Privacy Policy

1. Information about the collection of personal data and contact details of the controller
1.1 We are pleased that you are visiting our website and thank you for your interest. Below, we inform you about how we handle your personal data when you use our website. Personal data refers to all data that can be used to identify you personally.

1.2 The person responsible for data processing on this website within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is

PRO TRADE GMBH
Phone: +49 2154637452
Email: rachdi@protrade-deutschland.de

The controller is the natural or legal person who alone or jointly with others decides on the purposes and means of processing personal data.

1.3 For security reasons and to protect the transmission of personal data and other confidential content (e.g., orders or inquiries to the controller), this website uses SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the character string "https://" and the lock symbol in your browser bar.

2. Data collection when visiting our website
If you use our website for informational purposes only, i.e., if you do not register or otherwise provide us with information, we only collect data that your browser transmits to our server (so-called "server log files"). When you visit our website, we collect the following data, which is technically necessary for us to display the website to you:

Our visited website
Date and time of access
Amount of data sent in bytes
Source/reference from which you came to the page
Browser used
Operating system used
IP address used (if applicable: in anonymized form)
Processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR based on our legitimate interest in improving the stability and functionality of our website. The data will not be shared or used for any other purpose. However, we reserve the right to subsequently review the server log files if there are concrete indications of illegal use.

3. Cookies
In order to make visiting our website more attractive and to enable the use of certain functions, we use so-called cookies on various pages. These are small text files that are stored on your device. Some of the cookies we use are deleted after the end of the browser session, i.e. after you close your browser (so-called session cookies). Other cookies remain on your device and enable us to recognize your browser the next time you visit (so-called persistent cookies). If cookies are set, they collect and process certain user information to an individual extent, such as browser and location data as well as IP address values. Persistent cookies are automatically deleted after a specified period of time, which can vary depending on the cookie. You can find out how long a cookie is stored for in the overview of the cookie settings in your web browser.

Some cookies are used to simplify the ordering process by saving settings (e.g., remembering the contents of a virtual shopping cart for a later visit to the website). If individual cookies we use also process personal data, the processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR either to execute the contract, in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR in the case of consent, or in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR to protect our legitimate interests in the best possible functionality of the website and a customer-friendly and effective design of the site visit.

Please note that you can set your browser to inform you about the use of cookies and to decide individually whether to accept them or to reject them in certain cases or generally. Each browser differs in the way it manages cookie settings. This is described in the help menu of each browser, which explains how to change your cookie settings. You can find these settings for the respective browsers at the following links:

Internet Explorer: https://support.microsoft.com/de-de/help/17442/windows-internet-explorer-delete-manage-cookies
Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/de/kb/cookies-erlauben-und-ablehne
Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?hl=de&hlrm=en
Safari: https://support.apple.com/de-de/guide/safari/sfri11471/mac
Opera: https://help.opera.com/de/latest/web-preferences/#cookies

Please note that if you do not accept cookies, the functionality of our website may be limited.

4. Contact
When you contact us (e.g. via contact form or email), personal data is collected. Which data is collected when you use a contact form can be seen in the respective contact form. This data is stored and used exclusively for the purpose of answering your request or for establishing contact and the associated technical administration. The legal basis for processing this data is our legitimate interest in answering your request in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. If your contact is aimed at concluding a contract, the additional legal basis for processing is Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR. Your data will be deleted after your request has been finally processed. This is the case if it can be inferred from the circumstances that the matter in question has been conclusively clarified and provided that there are no statutory retention periods to the contrary.

5. Data processing when opening a customer account and for contract processing
According to Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR, personal data will continue to be collected and processed if you provide it to us to perform a contract or when opening a customer account. Which data is collected can be seen from the respective input forms. You can delete your customer account at any time and can do so by sending a message to the above-mentioned address of the person responsible. We store and use the data you provide to process the contract. After the contract has been fully processed or your customer account has been deleted, your data will be blocked with regard to retention periods under tax and commercial law and deleted after these periods have expired, unless you have expressly consented to further use of your data or we have reserved the right to further use of the data as permitted by law.

6. Use of customer data for direct marketing
6.1 Registration for our email newsletter

If you subscribe to our email newsletter, we will regularly send you information about our offers. The only mandatory information required to receive the newsletter is your email address. Providing additional data is voluntary and will be used to address you personally. We use the so-called double opt-in procedure to send the newsletter. This means that we will only send you an email newsletter once you have expressly confirmed that you consent to receiving the newsletter. We will then send you a confirmation email asking you to confirm that you wish to receive the newsletter in the future by clicking on a corresponding link.

By activating the confirmation link, you give us your consent to use your personal data in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR. When you register for the newsletter, we save the IP address entered by your Internet service provider (ISP) as well as the date and time of registration so that we can trace any possible misuse of your email address at a later date. The data we collect when you register for the newsletter will be used exclusively for the purposes of advertising via the newsletter. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time using the link provided for this purpose in the newsletter or by sending a corresponding message to the person responsible named above. After unsubscribing, your email address will be immediately deleted from our newsletter distribution list unless you have expressly consented to further use of your data or we reserve the right to use the data in any other way that is permitted by law and about which we inform you in this declaration.

6.2 Sending the email newsletter to existing customers

If you provided us with your email address when purchasing goods or services, we reserve the right to regularly send you offers for goods or services from our range that are similar to those you have already purchased. According to Section 7 (3) of the Unfair Competition Act (UWG), we do not need to obtain your separate consent for this. In this respect, data processing is carried out solely on the basis of our legitimate interest in personalized direct advertising in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. If you initially objected to the use of your email address for this purpose, we will not send you any emails. You are entitled to object to the use of your email address for the aforementioned advertising purpose at any time with effect for the future by notifying the person responsible named at the beginning. You will only incur transmission costs according to the basic rates. Upon receipt of your objection, the use of your email address for advertising purposes will be stopped immediately.

7. Data processing for order processing
7.1 To process your order, we work with the following service providers, who support us in whole or in part in the execution of concluded contracts. Certain personal data will be transmitted to these service providers in accordance with the following information.

The personal data we collect will be passed on to the transport company commissioned with the delivery as part of the contract processing, insofar as this is necessary for the delivery of the goods. We will pass on your payment details to the commissioned credit institution as part of the payment processing, insofar as this is necessary for the payment processing. If payment service providers are used, we will explicitly inform you of this below. The legal basis for the transfer of data is Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR.

7.2 Use of payment service providers (payment services)

Paypal
When paying via PayPal, credit card via PayPal, direct debit via PayPal, or – if offered – "purchase on account" or "payment in installments" via PayPal, we will transfer your payment data to PayPal (Europe) Sarl et Cie, SCA, 22-24 Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg (hereinafter "PayPal") as part of the payment processing. This transfer takes place in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR and only to the extent necessary for payment processing.

PayPal reserves the right to conduct a credit check for payment methods such as credit card via PayPal, direct debit via PayPal, or – if offered – "purchase on account" or "installment payment" via PayPal. For this purpose, your payment data may be passed on to credit agencies in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR based on PayPal's legitimate interest in determining your ability to pay. PayPal uses the result of the credit check regarding the statistical probability of default to decide whether to provide the respective payment method. The credit check may contain probability values (so-called score values).

To the extent that score values are included in the credit report, they are based on a scientifically recognized mathematical-statistical procedure. The calculation of the score values includes, but is not limited to, address data. Further information regarding data protection, including information on the credit agencies used, can be found in PayPal's privacy policy: https://www.paypal.com/de/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full.

You can object to this processing of your data at any time by sending a message to PayPal. However, PayPal may still be entitled to process your personal data if this is necessary for contractual payment processing.

8. Use of rating and seal of approval graphics
8.1 EHI Seal of Approval Widget

We use the "EHI Certified Online Shop" seal on our website, a widget from EHI Retail Institute GmbH, Spichernstraße 55, 50672 Cologne ("EHI"). When you visit our website, dynamic content (current shop rating, certificate, etc.) is loaded into the widget from EHI servers. Your IP address, the previously visited website, the date and time of access, the amount of data transferred, the browser type used, the operating system you use, and the requesting provider (referrer data) are transmitted to the EHI servers. This processing is based on our overriding legitimate interest in optimizing our offering in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR.

Further information on data protection at EHI can be found at: www.ehi-siegel.de/datenschutz

8.2 Trustami trust seal

The Trustami trust seal is integrated into this website to display the collected reviews and social media feedback. This serves to implement our legitimate interests in optimally marketing our offerings on our own website in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR.

When you access the Trustami trust seal, the web server automatically saves data (access data) in the form of a server log file, which contains, for example, the date and time of access, your abbreviated IP address, and the requesting provider. This access data is not evaluated and is automatically overwritten at the latest seven days after your visit to the site. The Trustami trust seal and the services advertised with it are offered by Trustami GmbH, Friedrich-Wilhelm Str. 68, 12103 Berlin.

8.3 Trusted Shops Trustbadge

The Trusted Shops Trustbadge is integrated into this website to display our Trusted Shops seal of approval and to offer Trusted Shops membership to buyers after an order.

This serves to safeguard our legitimate interests in the optimal marketing of our offering, which prevail within the context of a balancing of interests, according to Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. The Trustbadge and the services advertised with it are offered by Trusted Shops GmbH, Subbelrather Str. 15C, 50823 Cologne.

When you access the Trustbadge, the web server automatically saves a so-called server log file, which contains, for example, your IP address, the date and time of access, the amount of data transferred, and the requesting provider (access data), and documents the access. This access data is not evaluated and is automatically overwritten at the latest seven days after your visit to the site.

Further personal data will only be transferred to Trusted Shops if you decide to use Trusted Shops products after completing an order or if you have already registered for use. In this case, the contractual agreement between you and Trusted Shops applies.

9. Tools and Other
9.1 Google reCAPTCHA

On this website we also use the reCAPTCHA function from Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland (“Google”). This function is primarily used to distinguish whether an entry has been made by a natural person or has been misused through machine and automated processing. The service includes sending the IP address and any other data required by Google for the reCAPTCHA service to Google and is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR on the basis of our legitimate interest in determining individual responsibility on the Internet and preventing misuse and spam. When using Google reCAPTCHA, personal data may also be transmitted to the servers of Google LLC in the USA.

In the event that personal data is transferred to Google LLC, based in the USA, Google LLC has certified itself for the US-European data protection agreement "Privacy Shield," which guarantees compliance with the data protection level applicable in the EU. A current certificate can be viewed here: https://www.privacyshield.gov/list

Further information about Google reCAPTCHA and Google's privacy policy can be found at: https://www.google.com/intl/de/policies/privacy/

To the extent legally required, we have obtained your consent to process your data as described above in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR. You can revoke your consent at any time with future effect. To exercise your consent, please follow the objection procedure described above.

9.2 Google Customer Reviews (formerly Google Certified Retailer Program)

We work with Google as part of the “Google Customer Reviews” program. The provider is Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland (“Google”). This program gives us the opportunity to collect customer reviews from users of our website. After making a purchase on our website, you will be asked whether you would like to participate in an email survey from Google. If you give your consent in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR, we will transmit your email address to Google. You will receive an email from Google Customer Reviews asking you to rate your shopping experience on our website. The rating you submit will then be summarized with our other reviews and displayed in our Google Customer Reviews logo and in our Merchant Center dashboard. Your rating will also be used for Google Seller Ratings. Using Google Customer Reviews may also result in personal data being transferred to Google LLC servers in the USA.

You can revoke your consent at any time by sending a message to the data controller or to Google.

In the event that personal data is transferred to Google LLC, based in the USA, Google LLC has certified itself for the US-European data protection agreement "Privacy Shield," which guarantees compliance with the data protection level applicable in the EU. A current certificate can be viewed here: https://www.privacyshield.gov/list

Further information on Google's data protection in connection with the Google Customer Reviews program can be found at the following link: https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/7188525?hl=de

For more information about Google Seller Ratings privacy, please visit this link: https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/2375474.

10. Rights of the data subject
10.1 The applicable data protection law grants you comprehensive data subject rights (rights to information and intervention) vis-à-vis the controller with regard to the processing of your personal data, about which we will inform you below:

Right to information pursuant to Art. 15 GDPR: In particular, you have the right to information about your personal data processed by us, the purposes of the processing, the categories of personal data processed, the recipients or categories of recipients to whom your data have been or will be disclosed, the planned storage period or the criteria for determining the storage period, the existence of a right to rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, objection to processing, complaint to a supervisory authority, the origin of your data if it was not collected from you by us, the existence of automated decision-making including profiling and, if applicable, meaningful information about the logic involved and the scope and intended effects of such processing concerning you, as well as your right to information about the guarantees pursuant to Art. 46 GDPR when your data is transferred to third countries;
Right to rectification in accordance with Art. 16 GDPR: You have the right to have any incorrect data concerning you rectified without delay and/or to have any incomplete data stored by us completed;
Right to erasure pursuant to Art. 17 GDPR: You have the right to request the erasure of your personal data if the requirements of Art. 17 (1) GDPR are met. However, this right does not apply if processing is necessary to exercise the right to freedom of expression and information, to fulfill a legal obligation, for reasons of public interest, or to assert, exercise, or defend legal claims.
Right to restriction of processing in accordance with Art. 18 GDPR: You have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data as long as the accuracy of your data, which you dispute, is being verified, if you refuse to delete your data due to inadmissible data processing and instead request the restriction of the processing of your data, if you need your data to assert, exercise or defend legal claims after we no longer need this data after the purpose has been achieved or if you have lodged an objection for reasons related to your particular situation, as long as it has not yet been determined whether our legitimate reasons outweigh yours;
Right to information pursuant to Art. 19 GDPR: If you have asserted your right to rectification, erasure, or restriction of processing vis-à-vis the controller, the controller is obligated to inform all recipients to whom the personal data concerning you was disclosed of this rectification, erasure, or restriction of processing, unless doing so proves impossible or involves disproportionate effort. You have the right to be informed of these recipients.
Right to data portability pursuant to Art. 20 GDPR: You have the right to receive your personal data that you have provided to us in a structured, common and machine-readable format or to request that it be transmitted to another controller, where technically feasible;
Right to revoke consent granted in accordance with Art. 7 (3) GDPR: You have the right to revoke your consent to the processing of data at any time with future effect. In the event of revocation, we will delete the data in question immediately, unless further processing can be based on a legal basis for processing without consent. The revocation of consent does not affect the legality of the processing carried out on the basis of the consent until the revocation.
Right to lodge a complaint pursuant to Art. 77 GDPR: If you believe that the processing of personal data concerning you violates the GDPR, 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, without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy.

10.2 RIGHT OF OBJECTION

IF WE PROCESS YOUR PERSONAL DATA BASED ON OUR OVERRIDING LEGITIMATE INTEREST AS PART OF A BALANCE OF INTERESTS, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT TO THIS PROCESSING AT ANY TIME WITH FUTURE EFFECT FOR REASONS ARISING FROM YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION.

If you exercise your right to object, we will stop processing the data in question. However, we reserve the right to continue processing if we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing that override your interests, fundamental rights, and freedoms, or if the processing serves to assert, exercise, or defend legal claims.

If we process your personal data for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of your personal data for such marketing purposes. You can exercise your right of objection as described above.

IF YOU EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT OF OBJECTION, WE WILL STOP PROCESSING THE DATA CONCERNED FOR DIRECT MARKETING PURPOSES.

11. Duration of storage of personal data
The duration of storage of personal data is determined based on the respective legal basis, the purpose of the processing and – where applicable – also on the respective statutory retention period (e.g. retention periods under commercial and tax law).

When personal data is processed on the basis of an express consent in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR, this data will be stored until the data subject revokes his or her consent.

If there are statutory retention periods for data that are processed within the framework of legal transactions or quasi-legal obligations on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR, these data will be routinely deleted after the retention periods have expired, provided that they are no longer required for the fulfilment or initiation of a contract and/or we no longer have a legitimate interest in continuing to store them.

When processing personal data on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR, these data will be stored until the data subject exercises his or her right of objection in accordance with Art. 21 (1) GDPR, unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which outweigh the interests, rights and freedoms of the data subject, or the processing serves to assert, exercise or defend legal claims.

When processing personal data for the purpose of direct marketing on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR, these data will be stored until the data subject exercises his or her right of objection in accordance with Art. 21 (2) GDPR.

Unless otherwise stated in the other information in this declaration on specific processing situations, stored personal data will be deleted when they are no longer necessary for the purposes for which they were collected or otherwise processed.