Privacy Policy

Your privacy, protected.

How U Shoppe collects, uses, and protects your personal information under PIPEDA and Ontario PHIPA.

U Shoppe is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal and health information.

Last Updated: Date Effective Date: Date

1. Introduction

U Shoppe is operated by U Vision Group (UVG), a network of clinician-owned eye care centres in Ontario. We respect your privacy and comply with all applicable Canadian privacy laws, including the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

This policy applies to: – Personal information collected on ushoppe.ca – Health information you voluntarily provide (e.g., product recommendations for specific conditions) – Information collected through orders and customer service interactions

2. Information We Collect

A. Personal Information

When you shop at U Shoppe, we collect:

  • Name and Contact Details: Name, email address, phone number
  • Delivery Address: Street address, city, province, postal code
  • Payment Information: Credit card details (processed securely via Square; not stored on our servers)
  • Account Information: Username, password (if you create an account)
  • Communication Preferences: Email, SMS, newsletter subscriptions
  • Customer Service Interactions: Inquiries, product questions, feedback, returns/exchanges

B. Health Information (Voluntary)

You may voluntarily provide health-related information, such as:

  • Product recommendations (e.g., “I’m recovering from UltraView FREEDOM surgery”)
  • Questions about specific conditions (e.g., “Which dry eye products are best for me?”)
  • Allergy or sensitivity information (e.g., “I’m sensitive to preservatives”)

This health information is optional and used only to assist with product selection and customer service.

C. Automatic Collection

When you visit ushoppe.ca, we automatically collect:

  • IP Address: Your internet protocol address
  • Browser and Device Information: Browser type, device type, operating system
  • Cookies and Tracking Data: Site usage patterns, pages viewed, products browsed
  • Analytics: Google Analytics data (pages visited, time on site, referral sources)

This information helps us improve our website and understand customer behaviour (no identifying details).

3. How We Use Your Information

A. Order Fulfillment

  • Processing your purchase
  • Calculating shipping costs and applying taxes
  • Contacting you with order confirmations and tracking information
  • Arranging delivery and handling returns/exchanges

B. Product Recommendations

  • Responding to your product questions
  • Providing guidance based on your health condition (if you share it)
  • Ensuring you receive products safe for your specific needs

C. Customer Service

  • Responding to inquiries via email or contact form
  • Resolving order issues or complaints
  • Following up on product feedback or damage claims

D. Marketing and Communications

  • Sending you newsletters (only if you opt in)
  • Announcing new products or promotions
  • Inviting you to product launches or customer surveys

You can unsubscribe from marketing emails anytime by clicking the unsubscribe link in the email.

E. Legal Compliance

  • Complying with Canadian tax and regulatory requirements (HST reporting, PHIPA compliance)
  • Protecting against fraud or illegal activity
  • Responding to lawful requests from government agencies

F. Website Improvement

  • Analyzing website traffic and usage patterns
  • Testing new features and optimizing user experience
  • Preventing technical issues or security breaches

4. Who We Share Your Information With

A. Service Providers

We share information with trusted vendors who support our operations:

  • Payment Processor: Square (credit card processing only; no card storage on our servers)
  • Shipping Carrier: Canada Post, Purolator, or other carriers (delivery address only)
  • Email Service Provider: Newsletter and transactional email delivery
  • Analytics Provider: Google Analytics (anonymized usage data)
  • Website Hosting: WPCloud.ca (secure Canadian hosting)

All service providers are bound by confidentiality agreements and comply with Canadian privacy laws.

B. U Vision Group (Parent Organization)

As part of UVG, we may share anonymized usage data (not personal information) with UVG leadership to understand product demand and customer preferences.

C. Legal Requirements

We may disclose personal information if required by law (e.g., court order, government investigation). We will notify you of such requests unless prohibited by law.

D. What We Do NOT Share

  • We do NOT sell your personal information to third parties
  • We do NOT share your health information with external marketers
  • We do NOT disclose customer lists or email addresses to external companies
  • We do NOT use your data for purposes beyond those stated in this policy

5. Health Information (PHIPA Compliance)

If you provide health information (e.g., post-surgical status, dry eye condition), that information is:

  • Collected voluntarily — You choose to share it with us
  • Protected under PHIPA — Treated as Personal Health Information (PHI)
  • Used only for customer service — To help recommend appropriate products
  • Never shared without consent — Except as required by law
  • Securely stored — On Canadian servers with encryption and access controls
  • Retained briefly — Only as long as necessary to serve your inquiry (typically 30–90 days)

If you wish to access, correct, or delete your health information, contact us.

6. Data Security

A. Encryption

  • Payment processing: All credit card data is encrypted via Square’s PCI-compliant servers
  • Website traffic: HTTPS/SSL encryption protects data in transit
  • Database storage: Customer data is encrypted at rest on WPCloud.ca servers

B. Access Controls

  • Personal and health information is accessible only to U Shoppe staff with a legitimate business need
  • Staff are trained on privacy and confidentiality
  • Passwords are hashed; payment card details are never stored

C. Security Limitations

While we employ industry-standard security measures, no system is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of data transmitted over the internet. If you believe your information has been compromised, contact us immediately.

7. Your Rights

A. Access Your Information

You have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you. Contact us with your request.

B. Correct Inaccuracies

If any of your information is inaccurate or incomplete, we’ll correct it upon request.

C. Delete Your Information

You can request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal retention requirements). Note: We may retain order data for tax and accounting purposes.

D. Withdraw Consent

If you’ve consented to marketing emails or data processing, you can withdraw consent anytime by: – Clicking “Unsubscribe” in any marketing email – Contacting us to opt out of all communications

E. Data Portability

Upon request, we’ll provide your information in a portable format (e.g., CSV file).

8. Cookies and Tracking

A. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device that remember your preferences and shopping behaviour.

B. Types of Cookies We Use

  • Essential Cookies: Required for checkout and account login (cannot be disabled)
  • Analytics Cookies: Google Analytics tracks website usage (anonymized)
  • Marketing Cookies: Remember items you’ve browsed (enables personalized recommendations)

C. Disabling Cookies

You can disable non-essential cookies in your browser settings. This may limit functionality (e.g., cart persistence).

D. Third-Party Cookies

We do not use third-party advertising networks. However, your browser may transmit data to Google based on your Google account settings.

9. Third-Party Links

U Shoppe may link to external websites (e.g., UVG clinical sites, product manufacturer pages). This privacy policy does not apply to those sites. We’re not responsible for their privacy practices. Review their policies before providing information.

10. Children’s Privacy

U Shoppe is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children. If we become aware of it, we’ll delete such information immediately.

11. Marketing and Promotional Communications

A. Opt-In Model

We use an opt-in approach for marketing emails. You’ll only receive newsletters and promotions if you explicitly consent.

B. CASL Compliance

U Shoppe complies with Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). All marketing emails include: – Clear sender identification – Unsubscribe link – Contact information

C. Unsubscribing

Click “Unsubscribe” in any marketing email or contact us to opt out.

12. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to: – Fulfill your orders and respond to inquiries – Comply with tax and legal requirements (typically 6 years) – Provide customer service and support returns

Once you delete your account or request information deletion, we securely delete data within 30 days (except where legally required to retain it).

13. International Transfers

U Shoppe operates entirely within Canada. Your data is stored on Canadian servers (WPCloud.ca). We do not transfer personal information outside Canada without explicit consent (except to Square for payment processing, which complies with Canadian privacy laws).

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. We’ll notify you of material changes by: – Posting the updated policy on this page – Sending an email notification (for significant changes)

Your continued use of U Shoppe after changes indicates your acceptance of the updated policy.

15. Contact Us

For privacy inquiries, data access requests, or complaints:

Email: privacy@ushoppe.ca

Mailing Address: U Shoppe / U Vision Group 2180 Steeles Avenue West, Unit #221, Concord, ON L4K 2Z5 Ontario, Canada

Response Time: We respond to all privacy requests within 30 days.

Escalation: If you’re not satisfied with our response, you can file a complaint with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) at www.ipc.on.ca.

16. PHIPA Acknowledgment

As an organization that handles Personal Health Information (PHI) in Ontario, U Vision Group / U Shoppe acknowledges:

  • We are a health information custodian under PHIPA
  • We use and disclose PHI in accordance with PHIPA regulations
  • Individuals have rights to access, correct, and request deletion of their PHI
  • We maintain safeguards to protect the privacy and security of PHI
  • Privacy breaches are reported to affected individuals and the IPC as required

U Shoppe Privacy Policy

Effective: Date

For questions, contact us.