1 Definitions
These are the only conditions (“Conditions”) upon which officeexpress.co.uk Limited (“the Seller”) (registered office Sterling House, 97 Lichfield
Street, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 7QF) trade with the Buyer.
In these Conditions the following capitalised words have the meanings indicated:
“Account Application Form” means the form completed by the Buyer requesting credit from the Seller;
“Bespoke Goods” means Goods of a type or specification not commonly supplied by the Seller or Goods specifically ordered by the Seller to resell
to the Buyer in accordance with the Order;
“Bespoke Services” means Services of a type or specification not commonly supplied by the Seller or Services specifically designed by the Seller
to be provided to the Buyer in accordance with the Order;
“Buyer” means the person firm or company to be supplied with Goods pursuant to the Contract;
“Contract” means the contract between the Seller and the Buyer for the sale and purchase of the Goods and includes these Conditions, the Order,
the Seller’s Buyer Returns Policy and the Account Application Form;
“Goods” means the goods to be supplied by the Seller to the Buyer pursuant to the Contract;
“Order” means the offer from the Buyer to the Seller to purchase the Goods in accordance with these Conditions;
“Seller’s Buyer Returns Policy” means the Seller’s returns policy or policies for the Goods as may be published by the Seller from time to time;
“Services” means the services to be supplied by the Seller to the Buyer pursuant to the Contract;
“Supplementary Conditions” means the supplementary conditions which will apply in addition to these Conditions to the sale by the Seller to the Buyer of Bespoke Goods;
“Trade Price List” means the Seller’s currently published trade price list at the date of despatch of the Goods; and “Working Day” means any day from Monday through to Friday inclusive excluding United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland public holidays.
2 General
2.1 These Conditions govern the Contract to the entire exclusion of any other express or implied conditions and they may be varied only by the agreement
in by 2 Directors of officeexpress.co.uk Limited.
2.2 The Buyer accepts that in entering into the Contract it has not relied upon any prior promises, representations or undertakings of the Seller or any of the Seller’s employees or agents nor any documents not expressly included in the definition of Contract set out in these Conditions.
2.3 Any advice or recommendation given by the Seller or its employees or agents to the Buyer or its employees or agents as to the storage, supply or use of the Goods which is not confirmed in writing by the Seller is followed or acted upon entirely at the Buyer’s own risk and accordingly the Seller shall not be liable (save as provided for in Condition 7 and save in respect of a claim for fraudulent misrepresentation) for any such advice or recommendation which is not so confirmed.
2.4 Any typographical, clerical or other error or omission in any sales literature, quotation, Trade Price List, acceptance of offer, invoice, Order acknowledgement
or other document or information issued by the Seller (including without limitation any electronic communications) shall be subject to correction without any liability, either in contract, tort or otherwise on the part of the Seller.
2.5 The Buyer shall be responsible to the Seller for ensuring the accuracy of the terms of the Order submitted by the Buyer, and for giving the Seller any
necessary information relating to the Goods within a sufficient time to enable the Seller to fulfill the Order in accordance with these Conditions.
2.6 Acceptance of any Order shall be deemed to be made by the Seller upon the first of: issue of any invoice to the Buyer in respect of the Goods; or receipt by the Buyer of the Order acknowledgement (if applicable); or upon delivery of the Goods to the Buyer or the Buyer of the Buyer. Supplementary Conditions will apply to any Order for Bespoke Goods or Bespoke Services. In the event of a conflict between these Conditions and any other documents forming part of the Contract (including the Buyer’s own Terms and Conditions) then these Conditions will prevail.
3. Price
The price of the Goods, and the price of the delivery, shall be the same as the quoted price as agreed between the Buyer and the Seller and which may be confirmed in writing to the Buyer or, where the price has not been quoted, the price listed in the Trade Price List.
3.1 Minimum order values and delivery charges are as agreed between the Buyer and the Seller or, where the price has not been quoted, the price listed in the Trade Price List.
3.2 The Seller may charge the Buyer extra costs or charges:
3.2.1 For Orders requiring same day delivery;
3.2.2 If the Buyer requests any emergency deliveries;
3.2.3 If the Buyer requests any additional services offered by the Seller from time to time including pick and wrap and pick wrap and label.
3.3 The Seller reserves the right, by giving notice to the Buyer at any time before delivery, to increase the price of the Goods to reflect any increase in the cost to the Seller which is due to any factor beyond its control, including but without limitation any increases in costs due to market fluctuations, any change in delivery dates, quantities or specifications for the Goods which is requested by the Buyer or any delay caused by any instructions of the Buyer or failure of the Buyer to give the Seller adequate information or instructions.
3.4 Unless otherwise agreed in writing between the Seller and the Buyer, the price of the Goods is exclusive of Value Added Tax or any similar taxes levies or duties which will be added to or charged on invoices at the appropriate rates.
4. Payment
4.1 The Seller may invoice the Buyer for the Goods at any time after receiving the Buyer’s Order.
4.2 Payment by the Buyer of the price for the Goods is due within 30 days of invoice date, failure to adhere to 30 days will result in all outstanding invoices becoming immediately due.
4.2.1 Those buying from our website with no credit account must pay at the time when the order is placed the full amount owed by credit card/debit card.
4.3 The Buyer must clearly identify to which invoice and/or credit note any settlement relates. If the Buyer fails to do this then the Seller may, at its discretion, treat the settlement as if it had not been made or as settlement against the Buyer’s oldest outstanding invoices.
4.4 The Buyer shall make payment to the Seller in respect of the invoice; Without any set off (whether in relation to such invoice or otherwise); and In the currency that the invoices are rendered.
4.5 Within a period of 10 Working Days following date of invoice any invoice issued under Condition 4.1 the Buyer shall be required to notify the Seller of any
disputes of items contained within the invoice such notice to contain all known details of the reasons for such dispute and the Buyer’s proposals to resolve
such dispute.
4.6 If the Buyer fails to serve notice disputing any invoice within the applicable period the Buyer will pay such invoice within the period stated in Condition 4.2.
4.7 If the Buyer serves a notice disputing items of an invoice under Condition 4.5 the Buyer will by the due date for payment in accordance with Condition 4.2 pay that part of the invoice not so disputed. Any matters in dispute will be referred for resolution between nominated representatives of the Buyer and the Seller.
4.8 If it is agreed or determined pursuant to Conditions 4.5 to 4.7 that; Sums are payable by the Buyer to the Seller then these sums will be paid within 5 Working Days of such agreement or determination or in accordance with the applicable period stated in Condition 4.2 whichever is the later.
4.9 An invoice issued by the Seller which has overcharged the Buyer then the Seller will issue a credit note to the Buyer for such amount together with all applicable VAT. If the Buyer fails to make any payment by the date due then, without prejudice to any other right or remedy available to the Seller the Seller shall be
entitled to:
4.10.1 bring an action against the Buyer for the price of the Goods notwithstanding the property in the Goods has not passed to the Buyer;
4.10.2 charge interest on that payment until the date of payment (both before and Irish Bank PLC base rate from time to time;
4.10.3 cancel the Contract or suspend any further deliveries to the Buyer without any liability to the Buyer;
4.10.4 apportion any payment made by the Buyer to such of the Goods (or to such goods as are supplied under any other contract between the Buyer and the Seller) as the Seller may think fit (notwithstanding any purported apportionment by the Buyer);
4.10.5 issue a notice to the Buyer following which all sums due under the Contract and any other contract between the Buyer and the Seller shall become
immediately due and payable;
4.10.6 require the immediate return to the Seller of all Goods agreed to be sold by the Seller to the Buyer in which the property has not passed to the Buyer (as specified in Condition 5.1 below) and the Buyer agrees to reimburse to the Seller upon demand the Seller’s reasonable costs or expenses in recovering such Goods.
5. Title
5.1 The property in the Goods shall not pass to the Buyer until the full price of the Goods (and all Goods, which are the subject of any other contract
between the Seller and the Buyer) has been received by the Seller in cash or cleared funds.
5.2 Until such time as the property in the Goods has passed to the Buyer, the Buyer:
5.2.1 shall hold the Goods owned by the Seller in the Buyer’s possession and control as the Seller’s fiduciary agent and bailee (but, for the avoidance of
doubt, shall not resell the Goods as the agent of the Seller);
5.2.2 shall keep the Goods properly stored and protected;
5.2.3 shall not destroy deface or obscure any identifying mark or packaging on or relating to the Goods;
5.2.4 shall be entitled to resell or use the Goods in the ordinary course of business but shall account to the Seller for the proceeds of sale or otherwise of the Goods, whether tangible or intangible, including insurance proceeds and shall keep all such proceeds easily identifiable from any monies or property of the Buyer and third parties and, in the case of tangible proceeds, properly stored protected and insured. The Buyer shall maintain records of the persons to whom it sells or disposes of such Goods and of the payments made by such persons for such Goods and will allow the Seller to inspect these on request; and
5.2.5 shall hand the Goods over to the Seller on demand and the Seller shall be entitled to retake possession of them without prejudice to any of its other rights against the Buyer and the Seller is hereby granted a licence to enter into the premises of the Buyer for the purpose of recovering such Goods. The Buyer shall procure that any third party which holds such Goods shall permit the Seller to take possession of them and shall indemnify the Seller against any liability which it may incur to such third party in connection with taking or attempting to take possession of them.
5.3 The Buyer shall not pledge or in any way charge by way of security for any indebtedness any of the Goods, which are the property of the Seller. Without prejudice to the other rights of the Seller, if the Buyer does so all sums whatever owing by the Buyer to the Seller shall become immediately due and payable.
6. Delivery & Risk
6.1 Risk of damage or loss to the Goods shall pass to the Buyer at the time of delivery or, if the Buyer wrongfully fails to take delivery of the Goods, the
time when the Seller has tendered delivery of the Goods.
6.2 The Seller shall use its reasonable endeavours to deliver the Goods to the Buyer within a reasonable period after the receipt of the Order by the Seller
(unless agreed otherwise in writing by the Buyer and Seller) but time of delivery shall not be of the essence.
6.3 Unless otherwise agreed by the Seller and the Buyer in writing, delivery of the Goods shall be made by the Seller, or deemed to have been made:
6.3.1 by the Seller delivering the Goods to such place as may be notified by the Buyer;
6.3.2 where the Seller delivers the Goods to the Buyer, at the time the Goods are taken off the Sellers delivery vehicle (whether during normal working hours or otherwise); or
6.3.3 where the Seller appoints a carrier to effect delivery on its behalf, at the time the carrier commences loading the Goods from the Seller’s premises on to its delivery vehicle (or if the Seller loads the Goods on to the carrier’s delivery vehicle, at the time the Goods are placed on the carrier’s delivery vehicle); or
6.3.4 where the Buyer collects the Goods from the Seller’s premises, at the time of commencement of loading the Goods from the Seller’s premises on to the Buyer’s vehicle or from when the Buyer picks up the Goods from the trade counter at one of the Seller’s service centers.
6.4 The Seller shall be entitled to supply the Goods in installments and failure by the Seller to deliver any one or more of the installments in accordance with these Conditions (or any claim by the Buyer in respect of any one or more installments) shall not entitle the Buyer to treat the Contract as a whole as repudiated or to cancel any other installment. Unattended deliveries, where requested by the Buyer, shall be at the Buyer’s own risk except where the Seller has been negligent in respect of that delivery.
7. Warranty And Limitations Of Liability
The Buyer’s Attention Is Drawn In Particular To The Provisions Of This Condition 7.
7.1 The Seller warrants that the Goods will be of satisfactory quality and fit for the purpose for which they were supplied.
7.2 Except as expressly provided in this Agreement the Seller excludes all representations, warranties, conditions and other terms implied by statute,
common law, or otherwise to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Seller will endeavour to pass on to the Buyer the benefit of any guarantees or indemnities
given to it for them by its supplier.
7.3 If, notwithstanding the above, if the Seller is found liable for any loss or damage suffered by the Buyer, its aggregate liability shall in no event exceed the price of the Goods the subject of the claim and, without prejudice to the above, shall not be liable for any indirect, special or consequential loss, losses sustained in the ordinary course of business, loss of profit, loss of business, depletion of goodwill, loss of business opportunity, revenue, contracts or loss of savings whatsoever.
7.4 Nothing in these Conditions shall apply to exclude or limit any liability to the buyer in respect of:
7.4.1 fraud, fraudulent misrepresentations; or
7.4.2 death or personal injury of the Buyer caused by the Seller’s negligence; or
7.4.3 the terms as to title and quiet possession implied by section 12 of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 or section 2 of the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982; or
7.4.4 liability for defective products under the Consumer Protection Act 1987; or
7.4.5 the terms as to goods corresponding with their description or sample implied by section 13 and section 15 respectively of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 where the buyer deals as a consumer (as defined in section 12 of the unfair contract terms act 1977.
8. Over / Short / Non-Delivery
8.1 If the quantity of Goods delivered is more than that agreed by the Seller and the Buyer, the Buyer shall not be entitled to reject the delivery, but the Seller will collect such excess Goods from the Buyer’s premises (or from such address as is reasonably specified by the Buyer) if the Buyer notifies the Seller within the time limits set out in Condition 8.3. If the Buyer does not notify the Seller within the prescribed time limits, the Seller shall be entitled to invoice the Buyer and the Buyer shall pay the Seller in accordance with Condition 4.
8.2 If the quantity of the Goods delivered is less than that agreed by the Seller and the Buyer, the Buyer shall not be entitled to reject the delivery, but shall be entitled only to a further delivery of Goods, to make up the deficiency, or (at the Seller’s option) a refund by way of a credit note of the appropriate part of the purchase price.
8.3 The Buyer shall however have no entitlement whatsoever in respect of such non-delivery/over-delivery/short-delivery;
8.3.1 unless such claim is made (by post, facsimile or e-mail) to the Seller’s sales office by the close of business on the first Working Day following the day of purported delivery, or:
8.3.2 unless the Buyer:
8.3.2.1 notifies the carrier in writing of any such over delivery, short delivery or non delivery; and
8.3.2.2 enters a note of the same upon the carrier’s receipt (except in the case of non delivery). If by reason of the failure of the Buyer to give such notice the Seller is prevented from successfully claiming against the carrier for such over delivery,
short delivery or non delivery, the rights of the Buyer under this Condition shall not apply and the Buyer shall be liable to pay the full price for all the Goods which are the subject of the Contract.
9. Returns
9.1 The Seller has the discretion (which it may exercise as it wishes) to accept the return of any of the Goods supplied to but not required by the Buyer other than consumable food and personailsed clothing.
9.2 The seller will only consider the return of goods provided the cartons are in tact and unopened and in the original packaging and in the condition in which they were originally delivered.
9.3 If the seller decides to accept the return of goods a handling charge of 10% or a minimum charge of £10 plus carriage will be levied.
9.4 Any goods accepted as a return by the seller will have the value less the charges in 9.3 credited by way of credit note to their account.
10. Buyer's Default
If:
10.1.1 the Buyer makes any voluntary arrangement with its creditors or becomes subject to an administration order, or (being an individual or firm) becomes bankrupt or (being a company) goes into liquidation (otherwise than for the purposes of amalgamation or reconstruction) or (being a partnership) is petitioned to be wound-up or dissolved; or
10.1.2 an encumbrancer takes possession, or a receiver is appointed of any of the property or assets of the Buyer; or
10.1.3 the Buyer ceases, or threatens to cease, to carry on business; or
10.1.4 the Buyer is in breach of any term of the Contract; or
10.1.5 the Buyer is in breach of any of the Seller’s credit application procedures including without limitation incorrect completion by the Buyer of the Account Application Form or if the Buyer exceeds its credit limit; then without prejudice to any other right or remedy available to the Seller, the Seller shall be entitled to cancel the Contract or suspend any further deliveries under the Contract without any liability to the Buyer and if the Goods have been delivered but not paid for, the price shall become immediately due and payable notwithstanding any previous agreement or arrangement to the contrary.
11. Claims Procedure In Respect Of Defective Goods
11.1 The Seller’s sales office or services office must be notified of any claim in respect of any of the Goods alleged to be defective by registered post not telephone or receipted e-mail specifying the reason giving rise to such claim or return. Notification must be made within the time limits set out below for each reason giving rise to a claim:
11.1.1 where a product has a manufacturing fault or a part is missing or there is some other problem totally attributable to the manufacturer - within 5 Working Days;
11.1.2 where a product has been damaged by the Seller or in delivery of the product - within 5 Working Days;
11.2 The Seller will only consider such a claim in respect of any of the Goods if the following further information is given:
11.2.1 the invoice number of and/or the advice note in respect of the Goods;
11.2.2 the part number of the item (or any description that clearly identifies the item to be returned);
11.2.3 the quantity of the Goods (expressed in the Seller’s correct unit of sale) the subject of the claim; and
11.2.4 the reason for the claim and the collections note number.
11.3 In addition, where it is alleged by the Buyer that any of the Goods are defective due to damage occasioned to them, the Buyer shall notify the carrier by way of noting damaged on the consignment or delivery note or electronic device and in writing to the Seller within three Working Days time. If by reason of the failure of the Buyer to give any such notice, the Seller is prevented from successfully claiming against the carrier for such damage, the Buyer shall be liable to pay for the Goods as though no such damage occurred.
11.4 Where the Buyer could not have discovered the subject of the claim within the time limits set out in Condition 11.1, then the Buyer must notify the Seller within a reasonable time of the discovery of the potential claim.
12. Force Majeure
The Seller shall have the right to cancel, or to reduce the volume of the Goods delivered, or to delay delivery if it is prevented from or hindered in delivery of the Goods through any circumstances beyond its control (affecting either itself or any other party) including (but not limited to) industrial action, war, fire, prohibition or enactment of any kind, lock-out or trade dispute, without incurring any liability for any loss or damage whatsoever resulting therefrom.
13. Waiver
The failure of either party to enforce or to exercise at any time or for any period of time, any term of or any right arising pursuant to these Conditions does not constitute and shall not be construed as a waiver of such term or right and shall in no way affect either party’s right later to enforce or exercise it. Any express waiver of any breach of these Conditions shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any subsequent breach.
14. Severability
The invalidity or unenforceability of any term of, or any right arising pursuant to, the Contract shall not in any way affect the remaining terms or rights
which shall be construed as if such invalid or unenforceable term or right did not exist.
15. Assignment
The Contract is personal to the Buyer and the Seller and neither party may assign, transfer, subcontract or otherwise part with the Contract or any right or obligation under it without the other party’s prior written consent.
16. Third Party Rights
A person who is not a party to the Contract is not entitled to enforce any of its terms under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 except where the Contract expressly provides that such a person is entitled to enforce any of its terms under that Act.
17. Data Protection
The Buyer acknowledges that the Seller is a data controller for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998 and may be required to process personal data in connection with the entering into, performance or enforcement of the Contract. The Buyer in entering into the Contract consents to the Seller processing personal data concerning the Buyer and agrees that the Seller may use and disclose personal information about the Buyer to third parties.
18. Laws And Regulations
The Buyer shall comply with all laws and regulations relating to and at its own expense obtain any licences and permits necessary for the purchase, import, ownership and use of the Goods. The Buyer shall produce evidence of such consents to the Seller on demand.
19. Governing Law
These Conditions and the Contract shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law and the Seller and the Buyer hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
20 Cancellation
No cancellation of an order will be accepted unless it is confirmed in writing or by fax prior to despatch in the case of published stock items or prior to the commencement of the production process in respect of bespoke products.
21. Supplementary Conditions In Respect Of Printed Work
21.1 Preliminary Work - Work executed, whether experimentally or otherwise, at Buyers request will be charged for.
21.2 Proofs - Author’s corrections, including alterations in style, and the cost of additional proofs necessitated by such corrections will be charged for. Extra proofs of all work may be submitted for Buyer’s approval, and in that event no responsibility will be accepted for any errors in them not corrected by the Buyer.
21.3 Variations In Quality For Printed Work - Every endeavour will be made to deliver the correct quantity ordered, but quotations are conditional upon margins of 10 percent being allowed for overs or shortage, the same to be charged or deducted.
21.4 Liability
21.4.1 The Seller shall not be liable for indirect loss or third party claims occasioned by delay in completing the work or for any loss to the Buyer arising from delay in transit.
21.4.2 Where work is defective for any reason, including negligence, the Seller’s liability (if any) shall be limited to rectifying such defect.
21.5 Standing Matter
21.5.1 Metal, film, glass and other materials used by the Seller in the production of type, plates, moulds, stereotypes, electrotypes, film-setting, negative, positives, and the like shall remain the exclusive property of the Seller.
21.5.2 Type may be distributed and lithographic, photogravure, or other work effected immediately after the order is executed unless written arrangements
are made to the contrary in the latter event, rent may be charged.
21.6 Buyer’s Property - Buyer’s property and all property supplied to the Seller by or on behalf of the Buyer will be held, worked on, and carried at Buyer’s risk.
21.7 Material Supplied By The Buyer
21.7.1 The Seller may reject any paper, plates or other materials supplied or specified by the Buyer which appear to The Seller to be unsuitable. Additional cost incurred if materials are found to be unsuitable during production may be charged.
21.7.2 Where materials are so supplied or specified, responsibility for defective work will not be accepted by the Seller unless this is due failure to use reasonable
skill and care.
21.7.3 Quantities of materials supplied shall be adequate to cover normal spoilage.
21.8 General Lien
Without prejudice to other remedies, OE the Seller shall in respect of all unpaid debts due from the Buyer have a general lien on all goods and property in their possession (whether worked on or not) and shall be entitled on the expiration of 14 days’ notice to dispose of such goods or property as they think fit and to apply any proceeds towards such debts.
21.9 Illegal Matter
21.9.1 The Seller shall not be required to print any matter which in their opinion is or may be of an illegal or libellous nature.
21.9.2 The Seller shall be indemnified by the Buyer in respect of any claims, costs and expenses arising out of any libellous matter printed for the Buyer
or any infringement of copyright, patent or design.
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