Privacy Matters: Co-op Databases and Consumer Privacy

When your reps tell consumers that their information came from a co-op source, it’s best to name the co-op and then offer to contact it on consumers’ behalf.

Check your privacy policy. If you’re a member of a co-op, make sure your publicly available privacy policy indicates that you share data with third-party marketers. The exact language you use is crucial. If you routinely share the names of your customers with a co-op, a privacy policy statement such as, “We may at times make your contact information available to a very few select companies we think you might like to hear from” may not be an accurate statement.