PRIVACY POLICY
1. Data Protection at a Glance
General Information
The following information provides an easy overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit this website. Personal data refers to all data that can be used to personally identify you. Detailed information on data protection can be found in our privacy policy, which is listed below this text.
Data Collection on This Website
Who is responsible for data collection on this website?
Data processing on this website is carried out by the website operator. You can find their contact details in the section "Details of the Responsible Party" in this privacy policy.
How do we collect your data?
Your data is collected in part by you providing it to us. For example, this might involve data that you enter into a contact form.
Other data is collected automatically or with your consent when you visit the website through our IT systems. This mainly concerns technical data (e.g., internet browser, operating system, or the time of page view). The collection of this data occurs automatically as soon as you enter the website.
What do we use your data for?
Some of the data is collected to ensure the website functions properly. Other data may be used to analyse your user behaviour.
What rights do you have regarding your data?
You have the right to request, at any time and free of charge, information on the origin, recipient, and purpose of your stored personal data. You also have the right to request the correction or deletion of this data. If you have given consent for data processing, you can withdraw this consent at any time for the future. Furthermore, you have the right to request the restriction of processing your personal data in certain circumstances. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the relevant supervisory authority.
For further information on data protection, or if you have any questions, you may contact us at any time.
Analysis Tools and Third-Party Tools
When visiting this website, your browsing behaviour may be statistically evaluated. This is primarily done through so-called analysis programmes.
Detailed information about these analysis programmes can be found in the following privacy policy.
2. Hosting
We host the contents of our website with the following provider:
WIX
The provider is Wix.com Ltd., 40 Namal Tel Aviv St., Tel Aviv 6350671, Israel (hereinafter referred to as "WIX").
WIX is a tool for creating and hosting websites. When you visit our website, WIX analyses user behaviour, visitor sources, the region of website visitors, and visitor numbers. WIX stores cookies on your browser that are necessary for the website’s display and for ensuring security (necessary cookies).
The data collected through WIX may be stored on various servers worldwide. The WIX servers are located, among other places, in the USA.
Details can be found in the WIX privacy policy: https://de.wix.com/about/privacy.
According to WIX, data transfer to the USA and other third countries is based on the EU Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses or similar guarantees under Art. 46 GDPR. Details can be found here: https://de.wix.com/about/privacy-dpa-users.
The use of WIX is based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in ensuring a reliable presentation of our website. If consent has been obtained, processing occurs solely on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDG, provided the consent includes storing cookies or accessing information on the user's device (e.g., device fingerprinting) as per TDDG. Consent may be withdrawn at any time.
The company is certified under the "EU-US Data Privacy Framework" (DPF). The DPF is an agreement between the European Union and the USA aimed at ensuring compliance with European data protection standards during data processing in the USA. Any company certified under the DPF commits to adhering to these data protection standards. For more information, please visit: https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/participant/5626.
Order Processing
We have entered into an agreement for order processing (AVV) to use the service mentioned above. This is a legally required contract ensuring that personal data of our website visitors is processed only according to our instructions and in compliance with GDPR.
3. General Information and Mandatory Data Protection Information
The operators of these pages take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data confidentially and in accordance with the statutory data protection regulations and this privacy policy.
When you use this website, various personal data is collected. Personal data is data that can be used to identify you personally. This privacy policy explains which data we collect and how we use it. It also explains how and for what purposes this is done.
Please note that data transmission over the internet (e.g., when communicating via email) can have security gaps. Complete protection of data from third-party access is not possible.
Details of the Responsible Party
The responsible party for data processing on this website is:
Sabrina Ritz
Arp-Schnitger-Weg 5
24229 Strande
Phone: +49 173 326 9292
Email: sabrina@ritz-edelmetalle.com
The responsible party is the natural or legal person who alone or jointly with others determines the purposes and means of processing personal data (e.g., names, email addresses, etc.).
Storage Duration
Unless a more specific retention period is stated in this privacy policy, your personal data will remain with us until the purpose for the data processing no longer applies. If you make a valid request for deletion or withdraw consent for data processing, your data will be deleted, provided we do not have other legally permissible reasons for retaining your personal data (e.g., tax or commercial retention periods); in the latter case, deletion will occur once these reasons no longer apply.
General Information on Legal Grounds for Data Processing on This Website
If you have consented to data processing, we process your personal data on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR or Art. 9(2)(a) GDPR if special categories of data are processed under Art. 9(1) GDPR. In the case of explicit consent to the transfer of personal data to third countries, data processing is also based on Art. 49(1)(a) GDPR. If you have consented to the storage of cookies or access to information on your device (e.g., via device fingerprinting), data processing additionally occurs based on § 25(1) TDDG. Consent may be withdrawn at any time.
If your data is required for the performance of a contract or pre-contractual measures, we process your data on the basis of Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR. Additionally, we process your data if required to comply with a legal obligation on the basis of Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR. Data processing may also occur based on our legitimate interest under Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. The specific legal grounds relevant to each case will be explained in the following sections of this privacy policy.
Recipients of Personal Data
In the course of our business activities, we collaborate with various external parties. In some cases, the transfer of personal data to these external parties is necessary. We only share personal data with external parties when this is necessary for fulfilling a contract, if we are legally obliged to do so (e.g., data transfer to tax authorities), when we have a legitimate interest under Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR in sharing the data, or when another legal basis permits the data transfer. When using processors, we share personal data of our customers only on the basis of a valid data processing agreement. In the case of joint processing, a joint processing agreement is concluded.
Revocation of Your Consent to Data Processing
Many data processing operations are only possible with your explicit consent. You can withdraw your consent at any time. The legality of the data processing carried out up to the point of withdrawal remains unaffected by the withdrawal.
Right to Object to Data Collection in Specific Cases and to Direct Marketing (Art. 21 GDPR)
IF DATA PROCESSING IS BASED ON ART. 6(1)(e) OR (f) GDPR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME, FOR REASONS ARISING FROM YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION, TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA; THIS APPLIES ALSO TO PROFILING BASED ON THESE PROVISIONS. THE RELEVANT LEGAL BASIS FOR THE PROCESSING CAN BE FOUND IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY. IF YOU OBJECT, WE WILL NO LONGER PROCESS YOUR PERSONAL DATA, UNLESS WE CAN DEMONSTRATE COMPELLING LEGITIMATE GROUNDS FOR THE PROCESSING THAT OVERRIDE YOUR INTERESTS, RIGHTS, AND FREEDOMS, OR THE PROCESSING IS NECESSARY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT, EXERCISE, OR DEFENCE OF LEGAL CLAIMS (OBJECTION UNDER ART. 21(1) GDPR).
IF YOUR PERSONAL DATA IS PROCESSED FOR DIRECT MARKETING PURPOSES, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA FOR SUCH MARKETING, INCLUDING PROFILING TO THE EXTENT IT IS RELATED TO SUCH DIRECT MARKETING. IF YOU OBJECT, YOUR PERSONAL DATA WILL NO LONGER BE USED FOR DIRECT MARKETING PURPOSES (OBJECTION UNDER ART. 21(2) GDPR).
Right to Lodge a Complaint with the Competent Supervisory Authority
In the event of violations of the GDPR, affected individuals have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, especially in the member state of their habitual residence, their place of work, or the place of the alleged violation. The right to lodge a complaint is without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedies.
Right to Data Portability
You have the right to receive data that we process based on your consent or in the performance of a contract in an automated manner, in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format. If you request the direct transfer of the data to another controller, this will only be done if technically feasible.
Access, Rectification, and Deletion
Under the applicable laws, you have the right to obtain, free of charge, information about your stored personal data, its origin and recipients, and the purpose of processing, as well as the right to rectify or delete this data. For further questions regarding personal data, you can contact us at any time.
Right to Restriction of Processing
You have the right to request the restriction of processing your personal data. You can contact us at any time. The right to restrict processing applies in the following cases:
If you dispute the accuracy of your personal data stored with us, we usually need time to verify this. During the verification period, you have the right to request the restriction of processing your personal data.
If the processing of your personal data is unlawful, you may instead of deletion request the restriction of processing.
If we no longer need your personal data but you require it for the establishment, exercise, or defence of legal claims, you have the right to request the restriction of processing instead of deletion.
If you have lodged an objection under Art. 21(1) GDPR, a balance must be made between your and our interests. As long as it is not yet clear whose interests outweigh, you have the right to request the restriction of processing your personal data.
If you have restricted the processing of your personal data, this data may only be processed – apart from its storage – with your consent or for the establishment, exercise, or defence of legal claims, or to protect the rights of another natural or legal person, or for reasons of important public interest of the European Union or a member state.
SSL or TLS Encryption
This site uses SSL or TLS encryption for security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as orders or inquiries you send to us as the site operator. You can recognise an encrypted connection by the fact that the browser’s address bar changes from "http://" to "https://" and by the lock symbol in your browser's address bar.
When SSL or TLS encryption is enabled, the data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.
Objection to Advertising Emails
The use of contact data published as part of the imprint obligation for sending unsolicited advertising and information materials is hereby objected to. The operators of the sites expressly reserve the right to take legal action in the event of unsolicited delivery of advertising information, such as spam emails.
4. Data Collection on This Website – Cookies
Our websites use so-called "cookies". Cookies are small data packets and do not harm your device. They are either temporarily stored for the duration of a session (session cookies) or permanently (permanent cookies) on your device. Session cookies are automatically deleted after your visit. Permanent cookies remain stored on your device until you delete them yourself or an automatic deletion occurs via your web browser.
Cookies may come from us (first-party cookies) or third parties (third-party cookies). Third-party cookies enable the integration of certain third-party services within websites (e.g., cookies for processing payment services).
Cookies serve various purposes. Many cookies are technically necessary because certain website functions would not work without them (e.g., the shopping cart function or displaying videos). Other cookies may be used to analyse user behaviour or for advertising purposes.
Cookies required to carry out electronic communication, provide certain functions requested by you (e.g., the shopping cart function), or optimise the website (e.g., cookies to measure web audience) are stored based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR, unless another legal basis is provided. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing necessary cookies for the technically flawless and optimised provision of their services. If consent to the storage of cookies or similar technologies for recognition has been requested, processing occurs solely on the basis of this consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG); the consent may be withdrawn at any time.
You can set your browser to notify you when cookies are set and allow cookies only on a case-by-case basis, exclude the acceptance of cookies for certain cases or in general, and activate the automatic deletion of cookies when closing the browser. Disabling cookies may limit the functionality of this website.
Which cookies and services are used on this website can be found in this privacy policy.
Contact Form
If you send us inquiries via the contact form, your details from the inquiry form, including the contact information you provide, will be stored by us for the purpose of processing the inquiry and for possible follow-up questions. We do not share this data without your consent.
Processing of this data is based on Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR, provided your inquiry is related to the fulfilment of a contract or required for pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, processing is based on our legitimate interest in effectively processing inquiries directed to us (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR), if requested; consent may be withdrawn at any time.
The data you enter in the contact form remains with us until you request its deletion, withdraw your consent for its storage, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies (e.g., after your inquiry has been processed). Mandatory legal provisions – especially retention periods – remain unaffected.
Request via Email, Phone, or Fax
If you contact us via email, phone, or fax, your inquiry, including all personal data resulting from it (name, inquiry), will be stored and processed by us for the purpose of handling your request. We do not share this data without your consent.
Processing of this data is based on Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR, provided your inquiry is related to the fulfilment of a contract or required for pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, processing is based on our legitimate interest in effectively processing inquiries directed to us (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR), if requested; consent may be withdrawn at any time.
The data you send us via contact inquiries remains with us until you request its deletion, withdraw your consent for storage, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies (e.g., after processing your request). Mandatory legal provisions – particularly retention periods – remain unaffected.
5. Audio and Video Conferences
Data Processing
For communication with our customers, we use online conference tools. The specific tools we use are listed below. When you communicate with us via video or audio conference over the internet, your personal data is collected and processed by us and the provider of the respective conference tool.
The conference tools collect all data that you provide/use to utilise the tools (e.g., email address and/or phone number). The tools also process the duration of the conference, the start and end (time) of participation, the number of participants, and other "contextual information" in connection with the communication process (metadata).
Additionally, the provider of the tool processes all technical data necessary for online communication, including IP addresses, MAC addresses, device IDs, device type, operating system type and version, client version, camera type, microphone or speakers, and the type of connection.
If content is exchanged, uploaded, or otherwise provided within the tool, it will also be stored on the servers of the tool providers. Such content includes cloud recordings, chat/instant messages, voicemails, uploaded photos and videos, files, whiteboards, and other information shared during the use of the service.
Please note that we do not have full control over the data processing activities of the tools used. Our capabilities are largely determined by the policies of the respective providers. Further details on data processing by the conference tools can be found in the privacy policies of the tools used, which are listed below this text.
Purpose and Legal Grounds
The conference tools are used to communicate with potential or existing contractual partners or to offer certain services to our customers (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR). Additionally, the use of these tools simplifies and speeds up communication with us or our company (legitimate interest under Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). If consent was requested, the use of the respective tools is based on this consent; consent can be withdrawn at any time with effect for the future.
Storage Duration
Data directly collected by us via video and conference tools will be deleted from our systems as soon as you request its deletion, withdraw your consent for storage, or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies. Stored cookies remain on your device until you delete them. Mandatory legal retention periods remain unaffected.
We have no influence on the storage duration of your data stored by the operators of the conference tools for their own purposes. For details, please directly consult the conference tool providers.
Conference Tools Used
We use the following conference tools: Zoom
We use Zoom. The provider of this service is Zoom Communications Inc., San Jose, 55 Almaden Boulevard, 6th Floor, San Jose, CA 95113, USA. Details regarding data processing can be found in Zoom’s privacy policy: https://explore.zoom.us/de/privacy/.
Data transfer to the USA is based on the EU Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses. Details can be found here: https://explore.zoom.us/de/privacy/.
The company is certified under the "EU-US Data Privacy Framework" (DPF). The DPF is an agreement between the European Union and the USA to ensure compliance with European data protection standards in data processing in the USA. Each company certified under the DPF commits to adhering to these data protection standards. Further information can be obtained from the provider at the following link: https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/participant/5728.