With this policy stow International aims to inform visitors to its website about its policy on cookies.
stow International advises visitors to read the policy carefully, since this document contains essential information regarding the use of cookies.
Purpose for use of cookies
stow International uses cookies to adapt its website as closely as possible to the needs and preferences of visitors.
Acceptance and refusal of cookies
When visiting the website visitors will be informed (by means of a pop-up) which cookies are used. Visitors may refuse cookies at any time.
However, stow International wishes to inform visitors that if they refuse to accept cookies, certain parts of the website will not function properly. It is possible that the visitor will no longer have access to the services that stow International offers on the website.
If the visitor does not change his or her cookie settings and chooses to ‘continue’ when first visiting the website, stow International assumes that the visitor accepts the various types of cookies and their use.
Technical information about cookies
What is a cookie?
A cookie is an information file which is placed on the web browser of a computer or mobile device – such as a smartphone, iPhone or iPad – by the server of the website that the visitor is consulting. The cookie contains a code that can be read by the server that placed it on the visitor’s web browser. The website being visited does not have access to other information files located on the visitor’s computer or mobile device.
How is a cookie file structured?
A cookie file consists of the following components:
- The name of the server that placed the cookie file on the computer;
- An expiry date;
- A unique numerical code.
What are cookies for?
Cookies ensure that visitors to the website have the best possible experience. Among other things, this means enabling the visitor to navigate more quickly and easily between the different parts of the website and adjusting the content of the website to the visitor’s personal preferences, for example their preferred language.
Where can I find these cookies?
The cookies are placed in a separate folder for the web browser on the hard disk of the visitor’s computer or mobile device.
How can I control and delete cookies?
If you wish to restrict or block the cookies set by stow, or any other website, you can do this through your browser settings. You may wish to visit www.aboutcookies.org, which contains comprehensive information on how to do this on a wide variety of browsers.
Different types of cookies
The relevant legislation makes a distinction between functional or technically necessary cookies on the one hand (these are first-party cookies, where the stored information is passed back to the website that placed the cookie), and all other cookies on the other hand (third-party cookies, where the stored information is forwarded to another website to which it belongs). Functional cookies ensure the optimal functioning of the website, and aim to provide the visitor with as pleasant and smooth an experience as possible. Permission for this kind of cookies is not strictly necessary, as they are only stored for the current browser session.
A further distinction can be made according to the specific purpose of the cookie.
What are ‘session’ cookies and ‘permanent’ cookies?
The task of the session cookie is to recognise the web browser during the visit to the website, while the task of the permanent cookie is to recognise the web browser with a view to repeat visits to the website.
What are ‘performance’ cookies?
‘Performance’ cookies monitor how the visitor uses the website. This enables the website administrator to adjust and optimise the content and ease of use of the website. For example, performance cookies enable daily tracking of how many different people have visited the different pages and which language version of the website is the most popular.
What are ‘third-party’ cookies?
Third-party cookies are cookies that come from advertisements placed on the website by third parties. They are intended to adapt the advertisements and/or their contents to the visitor’s personal preferences. The visitor will only see the advertisements if he or she has not disabled third-party cookies, meaning that permission has been granted for them. The use of third-party cookies does not give either the website administrator or the advertisers (third parties) access to the visitor’s personal data.
What is ’embedded content’?
A website administrator can refer visitors to websites run by other administrators by providing a hyperlink. It is possible that the website to which the visitor is referred also uses cookies.
Use of cookies by stow International
stow International uses functional cookies in order to ‘remember’ visitors’ personal preferences and with a view to avoiding repetitive communication during repeat visits, such as requests to take part in an evaluation of the user experience. stow International uses cookies for example to remember the choice of language in connection with filling in contact forms.
stow International also uses functional cookies when the visitor has created a personal account and wishes to log in. With the help of the cookies, stow International can safely check the visitor’s identity before granting access to the personal information stored on the account.
stow International uses the following cookies:
Functional cookies
| cookie name | function | lifespan | service provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| COOKIECONSENT_DISMISSED | Stores if cookie policy has been accepted. | 1 year | stow International |
| SSESS* | Keeps user logged in. | 23 days | stow International |
Non-functional cookies
| cookie name | function | lifespan | service provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| _GALI | In-page link analysis | 30 seconds | Google Analytics |
| _GAT | Used to manage the rate at which page view requests are made. | 1 minute | Google Analytics |
| _GA | Used to distinguish users between sessions. | 2 years | Google Analytics |
| _GID | Registers a unique ID that is used to generate statistical data on how the visitor uses the website. | 24 hours | Google Analytics |
| _GAC_* | Contains advertisement-related information for the user. | 90 days | Google AdWords |
| PREF | Unique session Id to identify the client displaying a YouTube video. | 2 years | YouTube |
| CONSENT | Remembers if you agree with Google’s Privacy Policy. | 20 years | YouTube |
| GPS | GPS data for mobile users | 1 hour | YouTube |
| VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE | Remembers YouTube player settings and style | 8 months | YouTube |
| YSC | Unique session id per visitor | Until end of session | YouTube |
If the necessary cookies are disabled the visitor will have the impression that certain parts of the websites are not working properly.
If a visitor to the website also visits the website of a third party via a hyperlink on the stow website, stow International advises the visitor to check the conditions of use of the relevant website administrator and find out about the third party’s privacy and cookie policies.