Why do we use cookies and similar technologies?
To make our website (including our mobile site) and apps work better and to distinguish you from other users, we use cookies and similar technologies, such as tagging. Cookies and similar technologies can perform functions, make our website easier to use and personalise content.
By using the site you agree the use of cookies as described in our privacy policy.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files, downloaded from websites to your computer or smartphone as you browse and use the Internet.
There are two main types of cookie:
- A session cookie only exists for the duration of your visit to a website. They recognise your computer or smartphone as you move between pages. These cookies can be used, for example, to maintain secure logins.
- A persistent cookie stays on your device for a set period of time and can be used, for example, to remember you when you next visit the website.
The source of each cookie also varies. Some cookies are owned and created by Specsavers ('first-party' cookies), but others are supplied by independent companies ('third-party' cookies).
When referring to cookies, this also includes similar online tracking devices such as web beacons and flash cookies that we may use.
Cookies are NOT viruses, any kind of malware, programs or applications. Cookies can't see the files on your computer.
Specsavers, cookies and you
The cookies used on specsavers.co.uk fall into four categories:
- Strictly necessary
- Performance
- Functional
- Advertising
More information about each category of cookie can be found below, and the cookies from the Specsavers site are listed in full at the bottom of this page.
Strictly necessary cookies
Strictly necessary cookies let you move around the website and use essential features such as shopping baskets and secure areas.
We use strictly necessary cookies to
- Remember information that you have entered on web order forms when you visit different pages in a the same session
- Balance the overall volume of website visitors between our computer servers
These cookies will not be used to gather information that could be used for marketing or to remember visitor information outside of a single session.
Performance cookies
Performance cookies collect aggregated information about how visitors use our website, eg which pages visitors go to most often, how long they stay, and whether they get error messages. This information is useful to Specsavers so that we understand how visitors experience our site and it is used to formulate improvements to the website.
Performance cookie information is aggregated and does not identify individuals.
Functional cookies
Functional cookies allow the website to remember choices you have made on the website. Examples include
- whether you have been asked to fill in a survey
- offering the ability to share content via social networks
Advertising cookies
Advertising cookies are used to deliver adverts that are more relevant to you and your interests, and to reduce advertising that is not relevant. Examples include
- remembering a pattern of website behaviour so that adverts can be made more relevant
- limiting the number of times that advert is seen in order to reduce fatigue
- researching which adverts work best
Advertising cookies collect information anonymously and it is not linked to you as a person, even if you have logged in to our website.
Online Behavioural Advertising
Some Specsavers advertising on 3rd party websites uses tracking cookies. Specsavers places such adverts only in networks that subscribe to the EU Self-Regulatory Framework for Online Behavioural Advertising (www.youronlinechoices.com) and the adverts are linked to further information about the cookies used.
Managing cookies
You can remove any cookies already stored on your computer and you can control how your web browser deals with cookies by changing your browser settings. However this may prevent you from using parts of our website.
Many browsers give a range of options for managing cookies, including obtaining consent for every cookie, blocking certain types of cookie and blocking cookies from unrecognised websites. Finally, you can set your browser to block all cookies however you should be aware that many sites will not work as smoothly as you are used to and some basic functionality that is dependent on cookies will not work at all.
The following links go to the relevant help sections for the major web browsers and explain how to manage your cookies:
Chrome
https://support.google.com/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=95647&p=cpn_cookies
Safari OS X
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Safari/5.0/en/9277.html
Safari iOS
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1677
Internet Explorer
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/How-to-manage-cookies-in-Internet-Explorer-9
Firefox
http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Cookies?s=cookies&r=0&e=es&as=s
Android
http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=169022
Windows phone
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/en-us/howto/wp7/web/changing-privacy-and-other-browser-settings.aspx
What are similar technologies?
Tagging works in a similar way to cookies. We use a tag called a pixel. A pixel is an image that once imbedded in an email connects to a file stored on our web server and allows us to determine customer interest in our marketing emails. Tags can also be known as beacons.
These allow us to see which promotions seem of interest to our customers, and if a particular offer seems to interest you. We may use this information to send offers which appear to be more relevant to you. To opt out you would need to unsubscribe from our marketing emails.