Terms & Conditions
Standard Terms & Conditions for Delivery & Payment
I. Application
- The following Standard Terms & Conditions for Delivery & Payment (“T&C”) only apply to business done with entrepreneurs within the meaning of Section 14 of the German Civil Code [Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch].
- All quotations, goods and services from Siewert & Kau Computertechnik GmbH are provided exclusively on these T&C. This also applies to any future business done with the Customer, without any express reference having to be made in each individual case.
- We do not recognise terms of business to any other effect that are issued by the Customer, even if we fail to expressly refute their application.
II. Quotation, Contract Closure
- Our quotations are without obligation and non-binding at all times. Unless otherwise stated, we shall remain bound by the prices we quote for 7 days as from the date of the quotation.
- A contract is brought about when the Customer places an order either in writing or verbally and when we issue a written confirmation of order.
- Our sales staff are not authorised to reach any oral ancillary agreements or to make any verbal commitments that go beyond the content of the written contract.
- Drawings, pictures, weights and measures and any other specifications are only binding if an express agreement to this effect is reached in the contract.
- The rights of the Customer that are created under contracts concluded with ourselves are not transferable.
III. Prices, Terms of Payment
- Our prices apply for delivery ex warehouse (Bergheim), and statutory value-added tax has to be added to them.
- At the Customer’s request, we ship the goods at its own cost and risk. For any goods that are exported, all the customs duties, fees and levies connected with the delivery must be paid by the Customer.
- f the Customer defaults in its payment obligations, then all the outstanding invoices based on our business relations with the Customer shall automatically fall due for payment. For deliveries still having to be made, we shall be entitled to demand advance cash or the provision of security. The same applies if, subsequent to contract closure, we gain knowledge of any circumstances likely to pose a threat to our claim to payment.
- The Customer may only effect setoff against counter-claims that have been declared res judicata or acknowledged by ourselves. The same applies to the Customer exercising rights of retention, unless such rights are based on the same contractual relationship as the claim to payment that is involved.
IV. Delivery
- Our deliveries are subject to us receiving correct and punctual supplies ourselves.
- Place of performance for our delivery obligations is our registered place of business in Bergheim. This also applies if at the Customer’s request we ship the goods to a location designated by the latter. We shall select the mode of dispatch and the packaging at our own reasonable discretion.
- The delivery periods given by us are without obligation and are to be deemed approximate at all times, unless they have expressly been declared binding. When goods are consigned, the delivery date refers to the date on which the goods are handed over to the person effecting transport. Unless delivery on a fixed date has been agreed, binding delivery dates may also be exceeded by one week without our being deemed in default.
- If a delivery is delayed due to force majeure or any other incidents beyond our control that were not foreseeable at the time of contract closure, the delivery period shall be extended by the duration of the obstacle to performance. We shall inform the Customer without delay about the occurrence and the anticipated duration of any such obstacle to performance. If performance is rendered impossible or unreasonably difficult due to any event pursuant to Clause 1, then we shall be entitled to withdraw from the contract.
- We are entitled to make part deliveries in reasonable quantities.
- Insofar as is permitted under the Packaging Ordinance [Verpackungsverordnung], we do not take back transport packaging or any other packaging materials. The Customer is responsible for disposing of packaging at its own expense.
V. Passing of Risk
- Risk shall pass to the Customer as soon as the goods are handed over either to the person effecting transport or to the Customer if the latter collects the goods. If the delivery is delayed due to circumstances for which the Customer is responsible, then the risk and the warehousing costs shall pass to the Customer as from the date on which the goods are ready for shipment; however, at the Customer’s request and expense we shall be under obligation to effect any insurance requested by the latter.
VI. Guarantee
- The Customer may not turn down a delivery due to minor defects.
- The Customer must inspect the goods immediately on delivery, and any obvious defects must be reported to us in writing without delay or at the latest within one week of delivery. Otherwise the goods shall be deemed accepted, except in cases of concealed defects that do not become evident during the inspection. If any such defect becomes apparent at some later date, it must be reported immediately or at the latest within one week of being noticed by the Customer.
- Provided defects are reported in good time, a substitute delivery or subsequent improvement shall be made at our own discretion. However, we may refuse to remedy defects unless the Customer has paid a portion of the purchase price that in view of the defect is deemed reasonable. If post-performance fails altogether, then at its own option the Customer may demand a reduction in the price or withdraw from the contract. Claims to compensation only exist pursuant to Item VIII below.
- Liability for normal wear and tear is excluded. Guarantee claims are excluded if modifications are made to products, if parts or consumables are used that do not comply with the original specifications, and in the event of incorrect usage and external factors. When we carry out repairs, the Customer bears the risk of loss of data in the equipment under repair.
- Other than in cases of intent, the guarantee period is one year as from delivery of the goods. Section 479 of the Civil Code remains unaffected.
VII. Retention of Title
- We reserve title to the goods delivered until our entire receivables from the business relationship with the Customer – including amounts due at some future date – have been paid. The Customer may only dispose over the items subject to retention of title (reserved goods) in the normal course of business, heeding the rights granted to us below.
- Any processing or modification of the reserved goods is done for us as the manufacturer, without obligating us in any way. If our title to the reserved goods lapses in the wake of processing, modification, combination or blending, then we shall acquire co-ownership of the new item up to the invoiced value of the reserved goods. In the event of the acquisition of co-ownership being excluded by law, the Customer here and now assigns potential compensation claims to us up to the invoiced amount.
- In the event of the reserved goods being resold, the Customer here and now assigns to us its claim to the sales proceeds along with all and any ancillary rights; we accept this assignment. Until further notice, the Customer remains entitled to collect the receivables it has assigned. If the Customer defaults in its obligations towards us, we shall be entitled to revoke the authority to effect re-sale and to collect receivables, and to subsequently disclose the above assignment and demand that payment be made to ourselves directly. In any such case, the Customer shall be under obligation to immediately provide us with all the documents and information that are needed for collecting the receivables.
- The Customer is obliged to adequately insure the reserved goods against all existing risks, in particular, fire, burglary and water damage, and to treat and store them carefully. Any claims to benefits that are created by insured events must be assigned to us.
- The Customer must immediately inform us in writing if execution is levied on the reserved goods or on the assigned receivables, and hand over the documents that are required in order for us to intervene.
VIII. Limitation of Liability
- Claiming damages from us for whatsoever legal cause is excluded, unless we have acted with intent or gross negligence or have culpably breached a cardinal duty. Cardinal duties are those obligations which the Customer may rely on being honoured and which have to be performed if the contract is to be duly implemented at all in the first place. Our liability for negligent breach of cardinal duties and for gross negligence on the part of our employees and vicarious agents is limited to typical and predictable damage.
- Our liability for any injury to life, body or health suffered by the Customer shall remain unaffected. This also applies to any liability under the Product Liability Act [Produkthaftungsgesetz].
IX. Foreign trade and export control / trade controls
- Foreign trade:
The customer is obliged to comply with nationally and internationally applicable laws and regulations at all times. Siewert & Kau imposes the same requirements on all suppliers, customers and service providers for integrity and legally compliant behaviour. - Export control/trade controls
We would like to point out that the customer is obliged to comply with the relevant legal norms of national and international law on export control. In connection with the purchase, use and resale of our goods and services, the customer must strictly comply with all applicable import and export control regulations, customs regulations, trade controls and any embargoes. - U.S. Foreign Trade
Please note that products of U.S. companies, including software and services, are subject to U.S. export controls and must also comply with country-specific trade requirements. These products may not be shipped to sanctioned or excluded persons or countries without explicit clearance from the U.S. government. The Buyer agrees to understand and comply with U.S. export controls as well as the additional restrictions and further export laws and regulations of all other countries.
Furthermore, we point out that the customer must fulfil all necessary licences and other requirements in order to use, import, export, transfer or re-import products, software and services.
The customer is prohibited from co-operating with companies or persons who violate applicable embargoes, boycotts or other regulatory requirements of the USA or other countries.
X. Final Provisions
- 1. Relations between the contracting parties shall be governed by German law, excluding CISG.
- The courts having jurisdiction at our registered place of business (currently Bergheim) shall be exclusive venue for all and any disputes arising from or in connection with the contractual relationship, if the Customer is a registered merchant or public corporation, or if the Customer has no competent court of jurisdiction in Germany at the time when the contract is concluded or the lawsuit is filed. At our own option however, we shall also be entitled to sue the Customer at its general place of jurisdiction.
- If any one or more of the provisions of these T&C are ineffective in whole or in part, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.
XI. Privacy Information
- You will find our information for the fulfillment of the statutory information obligation under Articles 13, 14 and 21 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) here: https://www.siewert-kau.de/en/datenschutz/
Valid: April 2019