WÖRNER – Textil & Technik ⎪ Technische Gestricke aus Deutschland
General Terms and Conditions of Sale, Delivery and Service of
Walter Wörner GmbH & Co. KG and
Walter Wörner Gesellschaft für textilen Service mbH
All offers, deliveries and services provided by us are subject exclusively to these General Terms and Conditions (hereinafter referred to as the “Terms and Conditions”). These Terms and Conditions apply exclusively to entrepreneurs within the meaning of Section 14 of the German Civil Code (BGB), legal entities under public law and special funds under public law (hereinafter referred to as the “Customer”).
These Terms and Conditions shall apply exclusively. The applicability of any other general terms and conditions is excluded unless we have expressly agreed to their application in writing.
These Terms and Conditions shall also apply if we make delivery to the Customer without reservation while being aware of terms and conditions of the Customer that conflict with or deviate from these Terms and Conditions.
In the case of an ongoing business relationship, these Terms and Conditions shall also apply to all future offers, deliveries and services provided to the Customer without the need for any further express reference.
Our quotations are generally provided free of charge and without obligation unless otherwise agreed in writing. Contracts and agreements shall become binding only upon our written order confirmation or upon delivery by us. The same shall apply to any additions, amendments or ancillary agreements.
Unless expressly agreed otherwise, the conclusion of the contract is subject to our being supplied correctly and on time by our own suppliers. This shall apply only where the failure of supply is not attributable to us, in particular where we have concluded a corresponding covering transaction with our supplier. The Customer shall be informed without undue delay if the goods or services are unavailable. Any consideration already provided by the Customer shall be reimbursed.
All information relating to our products, in particular the illustrations, dimensions, performance data and other specifications contained in our quotations and printed materials, shall be regarded as approximate average values. Customary industry tolerances with regard to quantities, weights, unit numbers and dimensions are expressly reserved. We reserve the right to make technical modifications.
The scope of delivery and services shall be determined exclusively by our written order confirmation or, if no such confirmation has been issued, by our quotation.
Partial deliveries shall be permitted, provided that they are reasonable for the Customer.
Documents and materials on which our quotation is based, such as technical drawings, illustrations, descriptions, weights and dimensions, shall form part of the contractual agreement only if this has been expressly agreed in writing. We reserve the right to make such modifications and adjustments as do not materially affect the purpose of the contract or the delivery.
All quotation documents, plans, drawings, cost estimates, documents and other materials – including those in electronic form – shall remain our property. The Customer shall not retain, modify, copy, reproduce or otherwise duplicate such materials, nor make them available to third parties. Upon our request, the Customer shall, at our discretion, either return them to us without undue delay or permanently delete them.All intellectual property rights in these documents shall remain vested in us even if the documents are provided to the Customer. The Customer shall not be entitled to use, exploit or disclose sample items, specimens or models.
The assignment of any claims of the Customer against us shall be permitted only with our express prior written consent. The same shall apply to any statutory claims of the Customer arising in connection with the contractual relationship.
We reserve the right to make changes to the subject matter of the purchase during the delivery period, provided that neither the purchased goods nor their appearance are fundamentally altered and the contractual purpose of the delivery is not unreasonably impaired for the Customer. Production-related excess or short deliveries of up to 10% of the total order quantity shall be permissible.
Unless otherwise agreed, our prices are quoted on an Ex Works (EXW) basis in accordance with Incoterms® 2020 and are exclusive of VAT and any other applicable taxes. Freight, customs duties, applicable sales taxes and packaging costs shall be borne by the Customer in addition to the purchase price, even if not separately stated.
Statutory value added tax (VAT) is not included in our prices. Where applicable, it shall be charged separately at the statutory rate in force on the date of invoicing.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, we shall be entitled to adjust our prices and/or freight charges if our costs for wages and salaries, raw materials, operating materials, energy, freight, customs duties or other materials increase by more than an insignificant amount. This right shall also apply to deliveries and services provided under continuing contractual obligations.
Depending on the progress of the order, we may require reasonable partial payments for services already performed.
All payments shall be made exclusively to us in EURO. Any exchange rate risks shall be borne by the Customer.
Unless otherwise agreed, our invoices shall be due for payment immediately and without deduction.
Unless circumstances giving rise to default occur earlier (for example, a payment reminder, a shorter agreed payment period or a fixed payment date), the Customer shall be deemed in default no later than 30 days after receipt of the invoice. From the commencement of default, the Customer shall owe default interest at a rate of nine (9) percentage points above the applicable base interest rate. In addition, we reserve the right to charge a fixed default fee of EUR 40.00. Any further contractual or statutory rights shall remain unaffected.
Unless otherwise required by law, all payments shall be applied first to costs, then to interest, and finally to the oldest principal claim, irrespective of any contrary instructions given by the Customer.
Cheques and/or bills of exchange shall be accepted as a means of payment only if we have given our prior written consent to such method of payment. Any costs incurred by us in connection with such payment shall be borne by the Customer.
The Customer may set off counterclaims only if such counterclaims are undisputed or have been finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction.
If the Customer fails to comply with the agreed payment terms, or if circumstances become known or apparent which, in our reasonable commercial judgment, give rise to justified doubts as to the Customer’s creditworthiness—including facts that already existed at the time the contract was concluded but were unknown and could not reasonably have been known to us—we shall, without prejudice to any further statutory rights, be entitled to suspend work on pending orders or further deliveries. We may also require advance payment or the provision of security acceptable to us for outstanding deliveries. If the Customer fails to provide such security within a reasonable grace period, we shall be entitled, without prejudice to any further statutory rights, to withdraw from the contract. The Customer shall be obliged to compensate us for all losses incurred as a result of the non-performance of the contract.
In the event of the Customer’s default in payment, suspension of payments or the filing of an application for the commencement of insolvency proceedings with respect to the Customer’s assets, all of our claims shall become immediately due and payable. This shall also apply where payment periods have been agreed or where claims are not yet due for other reasons. The same shall apply irrespective of the maturity of any bills of exchange accepted by us.
The delivery period shall be determined in accordance with the agreements between the contracting parties.
The agreed delivery period shall be deemed to be an estimated delivery period unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing.
The agreed delivery period shall commence no earlier than upon conclusion of the contract and is subject to all commercial and technical matters having been clarified. The commencement of the delivery period further requires that the Customer has provided all necessary documents and approvals and has made any agreed advance payments.
Compliance with the agreed delivery period shall be subject to our being supplied correctly and in due time by our own suppliers.
Delivery shall be made Ex Works (EXW) in accordance with Incoterms® 2020. The Customer shall be obliged to collect the goods immediately upon notification that they are ready for dispatch.
In the case of delivery Ex Works (EXW) in accordance with Incoterms® 2020, the agreed delivery period shall be deemed to have been complied with if the goods have been set aside, are ready for dispatch within the agreed period, and the Customer has been notified accordingly. Where the goods are shipped at the Customer’s request, the agreed delivery period shall be deemed to have been complied with if the goods have been handed over to the carrier within the agreed period or were ready for handover but could not be handed over for reasons beyond our control.
Events of force majeure, including but not limited to riots, strikes, war, floods, lockouts, fire, epidemics, pandemics, seizure, cyberattacks, boycotts, legal or governmental orders and restrictions, incorrect or delayed deliveries by our suppliers, and any other external, unforeseeable and unavoidable events affecting us or our suppliers that cannot be prevented even with the utmost care and that render the performance of our delivery and service obligations unreasonably difficult or impossible, shall extend the applicable delivery and performance periods by the duration of such event together with a reasonable restart period, provided that we are unable to fulfil our contractual obligations despite taking reasonable measures.
The extension of the delivery and performance periods pursuant to Section 4(7) above shall also apply if such events or circumstances occur at a time when we are already in default.
If the delivery and performance periods are extended for a reasonable period due to the events or circumstances referred to in Section 4(7) above, either party shall be entitled to withdraw from the contract upon expiry of such extended period. If the Customer has an interest in partial deliveries, the Customer may also withdraw from the contract only in respect of the outstanding part. Where we have already made partial deliveries and/or performed partial services, the Customer may withdraw from the contract as a whole only if the Customer can demonstrate that it has no interest in the partial delivery and/or performance already provided. Any further statutory or contractual rights of withdrawal shall remain unaffected.
If we are in default of delivery and the Customer has granted us a reasonable grace period which expires without success, the Customer shall be entitled to withdraw from the contract or, where the Customer has an interest in partial delivery, to withdraw only from the relevant part of the contract. Any further claims by the Customer—particularly claims for damages arising from defective performance or delay—shall be excluded unless expressly provided for in Section 8 below.
Deliveries made before the expiry of the agreed delivery period and partial deliveries shall be permitted, provided that they are reasonable for the Customer.
If the Customer is in default of acceptance or is otherwise responsible for a delay in dispatch, we shall be entitled to store the products at the Customer’s risk and expense and to invoice them as delivered Ex Works (EXW). We shall be entitled to charge storage costs of at least 1.5% of the value of the goods per month. We expressly reserve the right to claim any further damages. After granting the Customer a reasonable grace period for acceptance of the products, which expires without success, we may withdraw from the contract and claim damages in lieu of performance. Any further rights shall remain unaffected. No grace period shall be required if the Customer seriously and definitively refuses acceptance or if it is evident that the Customer will be unable to pay the purchase price or accept delivery even within the grace period. For the purposes of damages, an amount equal to 20% of the order value shall be deemed to be the damage suffered. Any advance payment already made shall be credited against this amount. Either party shall remain free to prove that the actual damage was higher or lower.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, all deliveries shall be made Ex Works (EXW) in accordance with Incoterms® 2020.
Accordingly, the risk of accidental loss of or accidental damage to the delivered goods shall pass to the Customer upon notification that the goods are ready for dispatch and have been set aside for delivery. This shall also apply where we have undertaken additional services such as loading, transportation or unloading. If dispatch of the goods is delayed due to circumstances for which the Customer is responsible, the risk shall pass to the Customer upon notification that the goods are ready for delivery.
Where shipment of the goods has been agreed, the risk of accidental loss of or accidental damage to the delivered goods shall pass to the Customer at the latest upon dispatch of the goods or upon handover to the carrier at the place of dispatch or our works, whichever occurs first. If dispatch is delayed due to the Customer’s conduct, the risk shall pass to the Customer upon notification that the goods are ready for dispatch. Section 5(2), sentence 3, shall apply accordingly.
Where we arrange transportation on behalf of the Customer, the method of packaging and shipment of the goods shall be at our discretion, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Unless otherwise agreed, it shall be the Customer’s responsibility to arrange transport insurance.
Where it has been agreed that we shall bear the risk of accidental loss of or accidental damage to the delivered goods, the Customer shall inspect the shipment immediately upon delivery and in the presence of the carrier for any externally visible transport damage. The Customer shall notify the carrier of any externally apparent loss of or damage to the delivered goods no later than upon delivery, providing a sufficiently clear description of the loss or damage, and shall inform us thereof in writing without undue delay. Any loss or damage that is not externally apparent shall be reported to us in writing within five (5) calendar days. In addition, the provisions of Section 438 of the German Commercial Code (HGB) and the notice requirements set out in Section 7(4) shall apply.
We retain title to all goods supplied by us until all claims arising out of the business relationship with the Customer have been paid in full, including any claims arising from cheques and bills of exchange. Where payment is made by cheque or bill of exchange, we shall retain title to the delivered goods until the period during which recourse may be exercised has expired.
The Customer undertakes, at any time upon our request and in the event that insolvency proceedings are applied for, to clearly mark the goods subject to retention of title with the notice: “Property of Walter Wörner Gesellschaft für textilen Service mbH.”
The Customer shall be obliged to handle the goods subject to retention of title with due care. In particular, the Customer shall, at its own expense, insure the goods at their replacement value against fire, water damage and theft. Where maintenance and inspection work is required, the Customer shall carry out such work in due time and at its own expense.
If the Customer processes the goods subject to retention of title, such processing shall be carried out on our behalf as manufacturer within the meaning of Section 950 of the German Civil Code (BGB). If the goods supplied by us are processed or inseparably combined with other items, we shall acquire co-ownership of the new products in proportion to the invoice value of our goods relative to the invoice value of the other materials used. The Customer may further process the delivered goods in the ordinary course of business, provided that our aforementioned security interests remain fully protected.
The Customer may resell the delivered goods in the ordinary course of business, provided that our retention of title in the goods is preserved in accordance with Section 6 below. The Customer shall not be entitled to transfer title to the goods, assign them by way of security, pledge them or otherwise encumber them with comparable rights.
In the event that the Customer resells the delivered goods, the Customer hereby assigns to us, by way of security, all claims arising from such resale against third parties. We hereby accept such assignment. Where we hold only co-ownership in the resold goods, the assignment shall be limited to the amount of our claims against the Customer.
We revocably authorize the Customer to collect, in its own name and on our behalf, the claims assigned to us. This authorization may be revoked only if the Customer fails to properly perform its obligations under this Agreement, in particular its payment obligations, becomes insolvent or unable to pay its debts, files an application for the commencement of insolvency proceedings, or such application is rejected for lack of sufficient assets. In the event of revocation of the authorization to collect the assigned claims, the Customer shall notify the debtor of the assignment of the claim to us. We shall also be entitled to disclose the extended retention of title directly to the third-party debtor.
The Customer’s right to dispose of the goods subject to retention of title, to process such goods, or to collect the assigned claims shall also terminate without the need for an express revocation if insolvency proceedings are commenced with respect to the Customer’s assets, if such proceedings are rejected for lack of sufficient assets, if the Customer suspends payments, if an application for the commencement of insolvency proceedings is filed by the Customer or a third party, or if the Customer becomes insolvent or over-indebted. In such cases, as well as in the circumstances set out in Section 6(7) above, we shall be entitled, after expiry of a reasonable grace period, to withdraw from the contract and reclaim the goods subject to retention of title. The Customer shall be obliged to surrender such goods to us. Any proceeds realized from the disposal of the goods subject to retention of title shall be credited against the Customer’s obligations to us after deduction of the costs of realization.
In the event of revocation of the authorization to collect the assigned claims, the Customer shall be obliged to disclose to us in writing without undue delay the identity of the third-party debtors and the amount of the claims assigned to us against each of them.
If the value of the securities provided to us exceeds the claims to be secured by more than 20%, we shall, at the Customer’s request, release securities of our choice to the extent that such excess exists.
The Customer shall notify us in writing without undue delay if any third party obtains access to the goods subject to retention of title, the assigned claims, or any related documents and records. The Customer shall bear all costs incurred in protecting our rights in the goods subject to retention of title, including any legal costs arising in relation to third parties.
We shall be liable for damages, irrespective of the legal basis, only:
a) where we, our legal representatives or our vicarious agents have acted with intent or gross negligence;
b) in the event of culpable injury to life, body or health;
c) in the event of a culpable breach of material contractual obligations;
d) in the case of defects fraudulently concealed by us or where we have guaranteed the absence of such defects; or
e) where liability arises under the German Product Liability Act (Produkthaftungsgesetz) for personal injury or damage to privately used property.
Any further claims for damages shall be excluded.
A material contractual obligation is an obligation whose fulfilment is essential for the proper performance of the contract and on whose compliance the other contracting party regularly relies and is entitled to rely.
In the event of a slightly negligent breach of a material contractual obligation (excluding intent and gross negligence), our liability shall be limited to the damage that is typical for the contract and reasonably foreseeable.
The damage that is typical for the contract and reasonably foreseeable shall be limited to the contract value of the affected delivery or service.
Unless otherwise agreed, we are obliged to deliver the goods free from third-party intellectual property rights and copyrights (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Intellectual Property Rights”) only within the Federal Republic of Germany.
If a third party asserts justified claims against the Customer based on the infringement of Intellectual Property Rights by deliveries provided by us and used by the Customer in accordance with the contract, we shall be liable to the Customer as follows: At our discretion and at our expense, we shall either obtain a right of use for the relevant deliveries, modify them so that the Intellectual Property Rights are no longer infringed, or replace them. If this is not possible under reasonable conditions, the Customer shall be entitled to the statutory rights of withdrawal and reduction of the purchase price.
Our obligation to pay damages shall be governed by Section 8.
The above obligations on our part shall apply only if the Customer notifies us in writing without undue delay of any claims asserted by a third party, does not acknowledge any alleged infringement, and leaves all defensive measures and settlement negotiations to us. If the Customer discontinues the use of the delivery in order to mitigate damages or for any other reason, the Customer shall inform the third party that such discontinuation does not constitute an acknowledgment of any infringement of Intellectual Property Rights.
The Customer shall have no claims if the infringement of Intellectual Property Rights is attributable to the Customer.
The Customer shall also have no claims where the infringement of Intellectual Property Rights results from specific requirements imposed by the Customer, from a use of the delivered goods that was not reasonably foreseeable by us, or from the fact that the delivered goods have been modified by the Customer or used in combination with products not supplied by us.
In the event of other defects in title, the provisions of Section 7 shall apply accordingly.
Any claims by the Customer against us other than, or exceeding, those expressly provided for in this Section 9 and Section 7 shall be excluded.
Where acceptance has been agreed or is required under the applicable statutory provisions, the following provisions of Section 10 shall apply.
Acceptance shall take place at the Customer’s premises in consultation with the Customer, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
The Customer shall be obliged to accept the services provided by us as soon as completion has been notified and any contractually agreed testing has been carried out.
If, during its inspection, the Customer identifies any deviations from the approved sample or the contractually agreed specifications, the Customer shall notify us without undue delay in text form. The notice should contain a sufficiently detailed description of the identified deviation to enable us to identify and remedy it.
The Customer may not refuse acceptance on account of insignificant defects. Such defects shall be remedied by us within the scope of the warranty.
Material defects shall be remedied by us as soon as reasonably practicable and the services shall then be resubmitted to the Customer for acceptance. Any repeated acceptance inspection shall be limited to verifying that the identified defects have been remedied. Minor defects shall be recorded by the Customer in writing in the acceptance certificate and shall be remedied by us within the scope of the warranty.
If the Customer unjustifiably refuses acceptance or fails to state the reasons for such refusal, we may grant the Customer a period of 14 days in writing to declare acceptance. Acceptance shall be deemed to have taken place if, within this period, the Customer neither accepts the work nor specifies in writing the material defects identified by the Customer.
In any event, the work product shall be deemed accepted if the Customer puts it into productive use or is able to do so. From that point onwards, the warranty period shall commence, and we shall be entitled to payment of any outstanding balance.
The Customer shall not be entitled to refuse acceptance on the grounds of disruptions during the acceptance process for which we are not responsible.
Upon acceptance, our liability for apparent defects shall cease unless the Customer has expressly reserved the right to assert claims in respect of a known defect.
The place of performance for all obligations arising out of the business relationship between us and the Customer shall be the registered office of our company.
If the Customer is a merchant, a legal entity under public law or a special fund under public law, the exclusive place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising out of the business relationship, including disputes relating to cheques and bills of exchange, shall be the place of performance. However, we shall also be entitled to bring legal proceedings against the Customer at the Customer’s general place of jurisdiction.
All disputes arising out of contracts to which these Terms and Conditions apply, as well as all disputes arising from the business relationship between us and the Customer, shall be governed exclusively by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany. The application of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) and the rules of private international law is excluded.
Should any provision of these Terms and Conditions be or become wholly or partially invalid or unenforceable, the validity of the remaining provisions shall remain unaffected.
Walter Wörner GmbH & Co. KG
Walter Wörner Gesellschaft für textilen Service mbH
Benzstraße 22
72793 Pfullingen
Germany
Version: 10 November 2020
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