Privacy policy

Second Shelf Books

(Alberta PIPA Compliant)

Last updated: October 2026

Second Shelf Books (“we”, “our”, “us”) is committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with Alberta’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and applicable federal privacy laws (PIPEDA). This policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information when you visit our website, make a purchase, or interact with our services.

1. Personal Information We Collect

We collect the following types of personal information:

  • Contact information: name, email address, phone number

  • Order information: billing address, shipping address, purchase details

  • Payment information: processed securely by Shopify Payments; we do not store full credit card numbers

  • Account information: login email, order history

  • Marketing information: newsletter sign‑ups, communication preferences

  • Technical information: IP address, browser type, device information, cookies, and analytics data

  • Customer service information: messages, inquiries, and support requests

We only collect personal information that is reasonable for providing our services.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

  • Processing and fulfilling orders

  • Managing customer accounts

  • Providing customer support

  • Sending order confirmations, shipping updates, and store communications

  • Sending marketing emails when you opt in

  • Improving our website and services

  • Preventing fraud and ensuring secure transactions

  • Complying with legal and regulatory requirements

We do not sell or trade your personal information.

3. Consent

By using our website, creating an account, subscribing to our newsletter, or completing a purchase, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in this policy.

You may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us at info@secondshelfbooks.ca. Withdrawal of consent may limit our ability to provide certain services (e.g., fulfilling orders).

4. Disclosure of Personal Information

We may disclose your personal information to:

Service Providers

We use trusted third‑party providers to operate our store, including:

  • Shopify (e‑commerce platform, payment processing, order management)

  • Email service providers (Shopify Email, newsletter tools)

  • Shipping carriers (Canada Post, UPS, etc.)

  • Analytics tools (Shopify analytics, cookies)

These providers may store or process your information outside of Canada, including in the United States. Under Alberta PIPA, we must inform you of this cross‑border transfer.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or regulatory authority.

5. Storage and Protection of Personal Information

We take reasonable security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or disclosure. These measures include:

  • Secure servers

  • Encrypted payment processing

  • Access controls

  • Shopify’s built‑in security protections

No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, but we follow industry best practices.

6. Retention of Personal Information

We retain personal information only as long as reasonably necessary to:

  • fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy

  • meet legal or accounting requirements

  • maintain accurate business records

When information is no longer required, it is securely deleted or anonymized.

7. Access, Correction, and Requests

Under Alberta PIPA, you have the right to:

  • access your personal information

  • request corrections to inaccurate information

  • request information about our use and disclosure of your data

To make a request, contact us at:

info@secondshelfbooks.ca Subject line: Privacy Request

We will respond within the timelines required by Alberta law.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

  • enable website functionality

  • remember your preferences

  • analyze website performance

  • support Shopify’s checkout and security systems

You can adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies, but this may affect site functionality.

9. Children’s Privacy

Our website is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors without parental consent.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Last updated” date. Continued use of our website indicates acceptance of the revised policy.

11. Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or complaints about our privacy practices, please contact:

Second Shelf Books Email: info@secondshelfbooks.ca Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

You may also contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta (OIPC) if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

If you want, I can also rewrite your Refund Policy, Terms of Service, or Shipping Policy to match this tone and meet Alberta requirements.