Delays In Delivery and Non-Delivery

The buyer follows up his orders to make sure that the goods are delivered on time. If there is any delay in delivery, the buyer sends the seller a reminder or warns him that he will rescind the contract unless the goods are delivered within a certain period of time or by a certain date. (In many cases, the buyer sends a reminder — or even several reminders — before fixing a final deadline for delivery.)

Reminders and the allowance of additional time can, of course, be dispensed with if the buyer reserved the right to cancel his order in the case of any delay in delivery, or if it is quite obvious that the seller is not able or not willing to perform his contract.

Delays in delivery or non-delivery may result in losses for the buyer and lead to action for damages. Sometimes buyer and seller themselves, when entering into a contract, fix the amount of damages payable in the event of a breach of contract (liquidated damages).

Missing Consignments

Sometimes a customer complains of a delay in delivery, although the goods have been dispatched by the supplier and should already have arrived at their destination. In such cases, investigations have to be made. These investigations may reveal that the consignment has been delayed, misdirected or lost in transit. Occasionally it is also discovered that the consignment was overlooked by the customer, or that some other error has occurred.

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