Cookies Policy

Last Updated: [MM/DD/YYYY]

This Cookie Policy explains how budgetboatzone.com (the “Site,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) uses cookies and similar technologies (such as pixels, tags, SDKs, and local storage) when you visit or use our Site. It also explains your choices and rights, including options that may apply to visitors in the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom (UK), the United States, Canada, and other regions.

This Cookie Policy should be read together with our Privacy Policy: [insert link].

1) What are cookies and similar technologies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device (computer, smartphone, tablet) by websites you visit. Cookies help websites work, remember your preferences, enhance security, and provide analytics and advertising measurement.

We may also use similar technologies, including:

Pixels / web beacons (e.g., Meta Pixel) to measure actions and ad performance.
Tags deployed via Google Tag Manager to manage analytics and marketing tools.
Local Storage / Session Storage to remember preferences (such as units, filters, language, and session state).
Server-side logs and identifiers for security and fraud prevention.

For simplicity, we refer to all of these as “cookies” in this Policy.

2) Why we use cookies (cookie categories)

We use cookies for the purposes described below. Some cookies are set by us (first-party cookies), and some are set by third parties (third-party cookies).

A) Strictly Necessary Cookies (Essential)

These cookies are required for the Site to function and cannot be switched off in our systems without impairing core features. They are used to:

Keep you logged in and maintain secure sessions.
Support account security, abuse prevention, and fraud detection.
Enable core marketplace actions (e.g., account access, posting listings, form submission, navigation).
Provide load balancing and basic performance operations.

EEA/UK legal basis (where applicable): Legitimate interests and/or necessity to provide a requested service (and “strictly necessary” under ePrivacy rules).

B) Functional / Preference Cookies

These cookies help the Site remember your choices to improve usability, such as:

Language preferences (e.g., keeping your chosen site language).
Unit preferences (e.g., ft/m, lb/kg, gal/L) and display settings.
Saved filters, sorting preferences, and interface options.

EEA/UK legal basis (where applicable): Consent (when required) or legitimate interests depending on the cookie and local rules; we treat most preference cookies as requiring consent in EU/UK if not strictly necessary.

C) Analytics / Measurement Cookies (Google Analytics; GTM-managed)

These cookies help us understand how visitors use the Site so we can improve performance and user experience. Analytics may measure:

Page views, navigation paths, time on page, and engagement.
Use of search, filters, listing views, and form interactions.
Site performance signals (e.g., load time and errors).

We may use:

Google Analytics (GA4) for analytics.
Google Tag Manager (GTM) as a tag management system to deploy analytics and other tags.

Important: GTM itself is a container. The cookies and data collected depend on which tags are enabled and whether you consent.

EEA/UK legal basis (where applicable): Consent.

D) Advertising / Marketing Cookies (Meta/Facebook Pixel and others if enabled)

If enabled, these cookies and pixels help us:

Measure advertising performance and conversions (e.g., sign-ups, listing submissions, contact events).
Build audiences for interest-based advertising (remarketing).
Limit ad frequency and reduce repetitive ads.

This may include Meta (Facebook/Instagram) Pixel and similar tools that may be added in the future.

EEA/UK legal basis (where applicable): Consent.

3) Marketplace context (Regular users and Brokers)

budgetboatzone.com is a boat marketplace where:

A Regular User typically publishes a single boat listing.
A Broker may publish multiple listings and manage a broader catalog.

Cookies may support these features by:

Maintaining secure logins and sessions (essential).
Preserving multi-step form progress and dashboard functionality (essential/functional).
Remembering preferences that help brokers manage listings efficiently (functional).
Measuring feature usage and improving the platform (analytics, if consented).

Your account type does not change the cookie categories, but broker workflows may result in more frequent functional cookie usage to keep your settings consistent.

4) Your choices: Cookie banner, consent, and withdrawing consent

EEA/UK visitors (GDPR + ePrivacy)

If you are in the EEA or UK, we will request your opt-in consent before placing non-essential cookies (such as analytics and marketing cookies). You may:

Accept all cookies
Reject non-essential cookies
Customize cookie preferences by category

You can change your mind at any time by clicking [Cookie Settings] (add link/button location—usually in the footer and/or cookie banner).

U.S., Canada, and other regions

Depending on applicable laws and settings, you may also see cookie choices and controls. You can always manage cookies through browser settings (see Section 7).

5) “Do Not Sell or Share” (U.S. state privacy laws)

Some U.S. state privacy laws (e.g., California’s CPRA) define “sharing” as disclosing personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising. If we use marketing/advertising cookies (such as Meta Pixel) for targeted advertising, this may be considered “sharing” under certain laws.

We provide options to:

Opt out of targeted advertising / marketing cookies via [Cookie Settings]
Use a Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information link (recommended if you run targeted advertising): [insert link]

If you do not run targeted advertising, you can state that clearly and still keep the opt-out mechanism available for future use.

6) International data transfers (EEA/UK and global visitors)

Some third-party providers (such as Google and Meta) may process data outside your country. Where required (especially for EEA/UK users), transfers may rely on recognized safeguards such as:

Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or other lawful transfer mechanisms, and
Additional technical and organizational measures where appropriate.

7) How to control cookies in your browser

You can manage cookies through your browser settings. Blocking or deleting cookies may impact Site functionality (for example, staying logged in, saving preferences, or completing listing submissions).

Common paths:

Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security
Safari: Settings → Privacy
Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions

You can also use browser controls to clear existing cookies.

8) Cookies we may use (examples)

The cookies used on the Site may change over time depending on configuration, updates, and which tools are enabled in GTM.

Examples (illustrative only):

Analytics (Google Analytics): cookies such as _ga and related identifiers (varies by GA4 configuration).
Marketing (Meta/Facebook): cookies such as _fbp (if Meta Pixel is enabled).
Essential/session cookies: authentication/session cookies and security-related cookies (e.g., WordPress or security plugins).

We recommend maintaining a live “Cookie List” table (Name / Provider / Purpose / Duration / Category) in your consent platform settings and linking it from [Cookie Settings].

9) Retention (how long cookies last)

Cookie duration varies:

Session cookies expire when you close your browser.
Persistent cookies remain until they expire (days/months/years) or until you delete them.

Specific durations can be found in [Cookie Settings] or your browser cookie storage view.

10) Changes to this Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in technology, legal requirements, or our use of cookies (including changes to tags deployed through Google Tag Manager). Updates will be posted on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date.

11) Contact us

If you have questions about this Cookie Policy or our privacy practices, contact:

budgetboatzone.com
Email: [support@budgetboatzone.com]
Company/Operator: [Legal entity name]
Address: [Mailing address, if applicable]

12) Related policies

For details about how we process personal data (including account registration, listings, broker profiles, communications, and inquiries), please review our Privacy Policy: [insert link].