All sales of goods and services by Competition Engineering,
Inc. (“Seller”) are made on the following
terms and conditions. In these Standard
Terms of Sale, any goods sold by Seller to the buyer named in Seller’s quotation
or acknowledgment (“Buyer”) are referred
to below as “goods” and any services
sold by Seller to Buyer are called “services.”
1. Agreement.
If Buyer has not otherwise agreed to these Standard Terms of Sale, then Buyer’s
acceptance of delivery of, or payment for, the goods or services shall constitute
Buyer’s agreement to these Standard Terms of Sale.
Seller objects to and will not agree to any terms that are additional to
or different from these Standard Terms of Sale.
Terms that are printed on or contained in a purchase order or other form
prepared by Buyer which are additional to, in conflict with or inconsistent with
these Standard Terms of Sale shall be considered to be inapplicable and shall have
no force or effect. The standard Terms of Sale control the contract between the
Buyer and Seller, and upon acceptance of this by the Buyer shall automatically become
a part of the contract. All terms and
provisions of these Standard Terms of Sale shall be agreed to and accepted as a
part of the Seller’s Quotation in order for Seller to commence any work set forth
within the Quotation. If Buyer objects to any of the provisions of these Standard
Terms of Sale, Buyer must bring such objection to the attention of Seller in a writing
separate from any purchase order or other printed form of Buyer, which shall be
deemed to be proposals for different terms and conditions that may be accepted only
in writing signed by an authorized representative of Seller. All orders are subject
to the approval of Seller’s credit department.
2. Prices; Payment Terms.
Prices quoted are firm for 30 days from the date of quotation by Seller,
with the exception that Seller reserves the right to correct any and all typographical
errors. Unless otherwise specified
in Seller’s quotation or acknowledgment, payment in full of the price is due 30
days after shipment of the goods or performance of the services, without discount,
except that if at any time Seller determines that Buyer’s financial condition does
not justify a sale on credit or if Buyer shall at any time be in default in any
indebtedness or obligation owing to Seller, then Seller may require advance payment
or may ship C.O.D., and may withhold shipments on orders being shipped in installments. Any payment not made when due shall
accrue a late charge of 1-1/2% per month.
Payment must be made at Seller’s office in
Marne, Michigan
. Buyer agrees that upon Buyer’s approval
of the 50% design level that its approval automatically authorizes Seller to Purchase
key components necessary to fabricate and manufacture the goods to be supplied by
Seller. If Buyer requests and Seller agrees
to any changes in Buyer’s order after its receipt by Seller, Buyer shall pay all
charges reasonably assessed by Seller with respect to those changes. Seller has the right to increase its prices at any time upon notice to Buyer
to reflect any unusual or unforeseen increase in Seller’s costs, including, but
not limited to, an increase in the cost of materials. Buyer may not offset or recoup any claim against amounts due Seller. Unless otherwise agreed in writing signed
by Buyer and Seller, all payments shall be in U.S. Dollars.
3.
Delivery
and Risk
of Loss.
Unless Seller agrees otherwise in writing, Seller shall deliver the
goods EXW (Incoterms 2000) Seller’s facility from which the goods will be shipped,
except that if Seller’s facility and Buyer’s facility are both located in the United
States, then Seller shall deliver the goods F.O.B. (Uniform Commercial Code term)
Seller’s facility. In either case,
risk of loss of the goods shall pass to Buyer upon identification of the goods to
the contract between Buyer and Seller.
Shipping, delivery and performance dates are estimates only, calculated from the
date of receipt of Buyer’s order and complete drawings, specifications, designs,
samples and other information reasonably requested by Seller to manufacture the
goods and perform the services, and time is not of the essence.
Seller shall not incur any liability, direct or indirect, nor shall any order
be canceled because or as a result of any delays in meeting such dates or schedules. Seller reserves the right to recalculate
any projected shipping, delivery or performance dates upon receipt of Buyer’s order.
Seller may ship all the goods at one time or in portions from time to time. Seller shall have the right to determine
the method of shipment and routing of the goods, unless otherwise stated in Seller’s
quotation or acknowledgment.
Seller shall not be responsible or liable for a delay in the delivery of goods to
Buyer that is due to a late delivery by Buyer of critical items needed for the design,
fabrication and manufacture of the goods by Seller, including, but not limited to,
try out material, checking fixtures, design and quality information.
4.
Try Out and Sample Parts.
A sufficient quantity of tryout material is required for development and
tryout. This material may be used up
in tryout. Tryout material is considered
to be representative of standard production material.
Dimensional and/or performance deviations from specifications may cause malfunction
of equipment and such deviations shall void Seller’s warranty provided below. Buyer
is responsible for transport of all sample parts.
Buyer shall assume all responsibility for providing tryout material. The tryout material supplied by
Buyer must meet all required specifications.
Any costs associated with non-conforming tryout material supplied by Buyer shall
be the responsibility and liability of Buyer.
Buyer agrees to provide an adequate amount of tryout stock for tryout development. Seller shall have no responsibility
and/or obligation to return tryout stock to Buyer.
5. Specifications.
A.
Design Specifications
B.
Quotation Specifications
6.
Taxes and Duties.
Seller’s price
does not include any privilege, occupation, personal property, value-added, sales,
excise, use or other taxes, or any tariffs or customs duties, and Buyer shall be
liable for all such taxes and duties, whether or not Seller invoiced Buyer for them.
7.
Unavoidable
Delay and Shortages. If Seller
is not able to finish and deliver the goods to Buyer, or to perform the services,
on time because of anything Seller cannot control (including but not limited to
casualty, labor trouble, unavailability of supplies or transportation, Buyer’s failure
to approve production samples, fire, flood, governmental act or regulation, riot,
terrorist act, equipment or power failure, unscheduled maintenance, accident or
act of God), then the estimated delivery or performance time shall be extended accordingly,
and Seller shall not be liable to Buyer for any damages caused by the delay.
8.
Changes.
Seller shall have the right to make design or engineering changes in its
parts, equipment, processes and methods of production of the goods or performance
of the services, but Seller will not make any changes in operational or dimensional
specifications that Buyer submits.
Stenographical and clerical errors in quotations are subject to correction.
9.
Defects;
Remedies.
A. Goods.
If any item of the goods that has been properly installed proves to be defective
within 1 year (“Warranty Period”) after
Seller manufactures it, and if Buyer returns the item to Seller within the Warranty
Period, either F.O.B. (Uniform Commercial Code term) Seller’s plant in Marne, Michigan,
or, if the goods have been exported from the United States, DDP (Incoterms 2000)
Seller’s plant in Marne, Michigan, then Seller shall, at Seller’s option, either
repair or replace the defective item, at Seller’s expense, or refund the purchase
price for the defective goods. If Seller
fails to repair or replace any defective item within a reasonable time, then Seller
shall be liable to Buyer for the lesser of (1) the reasonable costs of repair or replacement by a third party or (2) that
part of the purchase price of the defective goods that shall have been paid by Buyer,
but Buyer shall not obtain repair or replacement by a third party without giving
Seller at least 15 days prior written notice, during which time Seller may repair
or replace the defective item.
An item
shall be considered “defective” if Seller
finds that it is defective in materials or workmanship and if the defect materially
impairs the value of the goods to Buyer, except that the goods will not be defective
if they conform to industry accepted tolerances or Buyer’s specifications or the
goods are used for applications not specified in Seller’s quotation for the goods. This paragraph sets forth Buyer’s
sole and exclusive remedies for any defect in the goods.
Seller does not warrant the workmanship of others who have performed work
on or used the goods.
B. Services.
If a service proves to be defective (as defined below) within 1 year after Seller
performs the service and if, in the case of a service involving Seller’s processing
of goods furnished by Buyer, Buyer returns the goods to Seller within that period,
either F.O.B. Seller’s facility in Marne, Michigan or, if the goods have been exported
from the United States, DDP (Incoterms 2000) Seller’s facility in Marne, Michigan,
then Seller shall, at its option, either re-perform the service, at Seller’s expense,
or refund to Buyer the price that Buyer paid to Seller for that part of the service
that was defective and shall reimburse Buyer for reasonable freight charges incurred
in returning the goods to Seller. A
service shall be considered “defective”
if it is found by Seller to have failed to meet the standards in Seller’s industry
and if that failure materially impairs the value of the services to Buyer, except
that if (1) Buyer shall have approved or furnished to Seller specifications for
the services, then the services shall not be considered defective to the extent
they conform to the specifications, (2) the services will not be defective if they
conform to industry accepted tolerances, and (3) Seller makes no warranty as to
Services that were not completed by Seller for any reason. This paragraph sets forth
Buyer’s sole and exclusive remedy for any defect in the services.
C. Limitations. This warranty shall not apply to any
alleged defect that results from 1) damage, physical abuse, vandalism, misuse, alterations,
modifications, additions or repairs made without Seller’s prior consent 2) improper type, quality, amount, and/or unsuitable lubrication used by
Buyer on the goods, and 3) excessive
electrical loads, exposure to water or corrosive liquids or other substances, exposure
to excessive heat, or use other than as intended by Seller. It is Buyer’s responsibility
to provide the appropriate type, quality and/or amount of lubrication to adequately
sustain the goods provided to Buyer by Seller.
This warranty shall also not apply to any item provided and/or used in connection
with the goods provided by Seller that Seller purchased from a component supplier.
Also excluded from Seller’s warranty is any warranty, except as to title,
with respect to goods manufactured and/or designed to Buyer’s specifications or
services performed to Buyer’s
specifications, and the Buyer shall, at Buyer’s own
expense, (1) defend and hold harmless the Seller from and against any claim, suit
or other expense which is asserted or brought against Seller by reason of its manufacture
or sale of such goods or its performance of the services, and (2) pay to Seller
any service charges on such goods or services. Notice of any defect must be given
to Seller within 30 days of discovery by Buyer of the defect.
EXCEPT AS STATED IN THIS PARAGRAPH, SELLER DOES NOT MAKE ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
WARRANTY AS TO THE GOODS OR SERVICES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY
OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Buyer is
solely responsible for determining the proper application and use of the goods.
Seller shall not have any liability with respect to any and all
improper and/or defective Buyer supplied equipment that is used in connection with
the goods provided by Seller. It is
Buyer’s responsibility to provide suitable production “home line” environment and
equipment that properly support and run the goods provided by Seller.
Seller shall not have any tort or contractual liability
to Buyer with respect to any of the goods or services and shall not be liable for
consequential, incidental, special, exemplary, indirect or punitive damages that
arise from any product defect, delay, non-delivery, recall operator neglect, misuse of goods or other breach, including
but not limited to such damages arising out of personal injury, death, property
damage, lost profits or other economic injury. Seller shall not be liable to Buyer or any other person in tort for any negligent
design or manufacture of the products, or for the omission of any warning with respect
thereto, or for the negligent performance of the services. Neither Buyer nor any
other person may modify or expand this warranty, waive any of the limitations, or
make any different or additional warranties with respect to the products. No statement to the contrary shall bind Seller unless made in a writing signed
by an authorized officer of Seller. Buyer shall not have any right of rejection
or of revocation of acceptance of the goods or services.
10. Solvency,
Security
Interest and Statutory Rights. Buyer represents
that Buyer is solvent. Seller retains
title to the goods until the invoiced price is fully paid in immediately available
funds. Seller retains and Buyer grants
a security interest in the goods and all proceeds to secure payment of the price
and all other indebtedness now and in the future owing by Buyer to Seller.
Nothing contained in Seller’s Quotation and these Standard Terms of Sale
shall be construed as a waiver or modification of the Seller’s statutory rights,
including statutory lien rights under the Michigan Special Tools Lien Act, which
lien rights Seller will exercise if payment by the Buyer is not made promptly and
pursuant to the Standard Terms of Sale.
11.
Permits and Compliance.
Seller is not responsible for obtaining any permit, inspection or license
that is required for installation or operation of the goods or performance of the
services. Seller does not make any
promise or representation that the goods or services will conform to any law, ordinance,
regulation, code or standard.
12.
Safety Features. Buyer shall install and operate the goods and any equipment on which Seller
has performed the services properly and according to Seller’s operating instructions
and shall not remove or change any safety device, warning or operating instructions
that Seller placed on the goods or other equipment.
Buyer is responsible for providing the necessary training necessary to properly,
safely and effectively run and maintain the goods, components, equipment or machinery
provided by Seller.
13.
Proper Maintenance. Buyer agrees
to properly and adequately maintain and care the goods supplied by Seller.
Buyer’s failure to properly and adequately maintain and care for the goods
supplied by Seller will nullify and void any and all warranty provided by Seller
on the goods.
14.
Components of Another Product.
If any of the goods constitute parts or components that are to be incorporated
or installed in a product that is manufactured or assembled by or for Buyer, or
if the services are performed on any components that are to be incorporated or installed
in a such a product, then (1) Buyer shall obtain, or cause the end-user of the product
to obtain, all permits, inspections and licenses required for installation or operation
of the product, (2) Buyer shall cause the product to conform to all applicable laws,
ordinances, regulations, codes and standards and (3) Buyer shall place on the product
all safety devices and warnings, and shall furnish to its buyer all operating instructions,
that are necessary or desirable to prevent any death, personal injury or property
damage from being caused by any use or operation of the product.
15. Resale.
On any resale of the goods, Buyer shall contractually limit its buyer’s rights
and remedies against both Buyer and Seller to the same extent as Buyer’s rights
and remedies are limited under these Standard Terms of Sale.
16. Intellectual
Property and Confidentiality. All
inventions (whether or not patentable), devices, technologies, ideas, improvements,
processes, systems, software and other works and matters that Seller creates or
develops in the course of Seller’s design, development or manufacture of the goods
or performance of the services and all drawings and specifications that Seller provides
to Buyer (“Intellectual
Property”) shall be Seller’s sole property, and Buyer assigns, and agrees
to assign, to Seller all right, title and interest that Buyer now has or in the
future acquires in the Intellectual Property.
Buyer shall not disclose or use any of the Intellectual Property or any information
about Seller’s business, operations or activities, except to the extent necessary
for Buyer to use the goods or services.
17. Cancellation.
No purchase order for the Seller’s goods and services may be cancelled for
any reason, in whole or in part, without Seller’s prior written approval. In the
event a cancellation is approved by Seller then, unless otherwise agreed, Buyer
shall pay Seller (i) all costs and expenses Seller incurred in relation to the order
before Seller received the cancellation request, and (ii) any
shipping charges and other out of pocket expenses incurred by Seller in relation
to the cancellation
(collectively, (“Cancellation Charges”).
If Buyer delays or puts on hold a purchase order for the Seller’s goods for any
reason for 60 days or more, Seller shall have the right to deem the purchase order
cancelled and provide Buyer written notice that the purchase order has been deemed
cancelled and a demand payment of its Cancellation Charges.
Buyer must pay the Cancellation Charges within 30 days of the written notice
on demand or otherwise be held to be in breach of the contract.
18.
Insecurity and Adequate Assurance. If Seller ever believes in good faith
that it has grounds for insecurity as to Buyer’s performance under the Contract,
then Buyer shall provide adequate assurance of due performance within ten (10) days
after Seller demands the assurance, which shall be considered to be a reasonable
time. Buyer’s failure to do so shall
be considered to be a repudiation by Buyer of the Contract and of all other then-existing
contracts that provide for Buyer to purchase goods and/or services from Seller (“Outstanding
Contracts”). “Grounds for
insecurity” include, without limitation, (1) Buyer’s failure to make a payment to
Seller or to perform another obligation under the Contract or an Outstanding Contract,
(2) Buyer’s insolvency, (3) a deterioration in Buyer’s financial condition after
the Contract was entered into and (4) Buyer’s failure to provide financial statements
and other financial information to Seller promptly upon Seller’s request.
“Adequate assurance of due performance” includes, without limitation, providing
a letter of credit or comparable security for all obligations of Buyer that then
exist or that will arise in the future under all Outstanding Contracts.
19.
Indemnity.
Buyer shall indemnify and hold harmless Seller with respect to all damages,
losses, claims and expenses, including but not limited to consequential and incidental
damages and attorney fees, that Seller incurs as a result of Buyer’s breach of any
of Buyer’s obligations under these Standard Terms of Sale or any claimed unfair
competition or patent, trademark or copyright infringement or any other claim resulting
from Seller’s manufacture of the goods, or performance of the services, to Buyer’s
specifications.
20. Seller’s
Rights. Seller has all rights
and remedies given to Seller by applicable law, and Seller’s rights and remedies
are cumulative and may be exercised from time to time.
A waiver by Seller of any right on one occasion will not be a waiver of any
future exercise of that right. If Seller
finds it necessary to commence any type of collections proceedings to collect balances
due from the Buyer, including lien enforcement actions, the Buyer agrees to pay
all costs of collections and all attorneys fees incurred by Seller.
Further, Buyer acknowledges that Seller will not be liable for delays caused
by labor disturbances, weather conditions, acts of God, acts of environmental agencies,
accidents, shortages of necessary materials and supplies, or any cause beyond Seller’s
control.
21.
Time For Bringing Action.
Any action that Buyer brings against Seller for breach of this agreement
or for any other claim that arises out of or relates to the goods or their
design, manufacture, sale or delivery or the services must be brought within 1 year
after the cause of action accrues.
22.
Governing Law and Language.
This agreement shall be considered to have been made in the State of
Michigan
, and it shall be governed by and interpreted according to
Michigan
law, excluding the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International
Sale of Goods. This agreement shall
be interpreted in the English language only.
Either party may bring any action that arises out of or relates to this agreement
in any federal or state court in
Grand Rapids, Michigan
, that has jurisdiction of the subject matter, and Buyer irrevocably consents that
any such court shall have personal jurisdiction over Buyer and waives any objection
that the court is an inconvenient forum.
23.
Complete Agreement; Amendment.
The terms on Seller’s quotation or acknowledgment and these Standard Terms
of Sale contain the entire agreement between Buyer and Seller.
Any change in this agreement must be by a signed writing. This agreement
is not assignable or transferable by either party, except to its successor, or to
the transferee of all or substantially all the party’s assets to which this contract
relates.