General Terms and Conditions

§ 1 Scope, form

(1) These General Terms and Conditions (GTC) shall apply to all our business relations with our customers (“Buyer”). The GTC shall only apply if the Buyer is an entrepreneur (§ 14 BGB), a legal entity under public law or a special fund under public law.

(2) The GTC shall apply in particular to contracts for the sale and/or delivery of movable goods (“Goods”), irrespective of whether we manufacture the Goods ourselves or purchase them from suppliers (§§ 433, 651 BGB). Unless otherwise agreed, the GTC in the version valid at the time of the Buyer’s order or, in any case, in the version last notified to the Buyer in text form shall also apply as a framework agreement for similar future contracts without our having to refer to them again in each individual case.

(3) Our General Terms and Conditions shall apply exclusively. Deviating, conflicting or supplementary general terms and conditions of the Buyer shall only become part of the contract if and to the extent that we have expressly consented to their application. This requirement of consent shall apply in any case, for example even if we carry out the delivery to the Buyer without reservation in the knowledge of the Buyer’s GTC.

(4) Individual agreements made with the Buyer in individual cases (including collateral agreements, supplements and amendments) shall in any case take precedence over these GTC. Subject to proof to the contrary, a written contract or our written confirmation shall be authoritative for the content of such agreements.

(5) Legally relevant declarations and notifications by the Buyer with regard to the contract (e.g. setting of deadlines, notification of defects, withdrawal or reduction) shall be made in writing, i.e. in written or text form (e.g. letter, e-mail, fax). Legal formal requirements and further proof, in particular in the case of doubts about the legitimacy of the person making the declaration, shall remain unaffected.

(6) References to the applicability of statutory provisions shall only have a clarifying significance. Even without such clarification, the statutory provisions shall therefore apply, unless they are directly amended or expressly excluded in these GTC.

§ 2 Conclusion of contract

(1) Our offers are subject to change and non-binding. This shall also apply if we have provided the Buyer with catalogs, technical documentation (e.g. drawings, plans, calculations, calculations, references to DIN standards), other product descriptions or documents – also in electronic form – to which we reserve property rights and copyrights.

(2) The order of the goods by the Buyer shall be deemed a binding offer of contract. Unless otherwise stated in the order, we shall be entitled to accept this contractual offer within 3 weeks of its receipt by us.

(3) Acceptance may be declared either in writing (e.g. by order confirmation) or by delivery of the goods to the Buyer.

§ 3 Delivery period and delay in delivery

(1) The delivery period shall be agreed individually or stated by us upon acceptance of the order.

(2) If we are unable to meet binding delivery deadlines for reasons for which we are not responsible (non-availability of the performance), we shall inform the Buyer of this without delay and at the same time notify the Buyer of the expected new delivery deadline. If the service is also not available within the new delivery period, we shall be entitled to withdraw from the contract in whole or in part; we shall immediately refund any consideration already paid by the Buyer. A case of non-availability of the performance in this sense shall be deemed to be in particular the failure of our supplier to deliver on time if we have concluded a congruent hedging transaction, neither we nor our supplier are at fault or we are not obliged to procure in the individual case.

(3) The occurrence of our delay in delivery shall be determined in accordance with the statutory provisions. In any case, however, a reminder by the Buyer shall be required. If we are in default of delivery, the Buyer may demand lump-sum compensation for the damage caused by the default. The lump-sum compensation shall amount to 0.5% of the net price (delivery value) for each full calendar week of the delay, but in total not more than 5% of the delivery value of the goods delivered late. We reserve the right to prove that the Buyer has not suffered any damage at all or that the damage is significantly less than the aforementioned lump sum.

(4) The rights of the Buyer pursuant to § 8 of these GTC and our statutory rights, in particular in the event of an exclusion of the obligation to perform (e.g. due to impossibility or unreasonableness of performance and/or subsequent performance), shall remain unaffected.

§ 4 Delivery, transfer of risk, acceptance, default of acceptance

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(1) Delivery shall be made ex warehouse, which is also the place of performance for the delivery and any subsequent performance. At the Buyer’s request and expense, the goods shall be shipped to another destination (sale by delivery to a place other than the place of performance). Unless otherwise agreed, we shall be entitled to determine the type of shipment (in particular transport company, shipping route, packaging) ourselves.

(2) The risk of accidental loss and accidental deterioration of the goods shall pass to the Buyer upon handover at the latest. In the case of sale by delivery to a place other than the place of performance, however, the risk of accidental loss and accidental deterioration of the goods as well as the risk of delay shall pass already upon delivery of the goods to the forwarding agent, the carrier or any other person or institution designated to carry out the shipment. Insofar as an acceptance has been agreed, this shall be decisive for the transfer of risk. In all other respects, the statutory provisions of the law on contracts for work and services shall also apply mutatis mutandis to an agreed acceptance. The handover or acceptance shall be deemed equivalent if the Buyer is in default of acceptance.

(3) If the Buyer is in default of acceptance, fails to cooperate or if our delivery is delayed for other reasons for which the Buyer is responsible, we shall be entitled to demand compensation for the resulting damage including additional expenses (e.g. storage costs). For this purpose, we shall charge a lump-sum compensation in the amount of 0.5% of the delivery value per calendar week up to a maximum of 5% in total or 10% in the case of final non-acceptance, starting with the delivery deadline or – in the absence of a delivery deadline – with the notification that the goods are ready for shipment.

The proof of a higher damage and our legal claims (in particular compensation for additional expenses, reasonable compensation, termination) shall remain unaffected; however, the lump sum shall be credited against further monetary claims. The Buyer shall be entitled to prove that we have incurred no damage at all or only significantly less damage than the aforementioned lump sum.

§ 5 Prices and terms of payment

(1) Unless otherwise agreed in individual cases, our current prices at the time of conclusion of the contract shall apply, ex warehouse, plus statutory VAT.

(2) In the case of sale by delivery to a place other than the place of performance (§ 4 para. 1), the Buyer shall bear the transport costs ex warehouse and the costs of any transport insurance requested by the Buyer. Any customs duties, fees, taxes and other public charges shall be borne by the Buyer.

(3) The purchase price shall be due and payable within 14 days from the date of invoice and delivery or acceptance of the goods. However, we shall be 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. We shall declare a corresponding reservation at the latest with the order confirmation.

(4) Upon expiration of the aforementioned payment period, the Buyer shall be in default. During the period of default, interest shall be charged on the purchase price at the statutory default interest rate applicable at the time. We reserve the right to assert further damage caused by default. With respect to merchants, our claim to the commercial due date interest rate (§ 353 HGB) shall remain unaffected.

(5) The Buyer shall only be entitled to rights of set-off or retention to the extent that his claim has been legally established or is undisputed. In the event of defects in the delivery, the Buyer’s counter rights shall remain unaffected, in particular pursuant to § 7 para. 6 sentence 2 of these GTC.

(6) If, after conclusion of the contract, it becomes apparent (e.g. by filing for insolvency proceedings) that our claim to the purchase price is jeopardized by the Buyer’s inability to pay, 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 BGB). In the case of contracts for the manufacture of unjustifiable items (custom-made products), we may declare withdrawal immediately; the statutory provisions on the dispensability of setting a deadline shall remain unaffected.

§ 6 Retention of title

(1) Until full payment of all our present and future claims arising from the purchase contract and an ongoing business relationship (secured claims), we retain title to the goods sold.

(2) The goods subject to retention of title may neither be pledged to third parties nor assigned as security before full payment of the secured claims. The purchaser must notify us immediately in writing if an application is made to open insolvency proceedings or if third parties (e.g. seizures) have access to the goods belonging to us.

(3) In the event of any breach of contract by the Buyer, in particular in the event of non-payment of the purchase price due, we shall be entitled to rescind the contract in accordance with the statutory provisions or/and to return the goods.

and/or to demand the return of the goods on the basis of the retention of title. Das Herausgabeverlangen beinhaltet nicht zugleich die Erklärung des Rücktritts; wir sind vielmehr berechtigt, lediglich die Ware heraus zu verlangen und uns den Rücktritt vorzubehalten. Zahlt der Käufer den fälligen Kaufpreis nicht, dürfen wir diese Rechte nur geltend machen, wenn wir dem Käufer zuvor erfolglos eine angemessene Frist zur Zahlung gesetzt haben oder eine derartige Fristsetzung nach den gesetzlichen Vorschriften entbehrlich ist.

(4) Der Käufer ist bis auf Widerruf gemäß unten (c) befugt, die unter Eigentumsvorbehalt stehenden Waren im ordnungsgemäßen Geschäftsgang weiter zu veräußern und/oder zu verarbeiten. In diesem Fall gelten ergänzend die nachfolgenden Bestimmungen.

• (a) Der Eigentumsvorbehalt erstreckt sich auf die durch Verarbeitung, Vermischung oder Verbindung unserer Waren entstehenden Erzeugnisse zu deren vollem Wert, wobei wir als Hersteller gelten. Bleibt bei einer Verarbeitung, Vermischung oder Verbindung mit Waren Dritter deren Eigentumsrecht bestehen, so erwerben wir Miteigentum im Verhältnis der Rechnungswerte der verarbeiteten, vermischten oder verbundenen Waren. Im Übrigen gilt für das entstehende Erzeugnis das Gleiche wie für die unter Eigentumsvorbehalt gelieferte Ware.
• (b) Die aus dem Weiterverkauf der Ware oder des Erzeugnisses entstehenden Forderungen gegen Dritte tritt der Käufer schon jetzt insgesamt bzw. in Höhe unseres etwaigen Miteigentumsanteils gemäß vorstehendem Absatz zur Sicherheit an uns ab. Wir nehmen die Abtretung an. Die in Abs. 2 genannten Pflichten des Käufers gelten auch in Ansehung der abgetretenen Forderungen.
• (c) Zur Einziehung der Forderung bleibt der Käufer neben uns ermächtigt. Wir verpflichten uns, die Forderung nicht einzuziehen, solange der Käufer seinen Zahlungsverpflichtungen uns gegenüber nachkommt, kein Mangel seiner Leistungsfähigkeit vorliegt und wir den Eigentumsvorbehalt nicht durch Ausübung eines Rechts gem. Abs. 3 geltend machen. Ist dies aber der Fall, so können wir verlangen, dass der Käufer uns die abgetretenen Forderungen und deren Schuldner bekannt gibt, alle zum Einzug erforderlichen Angaben macht, die dazugehörigen Unterlagen aushändigt und den Schuldnern (Dritten) die Abtretung mitteilt. Außerdem sind wir in diesem Fall berechtigt, die Befugnis des Käufers zur weiteren Veräußerung und Verarbeitung der unter Eigentumsvorbehalt stehenden Waren zu widerrufen.
• (d) Übersteigt der realisierbare Wert der Sicherheiten unsere Forderungen um mehr als 10%, werden wir auf Verlangen des Käufers Sicherheiten nach unserer Wahl freigeben.

§ 7 Mängelansprüche des Käufers

(1) Für die Rechte des Käufers bei Sach- und Rechtsmängeln (einschließlich Falsch- und Minderlieferung sowie unsachgemäßer Montage oder mangelhafter Montageanleitung) seitens des Verkäufers gelten die gesetzlichen Vorschriften, soweit nachfolgend nichts anderes bestimmt ist. In allen Fällen unberührt bleiben die gesetzlichen Sondervorschriften bei Endlieferung der Ware an einen Verbraucher (Lieferantenregress gem. §§ 478, 479 BGB).

(2) The basis of our liability for defects is above all the agreement reached on the quality of the goods. All product descriptions which are the subject of the individual contract or which have been publicly announced by us (in particular in catalogs or on our Internet homepage) shall be deemed to be an agreement on the quality of the goods.

(3) Insofar as the quality has not been agreed, it shall be assessed in accordance with the statutory provisions whether or not there is a defect (§ 434 Para. 1 S. 2 and 3 BGB). However, we shall not be liable for public statements made by the manufacturer or other third parties (e.g. advertising statements).

(4) In addition to proper use, the Buyer’s claims for defects shall be subject to the condition that he has complied with his statutory duties of inspection and notification of defects (§§ 377, 381 HGB). If a defect becomes apparent upon delivery, inspection or at any later time, we must be notified thereof in writing without delay. In any case, obvious defects shall be notified to us in writing within 5 working days of delivery and defects not apparent on inspection within the same period of time from discovery. If the purchaser fails to carry out the proper inspection and/or give notice of defects, our liability for the defect not notified in time or not notified properly shall be excluded in accordance with the statutory provisions.

(5) If the delivered item is defective, we may initially choose whether to provide subsequent performance by remedying the defect (subsequent improvement) or by delivering an item free of defects (replacement delivery). Our right to refuse subsequent performance under the statutory conditions shall remain unaffected. This shall apply in particular in the event of disproportionality.

(6) We shall be entitled to make the subsequent performance owed dependent on the Buyer paying the purchase price due. The Buyer shall, however, be entitled to retain a reasonable part of the purchase price in relation to the defect.
(7) The Buyer shall give us the time and opportunity required for the subsequent performance owed, in particular to hand over the goods complained about for inspection purposes. In the event of a replacement delivery, the Buyer shall return the defective item to us in accordance with the statutory provisions.

(8) We shall bear the expenses necessary for the purpose of inspection and subsequent performance, in particular transport, travel, labor and material costs, if a defect is actually present. Otherwise, we may demand reimbursement from the Buyer of the costs incurred as a result of the unjustified request to remedy the defect (in particular inspection and transport costs), unless the lack of defectiveness was not apparent to the Buyer.

(9) In urgent cases, e.g. if operational safety is at risk or to prevent disproportionate damage, the Buyer shall have the right to remedy the defect itself and to demand reimbursement from us of the expenses objectively necessary for this purpose. We are to be informed immediately of such a self-remedy, if possible in advance. The right of self-execution shall not apply if we would be entitled to refuse a corresponding subsequent performance in accordance with the statutory provisions.

(10) If the subsequent performance has failed or if a reasonable period to be set by the Buyer for the subsequent performance has expired unsuccessfully or is dispensable according to the statutory provisions, the Buyer may withdraw from the purchase contract or reduce the purchase price. In the case of an insignificant defect, however, there shall be no right of withdrawal.

(11) Claims of the Buyer for damages or reimbursement of futile expenses shall also exist in the case of defects only in accordance with § 8 and are otherwise excluded.

§ 8 Other liability

(1) Unless otherwise provided in these GTC including the following provisions, we shall be liable for a breach of contractual and non-contractual obligations in accordance with the statutory provisions.

(2) We shall be liable for damages – irrespective of the legal grounds – within the scope of fault liability in the event of intent and gross negligence. In the event of simple negligence, we shall be liable, subject to a milder standard of liability in accordance with statutory provisions (e.g. for diligence in our own affairs) only
a) for damages resulting from injury to life, body or health,
b) for damages arising from the not inconsiderable breach of a material contractual obligation (an obligation the fulfillment of which is a prerequisite for the proper performance of the contract and the observance of which the contractual partner regularly relies on and may rely on); in this case, however, our liability shall be limited to compensation for the foreseeable, typically occurring damage.

(3) Die sich aus Abs. 2 ergebenden Haftungsbeschränkungen gelten auch bei Pflichtverletzungen durch bzw. zugunsten von Personen, deren Verschulden wir nach gesetzlichen Vorschriften zu vertreten haben. Sie gelten nicht, soweit wir einen Mangel arglistig verschwiegen oder eine Garantie für die Beschaffenheit der Ware übernommen haben und für Ansprüche des Käufers nach dem Produkthaftungsgesetz.

(4) Wegen einer Pflichtverletzung, die nicht in einem Mangel besteht, kann der Käufer nur zurücktreten oder kündigen, wenn wir die Pflichtverletzung zu vertreten haben. Ein freies Kündigungsrecht des Käufers (insbesondere gem. §§ 651, 649 BGB) wird ausgeschlossen. Im Übrigen gelten die gesetzlichen Voraussetzungen und Rechtsfolgen.

§ 9 Verjährung

(1) Abweichend von § 438 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 BGB beträgt die allgemeine Verjährungsfrist für Ansprüche aus Sach- und Rechtsmängeln ein Jahr ab Ablieferung. Soweit eine Abnahme vereinbart ist, beginnt die Verjährung mit der Abnahme.

(2) Dies gilt nicht, soweit das Gesetz gemäß § 438 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 BGB (Bauwerke und Sachen für Bauwerke), § 445 b Abs. 1 BGB (Rückgriffsanspruch) und § 634 a Abs. 1 Nr. 2 BGB (Baumängel). Unberührt bleiben auch weitere gesetzliche Sonderregelungen zur Verjährung (insbes. § 438 Abs. 1 Nr. 1, Abs. 3, §§ 444, 479 BGB).

(3) Die vorstehenden Verjährungsfristen des Kaufrechts gelten auch für vertragliche und außervertragliche Schadensersatzansprüche des Käufers, die auf einem Mangel der Ware beruhen, es sei denn die Anwendung der regelmäßigen gesetzlichen Verjährung (§§ 195, 199 BGB) würde im Einzelfall zu einer kürzeren Verjährung führen. Schadensersatzansprüche des Käufers gem. § 8 Abs. 2 Satz 1 und Satz 2(a) sowie nach dem Produkthaftungsgesetz verjähren jedoch ausschließlich nach den gesetzlichen Verjährungsfristen.

§ 10 Rechtswahl und Gerichtsstand

(1) Für diese AGB und die Vertragsbeziehung zwischen uns und dem Käufer gilt das Recht der Bundesrepublik Deutschland unter Ausschluss internationalen Einheitsrechts, insbesondere des UN-Kaufrechts.

(2) Ist der Käufer Kaufmann i.S.d. Handelsgesetzbuchs, juristische Person des öffentlichen Rechts oder ein öffentlich-rechtliches Sondervermögen, ist ausschließlicher – auch internationaler Gerichtsstand für alle sich aus dem Vertragsverhältnis unmittelbar oder mittelbar ergebenden Streitigkeiten unser Geschäftssitz in Norderstedt. Entsprechendes gilt, wenn der Käufer Unternehmer im Sinne von § 14 BGB ist. Wir sind jedoch in allen Fällen auch berechtigt, Klage am Erfüllungsort der Lieferverpflichtung gemäß diesen AGB bzw. einer vorrangigen Individualabrede oder am allgemeinen Gerichtsstand des Käufers zu erheben. Vorrangige gesetzliche Vorschriften, insbesondere zu ausschließlichen Zuständigkeiten, bleiben unberührt.

Breuell & Hilgenfeldt GmbH April 2018