What is a cookie?
Why do you have a cookie policy?
What if I don´t accept cookies?
How do I disable cookies?
Does Vita-Chip use cookies?
List of cookies used by Vita Chip?
What is a cookie?
A cookie is a small file containing some information, that a website transfers to the cookie folder of the web browser on your computer. When the browser returns to the same website, the information in the cookie can be retrieved by the website and used to recognise the user.
A cookie might typically contain data such as the domain name from which it came, a unique number as an identifier, some data related to its purpose such as your preferences on the website, and the lifetime (expiry) of the cookie.
There are 3 main types of cookies:
- Session cookies:
- The lowest level of cookie, which simply allows a website to identify you as a user and remember you from page to page within the website. These expire as soon as you close your browser, or after a short period of typically 20 minutes of inactivity. This is like storing something in short term memory.
- Persistent cookies:
- What most people are thinking of when they say “Cookie”. These are the small text files that are dropped into the cookies folder of your web browser, by a website. They can contain information for the longer term about your preferences on a website for instance.
- Third party cookies:
- These are persistent cookies from any other domain, such as third party services like Google Analytics.
Why do you have a cookie policy?
A new cookie regulation, the ePrivacy Directive in the UK, has come in. It’s purpose is to make website owners communicate clearly and transparently about how they are using cookies, so that web users are better informed about how their information is being used.
As advertisers and businesses have become cleverer in using technologies to track and target consumers online, there has been a push for a more transparent privacy policy when it comes to cookies.
Our aim is to provide clear information to you about the cookies that we use, so that you can make an informed decision about whether you want to use this website.
What if I don’t accept cookies?
The vast majority of websites will use cookies in some shape or form. They are an invaluable part of the programmers toolset, enabling websites to offer advanced features such as shopping baskets, customised content and other common functions.
If you don’t accept any cookies then many websites will not perform as they should, and you may not be able to complete orders or use the features of a website.
How do I disable cookies?
Most browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari etc) provide the option in their settings to disable cookies.
You can also delete cookies, which deletes any existing cookies in your web browser’s cookie folder, but unless you disallow them they will reappear next time you visit a website.
The majority of browsers allow you to be selective about disallowing different types of cookies, so you could disallow persistent cookies but allow session cookies for example.
Does Vita-System8.uk use cookies?
Our policy is to use the absolute minimum number of cookies possible to provide our service effectively.
The Vita-System8 web application itself uses one main session cookie, to give you a unique ID when you are using the website. This allows you to use the website’s features and do things like build up a shopping basket. This cookie is strictly necessary for the website to work.
When you close your web browser, or remain inactive on the website for an hour the session cookie is automatically destroyed. If you disable session cookies in your browser, you will not be able to use the website.
Vita-System8.uk also drops a small number of persistent cookies onto your computer. These are used to remember your shopping basket for 30 days. We also employ some widely used third party tools and services that use persistent cookies.
These are:
- Google Analytics
- We use Google Analytics to measure how many visitors we are getting to the website.
- Affiliate Window
- We have an affiliate programme, which is run by the Affiliate Window network. Affiliates (other website owners) promote Vita-System8.uk in return for a commission on sales generated. Affiliate Window use cookies to decide whether a sale should be attributed to an affiliate, and a commission be paid to them. To learn more about how affiliate marketing works, see the IAB’s online guide.
The above services run on the Vita-System8.uk website, and make use of cookies to achieve their functions. The website will still work if you disallow persistent cookies.
List of cookies used by Vita-System8 Shop
- Cookie type Session cookie
Cookie name guid
Description
A basic session identifier that enables the website application to identify your browser session, so you can do things like build a shopping basket etc. It is strictly necessary for the website to work.
- Cookie type Persistent cookie
Cookie name ?-shoppingbasket
Description
Remembers the contents of your shopping basket, should you return to the website within 30 days.
- Cookie type Persistent cookie
Cookie name ?-countryid
Description
Remembers your country id should you return to the website within 30 days. The product range we sell is dependent on country, so we need to save this in conjuction with your shopping basket in order to persist it.
- Cookie type Persistent cookie
Cookie name ?-countryname
Description
Remembers your country name should you return to the website within 30 days. Again, this is a supporting piece of data for the shopping basket.
- Cookie type Persistent cookie
Cookie name ?-countryzone
Description
Remembers your shipping zone should you return to the website within 30 days. This enables us to show you the delivery cost of your order, should you return to the website after a period of inactivity.
- Cookie typ Persistent cookie
Cookie name ?-newsletter
Description
Remembers if you are subscribed to our email newsletter when you return to the website within 30 days. Allows us not to pester you with a sign up request again!
If you would like to learn more about cookies, two good resources are: www.allaboutcookies.org, and www.aboutcookies.org.
