Privacy policy

Introduction

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

The terms used are not gender-specific.

As of: May 13, 2022

Table of Contents

Controller

Danny Willmann
Nordacher Straße 20
77736 Zell am Harmersbach

Email Address:

mail@succulentswithlove.com

Imprint:

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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 Data.
  • Contact Data.
  • Content Data.
  • Contract Data.
  • Usage Data.
  • Meta/Communication Data.

Categories of Data Subjects

  • Customers.
  • Prospects.
  • Communication Partners.
  • Users.
  • Contest and Competition Participants.
  • Business and Contractual Partners.

Purposes of Processing

  • Provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Contact inquiries and communication.
  • Security measures.
  • Direct marketing.
  • Reach measurement.
  • Office and organizational procedures.
  • Affiliate tracking.
  • Management and response to inquiries.
  • Conducting contests and competitions.
  • Feedback.
  • Marketing.
  • Profiles with user-related information.
  • Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.

Relevant Legal Bases

Below you will find an overview of the legal bases of 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. Furthermore, if more specific legal bases are applicable in individual cases, we will inform you of these in the privacy policy.

  • Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 s. 1 lit. a GDPR) – The data subject has given consent to the processing of their personal data for one or more specific purposes.
  • Contractual Performance and Pre-Contractual Inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 s. 1 lit. b GDPR) – Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is party or to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract.
  • Legal Obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 s. 1 lit. c GDPR) – Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject.
  • Legitimate Interests (Art. 6 para. 1 s. 1 lit. f GDPR) – Processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the controller or by a third party, except where such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require protection of personal data.

In addition to the data protection regulations of the General Data Protection Regulation, national data protection regulations apply in Germany. This includes in particular the Law for the Protection against Misuse of Personal Data in Data Processing (Bundesdatenschutzgesetz – BDSG). The BDSG contains special regulations regarding the right to information, the right to deletion, the right to object, the processing of special categories of personal data, processing for other purposes, transmission, and automated decision-making, including profiling. Furthermore, it regulates data processing for the purposes of employment relationships (§ 26 BDSG), especially with regard to the establishment, execution, or termination of employment relationships as well as the consent of employees. In addition, state data protection laws of the individual federal states may apply.

Security Measures

In accordance with legal requirements and taking into account the state of the art, implementation costs, the nature, scope, circumstances, and purposes of processing as well as the different probabilities of occurrence and the extent of the threat to the rights and freedoms of natural persons, we implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure a level of security 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 access, input, transmission, securing availability, and their separation. Furthermore, we have established procedures to ensure the exercise of data subject rights, the deletion of data, and responses to data threats. We also consider data protection in the development or selection of hardware, software, and procedures in accordance with the principle of data protection, through technology design and data protection-friendly default settings.

SSL encryption (https): To protect the data transmitted via our online offering, we use SSL encryption. You can recognize such encrypted connections by the prefix https:// in the address line of your browser.

Transmission of Personal Data

In the course of processing personal data, it may happen that the data is transmitted to other bodies, companies, legally independent organizational units, or persons or disclosed to them. Recipients of this data may include, for example, service providers commissioned with IT tasks or providers of services and content that are 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, which serve to protect your data.

Data Processing in Third Countries

If we process data in a third country (i.e., outside the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA)) or if processing takes place as part of the use of third-party services or the disclosure or transmission of data to other persons, entities, or companies, this only occurs in compliance with legal requirements.

Subject to explicit consent or contractually or legally required transmission, we process or have the data processed only in third countries with a recognized level of data protection, contractual obligation through so-called standard data protection clauses of the EU Commission, in the presence of certifications, or binding corporate rules (Art. 44 to 49 GDPR, Information page of the EU Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection/international-dimension-data-protection_de).

Deletion of Data

The data processed by us will be deleted in accordance with legal requirements as soon as the consents allowing processing are revoked or other permissions cease to apply (e.g., if the purpose of processing this data ceases to exist or they are not required for the purpose anymore).

If the data is not deleted because it is required for other legally permissible purposes, its processing will be restricted to these purposes. This means that the data will be blocked and not processed for other purposes. This applies, for example, to data that must be retained for commercial or tax reasons or whose storage is necessary for the assertion, exercise, or defense of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person.

Our privacy policy may also contain further information on the storage and deletion of data that applies primarily to the respective processing activities.

Use of Cookies

Cookies are small text files or other storage methods that store information on end devices and read information from end devices. For example, to store login status in a user account, shopping cart content in an e-shop, accessed content, or used functions of an online offering. Cookies can also be used for different purposes, e.g., for the functionality, security, and convenience of online offerings as well as for the creation of visitor flow analyses.

Consent Information: We use cookies in accordance with legal requirements. Therefore, we obtain prior consent from users, unless it is not legally required. Consent is particularly not necessary if storing and retrieving information, including cookies, is absolutely necessary to provide users with a telemedia service (i.e., our online offering) expressly requested by them. Revocable consent is clearly communicated to users and contains information about the respective cookie usage.

Information on Data Protection Legal Bases: The legal basis for processing users' personal data using cookies depends on whether we ask users for consent. If users consent, the legal basis for processing their data is the declared consent. Otherwise, the data processed using cookies is based on our legitimate interests (e.g., in the commercial operation of our online offering and improving its usability) or, if this is done in the fulfillment of our contractual obligations, if the use of cookies is necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations. We will clarify the purposes for which cookies are processed by us during this privacy policy or as part of our consent and processing processes.

Storage Duration: In terms of storage duration, the following types of cookies are distinguished:

  • Temporary Cookies (also: Session or Session Cookies): Temporary cookies are deleted at the latest after a user leaves an online offering and closes his device (e.g., browser or mobile application).
  • Persistent Cookies: Persistent cookies remain stored even after closing the device. For example, the login status can be saved or preferred content can be displayed directly when the user revisits a website. Likewise, the data collected by cookies can be used for audience measurement. If we do not provide users with explicit information about the type and storage duration of cookies (e.g., as part of obtaining consent), users should assume that cookies are persistent and that the storage duration can be up to two years

General Information on Revocation and Objection (Opt-Out): Users can revoke their consent at any time and also object to the processing in accordance with the legal requirements of Art. 21 GDPR (further information on objection will be provided in this privacy policy). Users can also declare their objection through the settings of their browser.

Further Information on Processing Procedures, Processes, and Services:

  • Processing of Cookie Data Based on Consent: We use a cookie consent management system, within which users' consents to the use of cookies, or the processing and providers mentioned within the cookie consent management system can be obtained, managed, and revoked by users. The consent declaration is stored to avoid having to repeat the query for consent and to be able to prove the consent in accordance with legal obligations. Storage can be done server-side and/or in a cookie (so-called opt-in cookie or similar technologies) to associate the consent with a user or their device. Subject to individual information about cookie management service providers, the following information applies: The storage duration of the consent can be up to two years. A pseudonymous user identifier is created and stored with the time of consent, information about the scope of consent (e.g., which categories of cookies and/or service providers), as well as the browser, system, and device used.
  • BorlabsCookie: Cookie Consent Management; Service Provider: Borlabs; Website: https://de.borlabs.io/borlabs-cookie/; Further Information: An individual user ID, language, types of consents, and the time of their submission are stored server-side and in the cookie on the users' device.

Business Services

We process data of our contractual and business partners, e.g., customers and prospects (collectively referred to as "contractual partners") within the scope of contractual and comparable legal relationships, as well as associated measures and in the context of communication with contractual partners (or pre-contractually), e.g., to respond to inquiries.

We process this data to fulfill our contractual obligations. This includes, in particular, obligations to provide the agreed services, any updating obligations, and remedies for warranty and other performance disruptions. Furthermore, we process the data to safeguard our rights and for the purposes of administrative tasks associated with these obligations and company organization. Additionally, we process the data based on our legitimate interests in proper and efficient business management, as well as security measures to protect our contractual partners and our business operations from misuse, endangerment of their data, secrets, information, and rights (e.g., involving telecommunications, transportation, and other auxiliary services, as well as subcontractors, banks, tax and legal advisors, payment service providers, or financial authorities). Within the framework of applicable law, we only disclose the data of contractual partners to third parties to the extent necessary for the aforementioned purposes or to fulfill legal obligations. Contractual partners are informed about further forms of processing, e.g., for marketing purposes, within the scope of this privacy policy.

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

We delete the data after the expiry of statutory warranty and comparable obligations, i.e., generally after 4 years, unless the data is stored in a customer account, e.g., as long as it must be retained for legal archiving reasons (usually 10 years for tax purposes). Data disclosed to us as part of an order by the contractual partner will be deleted in accordance with the specifications of the order, generally after the end of the order.

Insofar as we use third-party providers or platforms to provide our services, the terms and conditions and data protection notices of the respective third-party providers or platforms apply in the relationship between users and the providers.

Shop and E-Commerce

We process the data of our customers to enable them to select, purchase, or order the chosen products, goods, and related services, as well as their payment and delivery, or execution. If necessary for the execution of an order, we use service providers, especially postal, freight, and shipping companies, to carry out delivery or execution to our customers. For the processing of payment transactions, we use the services of banks and payment service providers. The necessary details are marked as such in the context of the ordering or similar acquisition process and include the information required for delivery, provision, and billing, as well as contact information to be able to make inquiries if necessary.

  • Processed data types: Inventory data (e.g., names, addresses); Payment data (e.g., bank details, invoices, payment history); Contact data (e.g., email, phone numbers); Contract data (e.g., subject matter of the contract, duration, customer category); Usage data (e.g., visited websites, interest in content, access times); Meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).
  • Data subjects: Customers; Prospects; Business and contractual partners.
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and customer service; Security measures; Contact inquiries and communication; Office and organizational procedures; Management and response to inquiries.
  • Legal basis: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR); Legal obligation (Art. 6 (1) (c) GDPR).

Provision of the online offering and web hosting

In order to provide our online offering securely and efficiently, we use the services of one or more web hosting providers from whose servers (or servers managed by them) the online offering can be accessed. For these purposes, we may use infrastructure and platform services, computing capacity, storage space, and database services as well as security services and technical maintenance services.

The data processed within the scope of providing the hosting offer may include all data relating to users of our online offering that arises in the course of use and communication. This regularly includes the IP address, which is necessary to deliver the contents of online offerings to browsers, and all inputs made within our online offering or on websites.

  • Processed data types: Content data (e.g., entries in online forms); Usage data (e.g., visited websites, interest in content, access times); Meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.
  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Further information on processing processes, procedures, and services:

  • Collection of access data and log files: We ourselves (or our web hosting provider) collect data on every access to the server (so-called server log files). Server log files may include the address and name of the accessed websites and files, date and time of access, transferred data volumes, message about successful access, browser type and version, the user's operating system, referrer URL (the previously visited page), and usually IP addresses and the requesting provider.

    The server log files may be used for security purposes, e.g., to avoid server overload (especially in the case of abusive attacks, so-called DDoS attacks), and to ensure the availability and stability of the servers; Deletion of data: Log file information is stored for a maximum of 30 days and then deleted or anonymized. Data whose further storage is required for evidentiary purposes is exempt from deletion until the respective incident has been finally clarified.

Blogs and publication media

We use blogs or comparable means of online communication and publication (hereinafter referred to as "publication medium"). The data of the readers will be processed for the purposes of the publication medium only to the extent necessary for its presentation and communication between authors and readers or for security reasons. For further information on the processing of visitors to our publication medium, we refer you to the information provided in this privacy policy.

  • Processed data types: Inventory data (e.g., names, addresses); Contact data (e.g., email, phone numbers); Content data (e.g., entries in online forms); Usage data (e.g., visited websites, interest in content, access times); Meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and customer service; Feedback (e.g., collecting feedback via online form); Security measures; Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness; Management and response to inquiries.
  • Legal basis: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Further information on processing processes, procedures, and services:

  • Comments and contributions: If users leave comments or other contributions, their IP addresses may be stored based on our legitimate interests. This is for our security, in case someone leaves illegal content in comments and contributions (insults, prohibited political propaganda, etc.). In this case, we can be held liable for the comment or contribution and are therefore interested in the identity of the author.

    Furthermore, we reserve the right, based on our legitimate interests, to process user information for the purpose of spam detection.

    On the same legal basis, we reserve the right to store users' IP addresses for the duration of surveys and to use cookies to prevent multiple voting.

    The information provided in the context of comments and contributions, such as personal information, contact and website information, as well as content-related information, will be permanently stored by us until the users object.

  • Akismet anti-spam check: Akismet anti-spam check - Based on our legitimate interests, we use the service "Akismet". Akismet distinguishes comments from real people from spam comments. To achieve this, all comment details are sent to a server in the USA, where they are analyzed and stored for comparison purposes for four days. If a comment is classified as spam, the data will be stored beyond this period. This information includes the name entered, the email address, the IP address, the comment content, the referrer, information about the browser used and the computer system, and the time of entry.

    Users are welcome to use pseudonyms or refrain from entering their name or email address. They can completely prevent the transmission of data by not using our comment system. This would be a shame, but unfortunately, we see no alternatives that work as effectively; Service provider: Automattic Inc., 60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA; Website: https://automattic.com; Privacy policy: https://automattic.com/privacy.

  • Gravatar profile pictures: Profile pictures - Within our online offering and especially in the blog, we use the Gravatar service.

    Gravatar is a service where users can register and store profile pictures and their email addresses. If users leave posts or comments on other online presences (especially in blogs) with the respective email address, their profile pictures can be displayed alongside the posts or comments. For this purpose, the email address provided by the users is encrypted and transmitted to Gravatar for the purpose of checking whether a profile is stored for it. This is the only purpose of transmitting the email address. It is not used for other purposes but deleted afterwards.

    The use of Gravatar is based on our legitimate interests, as we offer the authors of posts and comments the opportunity to personalize their contributions with a profile picture.

    By displaying the images, Gravatar learns the IP address of the users, as this is necessary for communication between a browser and an online service.

    If users do not want their user image associated with their email address to appear in comments, they should use an email address for commenting that is not stored with Gravatar. Furthermore, we would like to point out that it is also possible to use an anonymous or no email address if users do not wish their own email address to be transmitted to Gravatar. Users can completely prevent the transmission of data by not using our comment system; Service provider: Automattic Inc., 60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA; Website: https://automattic.com; Privacy policy: https://automattic.com/privacy.

  • UpdraftPlus: Backup software and backup storage; Service provider: Simba Hosting Ltd., 11, Barringer Way, St. Neots, Cambs., PE19 1LW, GB; Website: https://updraftplus.com/; Privacy policy: https://updraftplus.com/data-protection-and-privacy-centre/.
  • Wordfence: Firewall and security as well as error detection functions; Service provider: Defiant, Inc., 800 5th Ave Ste 4100, Seattle, WA 98104, USA; Website: https://www.wordfence.com; Privacy policy: https://www.wordfence.com/privacy-policy/; Standard contractual clauses (ensuring level of data protection when processing in third countries): https://www.wordfence.com/standard-contractual-clauses/.

Contact and Inquiry Management

When contacting us (e.g., via contact form, email, telephone, or social media) and in the context of existing user and business relationships, the information provided by the inquiring individuals is processed to the extent necessary to respond to the contact inquiries and any requested measures.

Responding to contact inquiries and managing contact and inquiry data within contractual or pre-contractual relationships is carried out to fulfill our contractual obligations or to respond to (pre)contractual inquiries and, moreover, based on legitimate interests in responding to inquiries and maintaining user or business relationships.

  • Processed Data Types: Inventory data (e.g., names, addresses); Contact data (e.g., email, telephone numbers); Content data (e.g., entries in online forms).
  • Data Subjects: Communication partners.
  • Purposes of Processing: Contact inquiries and communication; Provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Legal Bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR); Legal obligation (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c GDPR).

Further Notes on Processing Procedures, Procedures, and Services:

  • Contact Form: When users contact us via our contact form, email, or other communication channels, we process the data provided to us in this context to process the stated request. For this purpose, we process personal data within the framework of pre-contractual and contractual business relationships, insofar as this is necessary for their fulfillment, and otherwise based on our legitimate interests as well as the interests of the communication partners in responding to inquiries and our legal retention obligations.

Newsletter and Electronic Notifications

We only send newsletters, emails, and other electronic notifications (hereinafter referred to as "newsletter") with the consent of the recipients or a legal permission. If the contents of the newsletter are specifically described within the framework of registration, they are decisive for the consent of the users. Otherwise, our newsletters contain information about our services and us.

To subscribe to our newsletters, it is generally sufficient to provide your email address. However, we may ask you to provide a name for personalization purposes in the newsletter or other information if it is necessary for the purposes of the newsletter.

Double Opt-In Procedure: Subscription to our newsletter is generally confirmed by means of a so-called double opt-in procedure. This means that after registration, you will receive an email asking you to confirm your registration. This confirmation is necessary to prevent anyone from registering with someone else's email address. Newsletter registrations are logged in order to be able to document the registration process in accordance with legal requirements. This includes storing the time of registration and confirmation, as well as the IP address. Likewise, changes to your data stored with the sending service provider are logged.

Deletion and Restriction of Processing: We may store unsubscribed email addresses for up to three years on the basis of our legitimate interests before we delete them to be able to prove a previously given consent. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of possible defense against claims. An individual request for deletion is possible at any time, provided that the former existence of consent is confirmed. In the case of obligations to permanently observe objections, we reserve the right to store the email address solely for this purpose in a block list ("blocklist").

The logging of the registration process is based on our legitimate interests for the purpose of proving its proper conduct. If we commission a service provider with the dispatch of emails, this is done on the basis of our legitimate interests in an efficient and secure dispatch system.

Legal Basis Notes: The sending of newsletters is based on the consent of the recipients or, if consent is not required, on our legitimate interests in direct marketing, provided and to the extent that this is legally permitted, e.g., in the case of advertising to existing customers. If we commission a service provider with the dispatch of emails, this is done on the basis of our legitimate interests in an efficient and secure dispatch. The registration process is recorded based on our legitimate interests in order to prove that it was carried out in accordance with the law.

Content:

Information about us, our services, promotions, and offers.

  • Processed Data Types: Inventory data (e.g., names, addresses); Contact data (e.g., email, telephone numbers); Meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses); Usage data (e.g., visited websites, interest in content, access times).
  • Data Subjects: Communication partners.
  • Purposes of Processing: Direct marketing (e.g., by email or post).
  • Legal Bases: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR).
  • Option to Object (Opt-Out): You can cancel the receipt of our newsletter at any time, i.e., revoke your consent, or object to further receipt. A link to cancel the newsletter can be found either at the end of each newsletter or you can use one of the contact options provided above, preferably email, for this purpose.

Further Notes on Processing Procedures, Procedures, and Services:

  • Measurement of Open and Click Rates: The newsletters contain a so-called "web beacon," i.e., a pixel-sized file that is retrieved from our server, or, if we use a dispatch service provider, from its server when the newsletter is opened. As part of this retrieval, technical information such as information about the browser and your system, as well as your IP address and the time of retrieval, are initially collected.

 

Commercial Communication via Email, Mail, Fax or Phone

We process personal data for the purpose of commercial 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 granted at any time or to object to commercial communication at any time.

After revocation or objection, we store the data necessary to prove the previous authorization for contact 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 potentially defending against claims. Based on the legitimate interest in permanently observing the revocation or objection of users, we also store the data necessary to avoid renewed contact (e.g., depending on the communication channel, the email address, telephone number, name).

  • Processed Data Types: Inventory data (e.g., names, addresses); Contact data (e.g., email, telephone numbers).
  • Affected Individuals: Communication partners.
  • Purposes of Processing: Direct marketing (e.g., via email or postal).
  • Legal Bases: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR).

Competitions and Contests

We process personal data of participants in competitions and contests only in compliance with the relevant data protection regulations, to the extent that processing is contractually necessary for the provision, implementation, and processing of the competition, participants have consented to the processing, or processing serves our legitimate interests (e.g., in the security of the competition or protecting our interests against misuse by possibly recording IP addresses when submitting competition entries).

If contributions from participants are published as part of the competitions (e.g., as part of a vote or presentation of competition entries or winners or 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 data protection regulations of the respective platforms also apply additionally. In these cases, we would like to point out that we are responsible for the information provided by participants in the context of the competition, and inquiries regarding the competition should be directed to us.

The data of the participants will be deleted as soon as the competition or contest has ended and the data is no longer required to inform the winners or because inquiries about the competition can be expected. In principle, the data of the participants will be deleted no later than 6 months after the end of the competition. Data of winners may be retained longer, for example, to answer inquiries about the prizes or to fulfill the prize services; in this case, the retention period depends on the nature of the prize and may be up to three years, for example, to process warranty claims. Furthermore, the data of the participants may be stored longer, for example, in the form of reporting on the competition in online and offline media.

If data has been collected for purposes other than the competition, the processing and storage period are determined by the data protection notices for that use (e.g., in the case of newsletter registration as part of a competition).

  • Processed Data Types: Inventory data (e.g., names, addresses); Content data (e.g., entries in online forms).
  • Affected Individuals: Competition and contest participants.
  • Purposes of Processing: Conducting competitions and contests.
  • Legal Bases: Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR).

Web Analysis, Monitoring, and Optimization

Web analysis (also referred to as "reach measurement") is used to evaluate visitor flows to our online offering and can include behavior, interests, or demographic information about visitors, such as age or gender, as pseudonymous values. With the help of reach analysis, we can, for example, recognize when our online offering or its functions or content are most frequently used or invite reuse. Likewise, we can identify areas that require optimization.

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

Unless otherwise stated below, profiles, i.e., data summarized for a usage process, can be created and information can be stored in a browser or on an end device and read from it for these purposes. The data collected includes, in particular, visited websites and elements used there, as well as technical information such as the browser used, the operating system used, and information on usage times. If users have consented to the collection of their location data to us or the providers of the services we use, location data can also be processed.

The IP addresses of users are also stored. However, we use IP masking (i.e., pseudonymization by shortening the IP address) to protect users. Generally, no clear data of users (such as email addresses or names) are stored as part of web analysis, A/B testing, and optimization, but rather pseudonyms. That is, we and the providers of the software used do not know the actual identity of the users, but only the information stored in their profiles for the purposes of the respective procedures.

Information on Legal Bases: If we ask users for their consent to the use of third-party providers, the legal basis for processing data is consent. Otherwise, the data of users 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 point out the information on the use of cookies in this data protection declaration.

  • Processed Data Types: Usage data (e.g., visited websites, interest in content, access times); Meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected Individuals: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of Processing: Reach measurement (e.g., access statistics, recognition of returning visitors); Profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles).
  • Security Measures: IP masking (pseudonymization of the IP address).
  • Legal Bases: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR).

Further Information on Processing Processes, Procedures, and Services:

Affiliate Programs and Affiliate Links

In our online offering, we include so-called affiliate links or other references (which may include search masks, widgets, or discount codes) to the offers and services of third-party providers (collectively referred to as "affiliate links"). If users follow the affiliate links or subsequently take advantage of the offers, we may receive a commission or other benefits from these third-party providers (collectively referred to as "commission").

In order to track whether users have taken advantage of the offers of an affiliate link used within our online offering, it is necessary for the respective third-party providers to know that users have followed an affiliate link used within our online offering. The assignment of affiliate links to the respective transactions or other actions (e.g., purchases) serves solely the purpose of commission settlement and is revoked as soon as it is no longer necessary for the purpose.

For the purposes of the aforementioned assignment of affiliate links, the affiliate links may be supplemented with certain values that are part of the link or otherwise, for example, stored in a cookie. The values may include, in particular, the originating website (referrer), the time, an online identifier of the operator of the website on which the affiliate link was located, an online identifier of the respective offer, the type of link used, the type of offer, and an online identifier of the user.

Notes on Legal Bases: If we ask users for their consent to the use of third-party providers, the legal basis for processing data is consent. Furthermore, their use may be a component of our (pre-)contractual services if the use of third-party providers has been agreed within this framework. Otherwise, the data of users 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 point out the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

  • Processed Data Types: Contract data (e.g., subject matter of the contract, duration, customer category); Usage data (e.g., visited websites, interest in content, access times); Meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses); Inventory data (e.g., names, addresses); Payment data (e.g., bank details, invoices, payment history).
  • Affected Individuals: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services); Customers.
  • Purposes of Processing: Affiliate tracking; Provision of contractual services and customer service.
  • Legal Bases: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a GDPR); Contract performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR).

Further Information on Processing Processes, Procedures, and Services:

Customer Reviews and Rating Processes

We participate in review and rating processes to evaluate, optimize, and promote our services. If users rate us or otherwise provide feedback via the participating review platforms or processes, the general terms and conditions and privacy policies of the providers also apply. As a rule, registration with the respective providers is also required for the rating.

To ensure that the reviewing individuals have actually used our services, we transmit with the consent of the customers the necessary data concerning 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 authenticity of the user.

  • Processed Data Types: Contract data (e.g., subject matter of the contract, duration, customer category); Usage data (e.g., visited websites, interest in content, access times); Meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected Individuals: Customers; Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of Processing: Feedback (e.g., collecting feedback via online form); Marketing.
  • Legal Bases: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a GDPR); Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR).

Further Information on Processing Processes, Procedures, and Services:

Presence on Social Networks (Social Media)

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

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

Furthermore, data of users 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. The user profiles can in turn be used, for example, to place advertisements within and outside the networks that presumably correspond to the interests of the users. For these purposes, cookies are usually stored on the computers of users, in which the user behavior and the interests of the users are stored. Furthermore, data can also be stored in the user profiles independently of the devices used by the users (especially if the users are members of the respective platforms and are logged in to them).

For a detailed presentation of the respective processing and the possibilities of objection (Opt-Out), we refer to the privacy statements and information provided by the operators of the respective networks.

Even in the case of requests for information and the assertion of user rights, we point out that these can be most effectively asserted with the providers. Only the providers have access to the data of the users and can directly take appropriate measures and provide information. Should you nevertheless need help, you can contact us.

  • Processed Data Types: Contact data (e.g., e-mail, telephone numbers); Content data (e.g., input into online forms); Usage data (e.g., visited websites, interest in content, access times); Meta/communication data (e.g., device information, IP addresses).
  • Affected Individuals: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of Processing: Contact inquiries and communication; Feedback (e.g., collecting feedback via online form); Marketing.
  • Legal Bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR).

Further Information on Processing Processes, Procedures, and Services:

Plugins and Embedded Functions as well as Content

We integrate functional and content elements into our online offering that are obtained from the servers of their respective providers (hereinafter referred to as "third-party providers"). These may include, for example, graphics, videos, or maps (hereinafter uniformly referred to as "content").

The integration always presupposes that the third-party providers of this content process the IP address of the users since they could not send the content to their browser without the IP address. The IP address is therefore required for the presentation of this content or functions. We endeavor to use only those content whose respective providers use the IP address solely for the delivery of the content. Third-party providers may also use so-called pixel tags (invisible graphics, also known as "web beacons") for statistical or marketing purposes. The "pixel tags" can be used to evaluate information such as visitor traffic on the pages of this website. The pseudonymous information may also be stored in cookies on the user's device and may contain technical information about the browser and operating system, referring web pages, visit time, and other information about the use of our online offering as well as may be linked with such information from other sources.

Notes on Legal Bases: If we ask users for their consent to the use of third-party providers, the legal basis for processing data is consent. Otherwise, the data of users will be processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e., interest in efficient, economical, and recipient-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.

    • Processed Data Types: Usage Data (e.g., visited web pages, interest in content, access times); Meta/Communication Data (e.g., device information, IP addresses); Inventory Data (e.g., names, addresses); Contact Data (e.g., email, phone numbers); Content Data (e.g., entries in online forms).
    • Affected Persons: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
      • Purposes of processing: Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness; provision of contractual services and customer service; marketing; profiles with user-related information (creation of user profiles).
      • Legal bases: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a GDPR); performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b GDPR); legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f GDPR).

Further information on processing processes, procedures, and services:

      • Google Fonts (obtained from Google Server): Retrieval of fonts (and symbols) for the purpose of technically secure, maintenance-free, and efficient use of fonts and symbols with regard to their topicality and loading times, their uniform display, and consideration of possible license restrictions. The provider of the fonts is informed of the user's IP address so that the fonts can be made available in the user's browser. In addition, technical data (language settings, screen resolution, operating system, hardware used) are transmitted, which are necessary for the provision of the fonts depending on the devices used and the technical environment;Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, Parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA;Website: https://fonts.google.com/;Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy.
      • Google Fonts (hosted on our own server): Fonts ("Google Fonts") for user-friendly presentation of our online offering;Service provider: The Google Fonts are hosted on our server, no data is transmitted to Google.
      • Google Maps: We integrate the maps of the "Google Maps" service from the provider Google. The processed data may include in particular IP addresses and location data of the users, which, however, are not collected without their consent (usually as part of the settings of their mobile devices);Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, Parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA;Website: https://cloud.google.com/maps-platform;Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy;Opt-Out possibility: Opt-Out-Plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en, settings for the display of advertising inserts: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.
      • Instagram Plugins and Content: Instagram plugins and content - This may include, for example, content such as images, videos, or texts and buttons with which users can share content from this online offering within Instagram. - We are jointly responsible with Meta Platforms Ireland Limited for the collection or receipt as part of a transmission (but not the further processing) of "event data" that Facebook collects or receives through functions of Instagram (e.g. embedding functions for content) that are executed on our online offering, jointly for the following purposes: a) Display of content and advertising information that correspond to the presumed interests of users; b) Delivery of commercial and transaction-related messages (e.g. addressing users via Facebook Messenger); c) Improvement of ad delivery and personalization of functions and content (e.g. improvement of recognition of which content or advertising information presumably corresponds to the interests of users). We have concluded a special agreement with Facebook ("Addendum for Controllers", https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum), which regulates in particular which security measures Facebook must observe (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms) and in which Facebook has agreed to fulfill the rights of data subjects (i.e. users can address requests for information or deletion directly to Facebook). Note: If Facebook provides us with metrics, analyses, and reports (which are aggregated, i.e. do not receive information about individual users and are anonymous to us), this processing does not take place within the scope of joint responsibility, but on the basis of a data processing agreement ("Data Processing Conditions", https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/dataprocessing), the "Data Security Conditions" (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/data_security_terms) and with regard to processing in the USA on the basis of standard contract clauses ("Facebook-EU Data Transfer Addendum", https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum). The rights of users (in particular to information, deletion, objection, and complaint to the competent supervisory authority) are not restricted by the agreements with Facebook;Service provider: Instagram Inc., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA;Website: https://www.instagram.com/;Privacy policy: https://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy.
      • YouTube Videos: Video content;Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, Parent company: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA;Website: https://www.youtube.com/;Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy;Opt-Out possibility: Opt-Out-Plugin: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en, settings for the display of advertising inserts: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.

Change and Update of Privacy Policy

We ask you to regularly inform yourself about the content of our privacy policy. We adapt the privacy policy as soon as changes in the data processing carried out by us make this necessary. We will inform you as soon as the changes require your cooperation (e.g. consent) or any other individual notification.

If we provide addresses and contact information of companies and organizations in this privacy policy, please note that the addresses may change over time, and we ask you to check the information before contacting.

Rights of Data Subjects

Data subjects have various rights under the GDPR, which arise in particular from Articles 15 to 21 of the GDPR:

      • Right to object: You have the right to object at any time, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to the processing of personal data concerning you, which is based on Article 6(1)(e) or (f) GDPR, including profiling based on those provisions. If the personal data concerning you are processed for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for the purpose of such marketing, including profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing.
      • Right to withdraw consent: You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.
      • Right of access: You have the right to obtain confirmation as to whether or not personal data concerning you are being processed, and, where that is the case, access to the personal data and other information as per legal requirements.
      • Right to rectification: You have the right to obtain without undue delay the rectification of inaccurate personal data concerning you or completion of incomplete personal data.
      • Right to erasure and restriction of processing: You have the right, under certain conditions, to request the erasure of personal data concerning you without undue delay or alternatively, to request restriction of processing in accordance with legal requirements.
      • Right to data portability: You have the right to receive the personal data concerning you, which you have provided to us, in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format or to request transmission to another controller in accordance with legal requirements.
      • Right to lodge a complaint with 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 relating to you infringes the GDPR.

Definitions

In this section, you will find an overview of the terms used in this privacy policy. Many of the terms are taken from the law and are primarily defined in Article 4 of the GDPR. The legal definitions are binding. The following explanations are intended to serve mainly for understanding. The terms are sorted alphabetically.

    • Affiliate Tracking: Affiliate tracking involves logging links that refer users to websites with product or other offers. The operators of the linking websites may receive a commission if users follow these so-called affiliate links and subsequently take advantage of the offers (e.g., purchase goods or services). For this purpose, it is necessary for the providers to track whether users who are interested in certain offers subsequently take advantage of them on the basis of the affiliate links. Therefore, for the functionality of affiliate links, it is necessary that they are supplemented by certain values that become part of the link or are stored elsewhere, e.g., in a cookie. These values include, in particular, the referring website (referrer), the time, an online identifier of the operator of the website on which the affiliate link was located, an online identifier of the respective offer, an online identifier of the user, as well as tracking-specific values such as advertisement ID, partner ID, and categorizations.
    • Personal Data: "Personal data" means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter "data subject"); an identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier (e.g., a cookie), or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural, or social identity of that natural person.
    • Profiles with User-related Information: The processing of "profiles with user-related information," or simply "profiles," includes any type of automated processing of personal data consisting of using this personal data to analyze, assess, or predict certain personal aspects relating to a natural person (depending on the type of profiling, various information concerning demographics, behavior, and interests, such as interaction with websites and their content, etc.) For profiling purposes, cookies and web beacons are frequently used.
  • Reach Measurement: Reach measurement (also referred to as web analytics) is used to evaluate the visitor traffic of an online offering and may involve analyzing the behavior or interests of visitors regarding certain information, such as content of web pages. With the help of reach analysis, website owners, for example, can recognize when visitors access their website and which content they are interested in. This enables them to better tailor the content of the website to the needs of their visitors. Pseudonymous cookies and web beacons are often used for reach analysis purposes to recognize recurring visitors and thus obtain more precise analyses of the use of an online offering.
  • Controller: The term "controller" refers to the natural or legal person, authority, institution, or other body that alone or jointly with others determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data.
  • Processing: "Processing" is any operation or set of operations performed on personal data, whether or not by automated means. The term is broad and includes practically any handling of data, whether it involves collecting, evaluating, storing, transmitting, or deleting.
Legal text by Dr. Schwenke - click for more information.