Privacy Policy

At Outlet The Rugged Boots Store (“we”, “us”, or “our”), we understand that our customers—hardworking professionals, military personnel, and outdoor adventurers—demand reliability in every aspect of their gear, including how we handle your personal information. Just as we build toughness into our boots, we build security into our data practices.

1. Information We Collect

When you interact with our website at theruggedboots.com, we may collect:

• Personal Identification: Name, shipping/billing address, email, phone number, military APO/FPO information when you place an order
• Payment Information: Credit/debit card details (processed securely through our PCI-DSS compliant partners), PayPal email (we never store full payment details)
• Order Details: Products purchased, sizes, preferences for work/military/outdoor use
• Technical Data: IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited (through cookies and similar technologies)
• Communication Records: Emails, live chat transcripts, or phone call records with our customer service team

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your data with the same precision we apply to crafting durable footwear:

• Process and fulfill your orders for work boots, tactical gear, or outdoor footwear
• Verify military status for applicable discounts or shipping to bases
• Provide customer support from our Illinois-based team
• Improve our website and product offerings for professionals and adventurers
• Prevent fraud and enhance payment security (using 3D Secure authentication)
• Send order confirmations and shipping notifications (we keep marketing to a minimum – we know you’re busy working)

3. Data Sharing & Disclosure

We treat your data with the same confidentiality you’d expect from gear made for demanding environments:

• Service Providers: Only share what’s necessary with payment processors, shipping carriers, and IT security providers
• Legal Requirements: May disclose if required by law or to protect our rights (we’ll push back unless absolutely necessary)
• Business Transfers: In case of company sale, we’ll notify you so you can decide about your data
• Never Sold: We don’t sell or rent your information to third-party marketers

4. International Data Transfers

Since we ship globally (except certain Asian and remote regions), your data may be transferred to:

• Our U.S. headquarters in Park Forest, IL
• Payment processors with international operations
• Shipping carriers serving job sites and military bases worldwide

We ensure all transfers comply with applicable data protection laws.

5. Data Security

We protect your information with the same toughness built into our products:

• Industry-standard encryption for all transactions
• PCI-DSS compliant payment processing
• Regular security audits and vulnerability testing
• Limited employee access to sensitive data
• Secure data storage with reputable cloud providers

6. Your Rights

You’re in control of your data, just like you’re in control in the field:

• Access: Request what personal data we have about you
• Correction: Update inaccurate information (especially important for shipping to job sites or bases)
• Deletion: Ask us to delete your data when no longer needed
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications
• Restriction: Limit how we use your data in certain circumstances

To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected].

7. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use these tools sparingly – just what’s needed to keep your experience smooth:

• Essential Cookies: For shopping cart functionality and secure checkout
• Performance Cookies: To improve site speed and reliability
• Analytics: Basic traffic measurement (we don’t over-analyze your every move)

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings.

8. Changes to This Policy

When we update this policy (rarely, and only when necessary), we’ll post the new version here with an updated date. For major changes affecting military or international customers, we may provide additional notice.