Cookie Policy

This Cookie Policy ("Policy") explains how Qarvis ("Qarvis," "Company," "we," "us," "our") uses cookies, web beacons, pixels, local storage, session storage, and other similar tracking technologies (collectively, "Cookies and Tracking Technologies") when you access or use Qarvis, including the website and all related services (collectively, the "Service").

This Policy is incorporated by reference into and forms a part of the Qarvis Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

BY CONTINUING TO USE THE SERVICE, YOU CONSENT TO THE USE OF COOKIES AND TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES AS DESCRIBED IN THIS POLICY. IF YOU DO NOT CONSENT, YOU SHOULD ADJUST YOUR BROWSER SETTINGS ACCORDINGLY OR DISCONTINUE USE OF THE Service.

1. What Are Cookies and Tracking Technologies?

1.1 Cookies

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer, smartphone, tablet, or other device by websites you visit. They are widely used to make websites function properly, operate more efficiently, and provide information to website operators. Cookies may be set by the website you are visiting ("First-Party Cookies") or by third parties whose services are embedded on the website ("Third-Party Cookies").

1.2 Session and Persistent Cookies

• Session Cookies: Temporary cookies that are deleted from your device when you close your web browser. Session cookies are used to maintain your session and enable core functionality during a single browsing session.
• Persistent Cookies: Cookies that remain on your device for a specified period or until you manually delete them. Persistent cookies are used to remember your preferences, recognize returning visitors, and provide a consistent experience across sessions.

1.3 Web Beacons and Pixels

Web beacons (also known as tracking pixels, clear GIFs, or pixel tags) are small, transparent graphic images embedded in web pages or emails. They are used to monitor user behavior, track page views, and collect analytics data. Web beacons typically work in conjunction with cookies.

1.4 Local Storage and Session Storage

In addition to cookies, the Service uses HTML5 local storage and session storage, which are browser-based storage mechanisms that allow websites to store data on your device. Local storage persists until manually cleared by the user; session storage is cleared when the browser tab or window is closed.

2. Categories of Cookies and Tracking Technologies We Use

2.1 Strictly Necessary (Essential) Cookies

These cookies are essential for the Service to function and cannot be disabled without significantly impairing your ability to use the Service. They do not require your consent under most privacy laws. Essential cookies include:

• Authentication Cookies: Maintain your logged-in session, verify your identity, and manage secure access to your account. Without these cookies, you would need to re-authenticate on every page load.
• Security Cookies: Protect against cross-site request forgery (CSRF), session hijacking, and other security threats. These cookies help maintain the integrity and security of the Service.
• Load Balancing Cookies: Distribute network traffic across servers to ensure optimal performance and prevent service disruptions.
• Session State Cookies: Track the state of your current session, including items such as listing creation progress, form data in progress, and multi-step process tracking.

2.2 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies enhance your experience by remembering your preferences and settings. While not strictly necessary for the Service to function, they significantly improve usability. Functional cookies include:

• Preference Cookies: Remember your language preference, display settings, notification preferences, AI assistant personality settings, and other user-configurable options.
• Search and Filter Preferences: Store your marketplace search filters, sort preferences, location settings, and recently used search criteria to provide a seamless browsing experience.
• Recently Viewed Vehicles: Track vehicles you have recently viewed so they can be displayed in the "Recently Viewed" section for convenient access.
• Comparison Data: Store vehicles you have added to the comparison tray during your session.
• UI State Cookies: Remember which sections you have expanded or collapsed, which tabs you have selected, and other interface state preferences.

2.3 Analytics and Performance Cookies

Analytics cookies help us understand how users interact with the Service, which pages are most popular, how users navigate between pages, and whether users encounter errors. This information is used to improve the Service's performance, design, and functionality. Analytics cookies include:

• Usage Analytics: Collect anonymized data about page views, session duration, bounce rates, click patterns, and feature engagement.
• Search Analytics: Record search queries, search types (AI, guided, keyword), result counts, and search engagement to improve search relevance and AI performance.
• Vehicle Interaction Analytics: Track vehicle views, listing engagement, image views, and interaction events (finance calculator usage, contact actions, save actions) to generate aggregate marketplace insights.
• Error Monitoring: Detect and log client-side errors, performance bottlenecks, and technical issues to enable prompt resolution.
• Custom Event Tracking: Record specific user actions and events for aggregate analysis of Service usage patterns.

2.4 Advertising and Marketing Cookies

At present, the Service does not serve third-party advertisements. However, Qarvis reserves the right to introduce advertising and marketing cookies in the future for purposes including:

• Measuring the effectiveness of marketing campaigns;
• Delivering targeted or relevant advertisements;
• Tracking conversions from external marketing channels;
• Retargeting users who have previously visited the Service.

If advertising cookies are introduced, this Policy will be updated accordingly, and we will provide appropriate notice and consent mechanisms.

3. Third-Party Cookies and Services

3.1 Third-Party Service Providers

The Service integrates with various third-party services that may set their own cookies on your device. These third-party cookies are governed by the respective privacy and cookie policies of those third parties, not by this Policy. Third-party services that may set cookies include:

• Authentication Services (Google): When you sign in using Google authentication, Google may set cookies to manage your authentication session, including cookies used for single sign-on (SSO) and session persistence.
• Payment Processors: Our third-party payment processor may set cookies during the checkout process for fraud prevention, session management, and transaction security.
• Content Delivery Networks (CDNs): CDN providers used to deliver Service assets (images, scripts, stylesheets) efficiently may set performance-related cookies.
• Mapping and Geolocation Services: Map providers (e.g., for location-based vehicle search) may set cookies for session management and performance optimization.
• Vehicle Data APIs: Third-party vehicle data services integrated into the Service may set cookies in connection with API requests.

3.2 No Control Over Third-Party Cookies

Qarvis does not control the cookies set by third-party services and is not responsible for the information collected by third-party cookies. We encourage you to review the privacy and cookie policies of all third-party services you interact with through the Service. The inclusion of third-party services does not imply endorsement of their data practices.

4. Local Storage and Session Storage Usage

4.1 Session Storage

The Service uses session storage (cleared when the browser tab is closed) for:

• Temporarily storing marketplace search filters and sort preferences during your browsing session;
• Preserving form data in multi-step processes (e.g., listing creation) to prevent accidental data loss;
• Maintaining UI state such as expanded sections, selected tabs, and dialog positions;
• Storing temporary comparison vehicle selections;
• Caching frequently accessed data to reduce server requests and improve performance.

4.2 Local Storage

The Service uses local storage (persists until manually cleared) for:

• Storing user preferences that persist across browser sessions (e.g., notification settings, display preferences);
• Caching vehicle data and search results to improve loading times on subsequent visits;
• Storing recently viewed vehicle identifiers for the "Recently Viewed" feature;
• Performance optimization through client-side caching of static data.

5. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

5.1 Browser Settings

Most modern web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can configure your browser to:

• Block all cookies or only third-party cookies;
• Allow only first-party cookies;
• Delete all cookies when you close your browser;
• Delete existing cookies stored on your device;
• Receive a notification each time a new cookie is set;
• Browse in "private" or "incognito" mode, which limits cookie persistence.

5.2 Browser-Specific Instructions

Below are general instructions for managing cookies in common browsers:

• Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
• Mozilla Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
• Apple Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
• Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and site data
• Brave: Settings → Shields → Cookies

For other browsers, please consult the browser's help documentation or the browser developer's website for cookie management instructions.

5.3 Clearing Local Storage and Session Storage

Local storage and session storage can be cleared through your browser's developer tools or settings. In most browsers, clearing "site data" or "website data" for the Qarvis domain will remove both cookies and storage data. Note that clearing storage may reset your preferences and require you to reconfigure settings.

5.4 Consequences of Disabling Cookies

If you disable or block essential cookies, certain features of the Service may not function properly or may become unavailable. This may include, but is not limited to:

• Inability to sign in to your account or maintain an authenticated session;
• Loss of search filter preferences and personalization;
• Inability to complete multi-step processes such as listing creation or credit purchases;
• Degraded performance due to inability to cache data locally;
• Loss of recently viewed vehicle history and comparison data.

Qarvis is not responsible for any loss of functionality resulting from your decision to block or disable cookies or other tracking technologies.

6. Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers support a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal that broadcasts a preference not to be tracked by websites. There is currently no industry-standard technology or protocol for recognizing or honoring DNT signals. The Service does not currently respond to DNT signals. If a standard for online tracking is adopted that we are required to follow in the future, we will update this Policy accordingly.

7. Data Collected Through Cookies

Information collected through Cookies and Tracking Technologies may include: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device type, screen resolution, referring URL, pages visited, features used, time and duration of visits, click patterns, and unique identifiers. This data is used in accordance with our Privacy Policy for the purposes described in Section 2 of this Cookie Policy.

8. Children's Privacy

The Service is not directed to individuals under the age of eighteen (18), and we do not knowingly use Cookies and Tracking Technologies to collect information from children under 18.

9. Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our use of Cookies and Tracking Technologies, changes in applicable law, or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. If we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this Policy and, where required by law, provide additional notice. Your continued use of the Service after the posting of a revised Cookie Policy constitutes your acceptance of the changes.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Cookie Policy or our use of Cookies and Tracking Technologies, you may contact us at: