Privacy Policy

Last updated: March 1, 2026

Overview

This privacy policy explains how Vintage Mechanical Watches collects, uses, and protects information when you visit our website. We don't sell your data. We don't track you across the web. We collect minimal information to understand how people use the site and whether affiliate links work.

Information We Collect

Analytics Data

We collect basic usage data to understand how visitors interact with the site:

  • Pages you visit and time spent on each page
  • Scroll depth (how far down the page you read)
  • Which links you click, especially affiliate links
  • Referrer information (where you came from to reach our site)
  • Browser type, device type, and screen resolution
  • General geographic location (country/region level, not precise location)

This data is anonymous. We don't collect your IP address, we don't use cookies for tracking, and we don't store anything in your browser's localStorage. The analytics endpoint is /api/collect and data is sent via POST requests.

eBay Partner Network Cookies

When you click an eBay affiliate link on this site, eBay sets cookies on your device to track whether you make a purchase. These cookies allow eBay to credit us with a commission if you buy something. We don't control these cookies — eBay does.

Here's how eBay's cookies work:

  • Buy It Now purchases: eBay sets a cookie that lasts 24 hours. If you buy within 24 hours of clicking our link, we may earn a commission.
  • Auction bids: eBay sets a cookie that lasts 10 days. If you place a winning bid within 10 days of clicking our link, we may earn a commission.

These are eBay's cookies, not ours. We don't have access to them and we don't track what you buy. eBay handles all transaction data.

How We Use Information

We use the analytics data we collect to:

  • Understand which articles and sections people actually read
  • See which affiliate links get clicked (so we know what's useful)
  • Improve site navigation and layout based on how people use the site
  • Identify technical issues like pages that load slowly or don't work on mobile

We don't use your data for advertising. We don't share it with third parties except eBay (through their affiliate program cookies). We don't build user profiles or track you across sessions.

Affiliate Programs

We participate in the eBay Partner Network. When you click an eBay link on this site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. This is how the site stays operational.

Every page with affiliate links includes this disclosure: "If you click on affiliate links on this website and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you."

Our affiliate relationship doesn't change our editorial standards. We recommend products and search queries that are actually relevant to vintage watch collecting and maintenance. If something is overpriced or problematic, we say so, even if it would earn a commission.

Cookies

This site doesn't set first-party cookies for tracking. The only cookies you'll encounter are from eBay (if you click affiliate links) as described above.

You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but this will prevent eBay from tracking affiliate commissions. It won't affect your ability to use this site.

Third-Party Links

This site contains links to eBay and other external websites. We're not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites. eBay has its own privacy policy that governs how they collect and use data. When you click a link that leaves our site, you're subject to that site's privacy policy, not ours.

Data Security

We implement security headers (Strict-Transport-Security, X-Frame-Options, X-Content-Type-Options, Content-Security-Policy) to protect against common web vulnerabilities. Analytics data is transmitted over HTTPS. We don't store sensitive personal information because we don't collect it in the first place.

Your Rights and Opt-Out

Since we don't collect personally identifiable information, there's nothing to delete or export. The analytics we collect is anonymous and can't be tied back to you.

If you want to opt out of analytics tracking, you can:

  • Use browser extensions that block analytics scripts
  • Disable JavaScript (though this will break some site functionality)
  • Use privacy-focused browsers with tracking protection enabled

To opt out of eBay's affiliate cookies, adjust your cookie settings in your browser to block third-party cookies or clear cookies after visiting the site.

Children's Privacy

This site isn't directed at children under 13. We don't knowingly collect information from children. If you're under 13, don't use this site without parental supervision.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy occasionally. If we make substantial changes to how we handle data, we'll update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Check back periodically if you're concerned about privacy practices.

Contact

Questions about this privacy policy or how we handle data? Email us:

privacy@vintagemechanicalwatches.com