Cookie Policy
Learn how StoolGuide uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
This Cookie Policy explains how StoolGuide ("we," "our," or "us") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies when you visit our website at https://www.stoolguide.com (the "Site"). This policy is part of our commitment to transparency and your privacy.
By using our Site, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with this Cookie Policy. If you do not agree with our use of cookies, you should adjust your browser settings or discontinue use of the Site. For more information about how we handle your personal data, please refer to our Privacy Policy.
2. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer, smartphone, or other device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and to provide information to website owners.
Cookies serve several important functions:
- Remembering preferences: Such as your cookie consent choice or language settings
- Improving functionality: Enabling features like search and navigation
- Analyzing usage: Understanding how visitors interact with the Site
- Personalizing content: Showing relevant content and recommendations
- Tracking referrals: Identifying how you arrived at our Site
- Supporting advertising: Delivering relevant advertisements and measuring effectiveness
Cookies can be "persistent" (remaining on your device for a set period) or "session" cookies (deleted when you close your browser). They may be "first-party" (set by our website) or "third-party" (set by external services we use).
3. Types of Cookies We Use
We use the following categories of cookies on our Site:
3.1 Essential Cookies (Strictly Necessary)
These cookies are required for the Site to function properly. They enable basic features such as page navigation, security, and access to certain areas of the Site. The Site cannot function properly without these cookies.
- Purpose: Core website functionality
- Consent required: No (essential for site operation)
- Examples: Session management, load balancing, security tokens
3.2 Preference Cookies
These cookies allow the Site to remember choices you make (such as your cookie consent preferences, language, or region) and provide enhanced, more personalized features.
- Purpose: Remember user preferences
- Consent required: Yes
- Examples: Cookie consent status, display preferences
3.3 Analytics Cookies
These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with the Site by collecting and reporting information anonymously. They help us improve our content and user experience.
- Purpose: Understand site usage and performance
- Consent required: Yes
- Examples: Google Analytics, page view counts, bounce rates
3.4 Advertising Cookies
These cookies are used to deliver advertisements that are more relevant to you and your interests. They may also limit the number of times you see an advertisement and help measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns.
- Purpose: Deliver relevant ads and measure performance
- Consent required: Yes
- Examples: Google AdSense, retargeting pixels
3.5 Affiliate Cookies
These cookies track when you click on affiliate links and make purchases on third-party sites. They help us earn commissions that support our free content.
- Purpose: Attribute affiliate sales correctly
- Consent required: Yes
- Examples: Amazon Associates tracking, affiliate network cookies
4. Specific Cookies We Use
The following table lists the specific cookies that may be set on our Site:
| Cookie Name | Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| cookieConsent | Essential / Preference | Stores your cookie consent preference (accepted or declined) | 12 months |
| _ga | Analytics | Google Analytics - Distinguishes unique visitors | 2 years |
| _ga_<container-id> | Analytics | Google Analytics - Persists session state | 2 years |
| _gid | Analytics | Google Analytics - Distinguishes users | 24 hours |
| _gat | Analytics | Google Analytics - Throttles request rate | 1 minute |
| __gads | Advertising | Google AdSense - Ad serving and measurement | 13 months |
| amazon-pay-abtesting | Affiliate | Amazon Associates - Tracks affiliate referrals | Session to 24 hours |
| session | Essential | Maintains your session while browsing | Session (deleted on close) |
📝 Note: Cookie names and durations may change over time as we update our services and third-party integrations. This table will be updated to reflect any significant changes.
5. Third-Party Cookies
In addition to our own cookies, we may use various third-party cookies to report usage statistics, deliver advertisements, and track affiliate referrals. These third-party services have their own privacy and cookie policies.
5.1 Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with our Site. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect information anonymously and generate reports about website usage. You can learn more about Google's practices at Google's Privacy Policy and opt out at Google Analytics Opt-out.
5.2 Google AdSense
We may display advertisements through Google AdSense. Google uses cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to our Site and other websites. You can opt out of personalized advertising at Google Ads Settings.
5.3 Amazon Associates
As a participant in the Amazon Associates program, we use affiliate links that set cookies when clicked. These cookies help track referrals and attribute commissions. For more information, see Amazon's Privacy Notice.
5.4 Other Third-Party Services
We may occasionally integrate other third-party services (such as social media widgets, video embeds, or additional affiliate programs). These services may set their own cookies. We encourage you to review the privacy and cookie policies of any third-party services you encounter.
6. How We Use Cookies
We use cookies for the following purposes:
- Site functionality: To ensure the Site works correctly and remembers your preferences
- Analytics: To understand which pages are most popular, how long visitors stay, and what content resonates
- Performance improvement: To identify and fix technical issues
- Personalization: To tailor content based on your browsing behavior
- Advertising: To display relevant ads and measure their effectiveness
- Affiliate tracking: To properly attribute commissions for purchases made through our links
- Security: To detect and prevent fraudulent activity
7. Managing Your Cookie Preferences
You have several options for managing cookies on our Site:
7.1 Cookie Consent Banner
When you first visit our Site, a cookie consent banner appears. You can choose to Accept all cookies or Decline non-essential cookies. Your choice is stored in a preference cookie and will apply to future visits.
7.2 Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically:
- View and delete existing cookies
- Block all cookies
- Block third-party cookies only
- Set cookies to be deleted when you close the browser
- Set exceptions for specific websites
The methods vary by browser. Please refer to your browser's help documentation for specific instructions.
7.3 Opt-Out Tools
Several industry tools allow you to opt out of certain types of tracking:
8. Browser Settings & Controls
Here are links to cookie management instructions for popular browsers:
- Google Chrome: Manage cookies in Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox: Manage cookies in Firefox
- Safari: Manage cookies in Safari
- Microsoft Edge: Manage cookies in Edge
- Opera: Manage cookies in Opera
Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our Site and other websites you visit. Some features may not work as intended.
9. Cookie Consent
Our cookie consent mechanism works as follows:
- First visit: You'll see a cookie consent banner at the bottom of the page
- Accept: You consent to all cookie categories described in this policy
- Decline: Essential cookies remain active, but non-essential cookies (analytics, advertising, affiliate tracking) are disabled
- Changing your mind: You can update your preference by clearing cookies from your browser and revisiting the Site
✅ Your choice matters: Declining non-essential cookies will not affect your ability to read our content or use the core features of the Site. You'll still have access to all our bar stool guides, design tips, and resources.
10. Your Privacy Choices
In addition to cookie management, you have the following privacy choices:
- Access your data: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Correct your data: Request that we fix inaccurate information
- Delete your data: Request that we delete your personal information
- Restrict processing: Limit how we use your data
- Object to processing: Object to certain types of data processing
- Data portability: Request your data in a portable format
To exercise any of these rights, please visit our contact page. For more details about your privacy rights, refer to our Privacy Policy.
11. Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date.
We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Your continued use of the Site after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Cookie Policy. Material changes may be communicated through a prominent notice on the Site.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or comments about this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, please contact us:
- Visit our contact us page to submit an inquiry
- We typically respond to all legitimate inquiries within 5-10 business days
📧 Questions about cookies? Please visit our contact page to send us a message. We're committed to transparency and will gladly answer any questions you have about our cookie practices.
✅ Summary: StoolGuide uses essential, preference, analytics, advertising, and affiliate cookies. You can manage cookies through our consent banner or your browser settings. Declining non-essential cookies will not affect your access to our content.