Comprehensive Cookie Policy

This Cookie Policy ("Policy") explains how Crown Engine Oils Distributors ("Company," "We," "Our," or "Us") uses cookies, web beacons, pixels, and similar tracking technologies on our website and digital properties (collectively "Tracking Technologies"). This Policy applies to all visitors and users of our website, including customers, prospective customers, and general website visitors.

Tracking Technologies are small data files and code segments that store information on your device (computer, tablet, mobile phone) when you access our website. These technologies help us understand how visitors use our site, improve functionality, personalize content, and deliver targeted marketing communications. This Policy describes the types of tracking technologies we use, their purposes, and your rights to control them.

By accessing and using our website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Cookie Policy and consent to our use of Tracking Technologies as described herein. If you do not consent to our use of cookies and tracking technologies, you should adjust your browser settings or discontinue your use of our website.

2.1 Cookies: Cookies are small text files stored on your device's hard drive or memory when you visit a website. Cookies contain information such as your website preferences, login credentials (if applicable), browsing history, and usage data. Cookies persist on your device for a specified duration and are automatically transmitted to the server each time you visit the website.

2.2 Session Cookies: Session cookies are temporary cookies that exist only during your current browsing session. These cookies are automatically deleted when you close your web browser. Session cookies are used to maintain login status, shopping cart contents, and session-specific preferences.

2.3 Persistent Cookies: Persistent cookies remain on your device for an extended period (days, weeks, months, or years) as specified by the cookie's expiration date. Persistent cookies are used to remember preferences, login information, and browsing behavior across multiple visits. Persistent cookies must be manually deleted through browser settings.

2.4 First-Party Cookies: First-party cookies are set by the website you are directly visiting (Crown Engine Oils Distributors). These cookies allow the website owner to collect information about your visit and browsing behavior on that specific website.

2.5 Third-Party Cookies: Third-party cookies are set by third-party domains other than the website you are visiting. Third-party cookies may be set by advertising networks, analytics providers, or other services embedded in our website. Third-party cookies allow these services to track your activity across multiple websites for analytics, advertising, or profiling purposes.

2.6 Web Beacons (Pixels): Web beacons, also known as tracking pixels or clear gifs, are small transparent image files (typically 1x1 pixel) embedded in web pages or emails. Web beacons track when a page is viewed, an email is opened, or a link is clicked. Web beacons communicate with servers to record user activity.

2.7 Local Storage & HTML5: Local storage mechanisms (HTML5 Local Storage, Web Storage) allow websites to store larger amounts of data on your device locally. Local storage functions similarly to cookies but can store more information and persist longer.

2.8 Advertising Identifiers: Mobile devices (iOS, Android) contain advertising identifiers (IDFA for iOS, AAID for Android) that allow apps and services to track user behavior for advertising purposes. These identifiers can be managed through device settings.

3.1 Essential/Necessary Cookies: These cookies are critical for website functionality and security. Essential cookies: (i) maintain your login session; (ii) store shopping cart contents; (iii) process transactions securely; (iv) detect and prevent fraudulent activity; (v) implement security features; (vi) remember your consent preferences. Essential cookies are set automatically and cannot be disabled without breaking website functionality. These cookies are placed immediately upon your first visit.

Cookies in this category:

• session_id: Maintains user session throughout browsing
• csrf_token: Prevents cross-site request forgery attacks
• user_preferences: Stores basic user settings (language, currency)
• cart_contents: Maintains shopping cart data
• authentication_token: Maintains login status

3.2 Performance & Analytics Cookies: These cookies collect information about how you use our website, including pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, features used, and errors encountered. This data helps us understand user behavior, identify popular content, optimize website performance, and improve user experience. Performance cookies include:

• Google Analytics cookies: Track page views, sessions, and user behavior
• Hotjar cookies: Record user interactions and heatmaps
• page_load_time: Measure website performance metrics
• navigation_flow: Track how users navigate through pages
• feature_usage: Monitor usage of website features

3.3 Preference & Customization Cookies: These cookies remember your preferences and choices, allowing us to customize your experience on return visits. Preference cookies include:

• language_preference: Remember your selected language
• currency_selection: Remember your preferred currency
• theme_preference: Remember dark/light mode selection
• search_filters: Remember saved search preferences
• product_categories: Remember browsed product categories

3.4 Marketing & Advertising Cookies: These cookies track your interest in our Products and your browsing behavior to deliver targeted advertising. Marketing cookies are used to: (i) identify users interested in specific product categories; (ii) serve targeted product recommendations; (iii) measure advertising campaign effectiveness; (iv) retarget users who have visited our site but not made purchases; (v) coordinate advertising across multiple platforms. Marketing cookies require your explicit consent and can be disabled through cookie preferences. Cookies in this category include:

• Facebook Pixel: Enables Facebook remarketing campaigns
• Google Ads: Enables Google advertising and retargeting
• product_interest: Tracks products viewed for recommendations
• campaign_source: Identifies which ads led to site visit
• advertising_id: Enables cross-platform advertising tracking

3.5 Social Media Cookies: If our website includes social media integration (Facebook Like button, Twitter share, LinkedIn connect), social media platforms may set their own cookies to track your interactions with social media content on our site. Social media cookies are governed by respective platform privacy policies.

We use Tracking Technologies for the following purposes:

• Website Functionality: Enable essential features like login, shopping cart, checkout, and account management
• Security & Fraud Prevention: Detect and prevent fraudulent transactions, unauthorized access, and security threats
• Performance Analytics: Measure website performance, identify slow pages, and monitor technical issues
• User Experience Optimization: Analyze how users navigate our site and optimize layout and content accordingly
• Personalization: Remember user preferences and customize content based on previous interactions
• Marketing & Advertising: Deliver targeted advertising based on browsing behavior and interests
• Campaign Measurement: Measure effectiveness of marketing campaigns and advertising spending
• Audience Analysis: Understand demographic and behavioral characteristics of our users
• Content Recommendations: Suggest products and content based on browsing history and interests
• Contact & Outreach: Target marketing messages and communications to relevant audience segments
• Retargeting: Show advertisements to users who have previously visited our site
• Third-Party Services: Enable integration with third-party services and platforms

5.1 Third-Party Analytics Providers: We use third-party analytics services to understand website usage. Our primary analytics provider is Google Analytics, which sets cookies to track page views, user sessions, and behavior patterns. Google Analytics data is aggregated and anonymized. Crown Engine Oils Distributors does not have direct access to personally identifiable information collected by Google Analytics.

5.2 Advertising Networks: We may partner with advertising networks including Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and other ad platforms to deliver targeted advertising. These platforms set their own cookies to track user behavior across the internet and deliver relevant advertisements. You can manage advertising preferences through platform settings.

5.3 Social Media Platforms: If our website includes social media buttons (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter), these platforms may set cookies to track your interactions. Social media tracking is governed by each platform's privacy policy and cookie policy.

5.4 Heatmap & User Recording Tools: We may use heatmap tools (such as Hotjar) to visualize how users interact with our website. These tools record mouse movements, clicks, and scroll behavior to identify usability issues. Heatmap data does not include personally identifiable information.

5.5 Third-Party Cookie Consent: Third parties are contractually required to comply with applicable privacy laws and obtain necessary consents for their tracking activities. However, third parties maintain their own privacy policies, and Crown Engine Oils Distributors is not responsible for their practices. We recommend reviewing each third party's privacy policy separately.

5.6 Disabling Third-Party Cookies: You may disable third-party cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers provide options to block third-party cookies specifically while allowing first-party cookies. Disabling third-party cookies may affect advertising relevance but should not impact core website functionality.

6.1 Cookie Consent Banner: Upon your first visit to our website, you shall see a cookie consent banner explaining cookie usage and requesting consent. The banner provides three options: (i) Accept All Cookies; (ii) Reject Non-Essential Cookies; (iii) Customize Settings. Your choice is recorded and respected for future visits.

6.2 Preference Management: You may modify your cookie preferences at any time by accessing the Privacy/Cookie Preferences page on our website or through the cookie consent banner. Preferences are updated in real-time, and your choices are recorded for future visits.

6.3 Browser Cookie Controls: Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through settings:

• Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
• Firefox: Preferences → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
• Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
• Edge: Settings → Privacy → Clear browsing data → Cookies

6.4 Cookie Deletion: You may delete existing cookies stored on your device through browser settings. Deleting cookies does not prevent new cookies from being set upon future visits. You must disable cookies in your browser settings to prevent future cookie placement.

6.5 Privacy Mode/Incognito Browsing: If you browse in privacy mode (Incognito in Chrome, Private Browsing in Safari), cookies are not permanently stored on your device. Cookies set during a privacy session are deleted when you close the browser.

6.6 Flash Cookies & Local Storage: Beyond standard browser cookies, websites may store data in Flash cookies (Local Shared Objects) or HTML5 Local Storage. These are separate from standard cookies and must be managed separately. Flash Player storage can be managed through Adobe settings. HTML5 Local Storage can be cleared through browser developer tools.

6.7 Impact of Disabling Cookies: Disabling all cookies may impair website functionality, including: (i) inability to maintain login sessions; (ii) loss of shopping cart contents; (iii) inability to complete transactions; (iv) loss of saved preferences. Essential cookies cannot be disabled without breaking functionality. We recommend disabling only non-essential cookies if you wish to maintain website functionality.

7.1 DNT Signals: Some web browsers include a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature that sends a special signal to websites indicating that the user does not wish to be tracked. While we respect privacy preferences, there is currently no industry standard for DNT signals, and their implementation is not uniform across browsers and websites.

7.2 Our DNT Response: Crown Engine Oils Distributors does not currently alter our data collection practices in response to DNT signals due to lack of standardization and technical limitations. However, we respect the privacy intent behind DNT signals and encourage users to manage tracking through explicit cookie settings on our Privacy Preferences page or through browser settings.

7.3 Cookie Consent as Alternative: Rather than relying on DNT signals, we recommend using our explicit Cookie Preferences feature to control which types of cookies are placed on your device. This provides greater control and transparency than DNT signals.

8.1 No Targeting of Children: Crown Engine Oils Distributors's website is not directed at children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly place cookies on devices of children under 13. We do not knowingly collect tracking data from minors without parental consent.

8.2 Parental Concern: If you believe that cookies have been placed on a child's device, please contact us immediately at info@crownoils.com or call 0712 012 113. We shall take immediate action to address the situation.

8.3 Parental Controls: Parents and guardians should implement parental controls on devices to limit cookie placement and tracking of minors. Most devices and browsers provide parental control features to restrict cookies and tracking.

9.1 Data Protection Regulations: Cookie usage is regulated under various privacy laws, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Kenya Data Protection Act, and other regional regulations. We comply with applicable cookie regulations in all jurisdictions where we operate.

9.2 GDPR Compliance: For visitors from the European Union or regions covered by GDPR, we obtain explicit opt-in consent before placing non-essential cookies. Marketing and advertising cookies require affirmative consent. Users may withdraw consent at any time.

9.3 Kenya Data Protection Act Compliance: For users in Kenya, we comply with the Data Protection Act (2019) requirements for lawful processing and transparency regarding tracking technologies.

9.4 User Rights: Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have rights including: (i) right to know what cookies are placed; (ii) right to consent or refuse cookies; (iii) right to delete cookies; (iv) right to data portability; (v) right to lodge complaints with data protection authorities.

10.1 Policy Changes: Crown Engine Oils Distributors may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our cookie usage practices, technology developments, or legal requirements. Material changes shall be announced through email notification or prominent website notice. Your continued use of our website following policy updates constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

10.2 Effective Date: This Cookie Policy is effective from the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page and applies to all cookies placed on or after this date.

10.3 Questions & Concerns: If you have questions about our cookie usage or concerns about privacy, please contact us:

• Email: info@crownoils.com
• Phone: 0712 012 113
• Address: Nairobi, Kenya
• Business Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EAT

We aim to respond to all privacy inquiries within five (5) business days.