Data protection (GTC)Data protection

We take the protection of the data of our clients and persons interested in our offers extremely seriously and we comply with the provisions of the data protection law. In the following we inform you of how we handle your personal data.

12.1 Collection, processing and use of personal data

12.1.1 We process and use data that are provided in connection with orders for creating, performing and processing contracts as well as for the purposes of future customer care and support. On our website or when using our website personal data is fundamentally collected only to the extent that is technically necessary. Personal data is deemed to mean inventory data such as the name and address of the person as well as user data (e.g. password).

12.1.2 In the case of an offer on the website, if personal data is required for the processing of an offer or an order, reference is made to additional conditions of use on the relevant internet page before the personal data are sent. Depending on the offer these can refer to purpose, scope, forwarding and storage of data.

12.1.3 All personal data, in particular those that are collected via the website, competitions or surveys by Schneider (or any other channels such as online, email, post, telephone or in person) can be collated with the data on the same person that Schneider has acquired in a different connection, such as subsequent listing of orders in the customer account that were ordered before the customer registered with the same email. The data collected can be used and evaluated for Schneider's own marketing and advertising purposes and possibly supplemented with the data of professional address dealers.

12.1.4 Data that are provided voluntarily when registering for our free newsletter are used exclusively for our own marketing and advertising purposes. In order to design the newsletter in an interesting and useful way, Schneider receives a confirmation email when the customer opens one of its emails, if the computer supports such a function. This continues until the customer unsubscribes from the newsletter. It is possible to unsubscribe at any time. If you should decide in the meantime that you no longer wish to receive our postal communications and advertisements please send an email or a written communication with the keyword Mailing to info.ch@wschneider.com or W. Schneider+Co AG, Büntenrietstrasse 12, 8890 Flums

12.2 Forwarding of personal data

12.2.1 In order to process and carry out your orders and for the purpose of future customer care, data are sometimes forwarded to partner companies (Swiss Post, package and letter services, freight carriers, Letter Shop, assembly services) to the extent necessary (address and possible product details). This also applies in the case of creditworthiness checks (see §5.5). In order to process your payment we pass on your details to Postfinance. It processes your data only in the same scope as we are allowed to process them.

12.2.2 By means of targeted evaluations Schneider creates target groups, whereby the informing customers of offers and further services is facilitated on an individual basis. In individual cases it is possible that your data are transferred abroad. It is ensured that the data are not used for any purposes by the mandated companies apart from for the specific order and that they do not use these data themselves or forward them to third parties.

12.2.3 Apart from this, personal data are not forwarded to third parties; in particular data are never sold or passed on to third parties for other reasons.

12.3 Use of the website offer

12.3.1 Customers can register at www.wschneider.com in order to use our website offer and open a customer account. Customers can also place orders and/or submit offers without registering, i.e. as a guest. Registration is not compulsory.

12.3.2 Schneider can check customers' comments in social networks, for example YouTube, etc. or on its own website and can delete them without having to give a reason.

12.3.3 The following applies if you wish to use the website offering without a customer account, i.e. as a guest: You must provide a valid email address, your official first and last names, telephone number, billing address and delivery address with each order. All information must be true and complete.

12.3.4 The following applies if you wish to use the website offering with a customer account: In order to set up a customer account the customer must provide his official first and last names as well as a valid email address, which also serves as his user name. The customer must select a password. A billing address, a delivery address and a telephone number must be given for every order. This information can be stored in the customer account for future orders. All information must be true and complete. Each customer may register and maintain one customer account only. Additional registrations can be deleted.

12.3.5 Personal access data must be treated confidentially by the customer and must not be made available to third parties and/or the access data must not be given to third parties. Schneider cannot be held liable if damage is incurred due to the inappropriate use or the unauthorised forwarding of access data.

12.4 Statistical data

12.4.1 Such data are automatically stored in the server statistics that are provided by the browser of the individual user. However, as a rule these data are not assigned to any specific persons. These saved data are not conflated with any other data sources. Specifically, stored data comprises the following: Browser type/version, operating system used, URL of a so-called referrer, host name of accessing computer (IP), time of the request to the browser, IP address

12.4.2 In order to constantly improve its internet offer Schneider uses so-called tracking technologies (such as Google Analytics). Web analysis tools provide Schneider with statistics and graphics that provide it with information on the use of its internet site. In addition, data on the use of an internet site are transferred to the browser used. Depending on the service provider of this web analysis tool, the server could be located abroad. The information obtained from these web analysis services, e.g. via cookies (see §13.5 for definition), (including the IP address) can be forwarded to servers in third countries and stored there, whereby the IP addresses are anonymized by means of IP anonymization. In the case of anonymization the IP addresses are changed in such a way that the individual information regarding personal or factual circumstances can no longer, or only with disproportionate investment of time, cost and labour, be attributed to an identified or identifiable natural person. Google observes the data protection provisions of the "U.S.-Swiss Safe Harbor Framework" agreement and is registered in the "Safe Harbor" program of the US Department of Commerce. The IP address provided by your browser within the framework of Google Analytics is not conflated with any other data from Google. Any transfer of these data by Google to third parties is carried out only due to statutory regulations or within the framework of processing the order data. If other web analysis tools should be used at Schneider, the process of data collection is the same in principle. You will find further information on Google Analytics and data protection at
- tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout;
- www.google.com/intl/policies/policies/privacy;

12.5 Cookies

Cookies are small textfiles which are placed by your browser on your computer so that you can optimally use all the functions of our website. Most of the cookies we use are deleted again from your hard disk after the end of your browser session (so-called session cookies). On certain pages on the Schneider website we also use cookies for security reasons, which are used to enable some functionalities or which contribute to the optimum performance of our website. This is particularly the case on the login page, during the ordering process or with the automatic save function for products in the shopping basket. These cookies ensure that you do not have to enter the same information every time you visit our website. Schneider only uses cookies that are deemed to be necessary and it is aware that cookies can be placed by third parties. If the user does not wish to have any cookies, he generally has the option of blocking them in his browser settings or he can remove them by clicking "Delete Cookies", i.e. you always have the option of deactivating the cookies. The help function in  the menu bar of most Web browsers (e.g. Internet Explorer or Firefox) explains how you can prevent your browser from accepting new cookies, as well as how you can ensure that your browser informs you whenever  you receive a new cookie, or how you can disable all the cookies that you have received and block any future cookies. Please note that in particular the previously mentioned functions (login and order options or automatic save of the shopping basket) are no longer available. If you wish to use these functions please reactivate your cookies, also via the menu bar in your web browser.

12.6 Security of customer information

State-of-the-art security technology is used in order to protect the data against unauthorised access or unauthorised processing. In order to secure customer data when it is being transferred, Schneider uses SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption technology. This protocol encrypts the data that are transferred by the customer, i.e. sensitive or personal data are encrypted before they are sent. However, fundamentally no liability can be accepted for the security of data transferred via the internet.

12.7 Storage obligation

Schneider stores the customers' personal data for as long as is deemed appropriate or necessary to ensure compliance with the valid laws or for as long as is necessary for the purposes for which it was collected.

12.8 Information and opportunities for redress

According to the law you have the right to free information on your personal data that are held and if necessary, the right to have it redressed, blocked or deleted. The authorisation for the processing of your personal data can be revoked at any time, to take future effect, by contacting:
- by email to: info.ch@wschneider.com
- by fax to: +41 43 377 78 81
- in writing to: W. Schneider+Co AG Büntenrietstrasse 12, 8890 Flums

12.9 Contact person for data protection

If you have any questions on the collection, processing or use of your personal data or for further information, our internal data protection officer will be happy to help you: Mr Martin Holenweg, email: m.holenweg@wschneider.com