Privacy Policy

Lake Ariel Sales — online estate auctions
109 Deer Laurel Ests Rd • Lake Ariel, PA 18436 • LakeArielSales.com

This Privacy Policy is issued by and applies to Lake Ariel Sales.

Last Updated: 9/10/2026

1. Introduction

Lake Ariel Sales ("Auction House," "we," "us," or "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard information about visitors, registered bidders, buyers, and consignors (collectively, "you") when you visit LakeArielSales.com (the "Site"), register for an account, place a bid, complete a purchase, sign up for text alerts, or otherwise interact with us.

This Privacy Policy is incorporated into and governed by our Terms & Conditions. Capitalized terms not defined here have the meanings given in the Terms. By using the Site or registering as a bidder, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not use the Site.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of information:

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

When you register an account, place a bid, complete a purchase, sign up for text alerts, contact us, or subscribe to our newsletter, we may collect:

• Identification information: legal name, mailing address, billing address, telephone number, email address, date of birth, and, where required to verify your identity, a copy of a government-issued photo ID.
• Mobile number and text-message preferences: if you opt in to text alerts, the mobile phone number you provide and a record of which message types you consented to and when (see Section 11).
• Financial information: credit or debit card number, expiration date, security code, billing ZIP code, and, where applicable, proof of funds. Payment card details are submitted directly to our third-party payment processors and are not stored on our servers.
• Account credentials: username, password, and bidder number.
• Transaction information: lots viewed, watched, bid on, won, payment history, returned check or chargeback history, and pickup or shipping records.
• Communications: the content of emails, contact-form submissions, customer service messages, and any other correspondence with us.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the Site, we and our service providers automatically collect:

• Device and connection data: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device identifiers, referring URL, and language preferences.
• Usage data: pages viewed, time spent on the Site, click activity, search queries, items added to your wish list or cart, and the date and time of your visits.
• Cookies and similar technologies: see Section 6 below.

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from:

• Payment processors (Venmo, PayPal, and credit card networks) confirming payment status.
• Identity-verification providers, where used.
• Public records, where required to verify a bidder's eligibility.
• Analytics and advertising providers.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Register you as a bidder, verify your identity and eligibility, and assign you a bidder number.
• Operate the auction platform, accept and process bids, determine winning bidders, and form the contract of sale described in our Terms.
• Process payments, calculate the Buyer's Premium and applicable taxes, charge the credit card on file for amounts owed, and pursue collection of unpaid balances.
• Coordinate pickup, release, and shipment of purchased property.
• Communicate with you about your account, your bids, your invoices, and your purchases — including announcements regarding upcoming auctions, as you have consented to under Section 14 of our Terms.
• Send you text messages, only where you have separately opted in, as described in Section 11.
• Send marketing emails and newsletters, where you have opted in. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any marketing email.
• Detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, shill bidding, bid rigging, chargebacks, account takeovers, and other prohibited conduct described in Section 11 of our Terms.
• Enforce our Terms, resolve disputes, exercise the remedies described in Section 5 of our Terms (including reporting defaults to credit bureaus and collection agencies), and defend legal claims.
• Comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including tax reporting and laws governing restricted items.
• Maintain, secure, and improve the Site.

We do not sell your personal information for monetary consideration.

4. How We Share Your Information

We share personal information only as described below:

• Service providers. We share information with vendors that help us operate the Site and our business, including hosting providers, payment processors (such as those handling credit card, Venmo, and PayPal transactions), shipping carriers, identity-verification services, email and marketing platforms, analytics providers, cloud storage providers, and the messaging service provider that delivers our text messages. These vendors are permitted to use your information only to perform services for us.
• Consignors and sellers. We may share limited buyer information with the consignor of a lot you have purchased, where reasonably necessary to complete the transaction.
• Legal and protective disclosures. We may disclose information when we believe in good faith it is necessary to comply with a subpoena, court order, or other legal process; to respond to a lawful request from a government authority; to enforce our Terms; to protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of our users or the public; or to investigate suspected fraud or prohibited conduct.
• Default and collections. As permitted by Section 5 of our Terms, we may report defaults and unpaid balances to credit bureaus and collection agencies.
• Business transfers. If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, bankruptcy, sale of business assets, or similar transaction, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
• With your consent. We may share information with third parties when you direct us to do so.

Mobile information is never shared for marketing. Notwithstanding anything above, no mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. All of the categories above exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties. Your mobile number is used only by Lake Ariel Sales to send you the messages you have opted in to, and by the messaging provider that delivers them on our behalf.

5. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as your account is active and for as long as necessary to provide our services, comply with our legal and tax obligations (including auction-license recordkeeping requirements under Pennsylvania law), enforce our Terms, resolve disputes, and pursue legitimate business interests. Transaction and bidding records are typically retained for at least seven (7) years following the close of the auction in which they were created. If you opt out of text messages, we retain a record of your opt-out so that we continue to honor it. When information is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies (such as web beacons, pixels, and local storage) to operate the Site, keep you signed in, remember items in your cart and wish list, analyze traffic, and — where applicable — deliver advertising. Categories include:

• Strictly necessary cookies that enable core functions such as login, bidding, and shopping cart.
• Analytics cookies that help us understand how the Site is used.
• Advertising cookies that may be used by third-party advertising partners to deliver relevant ads.

Most browsers allow you to refuse or delete cookies through your settings. Disabling cookies may impair Site functionality, including your ability to sign in or place bids. The cookie notice displayed on our Site provides additional information.

We do not currently respond to "Do Not Track" browser signals, but we honor opt-out preference signals (including the Global Privacy Control) where required by applicable state law.

7. Children's Privacy

The Site is intended for users who are at least 18 years of age, consistent with Section 1.3 of our Terms. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will delete it promptly. A parent or guardian who believes a child has provided us with personal information may contact us using the details in Section 14.

8. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. Payment card data is transmitted using TLS encryption and processed by PCI-compliant third-party providers.

However, as acknowledged in Section 10 of our Terms, the internet is not a fully secure environment. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for safeguarding your account credentials and notifying us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account.

9. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on where you live, you may have some or all of the following rights with respect to your personal information:

• Access — request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction — request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Deletion — request that we delete personal information, subject to exceptions for information we are required or permitted to retain (for example, completed transaction records and information needed to comply with legal obligations or to enforce our Terms).
• Opt out of marketing — unsubscribe from marketing emails using the link in any such message, or by contacting us.
• Opt out of text messages — reply STOP to any text message, or change your preferences on the Text Alerts page in your account (see Section 11).
• Opt out of targeted advertising and certain sharing — where applicable under your state's law.
• Data portability — receive certain information in a portable format.
• Appeal — appeal a denial of a privacy request, where required by your state's law.

Residents of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia, among others, may have additional rights under their state privacy laws. To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the information in Section 14. We will verify your identity before responding and will respond within the time required by applicable law. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights.

10. Communications and Consent

By registering, you consent to the communications described in Section 14 of our Terms, including communications by mail, email, and telephone regarding sales, purchases, and auction opportunities. You may revoke this consent at any time by writing to us at the address in Section 14. Revoking marketing consent will not stop transactional or account-related communications (such as invoices, payment notices, and pickup instructions), which are necessary for us to perform our obligations to you.

Text messages are handled separately and require your specific opt-in, as described in Section 11. Registering for an account does not, by itself, enroll you in text messages.

11. Text Message (SMS) Communications

Opting in. Text alerts are optional. You enroll by providing your mobile number on the Text Alerts page in your account and checking the box for the message type(s) you want. There are two kinds of messages, each with its own opt-in:

• Bidding activity messages (transactional): outbid notices, notices that lots you are bidding on are closing, invoices, and pickup reminders.
• Promotional messages (marketing): new auction announcements and sale announcements. Consent to promotional messages is not a condition of registering, bidding, or buying on the Site.

How we use your mobile number. Text messages are sent by Lake Ariel Sales. We use the mobile number you provide solely to send you the text messages you have opted in to, and to keep a record of your consent and any opt-out.

No sharing of mobile information. No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties. We do not sell, rent, or trade mobile numbers or opt-in data. The only party that receives your number is the messaging service provider that delivers our messages on our behalf, and it may use your number only for that purpose.

Message frequency and cost. Message frequency varies depending on your bidding activity and, if you opt in to promotional messages, our auction schedule. Message and data rates may apply according to your mobile carrier's plan.

Opting out. You may cancel text messages at any time by replying STOP to any message we send. You will receive a one-time confirmation that you have been unsubscribed, and no further messages will be sent to that number unless you opt in again. You may also change or cancel your text preferences at any time on the Text Alerts page in your account. Opting out of text messages does not affect email or other communications, which you can manage separately.

Help. Reply HELP to any message for assistance, or contact us using the details in Section 14.

Carriers. Mobile carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

12. Third-Party Links and Payment Platforms

The Site may contain links to third-party websites, and our checkout flow uses third-party payment platforms (including Venmo, PayPal, and credit card processors). This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party site or service before providing information to them.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

Consistent with Section 16.2 of our Terms, we may modify this Privacy Policy at any time. When we do, we will update the "Last Updated" date above and post the revised policy on the Site. Material changes will be communicated by additional notice (such as an email or a banner on the Site) where required by applicable law. Your continued use of the Site after the effective date of any change constitutes acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us:

Lake Ariel Sales 109 Deer Laurel Ests Rd Lake Ariel, PA 18436 Contact Form

15. Governing Law and Disputes

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Privacy Policy is subject to the dispute-resolution provisions of Section 15 of our Terms & Conditions, including binding arbitration and the class-action waiver, except where such provisions are unenforceable as to a particular claim under applicable law.