A&S Platform Privacy Policy

Last Updated: July 4, 2023

Summary

This policy applies to the products, services, and optional features provided by A&S Machinery Co., Ltd. and its affiliated companies.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully to understand our practices regarding your personal information. If you have any questions, you can reach us via the contact details provided at the end of this policy.

By agreeing to this policy, you acknowledge your understanding of the platform's core functions and the necessary personal information required for their operation, and you authorize the collection and use of such data. However, this does not constitute separate consent for optional features, non-essential personal information, or sensitive data, for which we will seek your separate consent based on your actual usage.

This Privacy Policy will help you understand the following:

Information collection and usage
How your information is used outside of A&S Mall
How we protect your information
Your rights
Services of cookies and similar technologies
Information storage
Cessation of operations
Protection of minors
Contact us

I. Information Collection and Usage

1. Information We Collect

A&S collects, uses, shares, and stores your personal information as necessary to provide you with convenient e-commerce platform services. The personal information we may collect about you can be broadly categorized as follows:

① Information You Provide to Us

Your email address and password required when registering for a platform account.
Information you provide when completing your corporate or personal profile, including your name, company name, avatar, etc.
Information requested when making a purchase, such as telephone number, country, region, shipping address, email address, and billing address.

② Information We Automatically Collect

If you contact us through the online chat service, we will keep a record of your communication and may ask for your email address for verification.
We collect detailed information about users’ activities, transactions, and interactions on the platform, including information related to the types and specifications of products and services purchased, pricing and delivery information, as well as dispute and complaint records.
When you access our platform, we automatically collect certain information from your device. In certain countries/regions (including European Economic Area countries/regions), this information may be considered personal information under applicable data protection laws. Specifically, this information may include IP addresses, device types, unique device identifiers, browser types, geographical locations, browsing patterns, and detailed information about how you interact with our platform and the products and services provided on it. Additionally, we collect statistical information about the platform and platform visitors, including browser software, operating systems, software and hardware attributes, viewed pages, session counts, and unique visitors. Collecting this information allows us to better understand the visitors accessing our platform, where they come from, and what content they are interested in. We use this information for internal analysis purposes and to improve the quality and relevance of our platform. Some of this information may be collected using cookies and similar tracking technologies, and detailed information regarding cookies will be provided in subsequent sections.

③ Information We Receive from Third Parties

If you choose to access the platform through a third-party account, we may receive basic information from the applicable service provider in accordance with your privacy settings, which generally includes your username, nickname, profile picture, email address, country, and company name.
When you make a purchase and proceed to checkout, you will select the appropriate payment method. To process your transactions securely through our authorized payment service providers, we may record relevant transaction data, such as transaction numbers, payment methods, billing countries, and order amounts. (Note: Sensitive payment credentials, such as full credit card numbers, are processed securely through our certified payment gateways and are not stored by us.)

2. Use of Collected Information and Platform Services

Based on the personal information we collect, we provide you with various platform functionalities and services, including:

① Membership and Account Management

Basic Membership Service: We create and manage your platform account. To register an account, you must provide at least your email address and password. If you decline to provide this information, you will not be able to create an account, but you can still browse products and search our website anonymously.
Profile Information and Benefits: If you choose to complete your professional or corporate profile (such as your name, company name, address, and contact details), we can provide enhanced member services, tailored quotations, and streamlined B2B procurement support.
Authorized Login: With your separate consent, we may share authorized account information (such as your nickname and profile details) with third-party service providers to allow convenient registration or cross-platform sign-in. Similarly, with your consent, we may link your third-party accounts to your platform account for streamlined access, strictly within the scope of your authorization.

② Product and Service Display and Efficient Search

To save your time when searching for heavy equipment parts and to improve your procurement efficiency, we utilize our platform technology to present products and services tailored to your needs. This includes curated parts collections, bundled options, and personalized recommendations for relevant machinery components and procurement history that may assist with your equipment maintenance.

③ Assisting in Completing and Fulfilling Your Orders

Shopping Cart: When you use the shopping cart feature, we collect information regarding the heavy equipment parts you add. We utilize this data to optimize your shopping experience and provide relevant details, such as estimated shipping costs and applicable volume discounts.
Order Placement and Management: When you place an order for products in our online store, our system generates a corresponding order record. During checkout, you are required to provide essential delivery details, including the recipient's name, contact number, email address, country/region, city, detailed address, and zip code. If you are purchasing on behalf of a company, corporate billing details and tax information may also be required.
Once an order is placed, the details will include the purchased items, a unique order number, creation time, applied discounts, and the total payable amount. We collect this data to ensure smooth transaction completion, transaction security, order inquiries, customer service, after-sales support, account reconciliation, and other business purposes explicitly communicated to you.
Order History: To help you track and manage your procurement history, we display your generated orders in a unified manner. You can view and manage your order information at any time within the "My Orders" section of your account dashboard.
Order Fulfillment: Following successful payment, to ensure you receive your purchased heavy machinery parts smoothly, we dispatch your items through our authorized third-party logistics partners, providing them with only the necessary delivery information required for shipment.

④ Product Reviews and User Inquiries

Comments and Reviews: After completing a transaction, you have the option to leave feedback on the purchased heavy machinery parts. We collect and review your comments. Provided they comply with our Review Guidelines, your feedback will be published in the corresponding section of the product detail page for other business buyers to view. Additionally, users can mark reviews as "helpful" or "not helpful," and the system will aggregate these helpfulness counts.
Product Inquiries: If you have any questions or uncertainties regarding a product prior to purchase, you can submit your inquiries directly through the platform alongside customer service consultation. We collect these inquiries to provide professional technical responses. Once a reply is posted, you will be notified via email, and the Q&A will also be displayed on the product detail page.
Content Disclaimer: Please note that using the content posting function may involve personal information. Please exercise caution when sharing or publicly disclosing information. If any content you post includes personal data regarding third parties, you must obtain their prior consent before publication.

⑤ Customer Service and Dispute Resolution

Identity Verification: When you contact us or submit inquiries regarding pre-sales, after-sales, or dispute resolution, we may require necessary personal information to verify your account and protect system security.
Communication Records: To facilitate communication, efficiently resolve issues, and document solutions, we may retain records of our correspondence, call logs, and related content. This includes account information, order details, contact info, and any supporting documentation provided by you to substantiate relevant facts for specific orders, complaints, or inquiries.
Service Improvement: To meet business needs and improve service quality, we may also utilize information provided during customer service interactions or feedback collected through customer surveys.

⑥ Message Notifications and Communications

Notification Scope: We may send service notifications to website visitors and registered customers regarding platform updates, new heavy equipment parts and services, or other legitimate business purposes. This includes informing you of updates to our privacy policy, terms of service, or other legal agreements that may affect your use of the platform.
Subscription Preferences: You have the option to manage and choose the types of marketing or promotional messages you wish to receive. We maintain a record of your communication preferences, and we will not send you notifications for categories you have opted out of.

II. How Your Information Is Used Outside of A&S Machinery

For marketing and promotional purposes, we may utilize your information in the following ways: 1. Targeted Advertising: To provide you with tailored advertisements regarding heavy machinery parts, services, or special offers on our website or authorized third-party advertising networks; 2. Search Optimization: To improve and optimize search relevance and user experience across our platform and partner sites; 3. Direct Marketing: To send you commercial emails containing product updates, industry insights, technical catalogues, or special offers, with the option to opt out at any time.

1. Affiliated Websites and Specialized Platforms

Depending on your procurement preferences and requirements, we may recommend other specialized platforms or websites operated by our affiliated entities, and we may share relevant information for this purpose with your consent.

2. Service Providers

We share your personal information with trusted service providers who assist us in conducting business operations and ensuring the successful execution of your orders. These include authorized logistics partners, secure payment gateways, and technical or marketing service providers. While sharing this information, we require these service providers to strictly ensure the security and confidentiality of your personal data.

We do not permit our service providers to use or share your personal information for any purposes other than providing services on our behalf.

3. Legal Requirements and Protection

Performance of Contract: Necessary to conclude or perform a contract at your request. When you purchase goods or services through the platform, we may share necessary transaction information from your order with relevant suppliers, manufacturers, or service operators in accordance with your choices, ensuring smooth fulfillment, delivery, and after-sales support.
Statutory Duties and Obligations: Necessary for compliance with applicable laws, regulations, legal proceedings, dispute resolutions, or lawful requests issued by administrative, judicial, or supervisory authorities.
Emergency Protection: Necessary to respond to public health emergencies or to protect the life, health, and property of natural persons in emergency situations.
Public Interest: Necessary to carry out tasks in the public interest or other legally permitted activities within a reasonable scope.
Lawfully Disclosed Information: Necessary to process personal information that you have voluntarily made public or that has been otherwise lawfully disclosed (such as through government information disclosure or public registries) within a reasonable scope.
Other Legal Bases: Other circumstances as mandated or permitted by applicable laws and regulations.

III. How We Protect Your Information

To fulfill our legal obligations, safeguard e-commerce transactions, and protect the security of our platform and users, we implement strict technical and organizational measures.

Security & Risk Control: We collect necessary device information and service logs to prevent phishing, fraud, network vulnerabilities, malware, and other security breaches, as well as to identify violations of platform rules.
Data Integration for Verification: With your authorization or as permitted by law, we may integrate membership, transaction, and device information (including IP addresses, browser attributes, and unique identifiers) for risk verification and fraud prevention.
Security Assessment: This data is utilized to comprehensively assess account and transaction risks, perform identity verification, detect security incidents, and conduct legal auditing and analysis.

IV. Your Rights

As a user of the platform, you have the following data protection rights:

Access and Control: The right to access, correct, update, or request the deletion of your personal information.
Objection: The right to object to the processing of your personal information based on our legitimate interests, and to object to direct marketing at any time.
Restriction and Portability: In certain circumstances, the right to ask us to restrict the processing of your personal information or to request the portability of your data.
Marketing Opt-Out: The right to opt out of receiving marketing communications from us at any time by clicking the "Unsubscribe" or "Opt-out" links provided in our promotional emails.
Withdrawal of Consent: If we collect and process your personal information based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. The withdrawal of your consent will not affect the lawfulness of any processing conducted prior to your withdrawal, nor will it affect processing based on other lawful grounds.

V. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Overview: Cookies and similar device identification technologies are standard internet practices. When you use our platform, we may send one or more cookies or anonymous identifiers to your device to collect, identify, and store information about your visits and platform usage.
Security and Efficiency: We primarily use cookies to ensure the security and efficient operation of our website. They help us confirm account and transaction security, troubleshoot technical issues (such as system delays or errors), and streamline your user experience by eliminating the need to repeatedly fill in forms or search information.
Personalization and Marketing: Additionally, we may use cookies to display relevant heavy machinery parts or features of interest to you and to optimize our advertising preferences.
Your Control: Most web browsers allow you to clear browser cache data, adjust your cookie acceptance levels, or reject cookies entirely. However, please note that disabling cookies may prevent you from utilizing certain core services or features that rely on them.

VI. Information Storage

We will only retain your personal information for the period necessary to fulfill the purposes stated in this policy, unless there is a legal requirement for mandatory retention.

The storage period for personal information is determined based on the following criteria:

Transaction Purpose: Completion of transaction purposes related to you, and the maintenance of relevant transaction and business records to respond to any inquiries or complaints regarding heavy machinery parts.
Service Security: Ensuring the security, stability, and quality of the services we provide.
User Consent: Whether you have expressly agreed to a longer retention period.
Legal Proceedings: Requirements related to the statute of limitations for potential legal proceedings.
Regulatory Compliance: Compliance with any other special agreements, statutory duties, or applicable laws and regulations regarding data retention.

After the retention period expires, we will securely delete or anonymize your personal information in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

VII. Cessation of Operations

If we cease the operation of our platform, heavy machinery parts supply, or related services, we will promptly stop collecting your personal information. We will notify you individually or through public announcements regarding the discontinuation of operations. Furthermore, we will delete or anonymize the personal information we hold in connection with the discontinued services, in accordance with the standards described in this privacy policy under "Information Storage" and "Your Rights".

VIII. Protection of Minors

In e-commerce activities, we assume that you have the corresponding legal capacity. If you are a minor, we ask that you have your parents or other guardians carefully read this policy and use our services or provide information to us only with the consent of your parents or other guardians.

To ensure the protection of personal information for children under the age of 14, we implement the following enhanced measures:

Core Principles for Collection: In addition to standard privacy provisions, we strictly adhere to the principles of legitimacy, necessity, informed consent, clear purpose, security protection, and lawful use.
Compliance with Regulations: We strictly follow statutory requirements (such as the "Regulations on the Protection of Personal Information of Children on the Internet") governing the storage, use, and disclosure of children's data.
Data Retention & Lifecycle: Personal information will not be retained longer than necessary to fulfill its collection and use purposes; upon expiration, such data is securely deleted or anonymized.

If you are the parent or guardian of a child, please ensure that the child uses our services only after obtaining your authorized consent. If you have any questions about the personal information of children, please contact us as soon as possible.

IX. Contact Us

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions regarding this privacy policy or the protection of your personal information, you can reach out to us through the following channels. We will review your inquiry and respond within a reasonable timeframe (typically within 3 to 5 business days):

Email Support: You can email us at [email protected]. Please note that this channel is dedicated to privacy-related inquiries and personal data rights.
Direct Hotline: You can call our support team directly at +86-28-85098851.

If you are not satisfied with our response—particularly if you believe that our data processing practices have infringed upon your legal rights—you may seek further resolution in accordance with the applicable dispute resolution terms governing our platform.