Terms & Conditions
STRING TECHNOLOGY
Terms and Conditions of Business
1. Interpretation
1.1 Definitions. In these Conditions, the following definitions apply:
Business Day a day (other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday)
when banks in London are open for business.
Conditions the terms and conditions set out in this document as amended
from time to time in accordance with clause 12.6.
Contract the contract between the Supplier and the Customer for the
sale and purchase of the Goods in accordance with these Conditions.
Customer the person or firm who purchases the Goods from the Supplier.
Force Majeure Event has the meaning given in clause 11.
Goods the goods (or any part of them) set out in the Order.
Intellectual Property Rights all patents, rights to inventions, copyright
and related rights, trade marks, service rights, trade, business and
domain names, rights in trade dress or get up, rights in goodwill or
to sue for passing off, rights in designs, rights in computer software,
database right, topography rights, moral rights, rights in confidential
information (including know-how and trade secrets) and any other intellectual
property rights in each case whether registered or unregistered and
including all applications for and renewals or extensions of such rights,
and all similar or equivalent rights or forms of protection in any part
of the world.
Order the Customer's order for the Goods, as set out in the Customer's
purchase order form, the Customer's written acceptance of the Supplier's
quotation, or overleaf, as the case may be.
Specification any specification for the Goods, including any related
plans or drawings (containing the Intellectual Property Rights), that
is agreed in writing by the Customer and the Supplier.
Supplier String Technology UK, a partnership trading from Unit 4-6 Mushroom
Farm Court, Meadowbank Way, Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, NG16 3SR.
1.2 Construction.
In these Conditions, the following rules apply:
1.2.1 A person includes a natural person, corporate or unincorporated
body (whether or not having separate legal personality).
1.2.2 A reference to a party includes its personal representatives,
successors or permitted assigns.
1.2.3 A reference to a statute or statutory provision is a reference
to such statute or provision as amended or re-enacted. A reference to
a statute or statutory provision includes any subordinate legislation
made under that statute or statutory provision, as amended or re-enacted.
1.2.4 Any phrase introduced by the terms including, include, in particular
or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall
not limit the sense of the words preceding those terms.
1.2.5 A reference to writing or written includes faxes and email.
2. Basis of contract
2.1 These Conditions apply to the Contract to the exclusion of any other
terms that the Customer seeks to impose or incorporate, or which are
implied by trade, custom, practice or course of dealing.
2.2 The Order constitutes an offer by the Customer to purchase the Goods
in accordance with these Conditions. The Customer is responsible for
ensuring that the terms of the Order and any applicable Specification
are complete and accurate.
2.3 The Order shall only be deemed to be accepted when the Supplier
issues a written acceptance of the Order, at which point the Contract
shall come into existence. The Customer shall have no right to cancel
or terminate the Contract other than by any rights granted by these
Conditions.
2.4 The Contract constitutes the entire agreement between the parties.
The Customer acknowledges that it has not relied on any statement, promise
or representation made or given by or on behalf of the Supplier which
is not set out in the Contract.
2.5 Any samples, drawings, descriptive matter, or advertising produced
by the Supplier and any descriptions or illustrations contained in the
Supplier's catalogues or brochures are produced for the sole purpose
of giving an approximate idea of the Goods described in them. They shall
not form part of the Contract or have any contractual force.
2.6 A quotation for the Goods given by the Supplier shall not constitute
an offer. A quotation shall only be valid for a period of 30 days from
its date of issue.
3. Goods
3.1 The Goods are described in the Specification.
3.2 The Customer shall indemnify the Supplier against all liabilities,
costs, expenses, damages and losses (including any direct, indirect
or consequential losses, loss of profit, loss of reputation and all
interest, penalties and legal and other professional costs and expenses)
suffered or incurred by the Supplier in connection with any claim made
against the Supplier for actual or alleged infringement of a third party's
Intellectual Property Rights arising out of or in connection with the
Supplier's use of the Specification and the production of the Goods.
This clause 3.2 shall survive termination of the Contract.
3.3 The Supplier reserves the right to amend the Specification if required
by any applicable statutory or regulatory requirements or the Supplier
reasonably believes the Intellectual Property Rights of a third party
will be breached.
4. Delivery
4.1 The Supplier shall ensure that:
4.1.1 each delivery of the Goods is accompanied by a delivery note which
shows the date of the Order, all relevant Customer and Supplier reference
numbers, the type and quantity of the Goods (including the code number
of the Goods, where applicable), special storage instructions (if any)
and, if the Order is being delivered by instalments, the outstanding
balance of Goods remaining to be delivered; and
4.1.2 if the Supplier requires the Customer to return any packaging
materials to the Supplier, that fact is clearly stated on the delivery
note. The Customer shall make any such packaging materials available
for collection at such times as the Supplier shall reasonably request.
Returns of packaging materials shall be at the Supplier's expense.
4.2 The Supplier shall deliver the Goods to the location set out in
the Order or such other location as the parties may agree (Delivery
Location) at any time after the Supplier notifies the Customer that
the Goods are ready.
4.3 Delivery of the Goods shall be completed on the Goods' arrival at
the Delivery Location and the Customer shall be responsible for the
unloading of the Goods (where applicable).
4.4 The Supplier shall determine the appropriate delivery method. The
Customer may specify in the Specification a particular carrier to be
used by the Supplier.
4.5 Any dates quoted for delivery are approximate only, and the time
of delivery is not of the essence. The Supplier shall not be liable
for any delay in delivery of the Goods that is caused by a Force Majeure
Event or the Customer's failure to provide the Supplier with adequate
delivery instructions or any other instructions that are relevant to
the supply of the Goods.
4.6 If the Supplier fails to deliver the Goods, its liability shall
be limited to the costs and expenses incurred by the Customer in obtaining
replacement goods of similar description and quality in the cheapest
market available, less the price of the Goods. The Supplier shall have
no liability for any failure to deliver the Goods to the extent that
such failure is caused by a Force Majeure Event or the Customer's failure
to provide the Supplier with adequate delivery instructions or any other
instructions that are relevant to the supply of the Goods.
4.7 If the Customer fails to accept delivery of the Goods within ten
Business Days of the Supplier notifying the Customer that the Goods
are ready, then, except where such failure or delay is caused by a Force
Majeure Event or the Supplier's failure to comply with its obligations
under the Contract:
4.7.1 delivery of the Goods shall be deemed to have been completed at
9.00 am on the tenth Business Day after the day on which the Supplier
notified the Customer that the Goods were ready; and
4.7.2 the Supplier shall store the Goods until delivery takes place,
and charge the Customer for all related costs and expenses (including
insurance).
4.8 If 15 Business Days after the day on which the Supplier notified
the Customer that the Goods were ready for delivery the Customer has
not accepted delivery of them, the Supplier may resell or otherwise
dispose of part or all of the Goods and, after deducting reasonable
storage and selling costs, account to the Customer for any excess over
the price of the Goods or charge the Customer for any shortfall below
the price of the Goods.
4.9 The Customer shall not be entitled to reject the Goods if the Supplier
delivers up to and including 5% more or less than the quantity of Goods
ordered, but a pro rata adjustment shall be made to the Order invoice
on receipt of notice from the Customer that the wrong quantity of Goods
was delivered.
4.10 The Customer must notify the Supplier in writing or by telephone
of any shortfall described under 4.9 above within 7 Business Days of
delivery.
4.11 In the event that the Specification is determined by reference
to a sample made available by the Supplier to the Customer in advance
of the Contract, the Customer has 14 Business Days to confirm material
differences between the sample and the Goods delivered. All such notifications
shall be made in writing. The Supplier shall conclusively determine
whether there is a material difference between the sample and the Goods
delivered.
4.12 The Supplier may deliver the Goods by instalments, which shall
be invoiced and paid for separately. Each instalment shall constitute
a separate Contract. Any delay in delivery or defect in an instalment
shall not entitle the Customer to cancel any other instalment.
5. Export Terms
5.1 Where the Goods are supplied for export from the United Kingdom,
the provisions of this clause 5 shall apply notwithstanding any other
provision of these Conditions.
5.2 Unless the context otherwise requires, any term or expression which
is defined in or given a particular meaning by the provisions of the
Incoterms 2010® shall have the same meaning in these Conditions,
but if there is any conflict between the provisions of the Incoterms
2010® and these Conditions, the latter shall prevail.
5.3 In the event the Delivery Location is outside of the United Kingdom,
the provisions of the Ex Works Incoterm 2010 ® shall apply to the
Contract.
5.4 The Supplier may in its absolute discretion load the Goods for transport
at the Delivery Point on behalf of the Customer and the Ex Works Incoterm
2010 ® shall be varied to such an extent as is necessary to enable
the Supplier to exercise such discretion.
6. Quality
6.1 The Supplier warrants that on delivery the Goods shall:
6.1.1 conform in all material respects with the Specification;
6.1.2 be free from material defects in design, material and workmanship;
6.1.3 be of satisfactory quality (within the meaning of the Sale of
Goods Act 1979); and
6.1.4 be fit for any purpose held out by the Supplier.
6.2 Subject to clause 6.3, if:
6.2.1 the Customer gives notice in writing or by telephone to the Supplier
within 30 days of discovery that some or all of the Goods do not comply
with the warranty set out in clause 6.1;
6.2.2 the Supplier is given a reasonable opportunity of examining such
Goods; and
6.2.3 the Customer (if asked to do so by the Supplier) returns such
Goods to the Supplier's place of business at the Supplier's cost,
the Supplier shall, at its option, repair or replace the defective Goods
(including Goods that do not match the sample under clause 4.11), or
refund the price of the defective Goods in full.
6.3 The Supplier shall not be liable for Goods' failure to comply with
the warranty set out in clause 6.1 in any of the following events:
6.3.1 the Customer makes any further use of such Goods after giving
notice in accordance with clause 6.2;
6.3.2 the defect arises because the Customer failed to follow the Supplier's
oral or written instructions as to the storage, commissioning, installation,
use and maintenance of the Goods or (if there are none) good trade practice
regarding the same;
6.3.3 the defect arises as a result of the Supplier following any drawing,
design or Specification supplied by the Customer;
6.3.4 the Customer alters or repairs such Goods without the written
consent of the Supplier;
6.3.5 the defect arises as a result of fair wear and tear, wilful damage,
negligence, the combining or the modification of the composition of
the Goods by the Customer with other products or abnormal storage or
working conditions; or
6.3.6 the Goods differ from the Specification as a result of changes
made to ensure they comply with applicable statutory or regulatory requirements.
6.4 Except as provided in this clause 5, the Supplier shall have no
liability to the Customer in respect of the Goods' failure to comply
with the warranty set out in clause 6.1.
6.5 Except as set out in these Conditions, all warranties, conditions
and other terms implied by statute or common law are, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, excluded from the Contract.
6.6 These Conditions shall apply to any repaired or replacement Goods
supplied by the Supplier.
7. Title and risk
7.1 The risk in the Goods shall pass to the Customer on completion of
delivery.
7.2 Title to the Goods shall not pass to the Customer until the Supplier
has received payment in full (in cash or cleared funds) for:
7.2.1 the Goods; and
7.2.2 any other goods or services that the Supplier has supplied to
the Customer in respect of which payment has become due.
7.3 Until title to the Goods has passed to the Customer, the Customer
shall:
7.3.1 hold the Goods on a fiduciary basis as the Supplier's bailee;
7.3.2 store the Goods separately from all other goods held by the Customer
so that they remain readily identifiable as the Supplier's property;
7.3.3 not remove, deface or obscure any identifying mark or packaging
on or relating to the Goods;
7.3.4 maintain the Goods in satisfactory condition and keep them insured
against all risks for their full price from the date of delivery;
7.3.5 notify the Supplier immediately if it becomes subject to any of
the events listed in clause 9.2; and
7.3.6 give the Supplier such information relating to the Goods as the
Supplier may require from time to time,
but the Customer may resell or use the Goods in the ordinary course
of its business.
7.4 If before title to the Goods passes to the Customer the Customer
becomes subject to any of the events listed in clause 9.2, or the Supplier
reasonably believes that any such event is about to happen and notifies
the Customer accordingly, then, provided that the Goods have not been
resold, or irrevocably incorporated into another product, and without
limiting any other right or remedy the Supplier may have, the Supplier
may at any time require the Customer to deliver up the Goods and, if
the Customer fails to do so promptly, enter any premises of the Customer
or of any third party where the Goods are stored in order to recover
them.
8. Price and payment
8.1 The price of the Goods shall be the price set out in the Order,
or, if no price is quoted, the price set out in the Supplier's published
price list in force as at the date of delivery.
8.2 The Supplier may, by giving notice to the Customer at any time up
to 3 Business Days before delivery, increase the price of the Goods
to reflect any increase in the cost of the Goods that is due to:
8.2.1 any factor beyond the Supplier's control (including foreign exchange
fluctuations, increases in taxes and duties, and increases in labour,
materials and other manufacturing costs);
8.2.2 any request by the Customer to change the delivery date(s), quantities
or types of Goods ordered, or the Specification; or
8.2.3 any delay caused by any instructions of the Customer or failure
of the Customer to give the Supplier adequate or accurate information
or instructions.
8.3 The price of the Goods is exclusive of the costs and charges of
packaging, insurance and transport including without limitation courier
costs of the Goods, which shall be invoiced to the Customer.
8.4 The price of the Goods is exclusive of amounts in respect of value
added tax (VAT). The Customer shall, on receipt of a valid VAT invoice
from the Supplier, pay to the Supplier such additional amounts in respect
of VAT as are chargeable on the supply of the Goods.
8.5 The Supplier may invoice the Customer for the Goods on or at any
time after the completion of delivery.
8.6 The Customer shall pay the invoice in full and in cleared funds
within 30 days of the date of the invoice unless otherwise agreed in
writing by the Supplier. Payment shall be made to the bank account nominated
in writing by the Supplier or by cheque payable to the Supplier. Time
of payment is of the essence.
8.7 If the Customer fails to make any payment due to the Supplier under
the Contract by the due date for payment (due date), then the Customer
shall pay interest on the overdue amount at the rate of 4% per annum
above NatWest Plc’s base lending rate from time to time. Such
interest shall accrue on a daily basis from the due date until the date
of actual payment of the overdue amount, whether before or after judgment.
The Customer shall pay the interest together with the overdue amount.
8.8 The Customer shall pay all amounts due under the Contract in full
without any deduction or withholding except as required by law and the
Customer shall not be entitled to assert any credit, set-off or counterclaim
against the Supplier in order to justify withholding payment of any
such amount in whole or in part. The Supplier may at any time, without
limiting any other rights or remedies it may have, set off any amount
owing to it by the Customer against any amount payable by the Supplier
to the Customer.
8.9 The Supplier may suspend further deliveries of the Goods under the
Contract in the event the Customer fails to pay any sums due under this
clause 7.
9. Customer's insolvency or incapacity and Termination
9.1 If the Customer becomes subject to any of the events listed in clause
9.2, or the Supplier reasonably believes that the Customer is about
to become subject to any of them and notifies the Customer accordingly,
then, without limiting any other right or remedy available to the Supplier,
the Supplier may cancel or suspend all further deliveries under the
Contract or under any other contract between the Customer and the Supplier
without incurring any liability to the Customer, and all outstanding
sums in respect of Goods delivered to the Customer shall become immediately
due.
9.2 For the purposes of clause 9.1, the relevant events are:
9.2.1 the Customer commits a material breach of the Contract and (if
the breach is remediable) fails to remedy that breach within 14 days
of the Supplier notifying the Customer in writing of the breach;
9.2.2 the Customer suspends, or threatens to suspend, payment of its
debts, or is unable to pay its debts as they fall due or admits inability
to pay its debts;
9.2.3 any insolvency event occurs in relation to the Customer; and
9.2.4 (being an individual) the Customer dies or, by reason of illness
or incapacity (whether mental or physical), is incapable of managing
his or her own affairs or becomes a patient under any mental health
legislation.
9.3 The Customer shall have no right to terminate the Contract or cancel
any Order after processing of the Goods has commenced without the written
consent of the Supplier.
9.4 Termination of the Contract, however arising, shall not affect any
of the parties' rights and remedies that have accrued as at termination.
Clauses which expressly or by implication survive termination of the
Contract shall continue in full force and effect.
10. Limitation of liability
10.1 Nothing in these Conditions shall limit or exclude the Supplier's
liability for:
10.1.1 death or personal injury caused by its negligence, or the negligence
of its employees, agents or subcontractors (as applicable);
10.1.2 fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;
10.1.3 breach of the terms implied by section 12 of the Sale of Goods
Act 1979;
10.1.4 defective products under the Consumer Protection Act 1987; or
10.1.5 any matter in respect of which it would be unlawful for the Supplier
to exclude or restrict liability.
10.2 Subject to clause 10.1:
10.2.1 the Supplier shall not be liable to the Customer, whether in
contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or
otherwise, for any loss of profit, or any indirect or consequential
loss arising under or in connection with the Contract including any
losses that may result from a deliberate breach of the Contract by the
Supplier, its employees, agents or subcontractors; and
10.2.2 the Supplier's total liability to the Customer in respect of
all other losses arising under or in connection with the Contract, whether
in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty,
or otherwise, including losses caused by a deliberate breach of the
Contract by the Supplier, its employees, agents or subcontractors shall
not exceed £2, 000,000.
11. Force majeure
11.1 Neither party shall be liable for any failure or delay in performing
its obligations under the Contract to the extent that such failure or
delay is caused by a Force Majeure Event. A Force Majeure Event means
any event beyond a party's reasonable control, which by its nature could
not have been foreseen, or, if it could have been foreseen, was unavoidable,
including strikes, lock-outs or other industrial disputes (whether involving
its own workforce or a third party's), failure of energy sources or
transport network, acts of God, war, terrorism, riot, civil commotion,
interference by civil or military authorities, national or international
calamity, armed conflict, malicious damage, breakdown of plant or machinery,
nuclear, chemical or biological contamination, sonic boom, explosions,
collapse of building structures, fires, floods, storms, earthquakes,
loss at sea, epidemics or similar events, natural disasters or extreme
adverse weather conditions, or default of suppliers or subcontractors.
12. General
12.1 Assignment and subcontracting.
12.1.1 The Supplier may at any time assign, transfer, charge, subcontract
or deal in any other manner with all or any of its rights or obligations
under the Contract.
12.1.2 The Customer may not assign, transfer, charge, subcontract or
deal in any other manner with all or any of its rights or obligations
under the Contract without the prior written consent of the Supplier.
12.2 Notices.
12.2.1 Any notice or other communication given to a party under or in
connection with the Contract shall be in writing, addressed to that
party at its registered office (if it is a company) or its principal
place of business (in any other case) or such other address as that
party may have specified to the other party in writing in accordance
with this clause, and shall be delivered personally, sent by pre-paid
first class post, recorded delivery, commercial courier, fax or e-mail.
12.2.2 A notice or other communication shall be deemed to have been
received: if delivered personally, when left at the address referred
to in clause 12.2.1; if sent by pre-paid first class post or recorded
delivery, at 9.00 am on the second Business Day after posting; if delivered
by commercial courier, on the date and at the time that the courier's
delivery receipt is signed; or, if sent by fax or e-mail, one Business
Day after transmission.
12.2.3 The provisions of this clause shall not apply to the service
of any proceedings or other documents in any legal action.
12.3 Severance.
12.3.1 If any court or competent authority finds that any provision
of the Contract (or part of any provision) is invalid, illegal or unenforceable,
that provision or part-provision shall, to the extent required, be deemed
to be deleted, and the validity and enforceability of the other provisions
of the Contract shall not be affected.
12.3.2 If any invalid, unenforceable or illegal provision of the Contract
would be valid, enforceable and legal if some part of it were deleted,
the provision shall apply with the minimum modification necessary to
make it legal, valid and enforceable.
12.4 Waiver.
12.4.1 A waiver of any right or remedy under the Contract is only effective
if given in writing and shall not be deemed a waiver of any subsequent
breach or default. No failure or delay by a party to exercise any right
or remedy provided under the Contract or by law shall constitute a waiver
of that or any other right or remedy, nor shall it preclude or restrict
the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy. No single
or partial exercise of such right or remedy shall preclude or restrict
the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy.
12.5 Third party rights.
12.5.1 A person who is not a party to the Contract shall not have any
rights under or in connection with it.
12.6 Variation.
12.6.1 Except as set out in these Conditions, any variation to the Contract,
including the introduction of any additional terms and conditions, shall
only be binding when agreed in writing and signed by the Supplier.
12.7 Governing law and jurisdiction.
12.7.1 The Contract, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection
with it or its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual
disputes or claims), shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, English law, and the parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the courts of England.
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