ShopSite and Cookies
ShopSite uses browser "cookies" for both merchant and customer sessions. A cookie is a small file stored by the browser which can only be read by the same server that set the cookie. ShopSite does not store any sensitive information, such as credit card numbers or passwords, within the cookies it uses.
- When ShopSite creates a shopping cart for a customer, it will set a cookie to associate the customer with a particular shopping cart. There are several different situations, in addition to adding products to a cart, that will cause a shopping cart to be created, including registered customer log-in, or coming to the store from an associate link. If the customer has cookies disabled, the shopping cart will be linked to the customer's IP address.
- If a registered customer logs in, a cookie is created that tells ShopSite which customer is logged in. This cookie is a "session" cookie, which means it will expire as soon as the customer closes their browser, or does not do anything on the store Website for an extended period of time, or if the customer completes an order.
- When a customer selects tax, shipping, or payment method options, and then clicks on Checkout on the main shoping cart screen, these selections are stored in a cookie. This cookie allows ShopSite to "remember" the customer's selections if the customer returns to the store to place another order. The cookie will expire one year from the date it was created. If the customer's browser does not allow cookies, the "memory" feature will not be available.
- When a customer enters their shipping and billing information on the Billing screen and clicks Submit This Order to complete the order, ShopSite sets another cookie. This cookie contains the billing address (and the shipping address if a separate one is used) that the customer used. It does not contain any credit card information. This cookie is set to expire one year from the date it was created. If the customer returns to the store from the same computer within this time, ShopSite will detect and read the cookie and the customer will not have to re-enter the address information. If cookies are disabled in a customer's browser, this "memory" feature will not be available to that customer.
- ShopSite uses cookies to help track computers authorized to access order information. If a merchant accesses the order system (including viewing associate orders or gift certificate orders), a cookie will be set on the computer. The merchant can then select whether or not to trust certain computers, using the order security system.
