Terms & Conditions

These terms and conditions cover all sales of products and services by The Scientific Instrument Centre Limited (SIC) in the United Kingdom and any information and advice given whether charged for or not. No variation in these terms and conditions will apply unless agreed by SIC in writing.

Delivery

• It is usual practice to provide a delivery estimate in our quotations, usually in the form of a range of days or weeks.
• This estimate can not be interpreted as a guaranteed delivery schedule, regardless of any conditions of purchase that may be provided by the buyer.
• Acceptance of any quote, whether by official purchase order, or informal order such as an e-mail, is acknowledgement of this delivery uncertainty.
• By accepting a quotation as above, the buyer also accepts that delivery is on a “best effort” condition only.
• SiC will of course, endeavour to keep buyers informed to the best of its ability.

Quotations

• All quotations will only be valid until the expiry date stated on the quotation.
• Quotations that involve a labour component are estimates only unless specifically stated to be “fixed price”.
• Unless “fixed price”, the labour charge will be calculated as the actual hours spent times the rate stated in the quotation.
• Additionally, the total labour charged may be subject to a minimum charge.
• All quotations for goods and services are valid at our discretion, only if the relevant account is compliant with agreed terms of business and credit terms.

Prices/Charges

• SIC has the right to change the prices shown in websites, catalogues and price lists at any time and to invoice at prices current at the date of receipt of an order.
• ‘Price on application’ (POA) quotations and all other quotations will be valid for 30 days from the date of the quotation, unless otherwise notified by SIC.
• All prices and quotations are net of Value Added Tax and any other taxes or duties. These will be charged separately, if applicable. SIC reserve the right to apply a freight charge on all deliveries. There is a minimum order value of £25 on our website.

Payment

• Unless otherwise agreed in writing payment in full is due within 30 days from date of invoice. SIC has the right to charge interest on all overdue sums at the rate of eight percent per annum over the base lending rate of the Bank of England calculated at the date of actual payment.
• Customers who exceed their credit limits will be asked to pay in advance for additional products until the account is settled.
• Delivered products will remain the property of SIC until paid for.
• SIC has the right to deliver an order in instalments, and the customer is required to pay the invoice for each instalment within 30 days from date of invoice.
• Any claims for shortages must be made within 7 days of a delivery.
• Any claims for non-ordered items or non-delivery must be made within 7 days of receiving the invoice.

Return of Damaged or Unsuitable Goods, or Goods Delivered in Error

• No goods may be returned to The Scientific Instrument Centre (SIC) without SIC’s authorisation.
• Authorisation to return products damaged during delivery, or delivered in error must be requested within 3 days of delivery. SIC has the right to repair and return damaged products, and to refuse to exchange goods delivered in error if SiC is not informed within 3 days of delivery.
• Authorisation for the return of products which fail to meet current published manufacturers specifications must be requested in writing within 7 days of delivery. SIC will assist customers, at customers’ expense, to obtain any manufacturer’s warranty consistent with that granted to SIC
• Authorisation for the return of products ordered in error, other than those damaged during delivery, delivered in error or those that do not meet specification, must be requested within 7 days of delivery. Credit (less a minimum handling charge of 15% of the invoice value of all products returned subject to a minimum charge of £30) will be given for those products authorised for return which are unused and in re-saleable condition other than those in the categories shown:

• open chemicals or diagnostics

• refrigerated or other perishables

• items with an expired shelf life or an expiration date too short for resale

• any article that has been delivered direct by a third party supplier

• discontinued items

• items not purchased from SIC.

• Authorisation will be subject to the condition that the products are returned to SIC Warehouse or to the manufacturer or other source notified by SIC, by registered post if permitted, or via SIC organised dangerous goods delivery/pickup service, for which a handling charge will be made for each line.
• Articles that have been delivered on our behalf by a third party supplier will not be accepted back at SIC premises.

Cancelled Orders

• Goods ordered on a customer’s behalf from a supplier against a customer purchase order, and subsequently cancelled prior to delivery, will be subject to a cancellation charge. The minimum cancellation charge will be 15% of the customer invoice value of the goods.
• No goods may be returned to The Scientific Instrument Centre (SIC) without SIC’s authorisation. Authorisation to return products must be requested within 3 days of delivery.
• Authorisation for the return of products, other than those damaged during delivery, delivered in error or those that do not meet specification, must be requested within 3 days of delivery. Articles must be undamaged and unopened in their original packaging. Return postage or shipping is at the customer’s expense. Credit (less a minimum handling charge of 15% of the invoice value of all products returned subject to a minimum charge of £30) will be given for those products authorised for return which are unused and in re-saleable condition other than those in the categories shown:

• Authorisation will be subject to the condition that the products are returned to SIC Warehouse or to the manufacturer or other source notified by SIC, by registered post if permitted, or via SIC organised specialist or dangerous goods delivery/pickup service, for which a handling charge will be made for each line.
• Articles that have been delivered on our behalf by a third party supplier will not be accepted back at SIC premises.
• Cancelled orders that have already been delivered will only be accepted for return within 7 days of delivery. A minimum of 20% of the net invoice amount plus a delivery charge will apply.
• The goods must be in pristine condition and the packaging unopened. Goods delivered on a pallet must still be on the pallet with all original banding and other packaging in situ.

Warranty

• Seller warrants that its Products and Services will substantially conform to Seller’s published specifications and be free from defects in material and workmanship, when subjected to normal, proper and intended usage by properly trained personnel, for the period of time set forth in the product documentation, published specifications, package inserts or quotations.
• If a period of time is not specified, the warranty period shall be one (1) year from the date of shipment to Buyer for equipment and Miele Professional parts and accessories; and 30 (30) days for all other non-consumable products (the “Warranty Period”).
• Seller shall repair or replace, at its option, defective products during the Warranty Period provided that Buyer shall (a) promptly notify Seller in writing upon the discovery of any defect, which notice shall include the product model and serial number (if applicable) and details of the warranty claim; and (b) obtain a Return Material Authorization (“RMA”), which may include biohazard decontamination procedures and other product-specific handling instructions, then, if applicable, Buyer may return the defective Products to Seller with all costs prepaid by Buyer. Consumables are expressly excluded from this warranty.
• Where the Products have been sourced by Seller from an original manufacturer or third party supplier, Seller shall assign to Buyer any warranty rights in such Product that Seller may have (to the extent such assignment is permitted).
• In no event shall Seller liability under this warranty apply to damage arising from (i) normal wear and tear, (ii) accident, disaster or event of force majeure, (iii) misuse, fault or negligence of Buyer, (iv) use of the Products in a manner for which they were not designed, (v) external causes such as, but not limited to, power failure or electrical power surges, (vi) improper storage and handling; (vii) use of the Products in combination with unauthorized equipment or software; or (viii) any installation, maintenance, repair, service or alterations made by any person other than the Seller, or the use of any replacement parts not supplied by Seller.
• The remedies under this warranty shall be the sole remedy of buyer in the event of a defective product. Seller disclaims – to the extent permitted by law – all other warranties, whether express or implied, oral or written, with respect to the products, including without limitation all implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose.

Access and Site Preparation

• Where necessary Buyer shall permit relevant access to Seller’s staff in order for them to carry out installation, repair or other works that require in-situ access.
• Failure by the Buyer to do so where reasonably requested may result in a failed visit charge.
• Further, certain works may require the Buyer to ensure that necessary services such as electricity, water or other services are prepared in advance of Seller’s staff visit. Seller will inform the Buyer of these requirements in advance. A failure to ensure that these requirements are met will result in a failed visit charge.

Health, Safety and Liability

• Risk in products will pass at the time of delivery to the customer.
• The customer is responsible for unloading and transporting large and/or heavy items from delivery vans to the point of use.
• In view of the hazards of certain chemicals and apparatus the customer must ensure that the products purchased are in a safe condition and that a safe system of work is in place taking into account all available information. None of the products sold are intended for human consumption unless otherwise clearly stated.
• In view of the wide range of uses of chemicals and apparatus, the customer will be solely responsible for determining the suitability and specification of products, services, information and advice for its purposes. SIC has the right, without notice, to supply product of different specifications, sources, and pack size to that published or ordered. The customer is required to ensure that that the use of any products supplied by SIC do not infringe third party intellectual property rights.
• In view of the above, liability of SIC for any loss or damage suffered by a customer and arising by reason of defects in the products or otherwise howsoever is limited to the invoice price of the products in respect of or in relation to which loss or damage is claimed. Any liability accepted by SIC under these terms and conditions is in lieu of any warranty or condition implied by law as to the quality or fitness for any particular purpose of the products and save as provided in these terms and conditions SIC will not be under any liability, whether in contract, tort, breach of statutory duty or otherwise in respect of defects in products delivered or for any injury (other than death or personal injury caused by SIC negligence as defined in the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977) damage or loss resulting from such defects or from any information, service or advice provided by SIC or its employees, contractors or agents. In no event shall SIC be liable for any consequential loss whether or not resulting from force majeure.
• The customer indemnifies SIC against any claims from its employees, contractors or agents insofar as such claims relate solely to loss or damage caused directly as a result of the customer’s actions.

Website Images and Representations

• The images used on the SiC website do not always reflect the actual image of the current product. In presenting them to prospective buyers, they are only intended to convey general information and do not constitute an offer to sell either the images themselves or real products based on those images. Please always refer to us to get most up to date details.

Authorisation for Goods Payment and Shipment

• All goods purchased must either be paid for in advance, for example by credit card; or otherwise confirmed by a purchase order duly authorised by appropriate company representatives.