Sales Contract

A contract of sale is defined in the Philippines’ New Civil Code as a contract in which one of the contractual parties agrees to transfer ownership of and deliver a specific item in exchange for a certain sum of money or its equivalent. According to the aforementioned definition, a contract of sale is by definition a consensual contract because it is perfected by mere assent.

Furthermore, in all sales transactions, the seller is required to furnish information. Before the transaction, the buyer must understand all of the contract’s provisions. The vendor is also required to guarantee the customer against concealed faults and to provide an item that meets the agreed-upon specifications. Finally, he is accountable for the object’s safety and is liable in the event of damage. With a restriction of liability provision, he cannot be discharged from his responsibilities due to the product’s flaw.

Regardless of the goods or services being sold, there are five critical factors that are vital to moving negotiations ahead swiftly and preventing complications with the transaction down the road when writing a sales contract (sales agreement, purchase agreement, etc.). Each of these factors establishes expectations, and meeting those expectations contributes significantly to repeat sales and long-term, mutually productive commercial partnerships.

Nothing kills a transaction faster than receiving a yes for one thing and then having the incorrect numbers or things in the contract. With so much possibility for inaccuracy, the description of items is sometimes regarded as the most crucial phrase. Include all pertinent information about the specific items the customer want to acquire, such as kind, model number, weight, color, size, number of seats, term length, plan, and so on.

Be specific about the time and date of delivery, the delivery location, and who is liable for the risk of products loss while in transit. In the case of SaaS, this would include deployment and onboarding.

The inspection period allows the buyer to check the products after they have been delivered and reject any nonconforming goods. The inspection time might vary widely depending on the items involved, but adding this in sales contracts can go a long way toward fostering loyalty that leads to renewals and repeat purchases. POCs and trials are two further examples.

The Sales Contract should incorporate any commitments made during the selling process. Because goods and services offered differ from industry to industry and firm to company, there is no “standard warranty” knowledge that can be assumed on either end. To appropriately set expectations for the future, be explicit about the warranties included, if any.

It’s a no-brainer to include the price. But what about the other payment terms and conditions? Is payment expected in installments or in one big sum? Were any arrangements established to finalize the deal, such as a payment deadline, quarterly vs annual billing, or other agreements? Are there any unique considerations for a particular market?

Forgetting to submit the relevant payment data is like to going to the beach and forgetting to bring your suits. You can swim nude, but you risk being burned. It is preferable to be thorough and avoid the danger.

In general, the agreement to sell might be tacit, or oral: there is no legal duty if the contract of sale is not in writing. Certain types of property, on the other hand, must be the subject of a written contract of sale, sealed by an authentic act, i.e. accepted and drawn up by a notary. This is true, for example, of real estate transactions.

In the event of a disagreement, the contract serves as proof: for important transactions, especially between experts, it is best to establish one’s agreement through a contract of sale to better safeguard the transaction.

Despite the fact that in commercial situations, the means of proof is free. A formal Sales Contract stating the sum to be paid, the good(s) sold, and the consent of the lawyer makes it much easier to establish the transaction (by means of his signature).

Furthermore, if the parties wish to include specific clauses not permitted by law (reservation of ownership, delivery at the seller’s expense, payment of the price in installments, etc.), the written Sales Contract allows them to demonstrate that the signatories accepted the general terms of the sale.

The following are the stages to creating a sales contract:

Professional-to-consumer Sales Contracts are not subject to the same duties as professional-to-professional Sales Contracts. Indeed, the Consumer Code strengthens consumer protection by putting new regulations on professional salespeople (formalism of the Sales Contract, right of withdrawal…).

In law, a professional is defined as any natural or legal person who engages in professional activity. The consumer is a natural person who acts for reasons that are not related to professional duties. A professional sale is made between two corporations or enterprises on a product utilized in their professional activity.

If the contract is cancelled, the seller shall refund to the buyer the cash surrender value of the payments on the property equal to fifty percent of the total payments made and, after five years of installments, an additional 5% per year, not to exceed ninety percent of the total payments made; provided, however, that the actual cancellation or demand for rescission of the contract by a notarial act and upon full payment of the cash surrender value.