You've got online ordering (FINALLY) - how does it work? Is it secure?

Yes, I've lurched forward into 1998, and got me some e-commerce going on. For now, I'm using Google checkout because it made my brain hurt less than the alternatives, and because Google takes payment security seriously. Update: Helliemae's has moved to PayPal for now, because Google Checkout doesn't play nicely with Microsoft Internet Explorer, which a lot of people use.

When you add caramels to your cart, you'll go to the PayPal site to check out securely.

I don't like to shop online. Can I call you?

Sure: (303) 834-7048. You may get my voicemail, but I'll call you back!

How much is shipping? How do you ship?

Shipping's included in the price of the caramels - yay! When I ship your order, I'll send you the tracking information. Watch the tracking, and plan to be home to receive your shipment. All the careful packaging in the world won't countermand the effects of 6 hours in the hot sun.

When do you ship?

I ship on Mondays, for a couple of reasons. Shipping at the beginning of the business week gives your caramels the best chance to get to you quickly. And, because Helliemae's doesn't have a crew of oompa loompas (yet), it's more feasible for me to do all the shipping on one day.

Can I send a gift?

Yes! When you check out at PayPal, select the shipping address of your recipient, and then leave me a note in the "add message to seller" box - I can add whatever gift message you'd like.

I want to order some gifts with special packaging, or favors in my wedding theme, or just a whole big mess of caramels - help?

I do all sorts of custom orders, but I haven't yet figured out how to showcase them on the web site. Please send me an e-mail at ellen@saltcaramels.com, and we'll work together to get you the absolute right thing. And if it's big ol order, I'll figure out the most cost-effective way to ship to you.

Will my caramels arrive in good shape?

They should! I use special thermal packaging to protect the caramels during shipping.

I have a problem with my order - help?

Just e-mail me at ellen@saltcaramels.com. Although I check my mail frequently, I'm a one-gal show, not a call center, so please give me a few hours to get back to you.

What's your refund policy?

It's REALLY important to me that you enjoy every bit of your contact w/ Helliemae's. Everything I make will be in great shape when it leaves the Helliemae's "factory", and I'll ship it with protective packaging and give you a tracking number so that you can watch for the delivery. If your order is defective, of course I'll replace it at my expense, or refund your money - whichever you prefer. But if it languishes on a hot porch, there's really not much I can do about that. If you're not happy with your order for whatever reason, please contact me immediately at orders@saltcaramels.com. I'll do my very best to resolve the problem fast.

What's your privacy policy?

Basically, I won't ask for any personal info from you unless I need it to give you what you want, and I'll treat any info you share with me like it was my own. For the long-winded details, I have a full policy below.

Privacy Policy

Your privacy matters to Helliemae's. The (mind-numbing) details: Helliemae's Handcrafted Caramels ("Helliemae's") operates the website saltcaramels.com. It's Helliemae's policy to respect your privacy regarding any information it may collect while operating its websites.

 

Website Visitors

Like most website operators, Helliemae's collects non-personally-identifying information of the sort that web browsers and servers typically make available, such as the browser type, language preference, referring site, and the date and time of each visitor request. Helliemae's purpose in collecting non-personally identifying information is to better understand how Helliemae's visitors use its website. From time to time, Helliemae's may release non-personally-identifying information in the aggregate, e.g., by publishing a report on trends in the usage of its website.

 

Helliemae's also collects potentially personally-identifying information like Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. Helliemae's only discloses IP addresses under the same circumstances that it uses and discloses personally-identifying information as described below, except that blog commenter IP addresses are visible and disclosed to the administrators of the blog where the comment was left.

 

Gathering of Personally-Identifying Information

Certain visitors to Helliemae's website choose to interact with Helliemae's in ways that require Helliemae's to gather personally-identifying information. The amount and type of information that Helliemae's gathers depends on the nature of the interaction. For example, Helliemae's asks visitors who would like to receive email to provide a name, email address and zip code. Those who engage in transactions with Helliemae's – by purchasing caramels, for example – are asked to provide additional information, including as necessary the personal and financial information required to process those transactions. In each case, Helliemae's collects such information only insofar as is necessary or appropriate to fulfill the purpose of the visitor’s interaction with Helliemae's. Helliemae's does not disclose personally-identifying information other than as described below. And visitors can always refuse to supply personally-identifying information, with the caveat that it may prevent them from engaging in certain website-related activities.

 

Aggregated Statistics

Helliemae's may collect statistics about the behavior of visitors to its websites. For instance, Helliemae's may monitor to see which countries send the most visitors to saltcaramels.com. Helliemae's may display this information publicly or provide it to others. However, Helliemae's does not disclose personally-identifying information other than as described below.

 

Protection of Certain Personally-Identifying Information

Helliemae's discloses potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information only to those of its employees, contractors and affiliated organizations that (i) need to know that information in order to process it on Helliemae's behalf or to provide services available at Helliemae's website, and (ii) that have agreed not to disclose it to others. Some of those employees, contractors and affiliated organizations may be located outside of your home country; by using Helliemae's website, you consent to the transfer of such information to them. Helliemae's will not rent or sell potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information to anyone. Other than to its employees, contractors and affiliated organizations, as described above, Helliemae's discloses potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information only in response to a subpoena, court order or other governmental request, or when Helliemae's believes in good faith that disclosure is reasonably necessary to protect the property or rights of Helliemae's, third parties or the public at large. If you are a user of Helliemae's website and have supplied your email address, Helliemae's may occasionally send you an email to tell you about new products, publicize events, or just keep you up to date with what’s going on with Helliemae's. Helliemae's primarily uses the website and social media to communicate this type of information, so it expects to keep this type of email to a minimum. Helliemae's takes all measures reasonably necessary to protect against the unauthorized access, use, alteration or destruction of potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information.

 

Cookies

A cookie is a string of information that a website stores on a visitor’s computer, and that the visitor’s browser provides to the website each time the visitor returns. Helliemae's uses cookies to help Helliemae's identify and track visitors, their usage of Helliemae's website, and their website access preferences. Helliemae's visitors who do not wish to have cookies placed on their computers should set their browsers to refuse cookies before using Helliemae's websites, with the drawback that certain features of Helliemae's websites may not function properly without the aid of cookies.

 

Business Transfers

If Helliemae's, or substantially all of its assets were acquired, or in the unlikely event that Helliemae's goes out of business or enters bankruptcy, user information would be one of the assets that is transferred or acquired by a third party. You acknowledge that such transfers may occur, and that any acquirer of Automattic may continue to use your personal information as set forth in this policy.

 

Privacy Policy Changes

Although most changes are likely to be minor, Helliemae's may change its Privacy Policy from time to time, and in Helliemae's sole discretion. Helliemae's encourages visitors to frequently check this page for any changes to its Privacy Policy. Your continued use of this site after any change in this Privacy Policy will constitute your acceptance of such change.

 

Thanks to Automattic for the privacy policy template.