Privacy Policy

1. An overview of data protection

General information

The following information will provide you with an easy-to-navigate overview of what will happen with your personal data when you visit our website. The term "personal data" comprises all data that can be used to personally identify you. For detailed information about the subject matter of data protection, please consult our Data Protection Declaration, which we have included beneath this text.

Data recording on our website

Who is responsible for the recording of data on this website (i.e., the "controller")?
The data on this website is processed by the operator of the website, whose contact information is available under the "Legal Notice" section of this website.

How do we record your data?

We collect your data as a result of your sharing of such data with us. This may, for instance, be information that you enter into our contact form.
Our IT systems automatically record other data when you visit the website. This data comprises primarily technical information (e.g., web browser, operating system, or the time the page was accessed). This information is recorded automatically when you access our website.

What are the purposes for which we use your data?A portion of the information is generated to guarantee the error-free provision of the website. Other data may be used to analyze your user patterns.

What rights do you have as regards your information?
You have the right to receive information about the source, recipients, and purposes of your archived personal data at any time without having to pay a fee for such disclosures. You also have the right to demand that your data be rectified, blocked, or eradicated. Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time under the address disclosed in the Legal Notice if you have questions about this or any other data protection-related issues. You also have the right to log a complaint with the competent supervising agency.

Analysis tools and tools provided by third parties

When you visit our website, your surfing patterns may be statistically analyzed. Such analyses are performed primarily with so-called analysis programs. The analysis of your surfing patterns is usually anonymous; the surfing patterns cannot be traced back to you. You have the option to object to such analyses or prevent their results by not using certain tools. For detailed information on this, please consult our Privacy Policy under the heading "Third-party modules and analysis tools."
You can object to this analysis. We will inform you about your objection options in this privacy policy.

2. General information and mandatory disclosures

The operators of this website and its pages take the protection of your personal data very seriously. Hence, we handle your personal data as confidential information and in compliance with the statutory data protection regulations and this Privacy Policy.

Whenever you use this website, a variety of personal data will be collected. Personal data comprises data that can be used to personally identify you. This Privacy Policy explains what data we collect as well as the purposes for which we use it. It also explains how and for what purpose the data is collected.
We herewith advise you that the transmission of data via the Internet (i.e., through e-mail communications) may be prone to security gaps. It is not possible to completely protect data from third-party access.

Information about the controller

The controller for data processing on this website is:
ESG Edelmetall-Service GmbH & Co. KG
Gewerbering 29b
76287 Rheinstetten
Germany
Phone: +49 7242 9535177
Email: info(at)scheideanstalt.de

The controller is the natural person or legal entity that alone or jointly with others makes decisions as to the purposes and means of the processing of personal data (e.g., names, e-mail addresses, etc.).

Revocation of your consent to the data processing

A wide range of data processing transactions are possible only subject to your express consent. You also have the right to revoke your consent at any time. All you need to do is send a notice via e-mail. This shall be without prejudice to the lawfulness of any data collection that has taken place before your revocation.

Right to file a complaint with the competent supervising agency

In the event of violations of the GDPR, data subjects are entitled to log a complaint with a supervisory agency, in particular in the Member State where they usually maintain their domicile, place of work, or where the alleged violation occurred. The right to log a complaint is in effect regardless of any other administrative or court proceedings available as legal recourses. The competent supervisory authority for data protection issues is the state data protection officer of the federal state in which our company is headquartered. A list of data protection officers and their contact details can be found at the following link: https://www.bfdi.bund.de/DE/Infothek/Anschriften_Links/anschriften_links-node.html.

Right to data portability

You have the right to have data that we process automatically based on your consent or in fulfillment of a contract handed over to you or to a third party in a standard, machine-readable format. If you should demand the direct transfer of data to another controller, this will be done only if it is technically feasible.

SSL and/or TLS encryption

For security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as purchase orders or inquiries you submit to us as the website operator, this website uses an SSL or TLS encryption program. You can recognize an encrypted connection by checking whether the address line of the browser switches from "http://" to "https://" and also by the appearance of the lock icon in the browser line.
If the SSL or TLS encryption is activated, data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.

Encrypted payment transactions on this website

If you have a contractual obligation to share your payment data with us (e.g. account number for direct debit authorization) after you have entered into a fee-based contract with us, this data is required to process your payments.
Payment transactions using common means of payment (Visa/MasterCard, direct debit) are processed exclusively via a secured SSL or TLS connection. You can recognize an encrypted connection by checking whether the address line of the browser switches from "http://" to "https://" and also by the appearance of the lock icon in the browser.
With encrypted communication, your payment data that you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.

Information about, blocking, and eradication of data

Within the scope of the applicable statutory provisions, you have the right to at any time demand information about your archived personal data, their source and recipients as well as the purpose of the processing of your data. You may also have a right to have your data rectified, blocked, or eradicated. If you have questions about this subject matter or any other questions about personal data, please do not hesitate to contact us at the address provided in the Legal Notice.

Objection to promotional e-mails

We herewith object to the use of contact information published in conjunction with the mandatory legal notice to send us promotional and information material that we have not expressly requested. The operators of this website and its pages reserve the express right to take legal action in the event of the unsolicited sending of promotional information, for instance, via SPAM messages.

3. Data Protection OfficerData Protection Officer as required by law

We have appointed a data protection officer for our company.
Thomas Heimhalt
DATENSCHUTZ perfect e.K., Karlsruhe
Email: datenschutz(at)scheideanstalt.de

4. Data recording on our website

Cookies

In some cases, our website and its pages use so-called cookies. Cookies do not cause any damage to your computer and do not contain viruses. The purpose of cookies is to make our website more user-friendly, effective, and secure. Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer and stored by your browser.
Most of the cookies we use are so-called "session cookies." They are automatically deleted after your visit. Other cookies will remain archived on your device until you delete them. These cookies enable us to recognize your browser the next time you visit our website.
You can configure your browser to be informed about the placement of cookies so that you can decide on a case-by-case basis whether to accept cookies or to exclude the acceptance of cookies in certain situations or in general. You can also activate the function for the automatic deletion of cookies when the browser closes. If cookies are deactivated, the functions of this website may be limited.
Cookies which are required for the performance of the electronic communication transaction or to provide certain functions you want to use (e.g., the shopping cart function) are stored on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing cookies to ensure the technically error-free and optimized provision of the operator's services. Insofar as other cookies (e.g., cookies for the analysis of your surfing patterns) are stored, they are addressed separately in this Privacy Policy.

Local Storage

We use the so-called local storage functionality. This means that your data (master data, status data, and program data) is stored locally in your browser's cache after login. After closing the browser window, your data, with the exception of your most recently selected login method, will be deleted. If you do not clear your browser's cache, this information will remain and can be read the next time you access the website. By using local storage, we enable you to display your data correctly when you surf our website without unnecessarily slowing down this process and overloading interfaces.
If you do not want to use local storage, you can adjust this at any time in the settings of your respective browser. Please note that in this case, the functionalities of our website may be limited or no longer available to you. In particular, you will not be able to access your personal profile.

Server-Log Files

The provider of this website and its pages automatically collects and stores information in so-called server log files, which your browser automatically communicates to us. The information comprises:

• Browser type and browser version
• Operating system used
• Referrer URL
• Hostname of the accessing computer
• Time of the server inquiry
• IP address

This data is not merged with other data sources.

The data is processed on the basis of Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. b GDPR, which permits the processing of data to fulfill a contract or for pre-contractual measures.

Contact form

If you submit inquiries to us via our contact form, the information provided in the contact form as well as any contact information provided therein will be stored by us to handle your inquiry and in the event that we have further questions. We will not share this information without your consent.
The processing of the data entered into the contact form shall therefore occur exclusively on the basis of your consent (Art. 6 Sect. 1 lit. a GDPR). You have the right to revoke your consent at any time. An informal e-mail to us is sufficient to do so. The data collected before we receive your request may still be legally processed.
The information you have entered into the contact form shall remain with us until you ask us to eradicate the data, revoke your consent to the archiving of data, or if the purpose for which the information is being archived no longer exists (e.g. after we have concluded our response to your inquiry). This shall be without prejudice to any mandatory statutory provisions – in particular retention periods.

Registration on this website

You can register on our website to use additional functions offered on the site. We shall use the data you enter only for the purpose of using the respective offer or service for which you have registered. The mandatory information requested during registration must be entered in full. Otherwise, we will reject the registration.
For important changes, such as in the scope of our offerings or in the case of technically necessary changes, we will use the e-mail address provided during registration to inform you in this way.
The processing of the data entered during registration is based on your consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR). You can revoke any consent you have given at any time. All you need to do is send us an informal e-mail. The lawfulness of the data processing that has already taken place remains unaffected by the revocation.
The data collected during registration will be stored by us as long as you are registered on our website and will then be deleted. Statutory retention periods remain unaffected.

Processing of data (customer and contract data)

We collect, process, and use personal data only in so far as it is necessary for the establishment, content arrangement, or modification of the legal relationship (inventory data). This is done on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR, which permits the processing of data to fulfill a contract or for pre-contractual measures. We collect, process, and use personal data about the use of our website (usage data) only insofar as this is necessary to enable the user to use the service or to bill the user for it.
The collected customer data will be deleted after the order is completed or the business relationship is terminated. Statutory retention periods remain unaffected.

Data transfer upon conclusion of a contract for online shops, dealers, and goods dispatch

We only transfer personal data to third parties if this is necessary within the scope of contract processing, for example, to companies entrusted with the delivery of the goods or the credit institution commissioned with the payment processing. Any further transfer of the data does not take place, or only if you have expressly consented to the transfer. Your data will not be passed on to third parties without your express consent, for example for advertising purposes.
The basis for data processing is Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR, which permits the processing of data for the fulfillment of a contract or pre-contractual measures.

Data transfer on conclusion of a contract for services and digital content

We only transfer personal data to third parties if this is necessary within the scope of contract processing, for example, to the credit institution commissioned with the payment processing. Any further transfer of the data does not take place, or only if you have expressly consented to the transfer. Your data will not be passed on to third parties without your express consent, for example for advertising purposes.
The basis for data processing is Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR, which permits the processing of data for the fulfillment of a contract or pre-contractual measures.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

The provider is Amazon Web Services EMEA SARL, 38 Avenue John F. Kennedy, 1855 Luxembourg (hereinafter AWS).
When you visit our website, your personal data will be processed on AWS servers. Personal data may also be transferred to AWS's parent company in the USA. The data transfer to the USA is based on the EU standard contractual clauses. You can find details here: https://aws.amazon.com/de/blogs/security/aws-gdpr-data-processing-addendum/.

For more information, please see the AWS privacy policy: https://aws.amazon.com/de/privacy/?nc1=f_pr.
The use of AWS is based on Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in the most reliable presentation of our website. If a corresponding consent has been requested, the processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR and Section 25 (1) TTDSG, insofar as the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information in the user's end device (e.g. device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. The consent can be revoked 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 that is intended to ensure compliance with European data protection standards when data is processed in the USA. Any company certified under the DPF undertakes to comply with these data protection standards. For more information, please see the provider's website at the following link: https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/s/participant-search/participant-detail?contact=true&id=a2zt0000000TOWQAA4&status=Active

Order Processing

We have concluded a contract for order processing (AVV) for the use of the above-mentioned service. This is a contract required under data protection law, which ensures that it processes the personal data of our website visitors only in accordance with our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.

Cloudflare

We use the "Cloudflare" service. The provider is Cloudflare Inc., 101 Townsend St., San Francisco, CA 94107, USA (hereinafter "Cloudflare").
Cloudflare offers a globally distributed Content Delivery Network with DNS. Technically, the information transfer between your browser and our website is routed through the Cloudflare network. This enables Cloudflare to analyze the data traffic between your browser and our website and to serve as a filter between our servers and potentially malicious data traffic from the Internet. In this process, Cloudflare may also use cookies or other technologies to recognize internet users, which, however, are used exclusively for the purpose described here.
The use of Cloudflare is based on our legitimate interest in providing our website as error-free and securely as possible (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

The data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. You can find details here: https://www.cloudflare.com/privacypolicy/.

For more information on security and data protection at Cloudflare, please visit: https://www.cloudflare.com/privacypolicy/.
The company is certified under the "EU-US Data Privacy Framework" (DPF). The DPF is an agreement between the European Union and the USA that is intended to ensure compliance with European data protection standards when data is processed in the USA. Any company certified under the DPF undertakes to comply with these data protection standards. For more information, please see the provider's website at the following link: https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/s/participant-search/participant-detail?contact=true&id=a2zt0000000GnZKAA0&status=Active

Order Processing

We have concluded a contract for order processing (AVV) for the use of the above-mentioned service. This is a contract required under data protection law, which ensures that it processes the personal data of our website visitors only in accordance with our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.

5. Social media

Facebook plugins (Like & Share button)

Our website includes plugins of the social network Facebook, Facebook Inc., 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA. You will recognize the Facebook plugins by the Facebook logo or the "Like" button on our site. For an overview of the Facebook plugins, please see https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/.
When you visit our site, the plugin establishes a direct connection between your browser and the Facebook server. Facebook receives the information that you have visited our site with your IP address. If you click on the Facebook "Like" button while you are logged into your Facebook account, you can link the content of our site to your Facebook profile. This allows Facebook to assign the visit to our site to your user account. We would like to point out that we, as the provider of the site, have no knowledge of the content of the data transmitted or its use by Facebook. For more information, please see the Facebook privacy policy at https://www.facebook.com/privacy/explanation.
If you do not want Facebook to be able to associate your visit to our site with your Facebook user account, please log out of your Facebook user account.

Facebook Pixel

This website uses the visitor action pixel from Facebook for conversion measurement. The provider of this service is Facebook Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Dublin 2, Ireland. However, according to Facebook, the data collected is also transferred to the USA and other third countries.
This allows the behavior of site visitors to be tracked after they have been redirected to the provider's website by clicking on a Facebook ad. This can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of Facebook ads for statistical and market research purposes and to optimize future advertising measures.
The data collected is anonymous for us as the operator of this website; we cannot draw any conclusions about the identity of the users. However, the data is stored and processed by Facebook, so that a connection to the respective user profile is possible and Facebook can use the data for its own advertising purposes, in accordance with the Facebook data usage policy. This enables Facebook to place ads on Facebook pages and outside of Facebook. We, as the site operator, have no control over this use of the data.
The use of Facebook Pixel is based on Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in effective advertising measures, including social media. If a corresponding consent has been requested (e.g. consent to the storage of cookies), the processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR; the consent can be revoked at any time.
For more information on the protection of your privacy, please see Facebook's privacy policy: https://de-de.facebook.com/about/privacy/.
You can also deactivate the "Custom Audiences" remarketing function in the ad settings section at https://www.facebook.com/ads/preferences/?entry_product=ad_settings_screen. You must be logged in to Facebook to do so.
If you do not have a Facebook account, you can deactivate usage-based advertising from Facebook on the website of the European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance: https://www.youronlinechoices.com/de/praferenzmanagement/.

Instagram Plugin

Functions of the Instagram service are integrated into our pages. These functions are offered by Instagram Inc., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA. If you are logged into your Instagram account, you can link the content of our pages to your Instagram profile by clicking the Instagram button. This allows Instagram to associate the visit to our pages with your user account. We would like to point out that we, as the provider of the pages, have no knowledge of the content of the data transmitted or its use by Instagram.
For more information, please see the Instagram privacy policy: https://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy/.

Tumblr Plugin

Our pages use buttons from the Tumblr service. The provider is Tumblr, Inc., 35 East 21st St, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10010, USA.
These buttons allow you to share a post or page on Tumblr or to follow the provider on Tumblr. When you visit one of our websites with a Tumblr button, your browser establishes a direct connection with Tumblr's servers. We have no influence on the scope of the data that Tumblr collects and transmits with the help of this plugin. According to the current status, the user's IP address and the URL of the respective website are transmitted.
For more information, please see Tumblr's privacy policy at: https://www.tumblr.com/policy/de/privacy.

LinkedIn Plugin

Our website uses functions of the LinkedIn network. The provider is LinkedIn Corporation, 2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.
Each time you access one of our pages that contains LinkedIn functions, a connection to LinkedIn servers is established. LinkedIn is informed that you have visited our website with your IP address. If you click on the "Recommend" button from LinkedIn and are logged into your LinkedIn account, LinkedIn can associate your visit to our website with you and your user account. We would like to point out that we, as the provider of the pages, have no knowledge of the content of the data transmitted or its use by LinkedIn.
For more information, please see LinkedIn's privacy policy at: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy.

XING Plugin

Our website uses functions of the XING network. The provider is XING AG, Dammtorstraße 29-32, 20354 Hamburg, Germany.
Each time one of our pages containing XING functions is accessed, a connection to XING servers is established. To our knowledge, no personal data is stored in this process. In particular, no IP addresses are stored or user behavior is analyzed.
For more information on data protection and the XING Share button, please see XING's privacy policy at: https://www.xing.com/app/share?op=data_protection.

Pinterest Plugin

On our website, we use social plugins from the social network Pinterest, which is operated by Pinterest Inc., 808 Brannan Street, San Francisco, CA 94103-490, USA ("Pinterest").When you access a page that contains such a plugin, your browser establishes a direct connection to Pinterest's servers. The plugin transmits log data to the Pinterest server in the USA. This log data may contain your IP address, the address of the websites visited that also contain Pinterest functions, the type and settings of the browser, the date and time of the request, your usage of Pinterest, and cookies.
For more information on the purpose, scope, and further processing and use of data by Pinterest, as well as your rights and options for protecting your privacy in this regard, please see Pinterest's privacy policy: https://about.pinterest.com/de/privacy-policy.

6. Analytics Tools and Advertising

Google Analytics
This website uses features of the web analytics service Google Analytics. The provider is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.

Google Analytics uses so-called "cookies." These are text files that are stored on your computer and enable an analysis of your use of the website. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website is usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there.

The storage of Google Analytics cookies is based on Art. 6 (1) (f) of the GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in analyzing user behavior to optimize both its web offerings and its advertising.

IP Anonymization
We have activated the IP anonymization function on this website. This means that your IP address will be truncated by Google within member states of the European Union or in other signatory states to the Agreement on the European Economic Area before being transmitted to the USA. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be sent to a Google server in the USA and truncated there. On behalf of the operator of this website, Google will use this information to evaluate your use of the website, to compile reports on website activity, and to provide other services related to website and internet usage to the website operator. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics will not be merged with other Google data.

Browser Plugin
You can prevent the storage of cookies by adjusting your browser software settings; however, please note that if you do so, you may not be able to use all the functions of this website to their full extent. You can also prevent the collection of data generated by the cookie and related to your use of the website (including your IP address) by Google, as well as the processing of this data by Google, by downloading and installing the browser plugin available at the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en.

Objection to Data Collection
You can prevent Google Analytics from collecting your data by clicking the following link. An opt-out cookie will be set, which will prevent the collection of your data on future visits to this website: Deactivate Google Analytics.

More information on how Google Analytics handles user data can be found in Google's privacy policy: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=de.

Order Processing
We have entered into a contract with Google for data processing and fully implement the strict requirements of the German data protection authorities when using Google Analytics.

Demographics in Google Analytics
This website uses the "demographic characteristics" function of Google Analytics. This allows reports to be created that contain statements about the age, gender, and interests of site visitors. This data comes from Google's interest-based advertising and visitor data from third-party providers. This data cannot be assigned to a specific person. You can deactivate this function at any time via the ad settings in your Google account or generally prohibit the collection of your data by Google Analytics as described in the "Objection to Data Collection" section.

Matomo (formerly Piwik)
This website uses the open-source web analytics service Matomo. Matomo uses so-called "cookies." These are text files that are stored on your computer and enable an analysis of your use of the website. For this purpose, the information generated by the cookie about the use of this website is stored on our server. The IP address is anonymized before being stored.

Matomo cookies remain on your device until you delete them.

The storage of Matomo cookies is based on Art. 6 (1) (f) of the GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the anonymized analysis of user behavior to optimize both its web offerings and its advertising.

The information generated by the cookie about the use of this website is not passed on to third parties. You can prevent the storage of cookies by adjusting your browser software settings; however, we would like to point out that in this case, you may not be able to use all the functions of this website to their full extent.

Google AdWords and Google Conversion Tracking
This website uses Google AdWords. AdWords is an online advertising program from Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States ("Google").

As part of Google AdWords, we use so-called conversion tracking. When you click on an ad served by Google, a conversion tracking cookie is set. Cookies are small text files that the internet browser stores on the user's computer. These cookies lose their validity after 30 days and are not used for the personal identification of users. If the user visits certain pages of this website and the cookie has not yet expired, Google and we can recognize that the user clicked on the ad and was redirected to this page.

Each Google AdWords customer receives a different cookie. The cookies cannot be tracked across the websites of AdWords customers. The information collected using the conversion cookie is used to create conversion statistics for AdWords customers who have opted for conversion tracking. Customers find out the total number of users who clicked on their ad and were redirected to a page with a conversion tracking tag. However, they do not receive any information that can be used to personally identify users. If you do not want to participate in tracking, you can object to this use by easily deactivating the Google Conversion Tracking cookie via your internet browser under user settings. You will then not be included in the conversion tracking statistics.

The storage of "conversion cookies" is based on Art. 6 (1) (f) of the GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in analyzing user behavior to optimize both its web offerings and its advertising.

More information on Google AdWords and Google Conversion Tracking can be found in Google's privacy policy: https://www.google.de/policies/privacy/.

You can set your browser to inform you about the setting of cookies and to allow cookies only in individual cases, to exclude the acceptance of cookies for certain cases or in general, and to activate the automatic deletion of cookies when the browser is closed. If cookies are deactivated, the functionality of this website may be limited.

Google Analytics Remarketing
This website uses the features of Google Analytics Remarketing in conjunction with the cross-device features of Google Ads and Google DoubleClick. The provider is Google Ireland Limited ("Google"), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

This function makes it possible to link the advertising target groups created with Google Analytics Remarketing with the cross-device functions of Google Ads and Google DoubleClick. In this way, interest-based, personalized advertising messages that have been adapted to you based on your previous usage and browsing behavior on one device (e.g., cell phone) can also be displayed on another of your devices (e.g., tablet or PC).

If you have given your consent, Google will link your web and app browsing history with your Google account for this purpose. In this way, the same personalized advertising messages can be displayed on every device on which you log in with your Google account.

To support this feature, Google Analytics collects Google-authenticated IDs of users, which are temporarily linked to our Google Analytics data to define and create target groups for cross-device advertising.

You can permanently object to cross-device remarketing/targeting by deactivating personalized advertising; to do this, follow this link: www.google.com/settings/ads/onweb/.

The combination of the collected data in your Google account is based exclusively on your consent, which you can give or withdraw from Google (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR). In the case of data collection processes that are not merged into your Google account (e.g., because you do not have a Google account or have objected to the merging), the data collection is based on Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. The legitimate interest arises from the fact that the website operator has an interest in the anonymized analysis of website visitors for advertising purposes.

Further information and the privacy policy can be found in Google's privacy policy at: https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads?hl=en.

hCaptcha
We use "hCaptcha" on our websites. The provider is Intuition Machines, Inc. 350 Alabama St, San Francisco, CA 94110.

hCaptcha is intended to check whether the data entry on our websites (e.g., in a contact form) is performed by a human or by an automated program. To do this, hCaptcha analyzes the behavior of the website visitor based on various characteristics. This analysis begins automatically as soon as the website visitor enters the website. For the analysis, hCaptcha evaluates various information (e.g., IP address, the length of time the website visitor stays on the website, or mouse movements made by the user). The data collected during the analysis is forwarded to Intuition Machines, Inc.

The hCaptcha analyses run completely in the background. Website visitors are not informed that an analysis is taking place.

The data processing is based on Art. 6 (1) (f) of the GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in protecting its web offerings from abusive automated spying and from SPAM.

Further information on hCaptcha and the hCaptcha privacy policy can be found at the following links: https://www.hcaptcha.com/privacy/ and https://www.hcaptcha.com/about.

7. Newsletter

Newsletter Data
If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter offered on the website, we need an email address from you as well as information that allows us to verify that you are the owner of the email address provided and that you agree to receive the newsletter. No other data will be collected, or only on a voluntary basis. We use this data exclusively for sending the requested information and do not pass it on to third parties.

The processing of the data entered into the newsletter subscription form is based exclusively on your consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR). You can revoke your consent to the storage of the data, the email address, and its use for sending the newsletter at any time, for example, via the "unsubscribe" link in the newsletter. The legality of the data processing operations that have already taken place remains unaffected by the revocation.

The data you have stored with us for the purpose of receiving the newsletter will be stored by us until you unsubscribe from the newsletter and deleted after you unsubscribe. Data that has been stored with us for other purposes (e.g., email addresses for the member area) remains unaffected.

CleverReach
This website uses CleverReach for sending newsletters. The provider is CleverReach GmbH & Co. KG, Mühlenstr. 43, 26180 Rastede. CleverReach is a service with which newsletter dispatch can be organized and analyzed. The data you enter for the purpose of receiving the newsletter (e.g., email address) is stored on the servers of CleverReach in Germany and Ireland.

Our newsletters sent with CleverReach allow us to analyze the behavior of the newsletter recipients. Among other things, it is possible to analyze how many recipients have opened the newsletter message and how often which link in the newsletter was clicked. With the help of so-called conversion tracking, it can also be analyzed whether a predefined action (e.g., the purchase of a product on our website) took place after clicking the link in the newsletter. You can find more information about data analysis by CleverReach newsletters at: https://www.cleverreach.com/en/features/reporting-and-tracking/.

The data processing is based on your consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR). You can revoke this consent at any time by unsubscribing from the newsletter. The legality of the data processing operations that have already taken place remains unaffected by the revocation.

If you do not want CleverReach to analyze your data, you must unsubscribe from the newsletter. We provide a corresponding link for this in every newsletter message. You can also unsubscribe from the newsletter directly on the website.

The data you have stored with us for the purpose of receiving the newsletter will be stored by us until you unsubscribe from the newsletter and will be deleted from our servers as well as from the servers of CleverReach after you unsubscribe. Data that has been stored with us for other purposes (e.g., email addresses for the member area) remains unaffected.

You can find more details in the privacy policy of CleverReach at: https://www.cleverreach.com/en/privacy-policy/.

Conclusion of a contract for order data processing
We have concluded a contract with CleverReach for order data processing and fully implement the strict requirements of the German data protection authorities when using CleverReach.

8. Plugins and Tools

YouTube
Our website uses plugins from the YouTube site operated by Google. The operator of the pages is YouTube, LLC, 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, USA.

If you visit one of our pages equipped with a YouTube plugin, a connection to the YouTube servers will be established. This will tell the YouTube server which of our pages you have visited.

If you are logged into your YouTube account, you allow YouTube to directly associate your surfing behavior with your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account.

The use of YouTube is in the interest of an appealing presentation of our online offers. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR.

You can find more information on the handling of user data in YouTube's privacy policy at: https://www.google.de/intl/en/policies/privacy.

Google Web Fonts
This site uses so-called Web Fonts, provided by Google, for the uniform display of fonts. When you open a page, your browser loads the required web fonts into its browser cache to display texts and fonts correctly.

For this purpose, the browser you are using must connect to Google's servers. This gives Google knowledge that our website has been accessed via your IP address. The use of Google Web Fonts is in the interest of a uniform and appealing presentation of our online offers. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR.

If your browser does not support Web Fonts, a standard font from your computer will be used.

Further information on Google Web Fonts can be found at https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq and in Google's privacy policy: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

Google Maps
This site uses the Google Maps map service via an API. The provider is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.

To use the functions of Google Maps, it is necessary to save your IP address. This information is usually transferred to a Google server in the USA and stored there. The provider of this site has no influence on this data transfer.

The use of Google Maps is in the interest of an appealing presentation of our online offers and an easy-to-find location of the places we have indicated on the website. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR.

More information on the handling of user data can be found in Google's privacy policy: https://www.google.de/intl/en/policies/privacy.

Order Processing
We have concluded a contract for order processing (AVV) for the use of the above-mentioned service. This is a contract required by data protection law that ensures that this service processes the personal data of our website visitors only according to our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.

9. Customer and Product Reviews

For the purposes of customer and product reviews by our customers and for internal quality management, we work with the review software from eKomi – The Feedback Company (eKomi Ltd, Markgrafenstraoe 11, 10969 Berlin / www.ekomi.de) on our websites. eKomi is an independent customer opinion tool for online shops where only real buyers can leave reviews. We want to give our customers the opportunity to submit a review after their purchase. We would therefore like to send you an email within 4 days of shipping the goods asking you to submit a review. You have the right to object to the use or not to carry out the review at any time.

eKomi does not receive any customer data from our database. Only customer numbers and the email address are transmitted. In a dispute resolution procedure, eKomi also receives an email to contact you as a mediator. The email address is then used again for the purpose of verification and communication between the customer, ESG Edelmetall-Service GmbH & Co. KG. (ESG), and eKomi. Your personal data and information, on the other hand, will not be passed on to third parties. eKomi takes all organizational and technical measures to protect your data. Our customers are surveyed using web-based Social Commerce SaaS technology so that we can receive authentic and valuable feedback from our customers.

By submitting your order to ESG, you consent to an electronic review request. You will find a special text field to click there. It is up to you whether you want to ignore the review request or, in advance, include eKomi in your spam rules. By leaving a review, however, you would be doing us a great favor so that we can always get new incentives and continue to improve our service.