Privacy Policy

preamble

With the following privacy policy, we would like to inform you about which types of your personal data (hereinafter also referred to as "data") we process, for what purposes, and to what extent. This privacy policy applies to all processing of personal data carried out by us, both in the context of providing our services and in particular on our websites, in mobile applications, and within external online presences, such as our social media profiles (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "online offering").

The terms used are not gender-specific.

As of: May 30, 2025

Table of Contents

preamble

Person responsible

Overview of processing

Relevant legal bases

Security measures

Transmission of personal data

International data transfers

General information on data storage and deletion

Rights of data subjects

Business services

Payment methods

Provision of the online service and web hosting

Use of cookies

Registration, login and user account

Community features

Contact and inquiry management

Newsletters and electronic notifications

Advertising communication via email, post, fax or telephone

Sweepstakes and competitions

Web analysis, monitoring and optimization

Customer reviews and rating processes

Presences in social networks (social media)

Plug-ins and embedded functions and content

Management, organization and support tools

Change and update

Definitions of terms

Person responsible

Stefanie Markendorf
Frielinghausstr. 43
45966 Gladbeck

Authorized representatives: Stefanie Markendorf

Email address:  stefanie.markendorf@yahoo.de

Phone: +49 17621401886

Imprint: pheroxity.com/impressum/

Overview of processing

The following overview summarizes the types of data processed and the purposes of their processing and refers to the data subjects.

Types of data processed

Inventory data.

Payment details.

Contact details.

Content data.

Contract data.

Usage data.

Meta, communication and procedural data.

Event data (Facebook).

Log data.

Categories of data subjects

Service recipient and client.

Interested parties.

Communication partner.

Users.

Sweepstakes and competition participants.

Business and contractual partners.

Purposes of processing

Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations.

Communication.

Security measures.

Direct marketing.

Reach measurement.

Tracking.

Office and organizational procedures.

Target group formation.

Organizational and administrative procedures.

Conducting prize draws and competitions.

Feedback.

Marketing.

Profiles with user-related information.

Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.

Information technology infrastructure.

Public relations.

Sales promotion.

Business processes and business procedures.

Relevant legal bases

Relevant legal bases under the GDPR:  Below you will find an overview of the legal bases under the GDPR on which we process personal data. Please note that in addition to the provisions of the GDPR, national data protection regulations may apply in your or our country of residence or domicile. Should more specific legal bases apply in individual cases, we will inform you of these in the privacy policy.

Consent (Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR)  – The data subject has given his or her consent to the processing of personal data concerning him or her for a specific purpose or several specific purposes.

Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Article 6 (1) (b) GDPR)  – Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party or for the implementation of pre-contractual measures taken at the request of the data subject.

Legal obligation (Article 6 (1) (c) GDPR)  – Processing is necessary to fulfill a legal obligation to which the controller is subject.

Legitimate interests (Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR)  – processing is necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the controller or a third party, provided that the interests, fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require protection of personal data do not override them.

National data protection regulations in Germany:  In addition to the data protection regulations of the GDPR, national data protection regulations apply in Germany. This includes, in particular, the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG). The BDSG contains, in particular, special provisions on the right to information, the right to erasure, the right of objection, the processing of special categories of personal data, processing for other purposes, and transmission, as well as automated decision-making in individual cases, including profiling. Furthermore, state data protection laws of individual federal states may apply.

Security measures

In accordance with the legal requirements, taking into account the state of the art, the implementation costs and the nature, scope, circumstances and purposes of the processing as well as the different probabilities of occurrence and the extent of the threat to the rights and freedoms of natural persons, we take appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure a level of protection appropriate to the risk.

These measures include, in particular, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data by controlling physical and electronic access to the data, as well as the access, input, and transfer of data, ensuring its availability, and segregation. Furthermore, we have established procedures that ensure the exercise of data subjects' rights, the deletion of data, and responses to data threats. Furthermore, we consider the protection of personal data right from the development and selection of hardware, software, and processes in accordance with the principle of data protection, through technology design, and through data protection-friendly default settings.

Securing online connections with TLS/SSL encryption technology (HTTPS): To protect user data transmitted via our online services from unauthorized access, we use TLS/SSL encryption technology. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) are the cornerstones of secure data transmission on the internet. These technologies encrypt the information transmitted between the website or app and the user's browser (or between two servers), thereby protecting the data from unauthorized access. TLS, as the more advanced and secure version of SSL, ensures that all data transmissions meet the highest security standards. If a website is secured by an SSL/TLS certificate, this is signaled by the display of HTTPS in the URL. This serves as an indicator to users that their data is being transmitted securely and encrypted.

Transmission of personal data

As part of our processing of personal data, it may happen that this data is transmitted to or disclosed to other bodies, companies, legally independent organizational units, or individuals. Recipients of this data may include, for example, service providers commissioned with IT tasks or providers of services and content integrated into a website. In such cases, we comply with legal requirements and, in particular, conclude appropriate contracts or agreements with the recipients of your data that serve to protect your data.

International data transfers

Data processing in third countries: If we transfer data to a third country (i.e. outside the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA)) or if this occurs as part of the use of third-party services or the disclosure or transmission of data to other persons, bodies or companies (which can be identified by the postal address of the respective provider or if the data transfer to third countries is expressly referred to in the data protection declaration), this is always done in accordance with the legal requirements.

For data transfers to the USA, we primarily rely on the Data Privacy Framework (DPF), which was recognized as a secure legal framework by an adequacy decision of the EU Commission dated July 10, 2023. In addition, we have concluded standard contractual clauses with the respective providers that comply with the requirements of the EU Commission and establish contractual obligations to protect your data.

This dual safeguard ensures comprehensive protection of your data: The DPF forms the primary layer of protection, while the standard contractual clauses serve as an additional safeguard. Should changes occur within the framework of the DPF, the standard contractual clauses act as a reliable fallback option. This ensures that your data always remains adequately protected, even in the event of any political or legal changes.

For each service provider, we will inform you whether they are certified under the Data Privacy Framework and whether they have standard contractual clauses in place. Further information on the Data Privacy Framework and a list of certified companies can be found on the U.S. Department of Commerce website at  https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/  .

Appropriate security measures apply to data transfers to other third countries, in particular standard contractual clauses, explicit consent, or legally required transfers. Information on third-country transfers and applicable adequacy decisions can be found in the EU Commission's information offering:  https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-topic/data-protection/international-dimension-data-protection_en?prefLang=de.

General information on data storage and deletion

We delete personal data that we process in accordance with legal requirements as soon as the underlying consent is revoked or there are no further legal grounds for processing. This applies to cases where the original processing purpose no longer applies or the data is no longer needed. Exceptions to this rule exist if legal obligations or special interests require longer retention or archiving of the data.

In particular, data that must be retained for commercial or tax law reasons or whose storage is necessary for legal proceedings or to protect the rights of other natural or legal persons must be archived accordingly.

Our privacy policy contains additional information on the retention and deletion of data that applies specifically to certain processing operations.

If there are multiple details regarding the retention period or deletion period for a given date, the longest period always applies.

If a period does not explicitly begin on a specific date and is at least one year, it automatically begins at the end of the calendar year in which the event triggering the period occurred. In the case of ongoing contractual relationships in which data is stored, the event triggering the period is the effective date of the termination or other termination of the legal relationship.

We process data that is no longer stored for the originally intended purpose but due to legal requirements or other reasons only for the reasons that justify its storage.

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

Retention and deletion of data:  The following general periods apply to retention and archiving under German law:

10 years – retention period for books and records, annual financial statements, inventories, management reports, opening balance sheets as well as the work instructions and other organizational documents necessary for their understanding (Section 147 (1) No. 1 in conjunction with Section 3 AO, Section 14b (1) UStG, Section 257 (1) No. 1 in conjunction with Section 4 HGB).

8 years – accounting documents, such as invoices and cost receipts (Section 147 (1) Nos. 4 and 4a in conjunction with Section 3 Sentence 1 AO and Section 257 (1) No. 4 in conjunction with Section 4 HGB).

6 years – Other business documents: received commercial or business letters, reproductions of sent commercial or business letters, other documents insofar as they are relevant for taxation, e.g. hourly wage slips, operating statements, calculation documents, price labels, but also payroll documents insofar as they are not already accounting documents and cash register slips (Section 147 (1) Nos. 2, 3, 5 in conjunction with Section 3 AO, Section 257 (1) Nos. 2 and 3 in conjunction with Section 4 HGB).

3 years – Data required to consider potential warranty and compensation claims or similar contractual claims and rights, as well as to process related inquiries, based on previous business experience and standard industry practices, will be stored for the duration of the regular statutory limitation period of three years (§§ 195, 199 BGB).

Rights of data subjects

Rights of data subjects under the GDPR: As a data subject, you are entitled to various rights under the GDPR, which arise in particular from Articles 15 to 21 GDPR:

Right of objection: You have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you based on Art. 6 (1) (e) or (f) GDPR, for reasons related to your particular situation; this also applies to profiling based on these provisions. If the personal data concerning you is processed for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for the purposes of such advertising; this also applies to profiling insofar as it is related to such direct marketing.

Right to withdraw consent:  You have the right to withdraw consent at any time.

Right to information:  You have the right to request confirmation as to whether the data in question is being processed and to request information about this data as well as further information and a copy of the data in accordance with the legal requirements.

Right to rectification:  You have the right, in accordance with the statutory provisions, to request that the data concerning you be completed or that inaccurate data concerning you be corrected.

Right to erasure and restriction of processing:  You have the right, in accordance with the statutory provisions, to demand that data concerning you be erased immediately or, alternatively, to demand that the processing of the data be restricted in accordance with the statutory provisions.

Right to data portability:  You have the right to receive the data concerning you that you have provided to us in a structured, common and machine-readable format in accordance with the legal requirements or to request that it be transmitted to another controller.

Complaint to a supervisory authority:  Without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your habitual residence, place of work or place of the alleged infringement, if you consider that the processing of personal data concerning you violates the provisions of the GDPR.

Business services

We process data of our contractual and business partners, e.g., customers and interested parties (collectively referred to as "contractual partners"), within the framework of contractual and comparable legal relationships and related measures and with regard to communication with the contractual partners (or pre-contractually), for example to answer inquiries.

We use this data to fulfill our contractual obligations. This includes, in particular, the obligation to provide the agreed services, any update obligations, and remedy in the event of warranty and other service disruptions. Furthermore, we use the data to protect our rights and for the purposes of the administrative tasks associated with these obligations, as well as for corporate organization. Furthermore, we process the data based on our legitimate interests in proper and efficient business management and in security measures to protect our contractual partners and our business operations from misuse and the endangerment of their data, secrets, information, and rights (e.g., the involvement of telecommunications, transport, and other auxiliary services, as well as subcontractors, banks, tax and legal advisors, payment service providers, or tax authorities). Within the framework of applicable law, we only pass on contractual partners' data to third parties to the extent necessary for the aforementioned purposes or to fulfill legal obligations. Contractual partners will be informed of other forms of processing, such as for marketing purposes, in this privacy policy.

We will inform our contractual partners which data is required for the aforementioned purposes before or during data collection, e.g. in online forms, by special marking (e.g. colors) or symbols (e.g. asterisks or similar), or in person.

We delete data after the expiration of statutory warranty and similar obligations, i.e., generally after four years, unless the data is stored in a customer account, e.g., for as long as it must be retained for legal archiving reasons (e.g., for tax purposes, usually ten years). We delete data disclosed to us by the contractual partner as part of an order in accordance with the specifications and generally after the end of the order.

Types of data processed:  Inventory data (e.g., full name, home address, contact information, customer number, etc.); payment data (e.g., bank details, invoices, payment history); contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); contract data (e.g., contract subject matter, term, customer category); usage data (e.g., page views and length of stay, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, time information, identification numbers, persons involved).

Data subjects:  Service recipients and clients; interested parties; business and contractual partners.

Purposes of processing:  Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations; security measures; communication; office and organizational procedures; organizational and administrative procedures. Business processes and operational procedures.

Storage and deletion:  Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.

Legal basis:  Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR); Legal obligation (Art. 6 (1) (c) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

Online shop, order forms, e-commerce and delivery:  We process our customers' data to enable them to select, purchase, or order the selected products, goods, and related services, as well as to pay for and deliver them or execute them. If necessary to execute an order, we use service providers, in particular postal, forwarding, and shipping companies, to carry out the delivery or execution for our customers. We use the services of banks and payment service providers to process payment transactions. The required information is marked as such within the order or similar purchase process and includes the information required for delivery, provision, and billing, as well as contact information for any possible follow-up.  Legal basis:  Contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR).

Payment methods

Within the framework of contractual and other legal relationships, due to legal obligations or otherwise on the basis of our legitimate interests, we offer the data subjects efficient and secure payment options and, in addition to banks and credit institutions, we use other service providers for this purpose (collectively "payment service providers").

The data processed by the payment service providers includes inventory data such as name and address, bank details such as account numbers or credit card numbers, passwords, TANs and checksums, as well as contract, amount, and recipient-related information. This information is required to process the transactions. However, the data entered is only processed and stored by the payment service providers. This means that we do not receive any account- or credit card-related information, only information confirming or rejecting the payment. Under certain circumstances, the payment service providers may transmit the data to credit agencies. This transmission is for the purpose of identity and credit checks. For more information, please refer to the terms and conditions and the privacy policy of the payment service providers.

Payment transactions are subject to the terms and conditions and privacy policy of the respective payment service providers, which are available on the respective websites or transaction applications. We also refer to these for further information and to assert your rights of withdrawal, information, and other data subjects.

Types of data processed:  Inventory data (e.g., full name, home address, contact information, customer number, etc.); payment data (e.g., bank details, invoices, payment history); contract data (e.g., contract subject matter, term, customer category); usage data (e.g., page views and length of stay, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, time information, identification numbers, persons involved).

Data subjects:  Service recipients and clients; business and contractual partners; interested parties.

Purposes of processing:  Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations. Business processes and operational procedures.

Storage and deletion:  Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.

Legal basis:  Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

PayPal:  Payment services (technical connection of online payment methods) (e.g. PayPal, PayPal Plus, Braintree);  Service provider:  PayPal (Europe) S.à rl et Cie, SCA, 22-24 Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg;  Legal basis:  Contractual fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR);  Website:  https://www.paypal.com/de .  Privacy policy:  https://www.paypal.com/de/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full .

Provision of the online service and web hosting

We process user data to provide them with our online services. For this purpose, we process the user's IP address, which is necessary to transmit the content and functions of our online services to the user's browser or device.

Types of data processed:  Usage data (e.g., page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, time information, identification numbers, persons involved); protocol data (e.g., log files regarding logins or the retrieval of data or access times).

Data subjects:  Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).

Purposes of processing:  Provision of our online services and user-friendliness; information technology infrastructure (operation and provision of information systems and technical devices (computers, servers, etc.)); security measures; provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations.

Storage and deletion:  Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.

Legal basis:  Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

Provision of online services on rented storage space:  To provide our online services, we use storage space, computing capacity, and software that we rent from a corresponding server provider (also known as a "web host") or obtain from other sources;  legal basis:  legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Collection of access data and log files:  Access to our online offering is logged in the form of so-called "server log files." Server log files may include the address and name of the accessed web pages and files, the date and time of access, the amount of data transferred, notification of successful access, browser type and version, the user's operating system, referrer URL (the previously visited page), and, as a rule, IP addresses and the requesting provider. Server log files may be used for security purposes, e.g., to prevent server overload (particularly in the case of abusive attacks, so-called DDoS attacks), and to ensure server utilization and stability;  legal basis:  legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).  Deletion of data:  Log file information is stored for a maximum of 30 days and then deleted or anonymized. Data that needs to be retained for evidentiary purposes will not be deleted until the incident in question has been finally resolved.

1&1 IONOS:  Services in the field of providing information technology infrastructure and related services (e.g., storage space and/or computing capacity);  Service provider:  1&1 IONOS SE, Elgendorfer Str. 57, 56410 Montabaur, Germany;  Legal basis:  Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR);  Website:  https://www.ionos.de ;  Privacy Policy:  https://www.ionos.de/terms-gtc/terms-privacy .  Data processing agreement:  https://www.ionos.de/hilfe/datenschutz/allgemeine-informationen-zur-datenschutz-grundverordnung-dsgvo/auftragsverarbeitung/ .

Use of cookies

The term "cookies" refers to functions that store information on users' end devices and read it from them. Cookies can also be used for a variety of purposes, such as ensuring the functionality, security, and convenience of online services, as well as creating analyses of visitor flows. We use cookies in accordance with legal regulations. Where necessary, we obtain users' consent in advance. If consent is not required, we rely on our legitimate interests. This applies when storing and reading information is essential to providing expressly requested content and functions. This includes, for example, saving settings and ensuring the functionality and security of our online service. Consent can be revoked at any time. We provide clear information about the scope of cookies and which cookies are used.

Notes on data protection law:  Whether we process personal data using cookies depends on consent. If consent is given, it serves as the legal basis. Without consent, we rely on our legitimate interests, which are explained above in this section and in the context of the respective services and processes.

Storage period:  With regard to the storage period, the following types of cookies are distinguished:

Temporary cookies (also: session cookies):  Temporary cookies are deleted at the latest after a user has left an online offering and closed their device (e.g. browser or mobile application).

Persistent cookies:  Persistent cookies remain stored even after the device is closed. For example, the login status can be saved and preferred content can be displayed directly when the user visits a website again. Likewise, the user data collected using cookies can be used for reach measurement. Unless we provide users with explicit information about the type and storage duration of cookies (e.g., when obtaining consent), they should assume that they are permanent and that the storage period can be up to two years.

General information on revocation and objection (opt-out):  Users can revoke the consent they have given at any time and also object to processing in accordance with the legal requirements, including by using the privacy settings of their browser.

Types of data processed:  Meta, communication and procedural data (e.g. IP addresses, time information, identification numbers, persons involved).

Data subjects:  Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).

Legal basis:  Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR). Consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

Processing of cookie data based on consent:  We use a consent management solution that obtains users' consent to the use of cookies or to the procedures and providers named within the consent management solution. This procedure is used to obtain, log, manage, and revoke consent, in particular with regard to the use of cookies and similar technologies used to store, read, and process information on users' end devices. As part of this procedure, users' consent is obtained for the use of cookies and the associated processing of information, including the specific processing operations and providers named in the consent management procedure. Users also have the option of managing and revoking their consent. Consent declarations are saved to avoid repeated queries and to be able to provide evidence of consent in accordance with legal requirements. The data is stored on the server and/or in a cookie (so-called opt-in cookie) or using similar technologies in order to be able to assign consent to a specific user or their device. Unless specific information is available about the providers of consent management services, the following general information applies: Consent is stored for up to two years. A pseudonymous user identifier is created, which is stored together with the time of consent, information on the scope of consent (e.g., relevant categories of cookies and/or service providers), and information about the browser, system, and device used.  Legal basis:  Consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR).

Registration, login and user account

Users can create a user account. During registration, users are provided with the required mandatory information and processed for the purpose of providing the user account based on contractual obligations. The processed data includes, in particular, login information (username, password, and an email address).

When you use our registration and login functions, as well as your user account, we store your IP address and the time of each user action. This storage is based on our legitimate interests and those of the users in protecting against misuse and other unauthorized use. This data is generally not shared with third parties unless it is necessary to pursue our claims or there is a legal obligation to do so.

Users may be informed by email about events relevant to their user account, such as technical changes.

Types of data processed:  Inventory data (e.g., full name, home address, contact information, customer number, etc.); contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); content data (e.g., textual or visual messages and contributions as well as related information, such as authorship or time of creation); usage data (e.g., page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); log data (e.g., log files relating to logins or data retrieval or access times).

Data subjects:  Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).

Purposes of processing:  Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations; security measures; organizational and administrative procedures; provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.

Retention and deletion:  Deletion in accordance with the information in the "General Information on Data Storage and Deletion" section. Deletion after termination.

Legal basis:  Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

Registration with real name:  Due to the nature of our community, we ask users to use our services only using their real names. This means that the use of pseudonyms is not permitted.  Legal basis:  Contractual fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR).

Deletion of data after termination:  If users have terminated their user account, their data relating to the user account will be deleted, subject to legal permission, obligation, or consent of the user;  legal basis:  contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR).

No obligation to retain data:  It is the responsibility of the user to back up their data upon termination before the end of the contract. We are entitled to irretrievably delete all user data stored during the term of the contract.  Legal basis:  Contractual fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR).

Community features

The community features we provide allow users to engage in conversations or other interactions with one another. Please note that the use of these community features is only permitted in compliance with applicable law, our terms and policies, and the rights of other users and third parties.

Types of data processed:  Inventory data (e.g., full name, home address, contact information, customer number, etc.). Usage data (e.g., page views and length of stay, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions).

Data subjects:  Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).

Purposes of processing:  Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations; security measures; provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.

Storage and deletion:  Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.

Legal basis:  Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

User contributions are public:  The contributions and content created by users are publicly visible and accessible;  legal basis:  contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR).

Protection of personal data:  Users decide for themselves which data they disclose about themselves within our online offering. For example, when users provide personal information or participate in conversations. We ask users to protect their data and to publish personal data only with caution and to the extent necessary. In particular, we ask users to note that they must protect their access data with particular care and use secure passwords (i.e., especially long and random character combinations).  Legal basis:  Contractual fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR).

Contact and inquiry management

When you contact us (e.g. by post, contact form, email, telephone or via social media) as well as within the framework of existing user and business relationships, the information provided by the person making the inquiry will be processed to the extent necessary to answer the contact inquiries and any requested measures.

Types of data processed:  Inventory data (e.g., full name, home address, contact information, customer number, etc.); contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); content data (e.g., textual or visual messages and contributions as well as related information, such as authorship or time of creation); usage data (e.g., page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, time information, identification numbers, persons involved).

Data subjects:  communication partners.

Purposes of processing:  Communication; organizational and administrative procedures; feedback (e.g., collecting feedback via online form). Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.

Storage and deletion:  Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.

Legal basis:  Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR). Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

Contact form:  When you contact us via our contact form, by email, or other communication channels, we process the personal data you provide to answer and process your request. This generally includes information such as your name, contact information, and, if applicable, other information that is provided to us and is necessary for appropriate processing. We use this data exclusively for the stated purpose of contact and communication;  legal bases:  contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Newsletters and electronic notifications

We send newsletters, emails, and other electronic notifications (hereinafter "newsletters") exclusively with the recipient's consent or based on a legal basis. If the newsletter content is mentioned when registering for the newsletter, this content is decisive for the user's consent. Providing your email address is usually sufficient to register for our newsletter. However, in order to offer you a personalized service, we may ask for your name so that we can address you personally in the newsletter or for additional information if this is necessary for the purpose of the newsletter.

Deletion and restriction of processing: We may store unsubscribed email addresses for up to three years based on our legitimate interests before deleting them in order to be able to prove previously given consent. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of potentially defending against claims. An individual request for deletion is possible at any time, provided that the previous consent is confirmed at the same time. In the case of obligations to permanently observe objections, we reserve the right to store the email address on a block list (so-called "block list") for this purpose alone.

The registration process is logged based on our legitimate interests for the purpose of demonstrating its proper execution. If we commission a service provider to send emails, this is done based on our legitimate interests in an efficient and secure delivery system. Content:

Information about us, our services, promotions and offers.

Types of data processed:  Inventory data (e.g., full name, home address, contact information, customer number, etc.); contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); metadata, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, time information, identification numbers, persons involved).

Data subjects:  communication partners.

Purposes of processing:  Direct marketing (e.g. by email or post).

Legal basis:  Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR).

Opt-out:  You can unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time, i.e., revoke your consent or object to further receipt. You will find a link to unsubscribe from the newsletter either at the end of each newsletter or by using one of the contact options listed above, preferably email.

Advertising communication via email, post, fax or telephone

We process personal data for the purposes of advertising communication, which can be carried out via various channels, such as email, telephone, mail or fax, in accordance with legal requirements.

Recipients have the right to revoke consent given at any time or to object to advertising communication at any time.

After revocation or objection, we will store the data required to prove previous authorization for contacting or sending for up to three years after the end of the year of revocation or objection based on our legitimate interests. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of a possible defense against claims. Based on our legitimate interest in permanently respecting the user's revocation or objection, we also store the data necessary to avoid further contact (e.g., depending on the communication channel, the email address, telephone number, name).

Types of data processed:  Inventory data (e.g., full name, home address, contact information, customer number, etc.); contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); content data (e.g., textual or visual messages and posts as well as related information, such as authorship or time of creation).

Data subjects:  communication partners.

Purposes of processing:  Direct marketing (e.g., by email or post); marketing. Sales promotion.

Storage and deletion:  Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.

Legal basis:  Consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Sweepstakes and competitions

We only process personal data of participants in prize draws and competitions in compliance with the relevant data protection regulations, provided that the processing is contractually necessary for the provision, implementation and processing of the prize draw, the participants have consented to the processing or the processing serves our legitimate interests (e.g. in the security of the prize draw or the protection of our interests against misuse through the possible collection of IP addresses when submitting prize draw entries).

If entries from participants are published as part of the competition (e.g., as part of a vote or presentation of the competition entries or winners, or in the reporting on the competition), we would like to point out that the names of the participants may also be published in this context. Participants can object to this at any time.

If the competition takes place within an online platform or social network (e.g., Facebook or Instagram, hereinafter referred to as the "online platform"), the terms of use and privacy policy of the respective platform also apply. In these cases, we point out that we are responsible for the information provided by participants as part of the competition, and any inquiries regarding the competition should be directed to us.

Participants' data will be deleted as soon as the prize draw or competition has ended and the data is no longer required to inform the winners or because no further queries regarding the prize draw are expected. Participants' data will generally be deleted no later than six months after the end of the prize draw. Winners' data may be retained for longer, for example, to answer queries about the prizes or to fulfill the prize-winning services. In this case, the retention period depends on the type of prize and is up to three years for items or services, for example, in order to process warranty claims. Participants' data may also be stored for longer, for example, in the form of competition reporting in online and offline media.

If data was collected for other purposes as part of the competition, its processing and retention period are governed by the data protection information for this use (e.g. in the case of registration for the newsletter as part of a competition).

Types of data processed:  Inventory data (e.g., full name, home address, contact information, customer number, etc.); contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); content data (e.g., textual or visual messages and posts as well as related information, such as authorship or time of creation).

Data subjects: Participants  in prize draws and competitions.

Purposes of processing:  Conducting prize draws and competitions.

Storage and deletion:  Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.

Legal basis:  Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Web analysis, monitoring and optimization

Web analytics (also known as "reach measurement") is used to evaluate visitor traffic to our online offering and may include behavior, interests, or demographic information about visitors, such as age or gender, as pseudonymous values. Reach analysis allows us, for example, to determine when our online offering or its features or content are most frequently used, or to encourage reuse. It also allows us to understand which areas require optimization.

In addition to web analysis, we can also use testing procedures to test and optimize different versions of our online offering or its components.

Unless otherwise stated below, profiles, i.e., data summarized for a usage process, may be created for these purposes, and information may be stored in a browser or on a device and then read out. The data collected includes, in particular, websites visited and the elements used there, as well as technical information such as the browser used, the computer system used, and information on usage times. If users have consented to the collection of their location data by us or by the providers of the services we use, the processing of location data is also possible.

In addition, users' IP addresses are stored. However, we use an IP masking process (i.e., pseudonymization by shortening the IP address) to protect users. Generally, no real user data (such as email addresses or names) is stored for web analysis, A/B testing, and optimization; instead, pseudonyms are used. This means that neither we nor the providers of the software used know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles for the purpose of the respective processes.

Notes on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to the use of third-party providers, the legal basis for data processing is consent. Otherwise, user data is processed based on our legitimate interests (i.e., interest in efficient, economical, and user-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to draw your attention to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

Types of data processed:  Usage data (e.g., page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions). Meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, time information, identification numbers, persons involved).

Data subjects:  Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).

Purposes of processing:  Reach measurement (e.g., access statistics, recognition of recurring visitors); profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles). Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.

Retention and Deletion:  Deletion as described in the "General Information on Data Retention and Deletion" section. Cookies are retained for up to two years (unless otherwise stated, cookies and similar storage methods may be stored on users' devices for a period of two years).

Security measures:  IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address).

Legal basis:  Consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

etracker:  Web analysis/reach measurement;  Service provider:  etracker GmbH, Erste Brunnenstraße 1, 20459 Hamburg, Germany;  Legal basis:  Consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR);  Website:  https://www.etracker.com ;  Privacy policy:  https://www.etracker.com/datenschutz/ .  Order processing agreement:  https://www.etracker.com/av-vertrag/ .

Google Analytics:  We use Google Analytics to measure and analyze the use of our online offering based on a pseudonymous user identification number. This identification number does not contain any unique data, such as names or email addresses. It is used to assign analysis information to a device in order to recognize which content users have accessed within one or more usage processes, which search terms they used, accessed these again, or interacted with our online offering. The time and duration of use are also stored, as are the sources of users who refer to our online offering and technical aspects of their devices and browsers.
Pseudonymous profiles of users are created with information from the use of various devices, and cookies may be used for this purpose. Google Analytics does not log or store individual IP addresses for EU users. However, Analytics does provide rough geographic location data by deriving the following metadata from IP addresses: city (and the derived latitude and longitude of the city), continent, country, region, subcontinent (and ID-based counterparts). For EU data traffic, the IP address data is used exclusively for this derivation of geolocation data before being immediately deleted. It is not logged, is not accessible, and is not used for any other purposes. When Google Analytics collects measurement data, all IP queries are performed on EU-based servers before the traffic is forwarded to Analytics servers for processing;  Service provider:  Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland;  Legal basis:  Consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR);  Website:  https://marketingplatform.google.com/intl/de/about/analytics/ ;  Security measures:  IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address);  Privacy policy:  https://policies.google.com/privacy ;  Data processing agreement:  https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms/ ;  Basis for third-country transfers:  Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Standard Contractual Clauses ( https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms ), Data Privacy Framework (DPF) Standard Contractual Clauses (  https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms );  Opt-out option:  Opt-out plug-in:  https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de , Settings for the display of advertisements:  https://myadcenter.google.com/personalizationoff .  Further information: https://business.safety.google/adsservices/  (types of processing and data processed).

Google Tag Manager:  We use Google Tag Manager, a software from Google that allows us to centrally manage so-called website tags via a user interface. Tags are small code elements on our website that are used to record and analyze visitor activity. This technology helps us improve our website and the content offered on it. Google Tag Manager itself does not create user profiles, does not store cookies with user profiles, and does not perform any independent analyses. Its function is limited to simplifying and making the integration and management of tools and services that we use on our website more efficient. Nevertheless, when Google Tag Manager is used, the user's IP address is transmitted to Google, which is necessary for technical reasons in order to implement the services we use. Cookies may also be set in the process. However, this data processing only occurs if services are integrated via Tag Manager. For more detailed information about these services and their data processing, please refer to the further sections of this privacy policy;  Service provider:  Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland;  Legal basis:  Consent (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. a) GDPR);  Website:  https://marketingplatform.google.com ;  Privacy Policy:  https://policies.google.com/privacy ;  Data processing agreement:
https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms .  Basis for third country transfers:  Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Standard Contractual Clauses ( https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms ), Data Privacy Framework (DPF) Standard Contractual Clauses (  https://business.safety.google/adsprocessorterms ).

Customer reviews and rating processes

We participate in review and rating processes to evaluate, optimize, and promote our services. If users rate us via the participating rating platforms or processes or otherwise provide feedback, the providers' general terms and conditions of use and privacy policies also apply. Typically, the rating also requires registration with the respective providers.

To ensure that the reviewers have actually used our services, we transmit, with the customer's consent, the necessary data regarding the customer and the service used to the respective review platform (including name, email address, and order number or item number). This data is used solely to verify the user's authenticity.

Types of data processed:  Contract data (e.g., subject matter of the contract, term, customer category); usage data (e.g., page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, time information, identification numbers, persons involved).

Data subjects:  Service recipients and clients. Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).

Purposes of processing:  Feedback (e.g., collecting feedback via online form). Marketing.

Legal basis:  Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR). Consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

Rating widget:  We integrate so-called "rating widgets" into our online offering. A widget is a functional and content element integrated into our online offering that displays variable information. It can be displayed, for example, in the form of a seal or similar element, sometimes also called a "badge." Although the corresponding content of the widget is displayed within our online offering, it is retrieved at that moment from the servers of the respective widget provider. This is the only way to always display the most current content, especially the most recent rating. For this to happen, a data connection must be established from the website accessed within our online offering to the server of the widget provider, and the widget provider receives certain technical data (access data, including the IP address) that is necessary to deliver the content of the widget to the user's browser. Furthermore, the widget provider receives information that users have visited our online offering. This information can be stored in a cookie and used by the widget provider to identify which online offerings participating in the rating process have been visited by the user. The information can be stored in a user profile and used for advertising or market research purposes;  legal basis:  legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Trusted Shops (Trustedbadge):  Rating platform – Within the framework of the joint responsibility existing between us and Trusted Shops, please contact Trusted Shops preferably for data protection questions and to assert your rights using the contact options provided in the data protection information. Regardless of this, you can always contact the responsible party of your choice. Your request will then, if necessary, be forwarded to the other responsible party for response.

The Trustbadge is provided by a US CDN (Content Delivery Network) provider. An appropriate level of data protection is ensured through standard data protection clauses and other contractual measures.
When you access the Trustbadge, the web server automatically saves a so-called server log file, which also contains your IP address, the date and time of access, the amount of data transferred, and the requesting provider (access data), and documents the access. The IP address is anonymized immediately after collection so that the stored data cannot be assigned to you personally. The anonymized data is used primarily for statistical purposes and error analysis.

If you have given your consent, the Trustbadge will access the order information stored on your device (order total, order number, and any purchased product) and email address after the order has been completed, and your email address will be hashed using a cryptographic one-way function. The hash value is then transmitted to Trusted Shops along with the order information in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR. This is used to check whether you are already registered for Trusted Shops services. If this is the case, further processing will take place in accordance with the contractual agreement concluded between you and Trusted Shops. If you are not yet registered for the services or do not consent to automatic recognition via the Trustbadge, you will then have the option of manually registering to use the services or of taking out security within the framework of your existing user agreement.

For this purpose, after you have completed your order, the Trustbadge accesses the following information stored on the device you are using: order total, order number, and email address. This is necessary so that we can offer you buyer protection. The data will only be transmitted to Trusted Shops once you have actively decided to take out buyer protection by clicking on the corresponding button on the so-called Trustcard. If you decide to use the services, further processing will be governed by the contractual agreement with Trusted Shops in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR in order to complete your registration for buyer protection and secure your order, as well as to subsequently send you review invitations by email if necessary.

Trusted Shops uses service providers in the areas of hosting, monitoring, and logging. The legal basis is Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR for the purpose of ensuring trouble-free operation. Processing may take place in third countries (USA and Israel). An appropriate level of data protection is ensured in the case of the USA through standard data protection clauses and other contractual measures, and in the case of Israel through an adequacy decision.
;  Service provider:  Trusted Shops GmbH, Subbelrather Str. 15C, 50823 Cologne, Germany;  Legal basis:  Consent (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. a) GDPR), Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. f) GDPR);  Website:  https://www.trustedshops.de .  Privacy policy:  https://www.trustedshops.de/impressum-datenschutz/ .

Presences in social networks (social media)

We maintain online presences within social networks and process user data in this context in order to communicate with the users active there or to offer information about us.

We would like to point out that user data may be processed outside the European Union. This could pose risks for users, for example, because it could make it more difficult to enforce user rights.

Furthermore, user data within social networks is generally processed for market research and advertising purposes. For example, user profiles can be created based on user behavior and the resulting interests of users. These profiles may in turn be used, for example, to place advertisements within and outside the networks that presumably correspond to the users' interests. Therefore, cookies are generally stored on users' computers, in which the user behavior and interests are saved. Furthermore, user profiles can also store data independent of the devices used by users (particularly if they are members of the respective platforms and are logged in there).

For a detailed description of the respective processing methods and the options for objection (opt-out), we refer to the data protection declarations and information provided by the operators of the respective networks.

In the case of requests for information and the assertion of data subject rights, we would like to point out that these can be most effectively asserted with the providers. Only the latter have access to user data and can directly take appropriate measures and provide information. Should you still need assistance, please contact us.

Types of data processed:  Contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); content data (e.g., textual or visual messages and posts, as well as related information, such as authorship or time of creation); usage data (e.g., page views and duration of visits, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and features).

Data subjects:  Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).

Purposes of processing:  Communication; feedback (e.g., collecting feedback via online form). Public relations.

Storage and deletion:  Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.

Legal basis:  Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

Instagram:  Social network, enables the sharing of photos and videos, commenting on and favorite posts, sending messages, subscribing to profiles and pages;  Service provider:  Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland;  Legal basis:  Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. f) GDPR);  Website:  https://www.instagram.com ;  Privacy policy:  https://privacycenter.instagram.com/policy/ .  Basis for third country transfers:  Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Data Privacy Framework (DPF).

Facebook Pages:  Profiles within the social network Facebook – We, together with Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, are responsible for collecting (but not further processing) data from visitors to our Facebook page (so-called “fan page”). This data includes information about the types of content users view or interact with, or the actions they take (see “Things you and others do and provide” in the Facebook Data Policy:  https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/ ), as well as information about the devices users use (e.g., IP addresses, operating system, browser type, language settings, cookie data; see “Device Information” in the Facebook Data Policy:  https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/ ). As described in the Facebook Data Policy under “How do we use this information?” explains, Facebook also collects and uses information to provide analysis services, so-called “Page Insights,” for page operators so that they can gain insights into how people interact with their pages and the content associated with them. We have concluded a special agreement with Facebook (“Information about Page Insights,”  https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/page_controller_addendum ), which specifically regulates the security measures Facebook must observe and in which Facebook has agreed to fulfill the rights of those affected (i.e., users can, for example, direct Facebook to requests for information or deletion). The rights of users (in particular to information, deletion, objection, and complaint to the responsible supervisory authority) are not restricted by the agreements with Facebook. Further information can be found in the “Information about Page Insights” ( https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/information_about_page_insights_data ). Joint controllership is limited to the collection and transmission of data to Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, a company based in the EU. The further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, in particular the transmission of the data to the parent company Meta Platforms, Inc. in the USA;  Service provider:  Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland;  Legal basis:  Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR);  Website:  https://www.facebook.com ;  Privacy Policy:  https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/ .  Basis for third country transfers:  Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Standard Contractual Clauses (https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum ), Data Privacy Framework (DPF) Standard Contractual Clauses ( https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum ).

LinkedIn:  Social Network – We, together with LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, are responsible for collecting (but not further processing) visitor data to create “Page Insights” (statistics) for our LinkedIn profiles. This data includes information about the types of content users view or interact with, and the actions they take. We also collect details about the devices used, such as IP addresses, operating systems, browser types, language settings, and cookie data, as well as information from user profiles, such as job function, country, industry, hierarchy level, company size, and employment status. Data protection information regarding LinkedIn’s processing of user data can be found in LinkedIn’s privacy policy:  https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy.
We have concluded a special agreement with LinkedIn Ireland (“Page Insights Joint Controller Addendum”,  https://legal.linkedin.com/pages-joint-controller-addendum ), which specifically regulates the security measures LinkedIn must observe and in which LinkedIn has agreed to fulfill the rights of those affected (i.e. users can, for example, address requests for information or deletion directly to LinkedIn). The rights of users (in particular the right to information, deletion, objection and complaint to the competent supervisory authority) are not restricted by the agreements with LinkedIn. Joint controllership is limited to the collection and transmission of data to LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, a company based in the EU. Further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, in particular with regard to the transmission of data to the parent company LinkedIn Corporation in the USA;  Service provider:  LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland;  Legal basis:  Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR);  Website:  https://www.linkedin.com ;  Privacy Policy:  https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy ;  Basis for third-country transfers:  Data Privacy Framework (DPF), standard contractual clauses ( https://legal.linkedin.com/dpa ), Data Privacy Framework (DPF) standard contractual clauses ( https://legal.linkedin.com/dpa ).  Opt-out option:  https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out .

Pinterest:  Social network, enables sharing photos, commenting, favorites and curating posts, sending messages, subscribing to profiles;  Service provider:  Pinterest Europe Limited, 2nd Floor, Palmerston House, Fenian Street, Dublin 2, Ireland;  Legal basis:  Legitimate interests (Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. f) GDPR);  Website:  https://www.pinterest.com .  Privacy policy:  https://policy.pinterest.com/de/privacy-policy .

X:  Social network;  Service provider:  Twitter International Company, One Cumberland Place, Fenian Street, Dublin 2 D02 AX07, Ireland;  Legal basis:  Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR);  Website: