Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

NextGen Marine, LLC, doing business as HiTec Marine ("Hitec Marine", "we", "our", or "us") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide, including:

• Name, email address, phone number (including mobile number)
• Billing and shipping addresses
• Boat information (make, model, year, electronics)
• Service history and preferences
• Payment information (processed securely by third parties)
• SMS/text-messaging opt-in consent and related preferences (collected when you provide your mobile number for service notifications)

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we automatically collect:

• IP address and browser information
• Pages visited and time spent on site
• Referring website information
• Device and operating system details
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

2.3 Analytics Information

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our website. Google Analytics collects information such as how often users visit the site, what pages they visit, and what other sites they used prior to coming to this site.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide and maintain our marine electronics services
• Process transactions and send service confirmations
• Communicate about appointments, updates, and service issues
• Send marketing communications (with your consent)
• Improve our website and service offerings
• Comply with legal obligations and resolve disputes
• Prevent fraud and enhance security

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information. We may share information in these situations:

4.1 Service Providers

• Payment processors for transaction handling
• Email service providers for communications
• Analytics providers for website improvement
• Cloud storage providers for data management

4.2 Legal Requirements

• To comply with legal processes or government requests
• To protect the rights and safety of Hitec Marine and others
• To investigate and prevent fraud or security issues

4.3 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of the business transaction.

4.4 Mobile Information and SMS Opt-In Data

No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.

Mobile phone numbers and SMS opt-in consent are used solely to deliver the service-related text messages described in our Terms of Service (appointment confirmations, reminders, pickup notifications, reschedule notices, and invoice/payment links). We do not sell, rent, or share this information with third parties for their own marketing, and we do not use it for affiliate marketing. Mobile data may be shared only with subprocessors that directly support message delivery (e.g., our SMS messaging provider), and only to the extent necessary to send the messages you have opted in to receive.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Analyze website traffic and usage patterns
• Provide personalized content and advertisements
• Improve website functionality and user experience

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may affect website functionality.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures to protect your information:

• SSL encryption for data transmission
• Secure servers and regular security updates
• Access controls and employee training
• Regular security audits and monitoring
• Secure disposal of sensitive information

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your information.

7. Your Privacy Rights

You have the right to:

• Access and review your personal information
• Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Request deletion of your personal information
• Opt-out of marketing communications
• Restrict processing of your information
• Data portability (receive a copy of your data)

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.

8. Marketing and SMS Communications

With your explicit consent, we may send you marketing emails about our services, special offers, and industry news. You can unsubscribe from email at any time by:

• Clicking the unsubscribe link in any email
• Contacting us directly at contact@hitecmarine.net
• Calling us at (270) 527-1900

Our SMS/text-message program is transactional and used to deliver service-related notifications about appointments, pickups, and invoices for customers who provide their mobile number and consent during service intake. You can opt out of text messages at any time by replying STOP (or UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, or QUIT) to any message, by emailing contact@hitecmarine.net, or by calling (270) 527-1900. Reply HELP for assistance. See our Terms of Service for full SMS program details, including message frequency and carrier disclaimers.

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations. Service records are typically maintained for 7 years for warranty and tax purposes.

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to read their privacy policies before providing any information.

11. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware of such collection, we will delete the information immediately.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. Your continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

Data Protection Officer: For specific privacy concerns, you may also contact our Data Protection Officer at the above address, marked "Attention: Privacy Officer."