TERMS AND CONDITIONS

General Terms of Sale, Delivery and Payment of Kowa Optimed Deutschland GmbH

 

1. Scope of Application

1.1 The sale of optics, cameras, spotting scopes, binoculars, accessories and other

products (hereinafter "Product") is exclusively subject to these  General Terms and

Conditions  of  Sale,  Delivery  and  Payment  (hereinafter  "General  Terms  and

Conditions").  General Terms and Conditions of the buyer do not apply even if we

have not expressly contradicted them.

1.2 Individual agreements, supplementary agreements, additions and amendments

shall take precedence over these General Terms and Conditions.

1.3 Additions, amendments and other special agreements require our confirmation in

written form to be effective.

1.4 These  General Terms and Conditions  only apply to merchants, entrepreneurs,

legal entities under public law or special funds under public law.

1.5  References  to  the  validity  of  statutes  are  only  of  clarifying  significance.  Even

without such clarification, the statutory provisions shall therefore apply, unless they

are directly amended or expressly excluded in these General Terms and Conditions.

 

2. Conclusion of Contract

2.1 The presentation and advertising of articles in our online shop is always subject

to change and non-binding and can be changed without our prior notice, unless it is

expressly marked as binding in writing or contains a written acceptance period.

2.2 By sending an order via the online shop by clicking on the button "send order",

you place a legally binding order, which represents an offer to us. We can accept the

buyer's offer within a period of two weeks from receipt.

2.3  The  buyer's  order  is  confirmed  by  us  by  e-mail  (“order  confirmation”).  This

confirmation of receipt merely documents that the order has been received and does

not  constitute  an  acceptance  of  the  offer,  unless  the  confirmation  of  receipt  also

declares acceptance.

2. 4 A contract with us is only concluded when we accept an order by means of a

declaration of acceptance or carry out the delivery.

2.5 If the delivery of the ordered products is not possible, for example because the

corresponding  products  are  not  in  stock,  we  can  refrain  from  a  declaration  of

acceptance. In this case a contract will not be concluded. We will inform you of this

immediately and will refund any consideration already received without delay.

 

3. Prices & Price adjustment

3.1 Unless otherwise agreed, sales prices quoted are in euros for deliveries FCA

warehouse Düsseldorf (Incoterms 2020) plus the applicable statutory value added

tax and plus costs of packaging.

3.2 For orders, below 100.00 Euro or the minimum order quantity communicated, we

will additionally charge a minimum quantity surcharge and a handling fee.

3.3 Additional costs caused by special requests regarding the mode of shipment (e.g.

express transport) shall be borne by the buyer.

3.4  Until  delivery,  we  reserve  the  right  to  adjust  the  prices  accordingly  if,  after

conclusion  of  the contract,  there  are  not  only  insignificant cost  reductions or  cost

increases (e.g. due to collective agreements, changes in the tax burden, changes in

the prices of raw materials and supplies, other price changes of suppliers or exchange

rate fluctuations) for which we are not responsible and which were not foreseeable

with sufficient certainty at the time of conclusion of the contract. A cost change of

10%  of  the  sales  price  is  considered  insignificant.  Cost  reductions  with  regard  to

individual  price  components  are  offset  against  cost  increases  for  other  price

components. Upon request, we will provide the buyer with evidence of the reasons

for the price adjustment. In the event of an ongoing supply relat ionship, we may,

under the same conditions, adjust the prices agreed for future orders.

3.5  The  buyer  has  the  right  to  terminate  the  contract  in  case  of  significant  price

increases.

 

4. Terms of payment

4.1 Our invoices are payable without deduction within  30 days of the invoice date and

delivery or acceptance of the goods.

4.2  If  the  payment  deadline  is  exceeded,  the  buyer  is  in  default  without  further

reminder.  Decisive  for  the  timeliness  of  the  payment  is  the  receipt  of  the  invoice

amount on the account specified by us.

4.3 However, we are entitled at any time, even within the framework of an ongoing

business relationship, to make a delivery in whole or in part only against advance

payment or the provision of a reasonable security.

4.4 If, after the conclusion of the contract, it becomes apparent that our claim to the

purchase  price  is  endangered  by  the  Buyer's  inability  to  perform  or  due  to  other

impediments  to  performance,  we  shall  be  entitled  to  refuse  performance  in

accordance with the statutory provisions and - if necessary after setting a deadline -to withdraw from the contract (§ 321 German Civil Code).

4.5 The buyer is only entitled to set-off or retention rights insofar as his claim has

been legally established or is undisputed.

 

5. Delivery and default of acceptance

5.1 Unless otherwise agreed, deliveries shall be made FCA warehouse Düsseldorf

(Incoterms 2020) at our respective location or to a carrier designated by the buyer. In

the  case  of  a  sales  shipment  (“Versendungskauf”),  the  risk  of  loss,  damage  or

destruction of the product is transferred to the buyer at the latest at the beginning of

the loading process.

5.2  Indicated  delivery periods  or delivery  dates are  non-binding  unless  they  have

been expressly agreed in writing as binding. Delivery periods begin with the order

confirmation. Four weeks after a non-binding delivery date or a non-binding delivery

period  has  been  exceeded,  the  buyer  may  request,  in  writing,  delivery  within  a

reasonable period. After receipt of the written request and expiry of the deadline, we

shall be in default of delivery if we culpably fail to deliver. As long as the buyer does

not fulfil his obligations to cooperate, in connection with the delivery on time, or does

not make an agreed down payment, delivery periods are extended or delivery dates

are postponed by a corresponding period of time.

5.3 Delivery is subject to us receiving our supplies punctually and in good order. If we

are prevented from fulfilling our contractual obligations, be it due to force majeure

such  as  war,  terrorism,  riots,  natural  disasters,  fire  or  other  unforeseeable

circumstances beyond our control such as strikes or lawful lockouts, operational or

transport disruptions, difficulties in procuring raw materials or insufficient supply by

suppliers, the agreed delivery periods shall be extended or the agreed delivery dates

postponed by the duration of the hindrance plus a reasonable start-up period in each

case. This also applies if these circumstances occur during an already existing delay.

We will inform the buyer of the beginning and the expected end of such circumstances

as soon as possible. If the hindrance lasts two months or longer, both parties may

withdraw from the contract concerned.

5.4 The buyer is in default of acceptance if he does not accept the product at the end

of the binding delivery period or on the binding delivery date. In the event of a nonbinding delivery period or a non-binding delivery date, we may notify the buyer that

the product is ready for delivery; if the buyer does not accept the product within one

week of receipt of the notification of readiness for delivery, he will be in default of

acceptance.

5.5 The risk of loss, damage or destruction of the Product shall pass to the Buyer at

the latest at the time of default of acceptance. If the buyer is in default of acceptance,

we may charge him for the additional expenses we incur as a result. As a lump-sum

compensation for storage costs, we may charge 0.1% of the invoice amount for the

stored product per calendar day of storage, but not more than 1% per calendar month.

The proof of higher damages and our legal claims (in particular compensation for

additional expenses, appropriate compensation, termination) remain unaffected; the

flat rate is to be offset against further monetary claims. The buyer has the right to

prove that we have not incurred any damage or that the damage incurred is less.

5.6 We reserve the right to make changes to the product within the framework of

production discontinuations and conversions or minor technical or  color  deviations

during  the  delivery  period,  provided  that  these  are  reasonable  for  the  buyer  in

consideration  of  his  interests.  The  buyer  will  be  informed  immediately  about  the

nature, content and scope of such changes.

 

6. Claims for defects of the buyer

6.1  The  Buyer's  claims  for  defects  presuppose  that  he  has  fulfilled  his  statutory

obligations  to  inspect  and  give  notice  of  defects  in  accordance  with  §  377  HGB

(German Commercial Code). Complaints must be made immediately and in writing,

specifically stating the defect.  Recognizable  defects must be reported to us within

one week of delivery at the latest, hidden defects within one week of their discovery

at the latest. Claims due to delayed notification of defects are excluded. 

Version: 2020-09

6.2 In the case of products intended for installation or other further processing, an

inspection must in any case be carried out immediately before processing.

6.3 The obligation to examine and give notice of defects shall also apply if it is agreed

that we deliver the product directly to a third party (drop shipment). In this case, the

third party can make the notification of defects.

6.4  The basis of our liability for defects is above all the agreed quality of the products.

All  product  descriptions  and  manufacturer  information  as  well  as  technical

documentation which are the subject of the individual contract or which were made

public by us (in particular in catalogues or on our Internet homepage) at the time of

the conclusion of the contract shall be deemed to be an agreement on the quality of

the goods.

6.5 If there is no agreement on the quality of the goods, the statutory provisions shall

apply to assess whether or not a defect exists (§ 434 (1) sentences 2 and 3 German

Civil Code). However, we do not assume any liability for public statements of third

parties (e.g. advertising statements) which the buyer has not pointed out to us as

being decisive for his purchase.

6.6 The buyer's rights in respect of defects do not exist in the case of natural wear

and tear or damage that occurs after the transfer of risk as a result of improper use,

improper  storage  or  failure  to  observe  the  manufac turer's,  assembly  or  operating

instructions.  The  same  applies  to  interventions  in  or  other  manipulations  of  the

product. This does not apply if the buyer can prove that the defect claimed by him

was not caused by this.

6.7  The  costs  of  examining  the  product  shall  be  borne  by  the  Buyer.  Defective

products must be made available to us for inspection upon request.

6.8  If  the  delivered  product  is  defective,  we  may  choose  whether  we  provide

subsequent performance by eliminating the defect (rectification)  or by delivering a

defect-free  item  (replacement).  Subsequent  performance  shall  take  place  without

recognition of a legal obligation.

6.9 Subsequent performance does not include the removal of the defective item or

its reinstallation if we were not originally obliged to install it.

6.10 The place of performance for subsequent performance is the originally agreed

place of delivery where we have made the product available for collection or dispatch

for  the purpose  of delivery.  We shall  reimburse  claims of  th e  buyer  for expenses

incurred for the purpose of subsequent performance, in particular transport, travel,

labour  and  material  costs,  in  accordance  with  the  statutory  provisions  if  a  defect

actually exists. We are entitled to charge the buyer for the costs  of an unjustified

demand for the removal of defects, unless the lack of defect was not recognizable to

the buyer.

6.11 The right to self-remedy by the Buyer shall only exist in urgent cases, e.g. if

operational safety is endangered or to prevent disproportionate damage. The buyer

has the right to demand compensation from us for objectively necessary expenses

incurred in this connection. We are to be informed immediately, if possible in advance,

of  any  such  self-remedy.  The  right  of  self-remedy  does  not  exist  if  we  would  be

entitled to refuse a corresponding subsequent performance in accordance with the

statutory provisions.

6.12 In the event of final failure of the subsequent performance, the buyer is entitled

to reduce the purchase price (§ 441 German Civil  Code) or to withdraw from the

contract  concerned  (§§  323,  326  para.  5  German  Civil  Code).  In  the  case  of  an

insignificant defect, however, there is no right to withdraw from the contract.

6.13 If the product is dispatched by us, the buyer shall, in order to secure recourse

claims  against  the  carrier,  immediately  inspect  the  delivery  item  on  receipt  for

externally visible damage or shortfalls and, if found, note the cause and extent of the

damage  on  the  consignment  note  and  have  it  confirmed  by  the  carrier's  delivery

person with his signature. The buyer shall notify the carrier in writing of any damage

or shortfall in quantities not externally recognizable, stating the cause and extent of

the damage, immediately upon discovery, at the latest within seven days of delivery.

The buyer must inform us of the damage or shortfall and the notification in writing

immediately. Claims due to improperly notified transport damage are excluded.

6.14 Claims  of the Buyer for damages or compensation for futile expenses shall exist

only in accordance with clause 7, even in the case of defects, and shall otherwise be

excluded. If the product is sold as a used product, all defect rights are excluded with

the exception of any claims for damages limited in accordance with clause 8.1.

 

7. Statute of limitations

7.1 The Buyer's rights in respect of defects shall become statute-barred one year

after handover to the carrier or provision of the product.

7.2 However, these restrictions shall not apply if

(a) a defect was fraudulently concealed or

(b) a guarantee has been given for the quality of the product. Other legally binding

special regulations on the statute of limitations also remain unaffected.

7.3 In the event of rectification, the remaining part of the original limitation period, but

at  least  further  6  months,  shall  commence  upon  completion  of  the  rectification

measures or return of the rectified product. The same shall apply in the case of a

replacement delivery.

7.4 The aforementioned limitation periods of the law on sales also apply to contractual

and non-contractual claims for damages of the buyer which are based on a defect of

the goods, unless the application of the regular statutory limitation period  (§§ 195,

199 German Civil Code) would lead to a shorter limitation period in individual cases.

The Buyer's claims for damages are subject to the statutory limitation periods, in the

case  of  culpable  injury  to  life,  body  or  health,  in  the  case  of  intent  and  gross

negligence, and in accordance with the Product Liability Act.

 

8. Liability

8.1 We shall only be liable for damages within the scope of fault-based liability in the

event of intent and gross negligence, irrespective of the legal grounds. In the case of

simple negligence we shall be liable

a) for damages resulting from injury to life, body or health

b) for damages resulting from the violation of essential contractual obligations, the

fulfilment of which is essential for the proper execution of the con tract and on the

observance of which the buyer regularly relies and may rely; in this case, however,

liability is limited to the typical foreseeable damage.

8.2 The liability according to clause 8.1 shall apply in the same way for damages

caused by gross negligence by our employees or agents who are not our organs or

executives.

8.3 In the cases of clause 8.1 sentence 2, we shall not be liable for loss of profit,

consequential or indirect damages.

8.4 The above limitations of liability do not apply to the liability

a) because of fraudulently concealed defects,

b) from the assumption of a guarantee of quality

c) from the product liability law.

8.5 Insofar as our liability is excluded or limited in the above clauses, this shall also

apply to claims for damages by the buyer against our organs, executives, employees

or agents.

 

9. Reservation of proprietary rights

9.1 We reserve proprietary rights to the products sold until full payment of all claims

arising from the purchase contract and an ongoing business relationship ("reserved

goods").  If  a  current  account  relationship  exists  within  the scope of  the business

relationship, we reserve the proprietary rights to the delivered product until receipt of

all payments from acknowledged balances.

9.2 The  reserved goods  may neither be pledged to third parties nor transferred by

way of security before full payment of the secured claims. The buyer must inform us

immediately  in  writing  if  an  application  is  made  for  the  opening  of  insolvency

proceedings or if third parties seize the goods belonging to us (e.g. attachments).

9.3  The  buyer  is  authorized  to  resell  and/or  process  the  reserved  goods  in  the

ordinary  course  of  business,  provided  it  is  ensured  that  the  resulting  claims  are

transferred to us. The following shall then apply:

a)  The  reservation  of  proprietary  rights  extends  to  the  full  value  of  the  products

resulting from the processing,  mixing or combination of our goods, whereby we are

considered the manufacturer. If a third party's right of ownership remains in effect

after processing, mixing or combining with goods of a third party, we shall acquire coownership in proportion to the calculated values of the processed, mixed or combined

goods. Otherwise, the same applies to the resulting product as to the goods delivered

under reservation of title.

b) The buyer hereby assigns to us by way of security the claims to which the buyer is

entitled from the sale or on any other legal grounds relating to the reserved goods,

either in full or in the amount of any co-ownership share. We accept the assignment.

The obligations under clause 9.2 shall also apply with regard to the assigned claims.

c) In addition to us, the buyer remains authorized to collect these claims. We will not

collect the claims as long as and insofar as the buyer meets his payment obligations,

no application for the opening of insolvency or similar proceedings has been filed and

no cessation of payments has occurred. If one of these cases exists, the buyer must

inform us immediately in writing; at our request, the buyer is obliged to inform the

debtors  of  the  assignment and  to provide  us with  the  information and documents

required to assert our rights.

9.4 After withdrawal from the contract, we are entitled - without prejudice to our other

rights - to take back the reserved goods from the buyer. After taking back and prior

warning, we shall be entitled to make appropriate use of  the reserved goods. The

proceeds  of  such  realization  shall  be  set  off  against  the  Buyer's  liabilities,  minus

reasonable realization costs.

9.5 In the case of sales abroad, the buyer is obliged to ensure that the reservation of

proprietary rights agreed under clause 9 remains effective. The buyer must take the

necessary  steps  to  ensure  this.  If  the  local  foreign  legal  system  does  not  permit

reservation  of proprietary rights with the effects of German law, we are entitled to

exercise other security interests to secure our rights, if and to the extent that these

exist under the local legal system. The buyer must cooperate in these measures.

 

10. Termination of an ongoing supply relationship

10.1 We are entitled to terminate the contract without notice for good cause within

the framework of an ongoing business relationship if

(a) an application for the opening of insolvency proceedings against the   buyer has

been rejected due to lack of assets, enforcement proceedings against the buyer have

been unsuccessful, or enforcement measures have been brought against the buyer

and have not been lifted within one month (e.g. lifting of an arrest);

(b)  we  do  not  obtain  a  bad  debt  insurance  for  deliveries  to  the  buyer  with  an

appropriate coverage and at normal market conditions at reasonable expense or an

existing bad debt insurance policy lapses or defaults;

(c) the buyer has repeatedly defaulted on payment to a not inconsiderable extent, or

(d) the buyer has violated any other contractual obligation.

However,  this  shall  only  apply  after  the  unsuccessful expiry  of  a  deadline  set  for

remedial action or after an unsuccessful warning, provided that such a deadline or

warning is not dispensable by way of exception, particularly in view of the severity of

the breach of duty or other special circumstances.

10.2 Terminations must be made in writing to be effective.

10.3 No compensation or indemnification claims may  be made by the Buyer as a

result of the termination of the Agreement. Claims for damages due to breach of a

contractual obligation in accordance with clause 9 remain unaffected.

 

11. Compliance with regulations, export, disposal

11.1  The  buyer  must  comply  with  all  relevant  legal  regulations,  regulatory

requirements, court decisions and official orders, import regulations of the importing

country.  Buyer  shall  obtain  in  due  time  all  necessary  permits,  authorizations  and

licenses, in particular those required for import, resale or use of the product.

11.2 The buyer must observe all operating, use, warning and disposal instructions

relating to the product which have been made available to him.

11.3 The buyer shall indemnify us against claims of third parties in the event of a

breach of his obligations under clauses 11.1 and 11.2. In the event of a reasonable

suspicion that the Buyer would breach his obligations under Clauses 11.1 and  11.2

or if all necessary permits, authorizations or licenses are not available and this is not

due to our fault or responsibility, we may withhold the delivery from the Buyer.

11.4 The proper disposal of the product is the responsibility of the buyer. Insofar as

we  are  obliged  to  do  so  due  to  mandatory  legal  requirements,  we  will  take  back

products manufactured by us for disposal at the request of the buyer. The Buyer shall

bear the reasonable costs incurred thereby.

 

12. Assignment of contractual rights and obligations

The Buyer may not assign all or part of the rights and obligations incumbent upon

him  without  our  prior  written  consent.  We  may  assign  the  rights  and  obligations

incumbent upon us, in particular to affiliated companies within the meaning of § 15 of

the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG).

 

13. Place of performance

Place  of  performance  -  also  internationally  -  is  Düsseldorf.  Exclusive  place  of

jurisdiction  -  also internationally  -  for all disputes arising from or in connection with

our delivery is Düsseldorf.

 

14. Applicable law

14.1 The law of the Federal Republic of Germany shall apply to all legal relations

between us and the buyer, under the exclusion of the UN Convention on Contracts

for the International Sale of Goods.

14.2 Conditions and effects of the reservation  of proprietary rights according to clause

9 are, however, subject to the law of the respective location of the object, insofar as

the choice of law made is inadmissible or ineffective in favor of German law.

 

15. Language

This General Terms and Conditions and text shall be governed by and construed in

accordance with the laws of Germany.  They are available  in both the German and

the English language.