First, let's clarify what we're talking about when we say “cookies.“ Cookies are packets of information sent from a server to the web browser on your computer. The browser stores these data files in the cache of your web browser. Their primary purpose is to allow your browser to be recognized by a website or third party.

Cookies come in three basic variations:

Session cookies:

This type of cookie is unique to one specific visit to a website. Cookies are useful because they allow information to carry over from one web page to another without needing to re-enter it. For example, if you start shopping online and you navigate away to another part of the Site, you'll typically be able to return to your cart and see the items you've picked out. This type of cookie has a short shelf life. They will either delete themselves automatically after a brief period or delete them as soon as you close your web browser or navigate away from the Site.

• Persistent cookies: Longer-lived than session cookies, persistent cookies retain some information about your viewing preferences over a much more extended period. These are the cookies that permit Supermelon to recognize your web browser whenever you navigate to the Site. Unlike session cookies, these cookies typically remain in the browser cache of your desktop or mobile device until you manually delete them. They may also expire and delete themselves after a certain amount of time.

• Third-party cookies: These cookies, which are placed by a service or website other than Supermelon, are typically persistent cookies, meaning that they'll be stored until you choose to delete them or until they reach an expiration date (which is set by the third-party). Third-party cookies can serve various purposes, and they may collect information about your online activity in numerous browsing sessions and across multiple sites.

Cookies help to optimize your experience with our Services and to keep Supermelon running smoothly. But we understand that not everyone will want their data stored through cookies. If you prefer, you can adjust your desktop or mobile device's browser settings to accept or reject cookies. You can also fine-tune the way your browser handles third-party cookies.

A description of Supermelon principal first-party cookies can be found in our Cookies & Similar Technologies Disclosures.

Other Technologies

Supermelon utilizes several new technologies that are similar to cookies. These technologies may also be found elsewhere on the web and in mobile applications. To the purpose of maintaining and growing Supermelon, we may employ these technologies:

• Web beacons: Also called "web pixels," "tracking pixels," or "clear GIFs," these are tiny graphics that help site runners understand the browsing activity of site visitors. Web beacons have a unique identifier that allows them to track whether a user has accessed specific content. They are unobtrusive to the browsing experience, and, unlike cookies, they are not stored on a computer hard drive or browser cache.

• Social widgets: Social widgets are simply buttons that permit users to engage with social media services while they view a web page or use a mobile app. Widgets are provided and controlled by third-party social media services (like Twitter, Facebook, etc.). They may give information on browsing activity to the third party that controls the widget.

• UTM codes: These codes can appear in the URL of a site. (A "URL" is a "Uniform Resource Locator" --it's what appears in the address bar of your browser and starts with "http" or "https".) They are strings of text that transmit data about online activity and can be used when a user moves from one website or web page to another. The information represented in a UTM code might include the publisher, advertisement, or web page that directed the user to a particular site.

• Local storage objects: These are very similar to cookies because they are data files placed by a website or a mobile app and stored on a web browser. Local storage objects (sometimes referred to as "flash cookies") are used for several purposes, including saving history of usage, remembering user preferences, or maintaining settings for a specific app or website.
  2. The Ways We Use Cookie Technology

To ensure the best possible experience for our users, we use Cookie Technologies in several ways. Primarily, we use them to understand what you, as a Supermelon user, are interested in purchasing, recognizing when you are logged in, and customizing your experience of our Services.

The following explanation details all the specific ways in which Supermelon utilizes Cookie Technologies.

Security and Authentication (Strictly Necessary)

While some aspects of Cookie Technologies can be customized based on your preferences, certain functions are crucial to maintaining the safety, security, and integrity of the Site. These necessary functions include user authentication and the process of logging into Supermelon, the storage of permissions and licenses that you as a Supermelon user have granted, and the use of member data to ensure that Supermelon transactions are secure for buyers and sellers.

Account and User Preferences

One of the key uses of Cookie Technologies is to recognize your browser and remember your account preferences, such as your preferred language, country, and other settings that affect how Supermelon appears to you. These technologies enable you to stay logged in when you return to the Supermelon Site and allow you to be presented with customized content that is relevant to your online activity.

Social Networks

Supermelon features several ways for users to engage with third-party social networks while using our Services. This may include logging into your social network accounts, sharing content via social networks, and other unique features available through the social network itself. It's important to note that the third-party social networks define the policies of these technologies. To change your privacy settings related to these technologies, you'll need to change your preferences with the relevant social networks.

Note that we may work with social networks, and the social networks may work with you, for analytics purposes, marketing purposes, or both. (We'll cover this in more detail in the next section.) Again, to manage your privacy settings regarding this information, you'll need to change your preferences via your account with the social network in question.

Performance and Analytics

Cookie Technologies allow us to keep the Services running at optimum performance. These technologies capture performance data, including functionality and speed (among other metrics), to maintain and improve our Site and mobile apps. Bugs are detected and investigated with the support of Cookie Technologies. We also use Cookie Technologies to understand better how our users engage with our Services to improve each user's individual experience.

To gain insight into how our visitors are using our platform, the Supermelon Site and app utilize Google Analytics. Data from Google Analytics, combined with first-party data obtained by Supermelon _ and third-party cookies (from Google or another entity), may be used for some advertising features, like retargeting. We'll cover these features in more depth in the next section.

You can opt-out of the Google Analytics Advertising Features. If you would like to do so, please refer to the Opt-Out section located at the end of this document. Google provides additional information about Google Analytics in their Google guide.

Marketing Services

To learn about the ads that you see and engage with on the Supermelon Site, our affiliated sites, and our apps, we collaborate with several third-party service providers. These providers may use Cookie Technologies to collect data and show you targeted ads on and off the Supermelon platform. The technologies utilized by our partners may include:

• Frequency capping: This functionality puts a cap on the number of times that a specific ad will be displayed on a user's desktop browser or mobile device.

• Attribution tracking: This allows our partners to determine which marketing source or advertisement referred a user to the Supermelon Site. Tracking is also used to understand which marketing source was the cause of a specific action. This can be a visit to page or a purchase.

• Remarketing/retargeting: Through retargeting, our partners may show relevant, customized ads based on users' previous activity on Supermelon.

• Audience targeting: Audience targeting is the practice of tailoring ads to a particular audience that has been segmented by shared demographics (known or inferred).

• Cross-device recognition: This functionality allows users to be recognized across numerous devices, mobile or desktop, and multiple browsers.

While our third-party partners may collect and transmit data such as cross-device information, interest categories, or demographic information, this data will not identify you personally. The data may come from multiple sources and may be used by Supermelon to display relevant ads and for analytical purposes unrelated to marketing.

Our partners' technologies will allow them to recognize your desktop browser or mobile device using cookie data, device ID, or IP address. Our partners will not receive access to other parts of your data held by Supermelon. Nonetheless, over time, the technologies mentioned above may allow third-party partners or Supermelon - to recognize you when you are using a specific device or multiple devices.

All third-party partners must follow relevant self-regulatory programs, applicable laws, and data protection regulations (where applicable). It is important to note that our partners have their policies and practices regarding privacy and personal data and that Supermelon has no control over third parties' actions. As part of our commitment to transparency, we adhere to the Digital Advertising Alliance's Self-Regulatory Principles for Online Behavioral Advertising.

To find more information about Supermelon's use of Cookie Technologies from third-party providers, please refer to our Cookies & Similar Technologies Disclosures. This document also provides essential information about the privacy policies and user preferences for controlling privacy with each respective third party.

Due to your agreement with Supermelon, we have a contractual obligation to perform the services you requested. Some Cookie Technologies are necessary to meet these contractual obligations and ensure that Supermelon functions as intended. These include the features strictly essential to the service noted above.

By choosing to use our Services after being notified of our use of Cookie Technologies in the ways described in this policy, and, in applicable jurisdictions, through notice and unambiguous acknowledgment of your consent, you agree to such use.

Opt-in and Opt-out on Browsers

One of the ways you can customize your cookie settings is by changing your preferences through your web browser. (This applies if you are accessing Supermelon via a browser, not an app.) The exact process for adjusting your cookie preferences varies somewhat between browsers. Generally, you'll find the settings located in the "Preferences" or "Options" menu.

Below, we've provided links with additional information about changing the cookie preferences on several popular web browsers. These are the browsers that Supermelon supports.

Microsoft Edge
Internet Explorer
Firefox
Chrome
Safari

Google Analytics Opt-out

If you want to opt-out of Google Analytics Advertising Features, you can do so through Google Ad Settings (or Google Ad Settings for mobile apps). You may also do so through any other available means, such as the NAI's consumer opt-out.

Additionally, you may use the Google-provided Google Analytics opt-out plug-in, available for the web.

Third-Party Tools

Several third-party developers offer apps and browser plug-ins designed to limit, block, or provide information on various kinds of cookie technologies. Examples of these privacy-enhancing plug-ins include Ghostery and AdBlock Plus. Please note that we're not able to guarantee the efficacy or safety of any specific third-party products.

Our representatives would be happy to answer any questions you may have about Cookie Technologies or other aspects of our Services. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.