PRIVACY POLICY

Effective Date: 2026 | sterlingauctions.ca

Compliant with Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
We know privacy policies can be long and hard to read. We've written this one in plain language so you actually understand how we handle your information. If you have any questions, just email us at privacy@sterlingauctions.ca.

Overview

Sterling Auctions Inc. ("Sterling Auctions", "we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, and what your rights are.

This policy applies to all information collected through our website at sterlingauctions.ca, our auction activity on HiBid.com, our Sterling Points rewards program, and any communications between you and us, including email.

By using our website or services, you consent to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our site or services.

1. Who We Are & How to Contact Us

Sterling Auctions Inc. ("Sterling Auctions", "we", "us", or "our") is an Ontario-based resale marketplace operating at sterlingauctions.ca. We are accountable for the personal information we collect and handle in accordance with Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

Privacy Contact:

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding your personal information, please contact us using the information above. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe.

2. What Personal Information We Collect

We only collect information that is necessary to provide you with our services. Here is what we may collect:

Information you give us directly:

  • Your name, email address, and phone number when you create an account or contact us.
  • Your billing and payment details when you make a purchase (payment card details are processed securely by our payment provider — we do not store full card numbers).
  • Your shipping address when you request delivery.
  • Your HiBid bidder number when you link your auction activity to earn Sterling Points.
  • Any messages or correspondence you send to us.

Information we collect automatically when you use our website:

  • Your IP address and browser type.
  • Pages you visit and how long you spend on them.
  • Device information (e.g., whether you're on a phone or computer).
  • Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 6 for details).

Information related to your purchases and rewards:

  • Your purchase history on sterlingauctions.ca and auction wins on HiBid.com.
  • Your Sterling Points balance and redemption history.

3. Why We Collect Your Information

We only use your information for clear, specific purposes. Here is why we collect it:

  • To process your orders and arrange delivery of your purchases.
  • To manage your account on sterlingauctions.ca.
  • To administer the Sterling Points rewards program, including tracking your points balance and processing redemptions.
  • To communicate with you about your orders, shipping status, and any issues with your account.
  • To respond to your questions and customer service requests.
  • To send you marketing emails about new auctions, deals, and promotions — but only if you have opted in to receive them. You can unsubscribe at any time.
  • To improve our website and make your experience better.
  • To comply with our legal obligations under Ontario and Canadian law.
  • To detect and prevent fraud, unauthorized account use, and fraudulent chargebacks.

We will never use your information for any purpose beyond what is described above without first asking for your consent.

4. Your Consent

Under PIPEDA, we need your consent to collect, use, or share your personal information. Here is how consent works with us:

  • When you create an account or make a purchase, you consent to us collecting and using your information to fulfil that transaction.
  • If we want to send you marketing emails, we will ask for your express consent first. You can withdraw this consent at any time by clicking "Unsubscribe" in any of our emails or by emailing privacy@sterlingauctions.ca.
  • For cookies that are not strictly necessary to run our website, we will ask for your consent through a cookie banner when you first visit our site.

You can withdraw your consent at any time. Please note that withdrawing consent may limit our ability to provide certain services to you, such as processing orders or administering your Sterling Points account. We will always explain the impact before you decide.

5. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We only share it in the following limited circumstances:

With service providers who help us run our business:

We work with trusted third-party companies to help us operate our website, process payments, arrange deliveries, and send emails. These providers are contractually required to protect your information and use it only for the services they provide to us. Examples include:

  • Payment processors (to handle transactions securely).
  • Delivery and shipping companies (to arrange order fulfilment).
  • Email and marketing platforms (to send you communications you have consented to).
  • Website analytics providers (to help us understand how our site is used).

With HiBid.com:

When you participate in our auctions on HiBid.com and link your bidder number to your Sterling Auctions account, we receive information about your auction activity in order to calculate and credit your Sterling Points. HiBid.com has its own privacy policy which governs how they handle your data on their platform.

If required by law:

We may disclose your information if required by a court order, law enforcement, or other legal process. We will only do this to the extent required by applicable Canadian law.

To protect our rights:

We may share information when necessary to prevent fraud, enforce our Terms & Conditions, or protect the safety of our customers or staff.

In a business transfer:

If Sterling Auctions is acquired, merged, or sold, your personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you in advance if this occurs.

We do not share your personal information with advertisers or data brokers.

6. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies — small text files stored on your device — to make our site work properly and to improve your experience.

We use cookies for the following purposes:

  • Essential cookies: These are required for our website to function (e.g., keeping you logged in, remembering your cart). You cannot opt out of these.
  • Analytics cookies: These help us understand how visitors use our site so we can improve it (e.g., which pages are most popular). We ask for your consent before placing these.
  • Marketing cookies: These help us show you relevant promotions. We only use these with your consent.

You can manage your cookie preferences at any time through the cookie settings on our website, or by adjusting your browser settings to refuse cookies. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect how our website works.

To learn more about online behavioural advertising and your opt-out options, visit the Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada at youradchoices.ca.

7. How We Protect Your Information

We take the security of your personal information seriously. We use reasonable physical, electronic, and administrative safeguards to protect your data from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration. These include:

  • Encrypted connections (SSL/TLS) for all data transmitted through our website.
  • Secure servers protected by firewalls.
  • Restricted access to personal information — only staff who need it to do their jobs can access it.
  • Secure, encrypted payment processing handled by our payment provider. We do not store full credit card numbers.

While we do everything we can to protect your information, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. You are also responsible for keeping your account password confidential and not sharing it with anyone.

Please note: email is not a secure medium. If your communication is sensitive — such as payment details or personal identification — please do not send it by unencrypted email. Use our secure contact form at sterlingauctions.ca/contact instead, or look for the padlock icon in your browser to confirm you are on a secure connection before submitting any information.

In the unlikely event of a data breach that poses a real risk of significant harm to you, we will notify you and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada as required under PIPEDA.

8. How Long We Keep Your Information

We only keep your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this policy, or as required by law. Here is a general guide:

  • Account information: Kept for as long as your account is active, plus a reasonable period afterward in case of disputes or legal requirements.
  • Purchase records: Kept for a minimum of 7 years for accounting and tax purposes, as required by the Canada Revenue Agency.
  • Sterling Points history: Kept for the duration of your account and for a reasonable period after redemption or expiry.
  • Marketing consent records: Kept as long as needed to demonstrate your consent or opt-out.

When your information is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize it so it can no longer be associated with you.

9. Transfers of Information Outside Canada

Some of our service providers (such as website hosting, analytics, or email platforms) may store or process your information outside of Canada, including in the United States. When this occurs, your information may be subject to the laws of that country, which may differ from Canadian privacy law.

We require all third-party service providers to maintain privacy and security standards that are consistent with this policy and applicable Canadian privacy legislation. By using our website and services, you consent to this transfer.

10. Children Under 18

Our website and services are not intended for anyone under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from someone under 18, please contact us immediately at privacy@sterlingauctions.ca and we will delete it promptly.

11. Your Privacy Rights

Under PIPEDA, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

  • Right to access: You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
  • Right to correct: If any of your information is inaccurate or incomplete, you can ask us to correct it.
  • Right to withdraw consent: You can withdraw your consent to our use of your information at any time (subject to legal or contractual restrictions).
  • Right to know: You can ask us what personal information we have collected about you and how it is being used.
  • Right to complain: If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you have the right to file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@sterlingauctions.ca. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request. We will respond within 30 days. In some cases, we may charge a small fee for access requests — we will notify you of any fee before proceeding.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact:

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

  • Website: priv.gc.ca
  • Phone: 1-800-282-1376
  • Email: info@priv.gc.ca

12. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including HiBid.com and our social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok). These sites have their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for how they handle your information. We encourage you to read the privacy policy of any website you visit.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make significant changes, we will notify you by email (using the address on your account) and by posting a notice on our website. The date at the top of this policy will always show when it was last updated.

Your continued use of our website after changes are posted means you accept the updated policy.

14. Questions & Complaints

We take privacy seriously and welcome any questions or concerns. If you are not happy with how we have handled your personal information, please reach out — we want to make it right.

Sterling Auctions Privacy Contact:

  • Email: privacy@sterlingauctions.ca
  • Customer Service: support@sterlingauctions.ca
  • Hours: Every day, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Website: sterlingauctions.ca/contact

We commit to acknowledging your inquiry promptly and resolving complaints within a reasonable timeframe. If you remain unsatisfied after contacting us, you may escalate your complaint to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at priv.gc.ca.