out of Marketing: Unsubscribe from promotional emails by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in messages or emailing [email protected].

To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within 30 days, with special attention to requests involving high-value gear or warranty-related information.

8. Children’s Privacy

Our website and gear are intended for users of all ages, but we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. If we learn we have collected such information, we will delete it immediately. Parents or guardians with concerns can contact us at [email protected].

9. International Data Transfers

If you are outside the United States, your information may be transferred to and processed in the U.S. or other countries where our service providers (including gear manufacturers and shipping partners) operate. These countries may have different data protection laws, but we ensure your information is protected in accordance with this policy—including using approved contractual safeguards to protect data related to outdoor gear transactions.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect improvements in our processes or changes to our gear collections. Changes will be posted here with a revised “last updated” date. Your continued use of our website after changes are posted means you accept the updated policy. We encourage you to review it regularly—just as you would check your surfboard leash or snowboard bindings before a big adventure.

11. Contact Us

For questions, concerns, or requests about this Privacy Policy, please reach out to our dedicated customer service team:

Email: [email protected]