General terms and conditions
General terms and conditions are often sent with an offer. These are the conditions that apply when you enter into an agreement with each other. General terms and conditions include things like:
- Method of payment: The payment terms are part of the general sales conditions. It is good to agree in advance when payment will be made so that there is clarity for both parties. You can state in the conditions what the payment term is and what happens when the buyer does not pay on time (possible penalties, collection costs and the collection process).
- Delivery terms: These are things like the delivery time, any transport costs and any restrictions on delivery. For example, consider accessibility for delivery so that there will be no unnecessary loss of time. Also, delivery may have to take place on a certain floor which entails additional costs. Map these kinds of issues well in your general terms and conditions.
- Guarantee: Your general terms and conditions often also describe the guarantee of your products or services. It is good to describe this clearly so that the guarantee is clear to the buyer in advance. Also check the laws and regulations in this area, as these will always take precedence over your terms and conditions.
- Return policy: Products can often be returned within a certain period under conditions. You can state this return policy in your terms and conditions. For example, that the products can be returned within (number of) days free of charge. Or that the return is subject to costs.
- Liability: The seller's liability for any damage or loss can be defined in the terms and conditions. Consider, for example, liability for defects in the product or service. From when is the buyer liable and until when is the supplier liable. And what other terms and conditions apply.
- Disputes: Should a dispute arise despite the terms and conditions, it will have to be resolved. You can include the procedure for this in your terms and conditions. Think for instance of a complaints procedure, the use of arbitration or mediation in case of complaints.
