1. Interpretation
1.1 In these Conditions:
“Conditions” means the standard terms and conditions of sale set out in this document and (unless the context otherwise requires) includes any special terms and conditions agreed in writing between the Customer and Sign Makers UK (Kent) Ltd;
“Contract” means the contract between the Customer and Sign Makers UK (Kent) Ltd for the supply of Goods and/or Services in accordance with these Conditions;
“Customer” means the person whose order for Goods and/or Services is accepted by Sign Makers UK (Kent) Ltd;
“Goods” means the goods which Sign Makers UK (Kent) Ltd sells to the Customer under these Conditions;
“Order Confirmation” means the acknowledgement of the Quotation provided by Sign Makers UK (Kent) Ltd to the Customer whether written or oral;
“Quotation” means the quotation for the Goods and Services provided to the Customer by Sign Makers UK (Kent) Ltd whether written or oral;
“Services” means any services provided to the Customer (including all of them or any part of them) under a Contract; and
“Sign Makers UK” means the Sign Makers UK (Kent) Ltd business selling the Goods and/or Services, details of which are given in the Quotation and/or whose details have been provided to the Customer either in writing or orally.
1.2 Any reference in these Conditions to any provision of a statute shall be construed as a reference to that provision as amended re-enacted or extended at the relevant time.
1.3 The headings in these Conditions are for convenience only and shall not affect their interpretation.
2. Making the Contract
2.1 Each Quotation will be deemed to be an offer by the Customer to buy the Goods and/or Services in accordance with these Conditions. The Contract is made when the Quotation is accepted by Sign Makers UK by the issue to the Customer of an Order Confirmation. The Contract will not be made until an Order Confirmation has been issued by Sign Makers UK or Sign Makers UK commences provision of the Goods and/or Services.
2.2 The Contract is subject to these Conditions which shall govern the Contract to the exclusion of any other terms and conditions and all previous oral or written representations made by Sign Makers UK, but subject to the provisions of Condition 2.3.
2.3 No variation to these Conditions shall be binding unless agreed in writing between the authorised representatives of the Customer and Sign Makers UK.
2.4 The Customer must ensure that the terms of the Quotation and any applicable specification are complete and accurate. If the Customer wishes to amend any aspect of the information the Customer has given it must contact Sign Makers UK immediately. Although Sign Makers UK will use reasonable endeavours to implement any such amendment which the Customer requests, Sign Makers UK cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so after the Order Confirmation has been issued. If such amendment changes any other aspect of the Quotation (for example the price) and Sign Makers UK is able and willing to amend it, then Sign Makers UK will send the Customer a new Order Confirmation.
2.5 All Quotations are, unless agreed otherwise in writing, valid for 30 days only or until earlier acceptance by the Customer after which time they may be altered by Sign Makers UK without giving notice to the Customer.
2.6 Any advice or recommendation given by Sign Makers UK or its employees or agents to the Customer or its employees or agents as to the storage, application, suitability or fitness for purpose for use of the Goods which is not confirmed in writing by Sign Makers UK is followed or acted upon entirely at the Customer’s own risk, and accordingly Sign Makers UK shall not be liable for any such advice or recommendations which is not so confirmed.
3. Provision of the Goods and Services
3.1 The quantity, quality and description of and any specification for the Goods and Services shall be those set out in the Quotation. It is the obligation of the Customer to check the structure to which the Goods are to be affixed, and to prepare surfaces to which the Goods may be applied, so that in each case they are suitable for such affixing and application. The Customer acknowledges that following installation it is responsible for the inspection, maintenance and repair of Goods supplied under the Contract.
3.2 If the Goods are manufactured or any process is applied to the Goods by Sign Makers UK in accordance with a specification submitted by the Customer whether in writing or otherwise the Customer shall indemnify Sign Makers UK against all loss damages costs and expenses awarded against or incurred by Sign Makers UK in connection with or paid or agreed to be paid by Sign Makers UK in settlement of any claim for infringement of any patent, copyright, design, trademark (whether registered or not), or other industrial or intellectual property rights of any third party which results from Sign Makers UK’ use of any or all of the Customer’s specification.
3.3 Sign Makers UK reserves the right to make any changes in the specification of the Goods and/or Services which are required to confirm with any applicable legal or regulatory requirements (including but not limited to safety requirements) or which do not materially affect their quality or performance.
3.4 No order which has been accepted by Sign Makers UK may be cancelled by the Customer except with the agreement in writing of Sign Makers UK and on terms that the Customer shall indemnify Sign Makers UK in full against all loss (including loss of profit) costs
(including the cost of all labour and materials used) damage charges and expenses incurred by Sign Makers UK as a result of cancellation.
3.5 Where a Quotation is based upon information supplied by the Customer, the Customer is responsible for its accuracy and any increased costs of supply resulting in any inaccuracy are the Customer’s responsibility.
3.6 All samples, drawings, descriptions, specifications, illustrations and advertising issued by Sign Makers UK or contained in any of Sign Makers UK’ catalogues or brochures or on any website connected with Sign Makers UK (together “Samples”) are issued or published for the sole purpose of giving an approximate idea of the Goods represented by or described in them. Samples do not form part of the Contract and the Contract is not a sale by sample.
3.7 At the request of the Customer and at its cost, and at the sole discretion of Sign Makers UK, Sign Makers UK, may remove materials (including but not limited to old signage) from the premises of the Customer.
3.8 Sign Makers UK requires the Customer, prior to the provision of the Goods and/or Services, to obtain any necessary consents and approval to:
3.8.1 the installation and/or application of the Goods, including but not limited to any planning and/or landlord consents; and
3.8.2 the use of any logo, trade mark or design required for the Goods (included but not limited to the right to use the copyright and any other intellectual property rights in such logo, trade marks and design).
3.9 All intellectual property rights (including but not limited to copyright) arising from the creation of Goods by Sign Makers UK shall remain the property of Sign Makers UK and the Customer shall not copy or reproduce the Goods without the prior written consent of Sign Makers UK.
4. Price of the Goods
4.1 The price of the Goods and Services shall be the price set out in the Order Confirmation or (where the price is not referred to in the Order Confirmation) as set out in the Quotation, or (where no price has been quoted or a quoted price is no longer valid) the price calculated by Sign Makers UK from its normal price list from time to time.
4.2 Sign Makers UK reserves the right to increase the price of the Goods and/or Services to cover:
4.2.1 any increase in the cost to Sign Makers UK which is due to any factor beyond the control of Sign Makers UK (such as without limitation any foreign exchange fluctuation currency regulation, alteration of duties, significant increases in the costs of labour, materials, or other costs of manufacture);
4.2.2 any change in delivery dates quantities or specification of the Goods and Services which are requested by the Customer;
4.2.3 any delay caused by any instruction of the Customer or failure of the Customer to give Sign Makers UK adequate information or instructions;
4.2.4 the costs of additional work carried out by Sign Makers UK to be able to perform the Services (including but not limited to the preparation of surfaces to which Goods are to be applied and the disposal of materials at the request of the Customer); or
4.2.5 to comply with any requirements referred to in Conditions 2.4, 3.5 and 3.7.
4.3 Except as otherwise expressly set out in the Contract all prices are given by Sign Makers UK exclusive of:
4.3.1 packaging and delivery of the Goods to the Customer’s premises; and
4.3.2 any applicable value added tax or other applicable sales tax or duty and such sums shall be added to the price.
5. Terms of Payment
5.1 Subject to any special terms agreed in writing between the Customer and Sign Makers UK, Sign Makers UK shall be entitled to invoice the Customer for the price of the Goods and the Services on or at any time after delivery of the Goods and/or performance of the Services unless the Goods are to be collected by the Customer or the Customer fails to take delivery of the Goods and/or accept performance of the Services after Sign Makers UK has notified the Customer that the Goods are ready for collection and/or the Services are to be provided in which event Sign Makers UK shall be entitled to invoice the Customer for the price at any time after such notification or(as the case may be) Sign Makers UK has tendered delivery of the Goods and the Customer has failed to take delivery.
5.2 Subject to Condition 5.3 below the Customer shall pay the price of the Goods and/or the Services in accordance with the terms of the quotation.
5.3 Payment terms are a 50% non-refundable deposit and 50% within 14 days of the delivery of the Goods and/or performance of the Services notwithstanding that delivery may not have taken place and the property in the Goods has not passed to the Customer. The time of payment of the price shall be the essence of the Contract. Receipts for payment will only be issued on request by the Customer.
5.4 If for whatever reason the Customer does not provide confirmation to go ahead with the manufacture of the goods within 90 days from receipt of the non- refundable deposit the goods and services to be provided by Sign Makers UK are deemed cancelled.
5.5 If the Customer fails to make any payment on the due date then without prejudice to any other right or remedy available to Sign Makers UK, Sign Makers UK shall be entitled to:
5.5.1 cancel the Contract or suspend further deliveries of Goods and/or provision of Services to the Customer;
5.5.2 appropriate any payment made by the Customer to such of the Goods (or the Goods supplied under any Contract between the Customer and Sign Makers UK) as Sign Makers UK think fit (not withstanding any purported appropriation by the Customer); and
5.5.3 charge the Customer interest (both before and after any judgement) on the amount unpaid at the rate of four per cent per annum above Santander Bank plc base rate from time to time until payment in full is made (a part of a month being treated as a full month for the purpose of calculating interest).
6. Delivery
6.1 Delivery of the Goods shall be made by the Customer collecting the Goods at Sign Makers UK’ premises at any time after Sign Makers UK has notified the Customer that the Goods are ready for collection or if some other place for delivery is agreed by Sign Makers UK by Sign Makers UK delivering the Goods to that place subject to Condition 4.3. Provision of the Services shall be made at the location notified by the Customer at any time after Sign Makers UK has notified the Customer that the Services are ready to be provided.
6.2 Any dates quoted for delivery of the Goods and/or provision of the Services are approximate only and Sign Makers UK shall not be liable for any delay in delivery of the Goods and/or provision of the Services howsoever caused. Time for delivery and/or provisions shall not be of the essence unless previously agreed in writing by Sign Makers UK. The Goods may be delivered and/or the Services provided to the Customer in advance of the quoted date upon giving reasonable notice to the Customer.
6.3 If the Customer fails to take delivery of the Goods or accept provision of the Services or fails to give Sign Makers UK adequate delivery instructions at the time stated for delivery (otherwise than by reason of any cause beyond the Customer’s reasonable control or by reason Sign Makers UK’ fault) than without prejudice to any other right or remedy available to Sign Makers UK, Sign Makers UK may:
6.3.1 store the Goods until actual delivery and charge the Customer for the reasonable costs (including insurance) of storage; or
6.3.2 sell the Goods at the best price readily obtainable and (after deducting all reasonable storage and selling expenses) account to the Customer for the excess over the price under the Contract or charge the Customer for any shortfall below the price under the Contract.
6.4 Sign Makers UK may deliver the Goods by separate instalments and perform any Services in stages. Each separate instalment or stage will be invoiced and paid for in accordance with the provisions of the Contract.
6.5 Each instalment or stage will be a separate Contract and, unless specifically set out in these Conditions, no cancellation or termination of any one Contract relating to an instalment or stage will entitle the Customer to repudiate or cancel any other Contract or instalment or stage.
7. Risk and Property
7.1 Risk of damage to or loss of the Goods shall pass to the Customer:
7.1.1 in the case of Goods to be delivered at Sign Makers UK ‘ premises at the time when Sign Makers UK notifies the Customer that the Goods are available for collection; or
7.1.2 in the case of the Goods to be delivered otherwise than at Sign Makers UK’ premises at the time of delivery to such premises or, if the Customer fails to take delivery of the Goods, from the time when Sign Makers UK has tendered delivery of the Goods.
7.2 Notwithstanding delivery and the passing of risk in the Goods or any other provision of these conditions
7.3 Ownership of the Goods shall not pass to the Customer until Sign Makers UK has received in cash or cleared funds payment in full of the price of the Goods and all other Goods and Services for which payment is due from Sign Makers UK.
7.4 Any services, typically design services, provided by Sign Makers UK prior to an order being confirmed remain the property of Sign Makers UK and cannot be used for any other purpose or by any other individual or business without the prior agreement of Sign Makers UK.
7.5 Until such time as ownership of the Goods passes to the Customer the Customer shall hold the Goods as Sign Makers UK’ fiduciary agent and bailee and shall keep the Goods separate from those of the Customer and third parties and properly stored protected and insured and identified as Sign Makers UK’ property.
7.6 The Customer shall be entitled to resell or use the Goods in the ordinary course of its business but shall account to Sign Makers UK for the proceeds of sale or otherwise of the Goods whether tangible or intangible including insurance proceeds and shall keep all such proceeds separate from any monies or property of the Customer and third parties and in the case of tangible proceeds properly stored protected and insured.
7.7 Until such time as ownership in the Goods passes to the Customer (and provided the Goods are still in existence and have not been resold) Sign Makers UK shall be entitled at any time to require the Customer to deliver up the Goods to Sign Makers UK and if the Customer fails to do so forthwith to enter upon any premises of the Customer or any third party where the Goods are stored and repossess the Goods.
7.8 The Customer shall not be entitled to pledge or in any way charge by way of security for any indebtedness any of the Goods which remain the property of Sign Makers UK but if the Customer does so all monies owing by the Customer to Sign Makers UK shall (without prejudice to any other right or remedy of Sign Makers UK) forthwith become due and payable.
8. WARRANTIES, LIABILITIES AND INDEMNITY
8.1 Sign Makers UK will within a period of 12 months from the date of delivery of Goods and from the date of provision of Services, in respect of Goods and/or Services which are proved to the reasonable satisfaction of both parties to be damaged or defective, or not to comply with the agreed specification due to defects in material, workmanship or design (other than a design made, furnished or specified by the Customer), repair, or at its option replace, such Goods, and/or re-perform or at its option refund the price of such Services. This obligation will not apply where:
8.1.1 the Customer has improperly used the Goods in any way whatsoever, or the Goods have been subjected to misuse, unauthorised repair, damage, negligence, adverse weather conditions and/or alteration;
8.1.2 the Customer has not complied with any instructions relating to preparation of the surfaces and areas to which the Goods are applied, and/or such surfaces or areas have been subjected to previous workmanship by third parties and/or contain latent defects;
8.1.3 damage, discolouration or failure to painted surfaces has occurred through no fault of Sign Makers UK;
8.1.4 Sign Makers UK carries out work which is not provided for in the Order Confirmation, and is beyond the scope of the Services;
8.1.5 the Customer has not complied with any instructions as to use and care of the Goods in all respects; or
8.1.6 the Customer has failed to notify Sign Makers UK of any problem or suspected problem within 2 days of the provision of the Services and/or supply of the Goods.
8.2 Any repaired or replacement Goods or re-performed Services will be liable to repair or replacement (or re-provision or, at Sign Makers UK’ option, refund) under the terms specified in Condition 8.1 for the unexpired portion of the 12 month period from the original date of delivery of the replaced Goods or from the original date of provision of the re-performed Services.
8.3 The above warranty does not extend to parts materials or equipment not manufactured by Sign Makers UK in respect of which the Customer shall only be entitled to the benefit of any such warranty or guarantee as is given by the manufacturer to Sign Makers UK.
8.4 Sign Makers UK accepts liability for personal injury or death caused by the negligence of Sign Makers UK or its employees (acting within the course of their employment or duties and the scope of their authority) and for any other matter for which it would be illegal to exclude or attempt to limit or exclude its liability.
8.5 Except as provided in Condition 8.4, Sign Makers UK will be under no liability to the Customer whatsoever (whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, restitution or otherwise) for any damage or for any direct, indirect or consequential loss (all three of which terms include, but are not limited to, pure economic loss, loss of profits, loss of business, depletion of goodwill and like loss) howsoever caused arising out of or in connection with:
8.5.1 any breach by Sign Makers UK of any of the express or implied terms of the Contract;
8.5.2 any of the Goods and/or Services (including but not limited to any use made by the Customer of any Goods, or of any product incorporating any of the Goods), or the manufacture or sale or supply, or failure or delay in supply, of the Goods and/or Services by Sign Makers UK or on the part of Sign Makers UK’ employees, agents or sub-contractors; or
8.5.3 any non-fraudulent statement made or not made, or advice given or not given, by or on behalf of Sign Makers UK.
8.6 Except as set out in Condition 8.4, Sign Makers UK hereby excludes to the fullest extent permissible in law, all express (other than those set out in the Contract) or implied, statutory, customary clauses, warranties and stipulations or otherwise which, but for such exclusion, would or might subsist in favour of the Customer, including (but not limited to) the terms implied by sections 13 to 15 of the Sales of Goods Act 1979 and the terms implied by sections 3 to 5 of the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982.
8.7 The Customer acknowledges that the above provisions of this Condition 8 are reasonable and reflected in the price which may be higher without those provisions, and the Customer will accept such risk and/or insure accordingly.
8.8 Sign Makers UK shall not be liable to the Customer or be deemed to be in breach of the Contract by reason of any delay in performing or any failure to perform any of Sign Makers UK’ obligations in relation to the Goods and/or Services if the delay or failure was due to any cause beyond Sign Makers UK’ reasonable control. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, causes beyond Sign Makers UK’ reasonable control shall include (but not be limited to) the following:
8.8.1 act of God, storm, explosion, flood, tempest, fire or accident;
8.8.2 war (or threat of war), riot, civil commotion or malicious damage;
8.8.3 compliance with any law or governmental order, rule, regulation or direction;
8.8.4 import or export regulations or embargoes;
8.8.5 strike, lock-out or other industrial actions or trade dispute (whether involving employees or Sign Makers UK or a third party);
8.8.6 failure of a utility service or transport network;
8.8.7 difficulties in obtaining raw materials labour fuel parts or machinery;
8.8.8 power failure or breakdown of plant or machinery; and
8.8.9 default of suppliers or sub-contractors.
8.9 The Customer agrees to indemnify, keep indemnified and hold harmless Sign Makers UK from and against all direct, indirect or consequential loss (all three of which terms include, but are not limited to, loss of profits, loss of business, depletion of goodwill and like loss), costs, expenses, liabilities, injuries, damages, claims, demands, proceedings or legal costs and judgements which Sign Makers UK incurs or suffers as a consequence of direct or indirect breach or negligent performance or failure in performance by the Customer of any of the terms of the Contract, including in particular (but not limited to) the Customer’s ongoing obligations under Condition 3.1.
9. Data Protection
By placing a Quotation, the Customer allows Sign Makers UK to use the Customer’s personal details for the purposes of supplying the Goods and performing the Services (including passing the Customer’s details on to subcontractors) and for the marketing to it by Sign Makers UK. Sign Makers UK may share the Customer’s information with Sign Makers UK (Kent) Limited and/or other franchisees in the Sign Makers UK network, but will not use the Customer’s details for other purposes without seeking the Customer’s consent.
10. General
10.1 Any notice required or permitted to be given by either party to the other under these Conditions shall be in writing addressed to the other party at its registered office or principal place of business or such other address may be at the relevant time have been notified pursuant to this provision giving the notice.
10.2 Sign Makers UK may transfer, assign, hold on trust, licence or sub-contract all or any part of its rights or obligations under any Contract.
10.3 Each and every Contract is personal to the Customer and the Customer may not transfer all or any of its rights or obligations under any Contract without the prior written consent of Sign Makers UK.
10.4 Neither party intends that any of the terms of any Agreement will be enforceable by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 by any person not a party to it, save that Sign Makers UK (Kent) Limited shall be entitled to enforce any provision of the Contract.
10.5 No waiver by Sign Makers UK of any breach of the Contract by the Customer shall be considered as a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or any provisions.
10.6 If any provision of these Conditions is held by any competent authority to be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part the validity of the other provisions of these Conditions and the remainder of the provision in question shall not be affected thereby.
10.7 Any dispute arising under or in connection with these Conditions and any Contract shall be governed by and construed in all respects in accordance with English law and the parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
