About cookie use on this site

What is a cookie?

Cookies are usually small text files, given ID tags that are stored on your computer's browser directory or program data subfolders. Cookies are created when you use your browser to visit a website that uses cookies to keep track of your movements within the site, help you resume where you left off, remember your registered login, theme selection, preferences, and other customization functions.The website stores a corresponding file(with same ID tag)to the one they set in your browser and in this file they can track and keep information on your movements within the site and any information you may have voluntarily given while visiting the website, such as email address.

Cookies are often indispensable for websites that have huge databases, need logins, have customizable themes, other advanced features.

Cookies usually don't contain much information except for the url of the website that created the cookie, the duration of the cookie's abilities and effects, and a random number. Due to the little amount of information a cookie contains, it usually cannot be used to reveal your identity or personally identifying information.However, marketing is becoming increasingly sophisticated and cookies in some cases can be agressively used to create a profile of your surfing habits.

There are two types of cookies: session cookies and persistent cookies. Session cookies are created temporarily in your browser's subfolder while you are visiting a website. Once you leave the site, the session cookie is deleted. On the other hand, persistent cookie files remain in your browser's subfolder and are activated again once you visit the website that created that particular cookie. A persistent cookie remains in the browser's subfolder for the duration period set within the cookie's file.

You can find further information about cookies here. For more information from the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) regarding cookies  read more here.

Exemptions from the right to refuse a cookie

The Regulations specify that service providers should not have to provide the information and obtain consent where that device is to be used:

• for the sole purpose of carrying out or facilitating the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network; or
• where such storage or access is strictly necessary to provide an information society service requested by the subscriber or user.

In defining an 'information society service' the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002 refer to 'any service normally provided for remuneration, at a distance, by means of electronic equipment for the processing (including digital compression) and storage of data, and at the individual request of a recipient of a service'.

The term 'strictly necessary' means that such storage of or access to information should be essential, rather than reasonably necessary, for this exemption to apply. However, it will also be restricted to what is essential to provide the service requested by the user, rather than what might be essential for any other uses the service provider might wish to make of that data. It will also include what is required to comply with any other legislation the service provider might be subject to, for example, the security requirements of the seventh data protection principle.

Where the use of a cookie type device is deemed 'important' rather than 'strictly necessary', those collecting the information are still obliged to provide information about the device to the potential service recipient and obtain consent.

Our use of Cookies on this site

We use cookies in one of three ways:

1. Bidder identity - when you place a bid on this site we need to know who you are. Once you have registered and then logged in to this site we place a cookie on your computer in order to "remember" who you are whilst bidding. This is an essential cookie and is deemed as "strictly necessary" to the core function of the site.  Without this cookie you would be unable to place a bid on any of the lots on the site.
2. Google Analytics - Google Analytics place a good on your computer. We use Google Analytics to track your usage of the site. This information is only available to us and our web developers and is kept as aggregate data by Google. We have no access to your identity through this mechanism. By knowing how this site is used and what technology is used we are able to make improvements to the site.
3. Third Party applications - from time to time we may place third party content on the site such as an embedded video from You Tube or Vimeo, or a picture from Flickr. Those third party providers may place a cookie on your computer. We have no control over whether they do so or not.

How to enable and disable cookies using your browser