American Acoustical Products - Terms and Conditions of Sale
1. Applicability.
(a) These terms and conditions of sale (these "Terms") are the only terms which govern the sale of the goods ("Goods") by Ward Process, Inc. d/b/a American Acoustical Products ("Seller") to you (the "Buyer"). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if a written contract signed by both parties is in existence covering the sale of the Goods covered hereby, the terms and conditions of said contract shall prevail to the extent they are inconsistent with these Terms.
(b) Seller's email acknowledgment to Buyer regarding the Buyer's purchase of Goods (the "Sales Confirmation") and these Terms (collectively, this "Agreement") comprise the entire agreement between the parties regarding the Goods that are the subject of the Sales Confirmation, and supersede all prior or contemporaneous understandings, agreements, negotiations, representations and warranties, and communications, both written and oral, regarding such Goods. These Terms prevail over any of Buyer's general terms and conditions of purchase regardless of whether or when Buyer has submitted its purchase order or such terms. Fulfillment of Buyer's order does not constitute acceptance of any of Buyer's terms and conditions and does not serve to modify or amend these Terms.
2. Delivery.
(a) Seller will arrange for shipment of the Goods to Buyer to the "ship to" address and per carrier selection and freight billing information as provided by Buyer on Buyer's purchase order. If no carrier selection and/or freight billing instructions are provided by Buyer on its purchase order, then Seller will at its discretion select the shipping method and ship the Goods to Buyer on "freight collect" terms. The Goods will be shipped within a reasonable time after the receipt and acceptance of Buyer's purchase order as indicated by the ship date provided to Buyer on Seller's order acknowledgment. All shipments from Seller to Buyer will be per Incoterms 2020 Free Carrier (FCA) from Seller's shipping location at 311 Hopping Brook Road, Holliston, MA. Buyer will pay all shipping and handling charges. Title and risk of loss pass to Buyer upon delivery by Seller of the Goods to the carrier at Seller's shipping location. Shipping and delivery dates are estimates only and cannot be guaranteed. Seller shall not be liable for any delays in shipments.
(b) Seller may, in its sole discretion, without liability or penalty, make partial shipments of Goods to Buyer. Each shipment will constitute a separate sale, and Buyer shall pay for the Goods shipped whether such shipment is in whole or partial fulfillment of Buyer's purchase order.
3. Title and Risk of Loss.
Title and risk of loss passes to Buyer upon delivery of the Goods to the carrier. As collateral security for the payment of the purchase price of the Goods, Buyer hereby grants to Seller a lien on and security interest in and to all of the right, title and interest of Buyer in, to and under the Goods, wherever located, and whether now existing or hereafter arising or acquired from time to time, and in all accessions thereto and replacements or modifications thereof, as well as all proceeds (including insurance proceeds) of the foregoing. The security interest granted under this provision constitutes a purchase money security interest under the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial Code.
4. Amendment and Modification.
These Terms may only be amended or modified in a writing which specifically states that it amends these Terms and is signed by an authorized representative of each party.
5. Inspection and Rejection of Nonconforming Goods.
(a) Buyer shall inspect the Goods within five business days after receipt ("Inspection Period"). Buyer will be deemed to have accepted the Goods unless it notifies Seller in writing of any Nonconforming Goods during the Inspection Period and furnishes such written evidence or other documentation as reasonably required by Seller. "Nonconforming Goods" means only the following: (i) product shipped is different than identified in Buyer's purchase order; or (ii) product's label or packaging incorrectly identifies its contents.
(b) If Buyer timely notifies Seller of any Nonconforming Goods, Seller shall, in its sole discretion, (i) replace such Nonconforming Goods with conforming Goods, or (ii) credit or refund the price paid for such Nonconforming Goods, together with any reasonable shipping and handling expenses incurred by Buyer in connection therewith. Seller may decide at its sole discretion to request Buyer to ship, at Seller's expense and risk of loss, the Nonconforming Goods to Seller's facility located at Holliston, Massachusetts. If Seller has requested Buyer to ship the Nonconforming goods to Seller, and has also exercised its option to replace Nonconforming Goods, Seller shall, after receiving Buyer's shipment of Nonconforming Goods, ship to Buyer, at Buyer's expense and risk of loss, the replaced Goods to the Delivery Point.
(c) Buyer acknowledges and agrees that the remedies set forth in Section 8(b) are Buyer's exclusive remedies for the delivery of Nonconforming Goods. Except as provided under Section 8(b), all sales of Goods to Buyer are made on a one-way basis and Buyer has no right to return Goods purchased under this Agreement to Seller.
6. Price.
(a) Buyer shall purchase the Goods from Seller at the price(s) (the "Price(s)") set forth in the Sales Confirmation.
(b) All Prices are exclusive of all sales, use and excise taxes, and any other similar taxes, duties and charges of any kind imposed by any Governmental Authority on any amounts payable by Buyer. Buyer shall be responsible for all such charges, costs and taxes; provided, that, Buyer shall not be responsible for any taxes imposed on, or with respect to, Seller's income, revenues, gross receipts, personnel or real or personal property or other assets.
7. Payment Terms.
(a) Buyer shall pay all invoiced amounts due to Seller per the payment terms as stated on Seller's invoice. Buyer shall make all payments hereunder by wire transfer or check and in US dollars.
(b) Buyer shall pay interest on all late payments at the lesser of the rate of 1.5% per month or the highest rate permissible under applicable law, calculated daily and compounded monthly. Buyer shall reimburse Seller for all costs incurred in collecting any late payments, including, without limitation, attorneys' fees. In addition to all other remedies available under these Terms or at law (which Seller does not waive by the exercise of any rights hereunder), Seller shall be entitled to suspend the delivery of any Goods if Buyer fails to pay any amounts when due hereunder and such failure continues for ten (10) days following written notice thereof.
(c) Buyer shall not withhold payment of any amounts due and payable by reason of any set-off of any claim or dispute with Seller, whether relating to Seller's breach, bankruptcy or otherwise.
8. Limited Warranty.
SELLER WARRANTS THAT FOR A PERIOD OF 180 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF SHIPMENT ("WARRANTY PERIOD") THE GOODS SHALL COMPLY WITH THE PRODUCT DESCRIPTION ON SELLER'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF BUYER'S PURCHASE ORDER AND SHALL BE FREE FROM MATERIAL DEFECTS IN MATERIAL AND WORKMANSHIP. EXCEPT FOR THE FOREGOING LIMITED WARRANTY, SELLER MAKES NO WARRANTY WHATSOEVER WITH RESPECT TO THE GOODS, INCLUDING ANY (a) WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY; (b) WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE; (c) WARRANTY OF TITLE; OR (d) WARRANTY AGAINST INFRINGEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF A THIRD PARTY; WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED BY LAW, COURSE OF DEALING, COURSE OF PERFORMANCE, USAGE OF TRADE OR OTHERWISE.
9. Limitation of Liability.
(a) IN NO EVENT SHALL SELLER BE LIABLE TO BUYER OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY LOSS OF USE, REVENUE OR PROFIT OR LOSS OF DATA OR DIMINUTION IN VALUE, OR FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES WHETHER ARISING OUT OF BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH DAMAGES WERE FORESEEABLE AND WHETHER OR NOT SELLER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, AND NOTWITHSTANDING THE FAILURE OF ANY AGREED OR OTHER REMEDY OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE.
(b) IN NO EVENT SHALL SELLER BE LIABLE FOR ANY AMOUNT ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE, THAT EXCEEDS THE AMOUNT PAID BY BUYER TO SELLER FOR THE GOODS WITH RESPECT TO WHICH THE LIABILITY AROSE, IN EACH CASE, WHETHER OR NOT A PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
10. Compliance with Law.
Buyer shall comply with all applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. Buyer shall maintain in effect all the licenses, permissions, authorizations, consents and permits that it needs to carry out its obligations under this Agreement.
11. Termination.
In addition to any remedies that may be provided under these Terms, Seller may terminate this Agreement with immediate effect upon written notice to Buyer, if Buyer: (i) fails to pay any amount when due under this Agreement; (ii) has not otherwise performed or complied with any of these Terms, in whole or in part; or (iii) becomes insolvent, files a petition for bankruptcy or commences or has commenced against it proceedings relating to bankruptcy, receivership, reorganization or assignment for the benefit of creditors.
12. Waiver.
No waiver by Seller of any of the provisions of this Agreement is effective unless explicitly set forth in writing and signed by Seller. No failure to exercise, or delay in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege arising from this Agreement operates, or may be construed, as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder precludes any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.
13. Confidential Information.
All non-public, confidential or proprietary information of Seller, including but not limited to specifications, samples, patterns, designs, plans, drawings, documents, data, business operations, customer lists, pricing, discounts or rebates, disclosed by Seller to Buyer, whether disclosed orally or disclosed or accessed in written, electronic or other form or media, and whether or not marked, designated or otherwise identified as "confidential" in connection with this Agreement is confidential, solely for the use of performing this Agreement and may not be disclosed or copied unless authorized in advance by Seller in writing. Upon Seller's request, Buyer shall promptly return all documents and other materials received from Seller. Seller shall be entitled to injunctive relief for any violation of this Section. This Section does not apply to information that is: (a) in the public domain; (b) known to Buyer at the time of disclosure; or (c) rightfully obtained by Buyer on a non-confidential basis from a third party.
14. Force Majeure.
The Seller shall not be liable or responsible to Buyer, nor be deemed to have defaulted or breached this Agreement, for any failure or delay in fulfilling or performing any term of this Agreement when and to the extent such failure or delay is caused by or results from acts or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of Seller including, without limitation, acts of God, flood, fire, earthquake, explosion, governmental actions, war, invasion or hostilities (whether war is declared or not), terrorist threats or acts, riot, or other civil unrest, national emergency, revolution, insurrection, epidemic, lockouts, strikes or other labor disputes (whether or not relating to either party's workforce), or restraints or delays affecting carriers or inability or delay in obtaining supplies of adequate or suitable materials, materials or telecommunication breakdown or power outage.
15. Assignment.
Buyer may not assign any of its rights or delegate any of its obligations under this Agreement. Any purported assignment or delegation in violation of this Section is null and void. No assignment or delegation relieves Buyer of any of its obligations under this Agreement.
16. Relationship of the Parties.
The relationship between the parties is that of independent contractors. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as creating any agency, partnership, joint venture or other form of joint enterprise, employment or fiduciary relationship between the parties, and neither party shall have authority to contract for or bind the other party in any manner whatsoever.
17. No Third-Party Beneficiaries.
This Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person or entity any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of these Terms.
18. Governing Law.
All matters arising out of or relating to this Agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
19. Submission to Jurisdiction.
Venue of any action concerning this Agreement shall be in the courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts or in the federal district court for the District of Massachusetts, and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding.
20. Notices.
All notices, request, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder (each, a "Notice") shall be in writing and sent via electronic mail to the addresses provided by the parties to each other.
21. Severability.
If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction.
Last Updated: 02/10/20