Privacy Policy
1. PRIVACY POLICY
Last updated: September 2026
1. Controller
The controller responsible for the processing of personal data on this website within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR") is:
Fine Selections
Owner: Benjamin John Gundelwein
Barbarastraße 15
66119 Saarbrücken
Germany
Email: info@fine-selections.com
Phone: +43 678 78060588
Hereinafter referred to as "Fine Selections", "we", "us" or "our".
This Privacy Policy applies to the Fine Selections Hub and the services offered through it.
2. General Information
Fine Selections respects your privacy and processes personal data only where permitted by applicable data protection law, in particular the GDPR and applicable German data protection and digital-services legislation.
Personal data means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person.
Depending on how you use Fine Selections, we may process information when you:
- visit or browse the website;
- create a free account or membership;
- subscribe to our newsletter;
- contact us;
- submit information, products, recommendations or content;
- participate as a contributor or featured person;
- click on product, affiliate or external links;
- interact with embedded third-party content; or
- otherwise use our services.
3. Hosting and Website Platform
The Fine Selections Hub is operated using Ghost, a publishing and membership platform.
When you access our website, technical information necessary to deliver and secure the website may be processed. This may include:
- IP address;
- date and time of access;
- requested page or resource;
- browser type and version;
- operating system;
- referring URL;
- device information; and
- technical server information.
The processing is carried out where necessary to provide the website, ensure its stability and security, prevent abuse and troubleshoot technical problems.
The legal basis is generally Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR, based on our legitimate interest in securely and reliably operating the website.
Where processing is necessary to provide a service specifically requested by you, Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR may additionally apply.
4. Ghost Analytics
We may use Ghost's native analytics to understand how our content is used and to improve Fine Selections.
Ghost's native web analytics are designed as first-party, cookie-free analytics and do not use cookies or persistent browser storage to identify visitors across sessions. Ghost states that for Ghost(Pro), analytics data is stored in EU regions.
This may allow us to evaluate information such as:
- page and post views;
- unique visitors;
- traffic sources;
- popular content;
- member sources; and
- general engagement with our publication.
For logged-in members, Ghost may associate content views with a member ID and membership status.
We use this information to understand which products, people, places, categories and stories are of interest to our audience and to improve our editorial offering.
5. Membership and User Accounts
Fine Selections may allow visitors to register as free members.
Ghost's membership functionality enables publishers to register members and provide member-specific content and functionality.
When you register, we may process information such as:
- email address;
- name, where provided;
- registration date;
- membership status;
- login information;
- source of registration;
- newsletter preferences; and
- interactions with Fine Selections content.
The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR where processing is necessary to provide your membership.
Where optional processing is based on consent, the legal basis is Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR.
You may unsubscribe from communications at any time.
6. Newsletter
Fine Selections may send newsletters containing, for example:
- new selections;
- featured people;
- product discoveries;
- places;
- stories;
- editorial recommendations;
- community updates;
- events;
- offers; and
- commercial or affiliate content.
We only send marketing newsletters where permitted by applicable law.
Where required, registration is confirmed using a double opt-in procedure.
For this purpose, we may process:
- email address;
- name, if provided;
- subscription date;
- confirmation date;
- subscription source;
- newsletter preferences; and
- technical information necessary to document consent.
The legal basis is your consent pursuant to Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR.
You may withdraw your consent at any time by using the unsubscribe link contained in our emails or by contacting us at:
Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal.
7. Contacting Fine Selections
If you contact us by email, form or another communication channel, we process the information you provide in order to respond to your enquiry.
This may include:
- name;
- email address;
- company;
- social-media profile;
- message content; and
- other information voluntarily supplied.
Depending on the nature of the enquiry, processing is based on Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR or Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR.
8. Contributors, Creators and Featured People
Fine Selections features people, creators, contributors, experts and other individuals.
Where you voluntarily provide information for publication, we may process and publish information such as:
- name;
- biography;
- photographs;
- social-media profiles;
- website;
- profession or role;
- favourite products;
- equipment;
- recommendations;
- places;
- brands;
- quotes;
- interviews; and
- other editorial information supplied to Fine Selections.
The specific legal basis depends on the relationship and may include consent under Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR, contractual necessity under Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR and/or our legitimate interests under Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR.
Publication rights for photographs and other protected content remain subject to the applicable agreements and rights granted to Fine Selections.
9. Product Recommendations and Affiliate Links
Fine Selections is an editorial discovery platform.
Our articles, profiles and selections may contain links to products, brands, retailers and other third-party websites.
Some of these links may be affiliate links.
This means Fine Selections may receive a commission if you click a link and subsequently make a purchase or perform another qualifying action. Unless expressly stated otherwise, this does not increase the price you pay.
Affiliate partners may use cookies or similar technologies to attribute transactions or interactions to Fine Selections.
Where such technologies are not strictly necessary and are subject to consent requirements, they will only be activated after you have provided the required consent.
Affiliate relationships do not automatically determine our editorial opinion or guarantee a positive recommendation.
Commercial relationships and sponsored content will be identified where legally required.
10. External Links
Fine Selections contains links to external websites, including:
- manufacturers;
- brands;
- retailers;
- online shops;
- creator websites;
- social networks;
- communities;
- hotels;
- restaurants;
- events; and
- other third-party services.
When you follow an external link, you leave the Fine Selections website.
The respective third-party provider is responsible for the processing of personal data on its website.
We encourage you to review the privacy policies of external services before using them.
11. Social Media and Embedded Content
Fine Selections may link to or embed content from social networks and media platforms.
This may include platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Vimeo or similar services.
If third-party content is embedded directly into a page, the relevant provider may receive information about your visit, including your IP address and device/browser information.
Where such integration requires consent under applicable law, the external content will only be activated after consent.
A simple external hyperlink, by contrast, generally does not establish the same direct connection until you follow the link.
12. Cookies and Similar Technologies
Fine Selections may use cookies and similar technologies.
Under §25 TDDDG, storing information on or accessing information already stored on a user's device generally requires prior informed consent unless the technology is strictly necessary to provide a service explicitly requested by the user or to transmit communications.
We distinguish between:
Strictly Necessary Technologies
These are required to operate the website, provide requested functionality, maintain security or remember essential settings.
Where the legal requirements are met, these technologies can be used without consent.
Analytics Technologies
These help us understand how visitors interact with Fine Selections.
Ghost's native web analytics are cookie-free and do not use persistent browser storage to identify visitors across sessions.
If additional analytics tools are introduced that require consent, they will only be activated after the appropriate consent.
Marketing and Affiliate Technologies
These may be used to measure campaigns, attribute purchases or understand the effectiveness of affiliate links.
Where consent is legally required, these technologies will only be activated after consent.
External Media
Third-party videos, social-media posts, maps or similar content may involve communication with external providers. Where required, such content will remain blocked until consent has been provided.
13. Cookie Consent
Where consent is required, visitors are provided with a mechanism to:
Accept all
Reject non-essential technologies
Manage individual preferences
Consent must be voluntary and based on clear information. German law expressly links the consent requirement for device access/storage to the GDPR consent standard.
You can withdraw or change your consent at any time through the Cookie Settings link in the footer.
Withdrawal of consent does not affect processing that occurred lawfully before withdrawal.
14. Recipients of Personal Data
Where necessary, personal data may be processed by service providers acting on our behalf, including providers for:
- hosting;
- website infrastructure;
- email delivery;
- newsletter services;
- analytics;
- security;
- IT support;
- affiliate tracking; and
- other technical services.
We select service providers with appropriate regard for data protection requirements and conclude data processing agreements where required by law.
15. International Data Transfers
Some service providers may process personal data outside Germany or the European Economic Area.
Where personal data is transferred to a country outside the EEA, we ensure that an appropriate legal mechanism is available where required, such as:
- an adequacy decision of the European Commission;
- EU Standard Contractual Clauses; or
- another legally recognised transfer mechanism.
16. Data Retention
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes for which it was collected or as required by applicable statutory retention obligations.
Retention periods may differ depending on whether information relates to:
- website security;
- membership;
- newsletter subscriptions;
- enquiries;
- contractual relationships;
- accounting;
- contributor relationships; or
- consent documentation.
Once data is no longer required and no statutory retention obligation applies, it will be deleted or anonymised.
17. Your Rights
Subject to the requirements of applicable law, you have the right to:
- obtain information about your personal data;
- access your personal data;
- correct inaccurate data;
- request deletion;
- request restriction of processing;
- receive certain data in a portable format;
- object to certain processing;
- withdraw consent at any time; and
- lodge a complaint with a competent supervisory authority.
Where processing is based on our legitimate interests under Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR, you may have a right to object pursuant to Art. 21 GDPR.
Requests may be sent to:
18. Security
We use appropriate technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal data against unauthorised access, loss, alteration or disclosure.
German law also requires providers of digital services to implement appropriate technical and organisational safeguards, including protection against unauthorised access and disruption, taking into account the state of the art.
19. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy where necessary to reflect changes to Fine Selections, our service providers or applicable legal requirements.
The current version is always available on this website.
Cookie Policy
2. COOKIE POLICY
Last updated: September 2026
What are cookies?
Cookies are small pieces of information stored on a user's device when visiting a website.
Similar technologies can include local storage, pixels, identifiers and other technologies that store or access information on a device.
How Fine Selections uses cookies
Fine Selections aims to keep tracking to a minimum.
Our website may use the following categories:
1. Necessary
Required for essential website functionality, security, authentication and services requested by the user.
These cannot necessarily be disabled through our consent interface because they are required for the service to function.
2. Analytics
Used to understand website usage and improve Fine Selections.
Ghost's native web analytics are first-party and cookie-free and do not use persistent browser storage for cross-session visitor identification.
If Fine Selections introduces additional analytics technologies requiring consent, they will be listed in Cookie Settings and will remain disabled until consent.
3. Affiliate & Marketing
Fine Selections may use affiliate links.
Affiliate networks and retailers may use tracking technologies to determine whether a purchase or conversion resulted from a Fine Selections referral.
Where prior consent is legally required, such tracking will only operate after consent.
4. External Media
Some articles may contain external media, including video or social-media embeds.
Loading this content may transmit data to the respective third-party provider.
Where consent is required, the content will remain blocked until you choose to activate it.
Managing your preferences
You can manage or withdraw consent at any time using:
Cookie Settings
in the website footer.
Rejecting optional technologies will not prevent you from accessing the basic Fine Selections editorial content.
Terms of Use
3. TERMS OF USE
Last updated: September 2026
1. About Fine Selections
Fine Selections is an independent editorial and discovery platform operated by:
Fine Selections
Owner: Benjamin John Gundelwein
Barbarastraße 15
66119 Saarbrücken
Germany
Email: info@fine-selections.com
Fine Selections presents curated products, people, places, communities, brands, stories and recommendations across categories including sport, outdoor, fashion, design, technology, mobility, travel, food and culture.
2. Scope
These Terms of Use apply to access to and use of the Fine Selections Hub.
By using the website, you agree to comply with these Terms to the extent applicable.
Additional terms may apply to specific services, competitions, events, commercial collaborations or paid offerings.
3. Editorial Content
Fine Selections provides editorial content for information, inspiration and discovery purposes.
We make reasonable efforts to provide accurate and useful information. However, products, prices, specifications, availability, locations, links and other third-party information can change.
We therefore do not guarantee that all information is complete, current or error-free.
Users should verify information relevant to a purchasing or other material decision with the respective provider.
4. Product Recommendations
Products featured on Fine Selections may be:
- selected by our editors;
- recommended by featured individuals;
- submitted by contributors;
- provided by brands;
- received as samples;
- part of a commercial collaboration; or
- linked through an affiliate programme.
A product's appearance on Fine Selections does not constitute a guarantee regarding its quality, safety, suitability or availability.
Individual recommendations represent the views or experiences of the respective contributor or editorial team where applicable.
5. Affiliate Links
Fine Selections may participate in affiliate programmes.
Some links to external shops or services are therefore affiliate links.
If you follow such a link and make a qualifying purchase, Fine Selections may receive a commission.
The contractual relationship for any purchase is solely between you and the respective retailer or service provider.
Fine Selections is not the seller merely because a product is featured or linked on the Hub.
6. Sponsored and Commercial Content
Fine Selections may cooperate with brands, tourism organisations, retailers and other commercial partners.
Sponsored content, advertising or other commercial relationships will be identified where required by law.
The existence of an affiliate or commercial relationship does not necessarily mean that the partner controls the editorial content.
7. Featured People and Contributors
Profiles, selections and recommendations attributed to featured people or contributors may reflect their personal preferences and experiences.
Unless explicitly stated otherwise, a featured person is not an employee, representative or agent of Fine Selections.
Contributors remain responsible for ensuring that information and materials they provide do not knowingly infringe third-party rights.
8. External Websites
Fine Selections links to third-party websites and services.
We do not operate or control these external services and are not responsible for their availability, terms, privacy practices, prices, products or content.
The terms and conditions of the respective third party apply when you purchase products or use external services.
9. Accounts and Memberships
Fine Selections may offer free membership functionality.
You are responsible for providing accurate information and for using your account lawfully.
We reserve the right to restrict or terminate access where reasonably necessary, including in cases of:
- misuse;
- fraud;
- attempts to compromise website security;
- unlawful activity; or
- material violations of these Terms.
10. Intellectual Property
Unless otherwise indicated, the website's original editorial content, branding, design, text, graphics and other materials are protected by applicable intellectual-property laws.
Content may not be reproduced, republished, commercially exploited, systematically scraped or redistributed without the appropriate permission or legal basis.
Normal sharing of links to publicly accessible Fine Selections pages is permitted.
11. Third-Party Images and Content
Certain images, trademarks, product names and other materials belong to their respective rights holders.
Their appearance on Fine Selections does not transfer any intellectual-property rights to Fine Selections or users.
Where content is supplied by creators, contributors or commercial partners, rights remain subject to the respective licence or agreement.
12. User and Contributor Submissions
Where Fine Selections allows users or contributors to submit content, the submitting party confirms that they have the necessary rights to provide the material and permit its agreed use.
Unless separately agreed, submission does not transfer ownership of intellectual-property rights to Fine Selections.
Any licence granted to Fine Selections is limited to the scope necessary for the agreed publication, promotion and operation of the Fine Selections platform.
13. No Professional Advice
Content on Fine Selections is provided for general editorial and informational purposes.
It does not constitute medical, legal, financial, safety or other professional advice.
Users remain responsible for assessing whether a product, activity, destination or recommendation is suitable for their individual circumstances.
14. Liability
Fine Selections is liable without limitation where liability is mandatory under applicable law, including for intent and gross negligence and, where applicable, injury to life, body or health.
For ordinary negligence, liability is limited in accordance with applicable German law, particularly in relation to material contractual obligations and foreseeable damages.
Mandatory statutory liability remains unaffected.
Nothing in these Terms excludes or restricts rights that cannot legally be excluded or restricted.
15. Changes to Fine Selections
We may modify, expand, suspend or discontinue individual website features where reasonably necessary.
This may include categories, membership functionality, editorial formats, affiliate partners and third-party integrations.
16. Changes to these Terms
We may update these Terms to reflect changes to the platform, legal requirements or our services.
The current version will be published on Fine Selections.
17. Applicable Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, subject to mandatory consumer-protection provisions that may apply in the user's country of residence.
For consumers in the European Union, mandatory rights under the law of their habitual residence remain unaffected where applicable.
