1. What cookies are
A cookie is a small text file a website stores in your browser to remember information across pages and visits. Some cookies are essential for a site to function. Others are optional and only set with your consent.
2. The cookies we set
ScanAuctions uses three distinct categories of cookies. Each is described below with its purpose, lifetime, and whether you can opt out.
2.1 Essential cookies — always on
These are required for the app to work. Disabling them will break login, scan progress, and your saved filter state. You cannot opt out of essential cookies and use ScanAuctions.
- sa_session — your authenticated session token. JWT, 24-hour expiry, HttpOnly, Secure, SameSite=Lax.
- sa_csrf — anti-CSRF token issued at login to prevent cross-site request forgery on state-changing endpoints.
- sa_pref — a small JSON blob storing UI preferences (dark mode, sidebar collapsed, sort order). No PII.
2.2 Affiliate tracking — opt-in
When you click an affiliate referral link, we store one cookie so the affiliate is credited if you sign up later. We do not set this cookie until you accept it via our cookie banner.
- sa_ref — the referring affiliate’s short code. 30-day lifetime. Read once at registration, then discarded. Not used for any other purpose.
2.3 Analytics — opt-in
If you accept analytics in the banner, we use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to understand which pages and features are most useful. We anonymise IP addresses and do not enable advertising features.
- _ga / _ga_* — Google Analytics session and user ID cookies. 2-year lifetime per GA4 defaults. We do not join this data to your account.
3. Cookies we do not set
ScanAuctions does not run advertising trackers, Meta pixels, LinkedIn Insight tags, TikTok pixels, or third-party retargeting. We do not sell visitor data to any third party. We do not embed content that would set cookies you did not consent to (no auto-loaded YouTube embeds, for example).
4. Changing your preferences
You can change your cookie preferences at any time by reopening the cookie banner from the footer of any page, or by clearing your browser’s cookies for scanauctions.com and app.scanauctions.com. Doing so will reset your consent state — you’ll be asked again on your next visit.
5. Browser-level controls
All modern browsers let you block or delete cookies. Be aware that fully blocking essential cookies will log you out and prevent the app from working. Browser instructions:
- Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
- Safari: Settings → Privacy → Manage Website Data
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies
6. Changes to this policy
We will update this page whenever we add, remove, or change a cookie. Material changes will also be flagged in the cookie banner so that you can review and update your consent.
7. Contact
Questions about cookies or our use of analytics? hello@scanauctions.com. ScanAuctions Ltd, registered in England & Wales, Companies House #15234567.