Privacy and PCI Policy
W Store is committed to the privacy of its customers. This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through our websites and employees.
As part of the transactional processes, we may collect information including name, email address, University of Waterloo student ID number and shipping address (where applicable). W Store collects and stores this information for processing your order, improving site functionality and marketing purposes. Users may also receive occasional communications through our email rewards program.
Information is collected under the authority of the University of Waterloo Act, 1972 and will be processed in compliance with applicable privacy legislation (e.g., Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. F.31) and UW's policies. Learn more about University of Waterloo Information and Privacy.
Questions about the collection, use, and disclosure of this information should be directed to Michael Jack, Administrative Officer (519-888-4567, ext. 49256, michael.jack@uwaterloo.ca). Questions about the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information by the University should be directed to the Privacy Officer at fippa@uwaterloo.ca.
W Store transaction processing meets or exceeds Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards for records retention, encryption, applications and procedures. More resources are available here:
Survey Data Privacy Policy
University of Waterloo Information, Privacy and Record Retention
The University of Waterloo is committed to respecting the privacy of respondents to this survey. All personal information is collected under the authority of the University of Waterloo Act (1972) and will be processed in compliance with Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, as well as the University of Waterloo’s Information and Privacy policies.
Questions about the collection, use, and disclosure of this information associated with this survey should be directed to Michael Jack, Administrative Officer (519-888-4567, ext. 39256, michael.jack@uwaterloo.ca ). Questions about the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information by the University should be directed to the Privacy Officer at fippa@uwaterloo.ca.
The collected data and reports will be managed according to the University records classification scheme, WatClass, and will be securely destroyed when no longer needed by the University.
Exchange and Return Policy
Winter 2024 Return Updates: Returns for in-store purchases may be facilitated at a W Store or W Store Essentials location during regular hours of operation. Please see below for details. Returns for online purchases may be mailed back to W Store. We recommend that you use a traceable shipping method for your returned product. We are not responsible for lost shipments and shipping fees are not refundable. Please see below for details. All returns must include a completed copy of the W Store Web Return Form (if purchased online), along with the original invoice/receipt. Important notice: Due to a large volume of orders, web order returns may take up to five weeks to be processed. Please see below for list of exceptions. Textbooks and Course Materials Return Deadline Textbooks and study guides must be postmarked before the listed return deadline. The return deadline for the Spring 2024 academic term is May 27, 2024. After this date, refunds for special circumstances are at the discretion of store management. Access codes, e-texts and other digital course materials that have not been redeemed are returnable subject to the Textbooks and Course Materials Return Deadline. All digital course material returns should be emailed to wstore@uwaterloo.ca and must include a completed copy of the W Store Web Return Form. Returns for access codes that have been redeemed are at the discretion of store management and subject to approval. Please see list of exceptions below. General Merchandise Return Deadline (Clothing, School Supplies, Dorm Essentials, Gift Items, etc.) General merchandise items purchased online must be postmarked by or returned within 30 days of the first delivery attempt. After this date, refunds for special circumstances are at the discretion of store management. Items purchased in-store should be returned in-store within 14 days of original purchase. Please see below for list of exceptions. All web returns must include a completed copy of the W Store Web Return Form, along with the original invoice/receipt. Refunds will be processed in Canadian dollars. If your order was cancelled, or you received a partial shipment, a refund will be processed automatically. Returns will be processed to the same method of payment used in the original transaction. For items accompanied by a gift receipt refunds will be processed to a W Store gift card. We will make every effort to process exchanges for items similar to the original purchase. If a similar item is not available, the returned merchandise may be exchanged for other in-store items of equal or lesser value, with no compensation for the difference. Please see below for exceptions. Shipping fees are non-refundable. Returns sent via mail/courier will be shipped at buyer’s expense. A shipment method with a tracking number is recommended. All returned items are subject to inspection and at the discretion of W Store. Must include original tags, and be unopened in original selling condition. Please package securely to avoid damage in shipping. Exceptions: We cannot accept returns for the following items: Ink jet cartridges, custom configured computers, demo products, software licenses, lab manuals, DVD’s, dictionaries, medical reference books, bar charts, print on demand rainchecks, courseware, student agendas, reference test books (LSAT, MCAT, etc), lab supplies , faculty-approved calculators, course kits (e.g. dissection and molecular kits), custom orders, school rings, leather jackets, drinkware, face masks, convocation hoods and items marked final sale or clearance. These items are not applicable to receive a refund. Gift card purchases are final sale and are not redeemable for cash. Some technology purchases may have warranty coverage that differs from above. Please consult the documentation that accompanied your purchase for details. For warranty information on these items, please contact the manufacturer directly. To return orders bought online through the website, please ship the order to the following address: W Store – Returns University of Waterloo, South Campus Hall 200 University Ave W. Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1 What are final sale items? Items marked as “Final Sale” cannot be returned or exchanged. Final sale items include: Ink jet cartridges, custom configured computers, demo products, software licenses, lab manuals, DVDs, dictionaries, medical reference books, bar charts, print on demand rainchecks, courseware, student agendas, reference test books (LSAT, MCAT, etc.), lab supplies, faculty-approved calculators, course kits (e.g. dissection and molecular kits), custom orders, school rings, leather jackets, drinkware, face masks, convocation hoods and items marked final sale or clearance. Abandoned Orders Once an order is processed for pick-up, an initial notification is sent to the email address provided. An additional contact attempt will be made, reminding you to pick up your order. If the order is not picked up within 14 days of the initial contact attempt, your order will be marked as abandoned and will be recycled. Abandoned orders are not eligible for refund.