Privacy Policy
Last Updated: February 23rd, 2024
A. Our Commitment to Privacy
PRATERS, INC. realizes the importance of respecting and protecting your privacy.
This privacy policy (“Privacy Policy”) discloses the information that Praters Inc. gathers on the web sites PRATERSFLOORING.COM, PRATERSATHLETICFLOORING.COM, PRATERSDESIGN.COM, PRATERSHARDWOODFLOORING.COM, and THEEDGEGRAIN.COM that Praters Inc. owns (collectively the “Site”), as well as ways in which Praters Inc. processes and, sometimes, shares such information and how you can correct or change that information. The Site also includes versions designed for browsing on mobile devices and the use of such devices is governed by this Privacy Policy as well.
Except where otherwise expressly indicated herein or on the Site, this Privacy Policy applies only to information collected on the Site and does not apply to information collected outside of the Site. Before using or submitting information to the Site please review this Privacy Policy carefully.
Certain areas of the Site contain information intended only for users who create an account, join or otherwise register to use any of the Site (“Registered Users”) and Praters Inc. reserves the right to limit these areas to Registered Users. This Privacy Policy addresses Praters Inc.’s privacy practices relating to general use of the Site, as well as use of the Site by Registered Users.
B. Information Praters Inc. Collects
Praters Inc. collects the following types of information from users of the Site:
1. Personally Identifiable Information
Praters Inc. may receive and store any information that you enter on the Site or provide to Praters Inc. in any other way that would allow Praters Inc. to identify you or contact you (collectively “Personally Identifiable Information”). The Personally Identifiable Information that you provide will be used by Praters Inc. only in accordance with this Privacy Policy. Examples of Personally Identifiable Information Praters Inc. may collect from you and use are:
· your name, address, phone number(s), e-mail address, date of birth, nationality and gender if you are a Registered User or are otherwise asked to provide such information;
· the e-mail addresses of those who post comments, stories, photos, videos and other content on the Site;
· the names and e-mail addresses of those who communicate with Praters Inc. by e-mail;
· the names, e-mail addresses and zip code of those who specifically opt-in to special offers;
· information you provide to Praters Inc. in surveys, in connection with contests or sweepstakes which Praters Inc. sponsors;
· information you provide to Praters Inc. in the entry form for some sweepstakes and contests offered on the Site or through Facebook and information provided by winners of those sweepstakes and contests for a required background check or for tax purposes;
· in certain circumstances, payment and identity verification information, such as credit card number, social security number (or comparable national identifier) when needed for payment information in connection with a purchase made through the Site;
· information about your family or friends, including, but not limited to, the name, address, phone number(s), e-mail address, date of birth, nationality and gender of any family member or friend, that you provide in connection with your use of the Site or any feature thereof;
· information you provide about yourself, including, but not limited to your name, e-mail address, date of birth, nationality, gender and preferences, that you provide when you register; and
· information you provide about yourself when you post to the Site.
· if you choose to interact with the Site using Facebook Connect, we may collect information from your Facebook account through an automated connection to Facebook.
You can choose not to provide Praters Inc. with certain Personally Identifiable Information, but then you may not be able to take advantage of many features of the Site, such as posting comments, registering to use certain restricted areas of the Site, participating in Praters Inc.’s online community, entering a sweepstakes or contest on the Site or through Facebook, participating in various promotional opportunities or receiving e-mail alerts or newsletters.
2. Automatic Information
(a) Collected By Praters Inc.
Praters Inc. may receive and store certain types of information whenever you interact with Praters Inc. through the Site. We automatically receive and record your browser information, operating system information, IP address, cookie information and the page you requested. This information will not be stored in a manner that is personally identifiable with you and may include the following:
(1) Aggregate Information
In connection with your visit to the Site, Praters Inc. may automatically collect usage information, such as the numbers and frequency of users and their characteristics and information about similar groups of users, such as parents, certain age groups or users that live in a particular geographical area. This data is only used in the aggregate as a statistical measure and not in a manner that would identify you personally. Aggregate information generally is collected through the use of cookies and Web Beacons as discussed below.
(2) Cookies
Praters Inc. uses “cookies” to help you access and navigate the Site more efficiently and to statistically monitor how many people are using the Site. A “cookie” is a small file or tool stored on your hard drive containing information that allows Praters Inc. to deliver customized information to you. If you become a Registered User, Praters Inc. may use cookies to store your e-mail address, user name, preferences and password so that Praters Inc. can identify you when you return to the Site, track your use of the Site and customize the Site for you. You may set your browser to notify you of or decline the receipt of cookies. Certain features of the Site may not, however, function properly or be available if your browser is configured to disable cookies.
Praters Inc. uses both “session” and “persistent” cookies on the Site. Session cookies are temporary bits of information that are erased once you exit your web browser or turn off your computer. Persistent cookies are more permanent bits of information that are placed on the hard drive of your computer and stay there unless you delete the cookie. Persistent cookies store information on your computer for a number of reasons, such as retrieving certain information you have previously provided (i.e., username and password), helping to determine what areas of the Site you find most valuable and customizing the Site based on your preferences on an ongoing basis.
Many companies offer programs that help you to visit web sites anonymously. While Praters Inc. will not be able to provide you with a personalized experience if Praters Inc. cannot recognize you, Praters Inc. wants you to be aware that these programs are available.
(3) Web Beacons
During your use of the Site, you may encounter Web Beacons, which may come from Praters Inc. or from third parties that advertise or provide content on the Site. A “Web Beacon” (sometimes also called a “web bug” or “clear gif”) is a small graphic image in a web page, a web-based document or an e-mail message that generally allows the party that set the Web Beacon to monitor certain information about the viewer of the web page, web-based document or e-mail message and may allow access to certain cookies. Web Beacons are usually invisible to the user because they are very small (generally 1-by-1 pixel). In general, however, any electronic image viewed as part of a web page, including an advertisement, can act as a Web Beacon. Web Beacons on the Site typically collect the URL of the page from which the Web Beacon originates, the type of browser requesting the Web Beacon, the IP address of the computer to which the Web Beacon is sent and the time that the Web Beacon was viewed. Certain Web Beacons used by third party advertisers or content providers may collect information that allows such third parties to determine how many people are viewing and/or clicking on certain advertisements or viewing certain content for purposes of helping these parties serve and manage their advertisements and content. These Web Beacons do not collect or store Personally Identifiable Information but they may, however, be used in conjunction with cookies to identify certain aggregate information about users.
(4) E-mail Communications
When you send an e-mail to Praters Inc., either through the <Contact Us> button on the Site or otherwise, Praters Inc. may retain your e-mail address and the contents of the e-mail that you send. If you want to keep the information in your e-mail(s) or posting(s) private or proprietary, please do not send such information in an e-mail or otherwise post such information to Praters Inc.. To help Praters Inc. make its e-mails more interesting and helpful, Praters Inc. also may receive a confirmation when you open an e-mail from Praters Inc. if your computer supports this type of program.
(b) Information Collected by Third Parties
Praters Inc. may allow third parties to display advertisements on the Site. Praters Inc. and these third parties may use tracking technologies, such as cookies and Web Beacons, to collect information about users who view or interact with these advertisements and connect to the Site.
(1) Ad Servers
Praters Inc., its partners and/or advertisers may use third party ad servers to serve or present the ads that appear on the Site and to conduct research about the advertisements. Any of these ad servers may collect non-personal information, such as your browser, operating system, date/time of viewing, IP address and clickstream data. Praters Inc. cannot control the activities of such advertisers or web sites. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS POLICY DOES NOT COVER THE COLLECTION AND USE OF INFORMATION BY SUCH AD SERVERS.
C. How Praters, Inc. Uses Information
When you provide Praters Inc. with your Personally Identifiable Information, Praters Inc. may use it to manage Praters Inc.’s registry of Registered Users, facilitate communication between Praters Inc. and you and/or between Registered Users of the Site, notify you of features or special events and provide you with other information Praters Inc. feels may be of interest to you. Praters Inc. also uses information collected to customize, analyze, adjust and improve the Site to meet Praters Inc.’s users’ needs and expectations. Praters Inc. also may use the information to oversee adherence to Praters Inc.’s Community Guidelines which are provided in the Terms of Use for the Site to enforce Praters Inc.’s agreements with you, to prevent fraud and other prohibited or illegal activities and for other legally permissible purposes. These uses of your Personally Identifiable Information may include, without limitation, the following:
1. Public Areas
The Site feature groups, discussions, member profiles, comment areas, blogs and similar areas where users can share information about themselves and their opinions, as well as post questions (“Public Areas”). Other visitors to the Site may view information posted in Public Areas. Further, Praters Inc. may include all or a portion of the information posted in Public Areas in the newsletters described in this Privacy Policy. By using the Public Areas, you hereby acknowledge and agree that any information you share in a Public Area (including, without limitation, Personally Identifiable Information) is available to the public. Information you post to a Public Area may be viewed, accessed, or collected by, or disclosed to, third parties and may be used by others in ways neither you nor Praters Inc. are able to control or predict, including, without limitation, to contact you for unauthorized purposes.
The Site offers the ability to forward content to another person via e-mail. If you use this service, Praters Inc. will use the recipient’s e-mail address in order to send the content and Praters Inc. will also ask for your e-mail address. Praters Inc. does not use the recipient’s e-mail address for any other purpose unless the recipient gives Praters Inc. permission to do so.
2. Registered User Areas
If you have access to certain areas of the Site because you are a Registered User (“Registered User Areas”), the Registered User Areas may contain groups, discussions, member profiles, comment areas, blogs and similar areas where Registered Users can share information about themselves and their opinions, as well as post questions. Information you post to a Registered User Area may be viewed, accessed, or collected by, or disclosed to, other Registered Users and may be used by other Registered Users in ways neither you nor Praters Inc. are able to control or predict, including, without limitation, disclosure of your information to the public or to contact you for unauthorized purposes. Praters Inc. uses the Personally Identifiable Information you provide when registering to become a Registered User to send you Praters Inc. publications, information about Registered User benefits and special offers, features included in the Registered User Areas and other information that Praters Inc. believes is relevant and useful to its Registered Users. By using the Registered User Areas, you hereby acknowledge and agree that any information you share in a Registered User Area (including, without limitation, Personally Identifiable Information) is available to other Registered Users and to Praters Inc. for use as provided herein.
3. Profiles
If you register to become a Registered User of the Site, the information that you provide to Praters Inc. may be stored in one or more profiles. These profiles, or a portion thereof, may be viewed by other Users of the Site, including, but not limited to those who are not Registered Users of the Site.
4. E-Newsletters
If you register at any of the Site, you may choose to receive a newsletter via e-mail from Praters Inc. which may include information such as highlights from different areas on the Site and information about new features. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time by clicking on the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of any e-mail newsletter sent to you and following the instructions. You also may unsubscribe at any time by logging in to the applicable Site where you created your profile and changing your preferences.
5. Aggregate Information
The aggregate information collected by Praters Inc. also is used to create profiles of the audience for the Site that include anonymous statistical demographic information but no Personally Identifiable Information. This aggregated information is used to, among other things, determine trends and needs and supply market research to potential advertisers and partners to help them understand the Site’s audiences. For example, Praters Inc. may create a report that tells advertisers that thirty percent of Praters Inc.’s Registered Users are males under forty years, so that they can determine which of their products or services are most appropriate for Praters Inc.’s Registered Users.
D. With Whom Praters Inc. Shares Information
Praters Inc. reserves the right to use your Personally Identifiable Information to send you periodic e-mailings with information on new products and services, updates to Praters Inc.’s Site or upcoming events.
If you “opt in” to receive information about identified advertisers or their services or products, Praters Inc. may share your Personally Identifiable Information with them. If you have questions about how these companies use your Personally Identifiable Information, Praters Inc.encourages you to review and understand their respective privacy policies. You may at any time “opt out” of having your Personally Identifiable Information as part of Praters Inc.’s marketing mailing list or otherwise (see “Opting Out” below).
From time to time, in Praters Inc.’s sole discretion, Praters Inc. may use your Personally Identifiable Information to send you important administrative information regarding the Site and related services or changes to Praters Inc.’s Terms and policies. Because this information may be important to your use of the Site and related services, you may not opt out of receiving such communications.
If you interact with the Site through Facebook, Praters Inc. may share information with Facebook and other users of Facebook. In connection with contests, sweepstakes and games, Praters Inc. may publicize the identity and entries of the winners and other participants.
1. Fulfillment of Services
Praters Inc. may retain other companies and individuals to perform functions consistent with Praters Inc.’s Privacy Policy on Praters Inc.’s behalf. Examples include customer support specialists, web hosting companies, fulfillment companies (e.g., companies that fill product orders or coordinate mailings), data analysis firms and e-mail service providers.
2. Sweepstakes, Contests and Editorial Uses
Often times, sweepstakes, contests and giveaways (together, “Contests”) offered on the Site are sponsored by unaffiliated third parties. Information that you provide as part of an entry into a Contest sponsored by an unaffiliated third party will be shared with the sponsor if Praters Inc. advises you of such in the Contest’s official rules. Some Contests also may require consent to the release of information contained within the entry form for background check purposes or tax purposes if you become a winner. You should carefully review the official rules of each Contest that you enter as they may contain additional important information about Praters Inc.’s or the Contest sponsor’s use of your Personally Identifiable Information.
Praters Inc. also may use your Personally Identifiable Information in response to a solicitation for editorial, online and/or on-air purposes and for marketing and promotional purposes in connection with such solicitation. If such information is used online, on a mobile application or in a telecast, no Personally Identifiable Information, other than name, city and state, will be disclosed without your specific consent.
3. Compliance with Law and Fraud Protection
Praters Inc. may disclose any information, including without limitation Personally Identifiable Information, that Praters Inc. deems necessary, in its sole discretion and without your prior permission, to comply with any applicable law, regulation, legal process or governmental request. Praters Inc. also may exchange information, including without limitation Personally Identifiable Information, with other companies and organizations for credit fraud protection, risk reduction and related activities or to protect the rights, property of safety of Praters Inc. and its agents, employees or affiliates or others. Praters Inc. reserves the right to disclose a user’s Personally Identifiable Information if Praters Inc. believes the user is in violation of Praters Inc.’s Terms of Use, even without a subpoena, warrant or other court order.
4. Sale or Transfer of Information
In the event of a sale, merger, liquidation, dissolution or sale or transfer of substantially all of the assets of Praters Inc. or the Site, personal Information and/or other information collected about you from the Site may be sold, assigned or transferred to the party acquiring all or substantially all of the equity and/or assets of Praters Inc. or the Site in order to permit the party to continue the operation of the Site, including the Registered User Areas. Subject to your ability to opt-out, you consent to the sale and transfer of your information as described in this paragraph.
5. Accessing, Updating or Deleting your Personally Identifiable Information
If you are a Registered User and would like to review, update or delete your profile, please log in to and select the profile in which you would like to review, modify or delete information (i.e., the Personally Identifiable Information you have provided to us).
6. Opting Out
Praters Inc. respects the privacy of your Personally Identifiable Information. If you tell Praters Inc. that you do not wish to have this information used as a basis for further contact with you, Praters Inc. will respect your wishes. You also may choose not to provide Praters Inc. with certain information, but that may result in you being unable to use certain features of the Site.
You may instruct Praters Inc. to stop sending you certain promotional materials (e.g., e-mail messages, newsletters, postcards and letters) by following the unsubscribe instructions provided in those materials. Praters Inc. may, however, continue to contact you to provide service to your account. Please note that if you use more than one name or e-mail address when communicating with Praters Inc. or participating on the Site, you may continue to receive communications from Praters Inc. to any name and/or e-mail address which you have not specified in your opt-out request.
Praters Inc. provides you with the following options for removing your Personally Identifiable Information from Praters Inc.’s database for marketing purposes:
1. You can send an email to customerservice@pratersflooring.com; or
2. You can send mail to the following postal address:
Praters Incorporated, 2712 8th Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37407
E. Important Disclosures, Practices and Contact Information
1. Third Party Links
The Site contains links to third-party web sites. Please be aware that Praters Inc. cannot control and is not responsible for the information collection practices of such web sites, which may differ from those of Praters Inc. Praters Inc.encourages you to review and understand the privacy policies of these web sites before providing any information to them.
2. Interactive Features
The Site may make groups, discussions, chat rooms, forums and message boards available to users (see “Public Areas” described above). While you are required to register with the Site to post in these areas, you are not required to provide any Personally Identifiable Information when using these areas but you may choose to do so. If you post Personally Identifiable Information online, it will be publicly available and you may receive unsolicited messages from other parties. Praters Inc. cannot ensure the security of any information that you choose to make public in a group, discussion, chat room, forum or message board. Also, Praters Inc. cannot ensure that parties who have access to such Personally Identifiable Information will respect your privacy. Please exercise caution when deciding to disclose Personally Identifiable Information in these areas.
3. Data Security
Praters Inc. maintains a variety of commercially reasonable physical, electronic and procedural safeguards designed to protect your Personally Identifiable Information from unauthorized access and disclosure. For example, Praters Inc. uses accepted tools and techniques to protect against unauthorized access to Praters Inc.’s systems. You should be aware that Praters Inc. has no control over the security of other sites on the Internet that you might visit or with which you might interact even when a link may appear to another site from one of the Site.
Praters Inc. wants you to feel confident using the Site but no system can be completely secure. Therefore, although Praters Inc. takes steps to secure your information, Praters Inc. does not promise, and you should not expect, that your personal information, searches or other communications will always remain secure.
4. Children
The Site is a general audience site and is not intended for children under 13. Praters Inc. requires that only persons 13 years of age or older use any of the Site. By using the Site, you hereby represent that you are at least 13 years old. Praters Inc. does not knowingly market to, solicit information, accept service or collect information from children under the age of 13. If Praters Inc. becomes aware that it inadvertently received personal information from a visitor under the age of 13 on the Site, Praters Inc. will delete the information from its records.
5. Changes to this Privacy Policy
At any time without prior notice, Praters Inc. may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in Praters Inc.’s practices. When Praters Inc. posts changes to this Privacy Policy, Praters Inc. will revise the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. Praters Inc. encourages you to bookmark this Privacy Policy and to periodically review it to inform yourself of changes to it or any of Praters Inc.’s other policies. Any changes to Praters Inc.’s Privacy Policy will become effective upon Praters Inc.’s posting of the updated policy. Use of the Site constitutes your acceptance of the terms of this Privacy Policy then in effect.
6. California Privacy Rights Under California Civil Code Section 1798.83
If you are a resident of California (“California Users”), in addition to the rights set forth in this Privacy Policy, you generally have the right to request information from Praters Inc. regarding the manner in which Praters Inc. shares certain categories of Personally Identifiable Information with third parties for their direct marketing purposes.
Under the law, however, a business is not required to provide this information if it adopts and discloses to the public (in its privacy policy) a policy of not disclosing customer’s personal information to third parties for their direct marketing purposes unless the customer first affirmatively agrees to the disclosure, as long as the business maintains and discloses this policy. Rather, the business may comply with the law by notifying California Users of their rights to prevent disclosure of personal information and providing a cost free means to exercise that right.
Please note that whenever you opt in to receive future communications from a third party, your information will be subject to the third party’s privacy policy. If you later decide that you do not want that third party to use your information, you will need to contact the third party directly, as Praters Inc. has no control over how third parties use information. You should always review the privacy policy of any party that collects your information to determine how it will handle your information.
Please note that Praters Inc. is only required to respond to one request per customer each year. Praters Inc. is not required to respond to requests made by means other than through this e-mail address: customerservice@pratersflooring.com
7. Users From Outside the United States
By visiting the Site, submitting information or using any of Praters Inc.’s products or services, you acknowledge that you accept the practices and policies outlined in this Privacy Policy and consent to having your data transferred to and processed in the United States. If you do not agree to this Privacy Policy, please do not use Praters Inc.’s Site.
The Site is controlled and operated by Praters Inc. from the United States. Praters Inc. does not represent or warrant that the Site, or any part thereof, are appropriate or available for use in any particular jurisdiction. Those who choose to access the Site do so on their own initiative and at their own risk, and are responsible for complying with all local laws, rules and regulations. You also are subject to United States export controls in connection with your use of the Site and/or services related thereto and are responsible for any violations of such controls, including, without limitation, any United States embargoes or other federal rules and regulations restricting exports. Praters Inc. may limit the availability of the Site, in whole or in part, to any person, geographic area or jurisdiction that Praters Inc. chooses, at any time and in Praters Inc.’s sole discretion.
8. No Rights of Third Parties
This Privacy Policy does not create rights enforceable by third parties.
9. Contacting MRA
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, the practices of the Site or your dealings with us, please feel free to contact Praters Inc. at:
· Praters Incorporated, 2712 8th Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37407,
· Email: customerservice@pratersflooring.com