Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile) when you visit a website. They help websites remember information about your visit, such as your preferred language and other settings, which can make your next visit easier and the site more useful to you.

Cookies play an important role in enhancing your browsing experience and helping us understand how our website is being used.

2. How We Use Cookies

Shimmer Returns uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website shimmer-returns.com for the following purposes:

• Essential functionality: To ensure our website works properly
• User experience: To remember your preferences and settings
• Analytics: To understand how visitors use our website
• Performance: To optimize website speed and functionality
• Security: To protect against fraud and security threats

3. Types of Cookies We Use

3.1 Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for the website to function properly. They enable basic functions like page navigation, access to secure areas, and form submissions. The website cannot function properly without these cookies.

3.2 Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information about how visitors use our website, such as which pages are visited most often and if visitors get error messages. This information helps us improve how our website works.

3.3 Functional Cookies

These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make and provide enhanced, more personal features. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages.

3.4 Marketing Cookies

These cookies track your online activity to help us deliver more relevant advertising or to limit how many times you see an advertisement. They may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites.

4. Third-Party Cookies

We may use third-party services that set their own cookies on our website. These third parties include:

4.1 Analytics Services

We use analytics services to help us understand how our website is used and to improve user experience. These services may set their own cookies.

4.2 Social Media Platforms

Social media buttons and widgets on our site may set cookies to track social media interactions and personalize content.

4.3 Contact and Communication Tools

Tools that help us communicate with visitors may set cookies to provide chat functionality and track communication preferences.

5. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

5.1 Our Cookie Consent Tool

When you first visit our website, you'll see a cookie banner that allows you to:

• Accept all cookies
• Accept only necessary cookies
• Customize your cookie preferences

You can change your preferences at any time by clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in our footer.

5.2 Browser Settings

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can:

• View what cookies you have and delete them individually
• Block third-party cookies
• Block cookies from particular sites
• Block all cookies from being set
• Delete all cookies when you close your browser

5.3 Browser-Specific Instructions

For specific instructions on managing cookies in different browsers:

• Chrome: Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies
• Firefox: Options > Privacy & Security > Cookies
• Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Cookies
• Edge: Settings > Privacy > Cookies

6. Impact of Disabling Cookies

While you can disable cookies, please note that doing so may affect your experience on our website:

6.1 Necessary Cookies

Disabling necessary cookies may result in:

• Inability to submit forms
• Loss of security features
• Reduced website functionality

6.2 Analytics Cookies

Disabling analytics cookies will:

• Prevent us from understanding website usage patterns
• Limit our ability to improve the website
• Not affect your browsing experience

6.3 Functional Cookies

Disabling functional cookies may result in:

• Loss of personalized features
• Need to re-enter preferences on each visit
• Reduced convenience

6.4 Marketing Cookies

Disabling marketing cookies will:

• Prevent personalized advertising
• Stop tracking for marketing purposes
• Not affect website functionality

7. Cookie Retention Periods

Different cookies have different retention periods:

• Session Cookies: Deleted when you close your browser
• Persistent Cookies: Remain until they expire or you delete them
• Analytics Cookies: Typically expire after 24 months
• Marketing Cookies: Usually expire after 12 months
• Preference Cookies: May last up to 12 months

8. Updates to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legislation, or our business practices. When we make changes, we will:

• Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy
• Notify you of significant changes through our website
• Obtain new consent if required by law

9. Your Rights

Under UK data protection laws, you have rights regarding cookies and personal data:

• Right to be informed about cookie use
• Right to consent to non-essential cookies
• Right to withdraw consent
• Right to access data collected through cookies
• Right to have cookie data deleted

10. Contact Us About Cookies

If you have questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us:

11. More Information

For more information about cookies and privacy:

• UK Information Commissioner's Office: ico.org.uk
• About Cookies: aboutcookies.org
• Your Online Choices: youronlinechoices.com