Privacy Policy
Last updated:
Overview
Qingdao STECO Metal Co., Ltd ("STECO", "we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of all individuals who interact with our website and services. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your personal information when you visit stecometals.com or contact us for business inquiries.
By accessing our website or submitting any inquiry, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with any part of this policy, please refrain from using our website.
This policy applies to all personal data collected through our website contact forms, email communications, WhatsApp messages, and any other direct communication channels.
Information We Collect
We collect information you voluntarily provide to us and information automatically collected during your use of our website. The categories of data we may collect include:
Information You Provide
- Full name and job title
- Company name and industry
- Business email address
- Phone or WhatsApp number
- Country and shipping address
- Product inquiry details and specifications
- Any attachments (drawings, samples info)
Automatically Collected
- IP address and approximate location
- Browser type and version
- Device type and operating system
- Pages visited and time spent
- Referral source (how you found us)
- Cookie and session data
We do not collect sensitive personal data such as financial account details, government identification numbers, or health information through our website.
How We Use Your Data
We use the personal information we collect solely for legitimate business purposes related to our industrial sourcing and export services. Specifically, we use your data to:
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Respond to business inquiries -- Process and reply to your product inquiries, quotation requests, and technical questions in a timely manner.
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Provide sourcing and procurement services -- Coordinate product specifications, supplier selection, quality inspection, and export logistics on your behalf.
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Manage business relationships -- Maintain records of ongoing and historical transactions, correspondence, and procurement projects.
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Send relevant business communications -- Share product updates, new capabilities, or industry information relevant to your procurement needs. You may opt out at any time.
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Improve our website and services -- Analyze website usage patterns to enhance user experience and service quality.
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Comply with legal obligations -- Fulfill applicable export control, trade compliance, and record-keeping requirements under Chinese and international law.
Legal Basis: Our processing of your personal data is based on (a) your consent when submitting an inquiry, (b) the performance of a contract or pre-contractual steps at your request, (c) our legitimate business interests in managing customer relationships, and (d) compliance with legal obligations.
Data Sharing
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. We may share your data only in the following limited circumstances:
Manufacturing & Logistics Partners
When fulfilling your order, we may share necessary technical specifications and delivery information with our qualified manufacturing partners and freight forwarders in China. These partners are bound by confidentiality obligations and may only use your data to fulfill the specific service.
Legal & Regulatory Requirements
We may disclose your information if required by applicable law, court order, government regulation, or export control authorities. We will notify you of such disclosure to the extent permitted by law.
Service Providers
We may use trusted third-party service providers for website hosting, analytics, and email communication tools. These providers access your data only as necessary to perform their functions and are prohibited from using it for other purposes.
Data Retention
We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, or as required by applicable law. Our general retention guidelines are:
| Data Type | Retention Period | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Inquiry & contact form data | 3 years | Business relationship management |
| Transaction & order records | 7 years | Legal and tax compliance |
| Email correspondence | 5 years | Contract and dispute resolution |
| Website analytics data | 26 months | Service improvement |
After the applicable retention period expires, your personal data will be securely deleted or anonymized in accordance with our data disposal procedures.
Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:
- SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmitted through our website
- Access controls limiting personal data to authorized personnel only
- Regular security assessments of our website and IT infrastructure
- Confidentiality obligations for all staff handling personal data
While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we are committed to promptly addressing any data security incidents in accordance with applicable law.
Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data. We are committed to honoring these rights in accordance with applicable privacy laws, including the GDPR (for EEA residents) and other relevant regulations:
Right of Access
Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Right to Rectification
Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
Right to Erasure
Request deletion of your personal data where no longer necessary for its original purpose.
Right to Object
Object to processing of your data for direct marketing or based on legitimate interests.
Right to Restrict Processing
Request that we limit how we use your data under certain circumstances.
Right to Data Portability
Receive your personal data in a structured, machine-readable format where technically feasible.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at sales@stecometals.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.
International Data Transfers
Qingdao STECO Metal Co., Ltd is based in China. If you are located outside of China and interact with our website or services, your personal data will be transferred to and processed in China.
We ensure that any international transfer of personal data complies with applicable data protection laws. Where required, we implement appropriate safeguards such as standard contractual clauses or equivalent data transfer mechanisms to protect your information.
By submitting your personal data to us, you acknowledge and consent to its transfer to China for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or business operations. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information. Your continued use of our website after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
For significant changes affecting how we use your personal data, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you directly via email if we have your contact information on file.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your personal data, please contact our data handling team through any of the following channels:
Qingdao STECO Metal Co., Ltd
Address
NO.8 Gongchuan Road, Licang District, Qingdao, ChinaWe aim to respond to all privacy-related inquiries within 5 business days. For urgent matters, please reach out via WhatsApp for a faster response.
Have questions about your data?
Our team is ready to address your privacy concerns promptly.