Privacy Policy

Section 1

Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

• ●Identifiers: Full name, email address, phone number, mailing address
• ●Business information: Company name, job title, industry, product inquiries, and sourcing requirements
• ●Account credentials: Username and password (if you create an account)
• ●Communications: Messages, inquiries, and correspondence submitted to us
• ●Financial information: Billing name and address; payment processing is handled by third-party processors and we do not store full payment card data

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

• ●Usage data: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, referring URLs, pages visited, time spent, and clickstream data
• ●Device identifiers: Device type, unique device IDs
• ●Cookies and tracking technologies: See Section 7 for details

1.3 Information from Third Parties

• ●Business partners and service providers who assist us in verifying factory credentials or facilitating transactions
• ●Publicly available databases used for supplier verification purposes

Section 2

How We Use Your Information

We process personal information for the following legitimate business purposes:

• ●Service delivery: To operate, maintain, and improve our platform and Services
• ●Communications: To respond to inquiries, provide customer support, and send service-related notices
• ●Transactions: To facilitate orders, quotes, inspections, and payment processing
• ●Marketing: To send promotional materials and newsletters where you have provided consent or where permitted by applicable law; you may opt out at any time
• ●Analytics: To understand how users interact with our Services and to improve functionality
• ●Compliance and legal obligations: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and enforceable government requests
• ●Fraud prevention and security: To detect, investigate, and prevent fraudulent transactions and unauthorized access
• ●Business operations: For internal recordkeeping, auditing, and reporting

Section 3

Disclosure of Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may disclose your information in the following limited circumstances:

3.1 Service Providers

We engage vetted third-party vendors who process personal information on our behalf strictly to perform services such as cloud hosting, payment processing, email delivery, analytics, and customer support. These vendors are contractually bound to process data only as instructed by us and to implement appropriate security safeguards.

3.2 Business Partners

With your knowledge and in connection with our factory marketplace operations, we may share relevant project information with verified factory partners for the purpose of generating quotes and fulfilling orders. We implement confidentiality measures to protect your business information in such disclosures.

3.3 Legal and Regulatory Disclosures

We may disclose personal information when required by law, court order, subpoena, or lawful request by public authorities, or where we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to: (a) comply with a legal obligation; (b) protect and defend our legal rights or property; (c) prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing; or (d) protect the personal safety of users or the public.

3.4 Corporate Transactions

In the event of a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or other corporate restructuring, personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify users via email and/or prominent notice on our website prior to such transfer and any change in applicable privacy terms.

Section 4

Data Security

We implement commercially reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

• ●Encryption of data in transit using Transport Layer Security (TLS)
• ●Access controls and authentication requirements for internal systems
• ●Regular security assessments and monitoring
• ●Employee training on data handling and privacy practices

Section 5

Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including to satisfy legal, accounting, or reporting obligations. The following general retention periods apply:

• ●Account and transactional data: Retained for the duration of your relationship with us plus 7 years for tax and accounting purposes
• ●Marketing data: Retained until you withdraw consent or opt out
• ●Usage and analytics data: Retained for up to 24 months in identifiable form
• ●Legal hold data: Retained as required by applicable law or pending litigation

Section 6

Your Privacy Rights

6.1 California Residents (CCPA / CPRA)

• ●Right to Know: Request disclosure of the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected, disclosed, or sold about you
• ●Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions
• ●Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal information
• ●Right to Opt-Out: We do not sell personal information. If this practice changes, we will provide a “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” link
• ●Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights

6.2 European / UK Residents (GDPR / UK GDPR)

• ●Right of access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, and data portability
• ●Right to object to processing based on legitimate interests
• ●Right to withdraw consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing
• ●Right to lodge a complaint with your applicable supervisory authority

Section 7

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, pixels, and similar tracking technologies to operate and improve our Services. The following categories of cookies may be used:

• ●Strictly Necessary: Required for the website to function and cannot be disabled
• ●Performance / Analytics: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website (e.g., Google Analytics). These are activated only with your consent where required
• ●Functional: Enable enhanced functionality and personalization
• ●Marketing / Targeting: Used to deliver relevant advertising content. Activated only with your consent where required

You may manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings or our cookie consent tool (where available). Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our Services.

Section 8

Children’s Privacy

Our Services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe we have inadvertently collected personal information from a minor, please contact us immediately at privacy@vakerus.com and we will take prompt steps to delete such information.

Section 9

International Data Transfers

Vakerus operates globally, including in the United States, China, and other jurisdictions. If you are located outside the United States, your personal information may be transferred to and processed in the United States or other countries that may have different data protection laws than your country of residence. Where required by applicable law, we implement appropriate safeguards for such transfers, including standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission.

Section 10

Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites and services. This Policy does not apply to those third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third parties.

Section 11

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or operational needs. Material changes will be communicated by: (a) posting the revised Policy on our website with an updated “Last Updated” date; and (b) where required by law, providing direct notice via email. Your continued use of our Services after the effective date of the revised Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.

Section 12

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