Privacy Policy

1. Privacy at a Glance

General Information

The following information provides a brief overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit this website. Personal data refers to any information that can be used to personally identify you. For detailed information on data protection, please refer to our Privacy Policy listed below.

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 the operator’s contact information in the “Information on the Data Controller” section of this Privacy Policy.

How do we collect your data?

Your data is collected, in part, because you provide it to us. This may include, for example, 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 primarily consists of technical data (e.g., internet browser, operating system, or time of page view). This data is collected automatically as soon as you access this 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 analyze your user behavior. If contracts can be concluded or initiated through the website, the data provided will also be processed for contract offers, orders, or other order inquiries.

What rights do you have regarding your data?

You have the right at any time to obtain, free of charge, information about the source, recipients, 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 to the processing of your data, you may withdraw this consent at any time with future effect. In addition, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data under certain circumstances. Furthermore, you have the right to file a complaint with the competent supervisory authority.

Please feel free to contact us at any time regarding this matter or any other questions you may have about data protection.

Analytics tools and third-party tools

When you visit this website, your browsing behavior may be analyzed for statistical purposes. This is primarily done using so-called analytics tools.

You can find detailed information about these analytics programs in the following privacy policy.

2. Hosting

We host our website's content with the following provider:

IONOS

The provider is IONOS SE, Elgendorfer Str. 57, 56410 Montabaur (hereinafter “IONOS”). When you visit our website, IONOS collects various log files, including your IP addresses. For details, please refer to IONOS’s Privacy Policy: https://www.ionos.de/terms-gtc/terms-privacy.

The use of IONOS is based on Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in ensuring that our website is displayed as reliably as possible. If consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TDDDG, insofar as the consent covers the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TDDDG. Consent may be revoked at any time.

Order Processing

We have entered into a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) for the use of the aforementioned service. This is a contract required under data protection law that ensures the service provider processes the personal data of our website visitors only in accordance with our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.

3. General Information and Mandatory Disclosures

Privacy Policy

The operators of this website take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data confidentially and in accordance with applicable data protection laws and this Privacy Policy.

When you use this website, various types of personal data are collected. Personal data is information that can be used to identify you personally. This Privacy Policy explains what data we collect and how we use it. It also explains how and for what purpose this is done.

Please note that data transmission over the Internet (e.g., when communicating via email) may be subject to security risks. It is not possible to completely protect data from access by third parties.

Information about the responsible entity

The entity responsible for data processing on this website is:

Christian Rüsken
Salzstraße 17
44894 Bochum

Phone: +49 (234) 92784938
Email: info@ruesken.net

The controller is the natural or legal person who, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data (e.g., names, email addresses, etc.).

Retention period

Unless a more specific retention period is stated in this Privacy Policy, we will retain your personal data until the purpose of the data processing no longer applies. If you submit a valid request for deletion or revoke your consent to data processing, your data will be deleted unless we have other legally permissible grounds for storing your personal data (e.g., retention periods under tax or commercial law); in the latter case, the data will be deleted once these grounds no longer apply.

General Information on the Legal Basis for Data Processing on This Website

If you have consented to the processing of your data, we process your personal data on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR or Article 9(2)(a) of the GDPR, provided that special categories of data as defined in Article 9(1) of the GDPR are being processed. In the event of explicit consent to the transfer of personal data to third countries, data processing is also carried out on the basis of Article 49(1)(a) of the GDPR. If you have consented to the storage of cookies or to access to information on your device (e.g., via device fingerprinting), data processing is additionally based on Section 25(1) of the German Telemedia Act (TDDG). Consent may be revoked at any time. If your data is necessary for the performance of a contract or for the implementation of pre-contractual measures, we process your data on the basis of Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR. Furthermore, we process your data if it is necessary to comply with a legal obligation on the basis of Article 6(1)(c) of the GDPR. Data processing may also be carried out on the basis of our legitimate interest pursuant to Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. The legal bases applicable in each individual case are described in the following sections of this Privacy Policy.

Recipients of personal data

As part of our business operations, we collaborate with various external parties. In some cases, this requires the transfer of personal data to these external parties. We only disclose personal data to external parties if this is necessary for the performance of a contract, if we are legally obligated to do so (e.g., disclosure of data to tax authorities), if we have a legitimate interest in the disclosure pursuant to Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR, or if another legal basis permits the disclosure of data. When using data processors, we only disclose our customers’ personal data on the basis of a valid data processing agreement. In the case of joint processing, a joint processing agreement is concluded.

Withdrawal of Your Consent to Data Processing

Many data processing operations are only possible with your explicit consent. You may withdraw any consent you have already given at any time. The lawfulness of the data processing carried out prior to the 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 OF THE GDPR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AT ANY TIME TO OBJECT TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA ON GROUNDS RELATING TO YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING BASED ON THESE PROVISIONS. YOU CAN FIND THE SPECIFIC LEGAL BASIS ON WHICH PROCESSING IS BASED 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 defense of legal claims (objection pursuant to Art. 21(1) GDPR).

IF YOUR PERSONAL DATA IS BEING PROCESSED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIRECT MARKETING, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA FOR SUCH MARKETING PURPOSES; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING, TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS RELATED TO SUCH DIRECT MARKETING. IF YOU OBJECT, YOUR PERSONAL DATA WILL NO LONGER BE USED FOR DIRECT MARKETING PURPOSES (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ART. 21(2) GDPR).

Right to file a complaint with the competent supervisory authority

In the event of a breach of the GDPR, data subjects have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of their habitual residence, their place of work, or the place where the alleged breach occurred. This 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 automatically based on your consent or in fulfillment of a contract, either directly or through a third party, in a commonly used, machine-readable format. If you request that the data be transferred directly to another controller, this will only be done to the extent that it is technically feasible.

Access, Correction, and Deletion

In accordance with applicable legal provisions, you have the right at any time to request, free of charge, information about your stored personal data, its source and recipients, and the purpose of the data processing, as well as the right to have this data corrected or deleted, if applicable. You may contact us at any time regarding this matter or any other questions you may have about personal data.

Right to restriction of processing

You have the right to request that the processing of your personal data be restricted. You may contact us at any time to do so. The right to restriction of processing applies in the following cases:

If you dispute the accuracy of your personal data stored by us, we generally need time to verify this. For the duration of the verification process, you have the right to request that the processing of your personal data be restricted.
If the processing of your personal data was or is unlawful, you may request that the processing be restricted instead of having the data erased.
If we no longer need your personal data, but you need it to exercise, defend, or assert legal claims, you have the right to request that the processing of your personal data be restricted instead of deleted.
If you have lodged an objection under Article 21(1) of the GDPR, a balancing of your interests against ours must be carried out. Until it is determined whose interests prevail, you have the right to request that the processing of your personal data be restricted.

If you have restricted the processing of your personal data, such data may—apart from storage—be processed only with your consent, or for the purpose of establishing, exercising, or defending legal claims, or to protect the rights of another natural or legal person, or for reasons of an 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 information, such as orders or inquiries that you send to us as the site operator. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the fact that the address bar of your browser changes from “http://” to “https://” and by the lock icon in your browser’s address bar.

When SSL or TLS encryption is enabled, the data you send to us cannot be intercepted by third parties.

4. Data Collection on This Website

Cookies

Our website uses so-called “cookies.” Cookies are small data packets that do not cause any harm to your device. They are stored on your device either temporarily for the duration of a session (session cookies) or permanently (persistent cookies). Session cookies are automatically deleted at the end of your visit. Persistent cookies remain stored on your device until you delete them yourself or your web browser automatically deletes them.

Cookies may be set by us (first-party cookies) or by third-party companies (so-called third-party cookies). Third-party cookies enable the integration of certain third-party services into websites (e.g., cookies used to process payment transactions).

Cookies serve various purposes. Many cookies are technically necessary, as certain website features would not work without them (e.g., the shopping cart feature or the display of videos). Other cookies may be used to analyze user behavior or for advertising purposes.

Cookies that are necessary for the electronic communication process, for providing specific functions you have requested (e.g., the shopping cart function), or for optimizing the website (e.g., cookies for measuring website traffic) are stored on the basis of Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR, unless another legal basis is specified. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing necessary cookies to ensure the technically flawless and optimized provision of its services. If consent to the storage of cookies and similar recognition technologies has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of this consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TDDDG); consent may be revoked at any time.

You can configure your browser to notify you when cookies are set and to allow cookies only on a case-by-case basis, to block cookies in certain cases or generally, and to enable the automatic deletion of cookies when you close your browser. Disabling cookies may limit the functionality of this website.

If other cookies and services are used on this website, you can find this information in this Privacy Policy.

CCM19

Our website uses CCM19 to obtain your consent to the storage of certain cookies on your device or to the use of certain technologies, and to document this in accordance with data protection regulations. The provider of this technology is Papoo Software & Media GmbH, Auguststr. 4, 53229 Bonn (hereinafter “CCM19”).

When you visit our website, a connection is established with CCM19’s servers to obtain your consent and other statements regarding cookie usage. CCM19 then stores a cookie in your browser to associate the consents you have granted or their revocation with your account. The data collected in this manner is stored until you request its deletion, delete the CCM19 cookie yourself, or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies. Mandatory legal retention obligations remain unaffected.

CCM19 is used to obtain the legally required consent for the use of cookies. The legal basis for this is Article 6(1)(c) of the GDPR.

Order Processing

Contact Form

If you submit an inquiry to us via the contact form, we will store the information you provide in the form—including the contact details you enter there—for the purpose of processing your inquiry and in case we have any follow-up questions. We will not share this information without your consent.

The processing of this data is based on Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR, provided that your inquiry relates to the performance of a contract or is necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective handling of inquiries directed to us (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR) if such consent was requested; consent may be withdrawn at any time.

The data you enter in the contact form will remain with us until you request that we delete it, revoke your consent to its storage, or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies (e.g., once your inquiry has been processed). Mandatory legal provisions—in particular retention periods—remain unaffected.

Inquiries by email, phone, or fax

If you contact us by email, phone, or fax, your inquiry—including all personal data contained therein (name, inquiry)—will be stored and processed by us for the purpose of handling your request. We will not disclose this information without your consent.

The data you send us via contact requests will remain with us until you request that we delete it, revoke your consent to its storage, or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies (e.g., once your request has been processed). Mandatory legal provisions—in particular statutory retention periods—remain unaffected.

5. Analytics Tools and Advertising

Google Tag Manager

We use Google Tag Manager. The provider is Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Google Tag Manager is a tool that allows us to integrate tracking and analytics tools and other technologies into our website. Google Tag Manager itself does not create user profiles, store cookies, or perform any independent analysis. It is used solely to manage and deploy the tools integrated through it. However, Google Tag Manager collects your IP address, which may also be transferred to Google’s parent company in the United States.

The use of Google Tag Manager is based on Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the quick and straightforward integration and management of various tools on its website. If consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TDDDG, insofar as the consent covers the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TDDDG. Consent may 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 United States designed to ensure compliance with European data protection standards for data processing in the United States. Every company certified under the DPF commits to adhering to these data protection standards. For more information, please visit the provider’s website at the following link: https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/participant/5780.

Google Analytics

This website uses features of the web analytics service Google Analytics. The provider is Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Google Analytics allows website operators to analyze the behavior of website visitors. In doing so, website operators receive various usage data, such as page views, time spent on the site, operating systems used, and the user’s location. This data is aggregated into a user ID and assigned to the website visitor’s respective device.

In addition, we use Google Analytics to track your mouse and scroll movements, clicks, and other actions. Google Analytics also uses various modeling techniques to supplement the collected data and employs machine learning technologies in its data analysis.

Google Analytics uses technologies that enable user recognition for the purpose of analyzing user behavior (e.g., cookies or device fingerprinting). The information collected by Google regarding the use of this website is generally transmitted to a Google server in the United States and stored there.

Use of this service is based on your consent pursuant to Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TDDDG. You may withdraw your consent at any time.

Data transfers to the United States are based on the European Commission’s Standard Contractual Clauses. For more details, please visit: https://business.safety.google/adscontrollerterms/sccs/.

IP anonymization

Google Analytics IP anonymization is enabled. This means that Google will truncate your IP address within member states of the European Union or in other signatory states to the Agreement on the European Economic Area before transmitting it to the United States. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted to a Google server in the United States 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 Google from collecting and processing your data by downloading and installing the browser plugin available at the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de.

For more information on how Google Analytics handles user data, please refer to Google's Privacy Policy: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=de.

Order Processing

We have entered into a data processing agreement with Google and fully comply with the strict requirements of the German data protection authorities regarding the use of Google Analytics.

Matomo

This website uses the open-source web analytics service Matomo.

With the help of Matomo, we are able to collect and analyze data on how visitors use our website. This allows us, among other things, to determine when specific pages were viewed and which region the visitors are from. We also collect various log files (e.g., IP address, referrer, browsers and operating systems used) and can measure whether our website visitors perform certain actions (e.g., clicks, purchases, etc.).

The use of this analytics tool is based on Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in analyzing user behavior in order to optimize both its website and its advertising. If consent has been obtained, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TDDDG, insofar as the consent covers the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TDDDG. Consent may be revoked at any time.

Hosting

We host Matomo exclusively on our own servers, so all analytics data remains with us and is not shared with third parties.

6. Plugins and Tools

Google Fonts (locally hosted)

This site uses Google Fonts, provided by Google, to ensure consistent font display. The Google Fonts are installed locally. No connection is made to Google's servers.

For more information about Google Fonts, visit https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq and Google’s Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.

Font Awesome (local hosting)

This site uses Font Awesome to ensure consistent font styling. Font Awesome is installed locally. No connection is made to servers operated by Fonticons, Inc.

For more information about Font Awesome, please see the Font Awesome Privacy Policy at: https://fontawesome.com/privacy.

7. E-commerce and Payment Providers

Processing of Customer and Contract Data

We collect, process, and use personal customer and contract data to establish, define the terms of, and modify our contractual relationships. We collect, process, and use personal data regarding the use of this website (usage data) only to the extent necessary to enable the user to access the service or to bill for it. The legal basis for this is Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR.

The customer data collected will be deleted once the order has been completed or the business relationship has ended, and any applicable statutory retention periods have expired. Statutory retention periods remain unaffected.

Data Transmission Upon Contract Conclusion for Online Stores, Retailers, and Merchandise Shipping

When you order goods from us, we share your personal data with the shipping company responsible for delivery and with the payment service provider handling the payment processing. We only disclose the data that the respective service provider needs to fulfill its task. The legal basis for this is Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR, which permits the processing of data for the performance of a contract or pre-contractual measures. If you have given your consent in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR, we will provide your email address to the shipping company responsible for delivery so that it can inform you via email about the shipping status of your order; you may revoke your consent at any time.

Data transmission upon conclusion of a contract for services and digital content

We disclose personal data to third parties only when necessary for the fulfillment of the contract, such as to the financial institution responsible for processing payments.

Your data will not be disclosed to third parties, or only if you have expressly consented to such disclosure. Your data will not be disclosed to third parties without your express consent, for example for advertising purposes.

The legal basis for data processing is Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR, which permits the processing of data for the performance of a contract or for the implementation of pre-contractual measures.

Payment services

We integrate third-party payment services into our website. When you make a purchase from us, your payment information (e.g., name, payment amount, bank account details, credit card number) is processed by the payment service provider for the purpose of processing the payment. The respective terms and conditions and privacy policies of the respective providers apply to these transactions. The use of payment service providers is based on Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR (contract fulfillment) as well as in the interest of ensuring a payment process that is as smooth, convenient, and secure as possible (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). To the extent that your consent is requested for certain actions, Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR serves as the legal basis for data processing; consent may be revoked at any time with future effect.

Our social media channels

This Privacy Policy applies to the following social media accounts

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586703872370

Data Processing by Social Networks

We maintain publicly accessible profiles on social media platforms. You can find a list of the specific social media platforms we use below.

Social media platforms such as Facebook, X, etc., can generally analyze your user behavior in detail when you visit their website or a website that includes integrated social media content (e.g., “Like” buttons or advertising banners). Visiting our social media pages triggers numerous data processing operations that are relevant to data protection. Specifically:

If you are logged into your social media account and visit our social media page, the operator of the social media platform may associate this visit with your user account. However, your personal data may also be collected even if you are not logged in or do not have an account with the respective social media portal. In this case, data collection takes place, for example, via cookies stored on your device or by recording your IP address.

Using the data collected in this way, social media platform operators can create user profiles that store your preferences and interests. This allows them to display interest-based ads to you both on and off the respective social media platform. If you have an account on the respective social network, these interest-based ads may appear on any device on which you are currently logged in or have previously been logged in.

Please also note that we are unable to track all data processing activities on social media platforms. Depending on the provider, additional processing operations may therefore be carried out by the operators of these platforms. For more details, please refer to the terms of use and privacy policies of the respective social media platforms.

Legal basis

Our social media accounts are intended to ensure the broadest possible online presence. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. The analysis processes initiated by the social networks may be based on different legal grounds, which must be specified by the operators of the social networks (e.g., consent within the meaning of Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR).

Data Controller and Exercising Your Rights

When you visit one of our social media pages (e.g., Facebook), we are jointly responsible with the operator of the social media platform for the data processing activities triggered by that visit. You may generally exercise your rights (right of access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, data portability, and the right to lodge a complaint) both against us and against the operator of the respective social media portal (e.g., against Facebook).

Please note that, despite our joint responsibility with the social media platform operators, we do not have full control over the data processing activities of these platforms. Our options are largely determined by the corporate policies of the respective provider.

Retention period

Data collected directly by us through our social media presence will be deleted from our systems as soon as you request its deletion, revoke your consent to its storage, or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies. Stored cookies remain on your device until you delete them. Mandatory legal provisions—in particular retention periods—remain unaffected.

We have no control over how long your data is stored by social media platform operators for their own purposes. For more details, please contact the social media platform operators directly (e.g., by reviewing their privacy policies, see below).

Your rights

You have the right at any time to obtain, free of charge, information about the source, recipients, and purpose of your stored personal data. You also have the right to object, the right to data portability, and the right to file a complaint with the competent supervisory authority. Furthermore, you may request the correction, blocking, erasure, and, under certain circumstances, the restriction of the processing of your personal data.

Social Networks in Detail

Facebook

We have a Facebook profile. The provider of this service is Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland (hereinafter “Meta”). According to Meta, the data collected is also transferred to the United States and other third countries.

We have entered into a joint processing agreement (Controller Addendum) with Meta. This agreement specifies which data processing operations we and Meta are responsible for when you visit our Facebook page. You can view this agreement at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/page_controller_addendum.

You can adjust your ad settings yourself in your user account. To do so, click the following link and log in: https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=ads.

Data transfers to the United States are based on the European Commission’s Standard Contractual Clauses. For more details, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum and https://de-de.facebook.com/help/566994660333381.

For more details, please refer to Facebook's Privacy Policy: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/.

The company is certified under the “EU-US Data Privacy Framework” (DPF). The DPF is an agreement between the European Union and the United States designed to ensure compliance with European data protection standards when processing data in the United States. Every company certified under the DPF commits to complying with these data protection standards. For more information, please visit the provider’s website at the following link: https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/participant/4452