Credit Applications
Essendant reserves the right to extend or withhold lines of open account credit based on the
dealer’s (“Dealer’s”) payment history, record of trade payments, financial condition,
amount of credit needed, and such other factors as Essendant in its sole discretion deems
appropriate. Essendant may require Dealer to provide financial, credit and other similar
information (e.g., Dun & Bradstreet or Business Products Credit Association) for the
establishment or continuation of credit. Essendant may also require personal guarantees
and/or other security interests. All orders are subject to credit approval by Essendant.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing by Essendant, Essendant may in its sole discretion at any
time, change the terms of Dealer’s credit, require payment in cash, wire transfer or
official bank check and/or require payment of any or all amounts due or to become due
for Dealer’s order at or before shipment of any or all ordered products.
Inquiries about credit requirements should be addressed to United Stationers Supply Co., One Parkway North Blvd., Suite 100, Deerfield, IL 60015-2559.
Resale Certificates
In order to comply with state and local sales tax law requirements, Dealer must provide to
Essendant properly executed resale certificate exemption form(s) for all states where Dealer
is registered for sales tax purposes. If any tax free purchase under Dealer’s resale
certificate(s) is used in any manner that would not exempt the sale from tax, Dealer will
be responsible for either paying the tax due directly to the proper taxing authority when
the applicable state law so provides or informing Essendant for added tax billing. Resellers
withdrawing items from stock for personal consumption are responsible for self-assessing
use tax in accordance with applicable state law.
Separate resale certificate exemption form(s) must be provided for each of Dealer’s legal
entities that does business with Essendant. The forms must identify Dealer’s legal entity
information as registered for tax purposes, Dealer’s federal employer identification
number, and any names utilized as “doing business as” (DBA) names. Dealer’s state
resale registration number(s) should be listed for every state in which Dealer is registered
for sales tax purposes. The form must have an authorized signature and be dated to be
effective. Essendant will set up separate bill-to account numbers on its system for purchases
by each of Dealer’s legal entities.
Past Due Accounts
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If Essendant believes in good faith that Dealer’s ability to make payments may be
impaired or if Dealer fails to pay any invoice when due, Essendant may suspend
delivery of any order or any remaining balance thereof until such payment is made
or may cancel any order or any remaining balance thereof, and Dealer will remain
liable to pay for any products already shipped or any “not listed” or other products
specially ordered by Essendant for Dealer.
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Essendant will charge Dealer interest up to the maximum permitted by law on all past
due amounts until paid in full.
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If Dealer fails to make payment when due, Essendant may pursue any legal or equitable
remedies, and Essendant will be entitled to reimbursement from Dealer for all
collection costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, incurred by Essendant.
Essendant will assess a service charge of $50.00 on any returned checks.
Pricing
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Essendant may adjust its prices at any time in light of supplier price increases, changes in
transportation, administration, warehousing or other expenses. or other market
factors. Essendant recommends that Dealer confirm Essendant’s current pricing via
Azerty.com, ICAPS, price file downloads or Dealer’s Essendant Sales Representative
before ordering, particularly for orders of products such as paper, computer hardware
and electronics that have historically been subject to significant price fluctuations.
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Essendant reserves the right to correct errors in price and quantity appearing in any
document or electronic transmission with respect to any products.
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Essendant reserves the right to change the terms of its price plans at any time without
notice, including, without limitation, changing the identity and number of Products
within any price plan, the units of measure in which Products are available for sale
thereunder, the Product order quantities at which volume-based unit price reductions
are available or other pricing terms and conditions applicable to any Products.
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In order to qualify for any Volume Cash Discount/Dealer Buying Plan, freight and
pricing programs offered by Essendant, Dealer must maintain its account on a current
basis and must comply with the other program terms Essendant establishes from time to
time.
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All prices are exclusive of sales, use, excise and value-added taxes, any license fees,
document fees or import duties and similar taxes, charges or assessments with respect
to the sale, handling and delivery of the products, and Dealer will be responsible for
paying all such taxes, assessments and charges.
Drop Shipments
Essendant offers drop shipment service. Dealer may request drop ship service at time of
ordering. Essendant will fill and pack Dealer’s order and ship it to Dealer’s customer.
Shipment can be specified to be made from any of Essendant’s distribution points. Only
Dealer’s name appears on its customer’s label and packing list—Essendant’s name does not
appear anywhere on the shipment.
As a general rule, the laws of the states where shipments are delivered determine whether
sales tax will be due on a drop shipment transaction. In certain states Essendant is required
by law to collect sales tax for drop shipments into that state if Dealer is not registered
there, and the applicable sales tax law provides that Dealer’s out-of-state resale
certificate(s) is not sufficient to exempt the transaction from sales tax.
ADOT and DOT Orders (Automatic Dealer Order Transfer)
When placing merchandise orders from the Regional Distribution Center that services
Dealer’s account, Dealer may elect to have any out-of-stock items transferred from
another Regional Distribution Center without having to reorder them.
Regionally Stocked Merchandise Not Shown in Essendant’s Catalog
Because of regional demand, some items that are not listed in Essendant’s catalog may be
stocked in one or more of Essendant’s Regional Distribution Centers. Dealer may order such
items by specifying to Essendant’s order taker or indicating as such on Dealer’s purchase
order.
Merchandise Shipped from Manufacturer (S.S. ITEMS)
Some items that Essendant does not stock will be shipped directly to Dealer from the
manufacturer. Such items will be indicated “SS” (shipped separately) on the packing list.
Allow extra time for delivery. SS items are cannot be returned except in cases of error by
Essendant or the manufacturer.
Not-Listed (N.L.) Special Order Merchandise
As an accommodation, Essendant will attempt to obtain merchandise that is not listed on
Azerty.com, in ICAPS, price file downloads, through Dealer’s Essendant Sales
Representative or that is not stocked in any Essendant Distribution Centers, subject to the
following provisions:
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Not listed special order merchandise will be shipped separately. When manufacturer’s
policy allows, shipments will be made directly from the manufacturer to the dealer.
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Dealer’s order for N.L. merchandise must meet Essendant’s and the manufacturer’s
minimum dollar and/or unit quantity requirements.
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All orders will be invoiced once confirmation of shipment is received.
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Such merchandise is not subject to return except in cases of Essendant’s error or that of
the manufacturer.
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Such merchandise is not subject to any other discounts or rebates.
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For all furniture NL orders, contact Essendant’s customer service department. Furniture
NL merchandise is FOB point of shipment.
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For all non-furniture NL merchandise, call Essendant’s Special Order Services
Department at 1-800-788-2266, option 2. Non-furniture NL merchandise is shipped
freight prepaid.
Disposition of Out-of-Stock Merchandise Orders
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Estimated Time of Arrival from Factory
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On items known to be out of stock at the time Dealer’s order is entered into
Essendant’s computer, a 3-digit figure will be shown in the column headed “Estimated
Time of Arrival From Factory” on the packing list. This is the date (expressed in
terms of the Julian calendar) Essendant expects this item to return to stock based on
latest factory shipping information. NOTE: The Julian date is usually found at the bottom of each page on desk calendar
pads. Example: JAN. 1 is 001; FEB. 1 is 032, DEC. 1 is 335.
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If the estimated time of arrival date is prior to Dealer’s order date, the shipment is
past due from the factory and Essendant is checking for a new arrival date.
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Estimated time of arrival dates are subject to change based upon revised
manufacturer’s shipping information.
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Dealer has the option to back order merchandise at Dealer’s assigned shipping facility
(or closest ADOT facility). As back ordered merchandise becomes available, it will be
shipped with Dealer’s next stock order.
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On occasion Essendant experiences protracted shipping delays from manufacturers. In
such cases, back orders over 120 days old automatically will be canceled.
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There will be no back orders on non-listed or drop shipped merchandise.
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A back ordered item that is in stock at the time the next order is placed is immediately
added to that order as soon as it is entered. Dealers also have the option of canceling or
holding these back orders at the end of their order.
Transportation
Essendant will use reasonable efforts to initiate shipment as close as possible to Dealer’s
requested ship dates. Any delivery date of products is approximate, is provided by
Essendant for the convenience of Dealer, and is not binding on United. Unless otherwise
agreed in writing by Essendant or otherwise specified in any Essendant price plans or catalog
terms, all shipments by Essendant are F.O.B. point of origin. Product prices do not include
freight and handling; for all orders, including drop ship and ADOT orders, Essendant will
bill freight and handling in accordance with the freight plan for which Dealer qualifies.
Delivery of the products to the designated F.O.B. point of origin carrier will constitute
delivery to Dealer and risk of loss will thereupon pass to Dealer. Essendant reserves the
right to make deliveries in installments. Delay in delivery of one installment will not
entitle Dealer to cancel other installments.
Inspection, Acceptance and Return of Products
Dealer is responsible for inspecting and accepting products. Dealer can reject and return
any portion of an order that is damaged, defective or otherwise fails to conform to the
goods specified in the Dealer’s order, subject to the following requirements:
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Dealer must send all returns accompanied by a Essendant issued Return
Authorization
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All returned products must be in must be received in resalable condition
(including no markings or labels attached to the cartons) and in the original
manufacturers’ shipping cartons, complete with all packing and associated
materials.
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Essendant will not accept any returns from Dealer for product that is designated as
“Non-Returnable Item”. A complete listing of non-returnable items can be found
in United Solutions Central, which you can access through Azerty.com.
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Dealer must request a Return Authorization and return the merchandise to Essendant
within the following time frames:
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30 days from date of invoice for returns due to customer error (such as
ordering the wrong item); merchandise must be returned in re-saleable
condition.
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30 days from date of invoice for any defective merchandise.
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10 days from date of invoice for any concealed damage or concealed
warehouse errors (such as shipping the wrong product or shortages).
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5 days from date of invoice for all visible damage and visible warehouse
errors.
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Merchandise must be returned in the same unit of measure as purchased from
Essendant.
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The following categories (“Ineligible Categories”) are not eligible for return: food
products, pharmaceuticals, Machine/Floor Equipment, discontinued or expired
products, special order products, close out merchandise, and skus for any lines
Dealer purchases direct from the manufacturer.
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Essendant will not accept returns of any sku in excess of the quantity of that sku
Dealer purchased from Essendant in the 30 days prior to the date Essendant receives the
return.
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Essendant reserves the right to refuse returns that do not comply with these terms.
Essendant will assess a 15% restocking charge for any returns Essendant accepts that do
not comply with these terms.
During issuance of a Return Authorization all returns quantities will be verified against
all purchase history from Essendant. Products not eligible for return will be returned to
dealer, freight collect. Any requests for proof of delivery must be made within 60 days
after the invoice is received; after 60 days no proof of delivery will be supplied.
Product Orders
Dealer may use its purchase order or any other form (written or electronic transmission)
for placing orders for the purchase of products, but the terms and conditions of any such
document or form, except as to the identity and quantity of products ordered and the
identity of the desired shipping destination, will not apply to or become part of any
purchase of products from Essendant. All product orders Dealer sends to Essendant will be
deemed to incorporate these Terms of Sale, whether or not they are attached to any order,
acknowledgement or confirmation. No different or additional terms included in any
purchase order or other document submitted to Essendant by Dealer will be part of the
contract for sale, and Essendant objects to any such different or additional terms. Orders are
subject to written or electronic acceptance by Essendant.
Disclaimer of Warranties; Transferable Rights
Dealer acknowledges that Essendant is not a manufacturer of any of the products it sells.
Essendant will transfer to Dealer whatever transferable warranties and indemnities Essendant
receives from the manufacturers of the products, including any transferable warranties
and indemnities regarding intellectual property infringement. In addition, Essendant
authorizes Dealer, at its sole expense, to assert to the maximum extent permitted by law
and for its account, all rights and powers of Essendant under any applicable manufacturer's
warranty on any product.
Essendant represents and warrants that it has the right to convey good title to the products
and will pass good title in and to the products to Dealer. Except for the foregoing
warranty of title, Essendant makes no warranties of any kind, express or implied, with
respect to the products and disclaims all other warranties of any kind or nature,
including any and all implied warranties. In particular, Essendant makes no warranty
or representation, express or implied, direct or indirect, as to the merchantability of
any products, their suitability or fitness for a particular purpose or use, their
quality, design, condition, capacity or performance, their material or workmanship
or their non-infringement, or that the products will satisfy the requirements of any
law, rule or Dealer specification. If Essendant offers any statements or advice, technical or
otherwise, as to any products, such statements or advice will be deemed to be given
without charge and solely as an accommodation to Dealer, and Essendant will not have any
responsibility or liability for the content or use thereof.
Limitation of Liability
In no event will Dealer be entitled to, or Essendant liable to Dealer or any other party,
for any incidental, indirect, special, punitive, tort or consequential damages or losses
of any nature, including, without limitation, any damages for business interruption
costs, loss of revenues, profits or reinstallation costs, overhead or injury to
reputation or loss of customers, or for any claims asserted against Dealer by a third
party arising directly or indirectly out of or in connection with the manufacture,
delivery, sale, use, or defect of products sold by Essendant to Dealer, even if Essendant has
been advised of the possibility of such damages or losses. In no event will Essendant be
liable for any personal injuries or death arising directly or indirectly out of or in
connection with the manufacture, use, or defect of any such products. Dealer’s
recovery from Essendant for any claim will not exceed Dealer’s purchase price for the
product giving rise to such claim, irrespective of the nature of the claim, whether in
contract, tort, warranty or otherwise.
Intellectual Property
If an order covers products that include any software or other intellectual property, such
software or other intellectual property is provided by Essendant to Dealer subject to all
copyright, patent, user license terms and conditions and/or other intellectual property
rights applicable to such products. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions will be
deemed to grant any rights or license to use any software or other intellectual property in
any manner or for any purpose not expressly permitted by the owner, developer,
manufacturer or producer thereof.
Exclusive Remedies
With respect to any products that do not conform to the goods specified in Dealer’s
product order or do not meet any applicable manufacturer’s specifications, Essendant’s sole
obligation and liability to Dealer and Dealer’s sole and exclusive remedy is limited, at
Essendant’s election, to: refund of Dealer’s purchase price for such products (without
interest); replacement of such products; or, to the extent offered by the respective product
manufacturer, repair of such products; provided in any such case, however, that Dealer
Revision date 06/28/12 7
has complied with Essendant’s then applicable return policies and procedures.
Confidentiality
Each of Dealer and Essendant will keep confidential, and not disclose to any person, any and
all non-public information and data relating to the other party, including, but not limited
to, information about such other party’s transactions, carriers, contracts, pricing and
rebate terms, cost information, individual customer identities, products or plans. Each
party agrees that it will not use any such information for any purpose other than to fulfill
its obligations hereunder or under any other applicable agreement into which these Terms
and Conditions may be incorporated.
Force Majeure
Essendant will not be liable for any delay in or impairment in its performance resulting in
whole or in part from factors beyond Essendant’s control in the conduct of its business,
including without limitation, shortages, inability to procure products or supplies through
Essendant’s regular sources, or strikes, slowdowns or other labor disputes or disruptions.
Essendant’s time for performance of any such obligation shall be extended for the time
period of such delay or Essendant may, at its option, cancel any order or remaining part
thereof without liability by giving notice of such cancellation to Dealer.
Miscellaneous
Independent Contractors. Dealer and Essendant are and at all times will remain independent
contractors and not agents, partners or joint venturers of the other for any purpose
whatsoever.
No Implied Rights or Remedies. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, nothing
herein express or implied is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or to give any
person, firm, corporation or any third party, other than Dealer and Essendant, any rights or
remedies under or by reason hereof.
Rights and Remedies. The failure or delay of Essendant or Dealer to insist on the strict
performance of any of these Terms and Conditions or to exercise any right or remedy
contained or permitted hereunder will not constitute or be construed as a waiver of any
future term, condition, right or remedy. All rights and remedies of Essendant or Dealer
specified herein or at law, in equity or otherwise, are distinct and separate, whether or not
exercised by Essendant or Dealer and, except as otherwise agreed in writing by Essendant and
Dealer, will not be deemed to be an exclusion of any other right or remedy.
Governing Law. These Terms and Conditions will be construed and enforced in
accordance with the internal laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to its conflict of
law principles. The United Nations Convention for the International Sale of Goods will
not apply.
Severability. Any provisions of these Terms and Conditions or of any agreement into
which they may be incorporated which are held to be invalid, void or illegal in any
jurisdiction will in no way affect, impair or invalidate or any other provision herein or
therein in such jurisdiction or any provisions herein or therein in any other jurisdiction,
and such remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.
Costs. Except as otherwise expressly agreed in writing, each party will be responsible for
Revision date 06/28/12 8
the costs and expenses it incurs in performing its obligations under these Terms and
Conditions or any agreement into which they may be incorporated.
Revisions Essendant reserves the right to update or modify these Terms and Conditions at any time, without
prior notice, by posting the revised version of these Terms and Conditions behind the link marked “Terms
of Sale” in the universal footer on Azerty.com. Purchase orders issued by you to Essendant after we have
posted the revised Terms and Conditions constitute your agreement to be bound by the revised Terms and
Conditions. You may access the current version of these Terms and Conditions at any time by clicking the
link marked “Terms of Sale” in the universal footer on Azerty.com.
These Terms and Conditions govern the sale of all products by Essendant and apply
notwithstanding any conflicting, contrary or additional Terms and Conditions in
any purchase order or other document or communication (“Purchase Order”) from
Dealer. These Terms and Conditions may be waived or modified only in a written
agreement signed by an authorized representative of Essendant. Neither Essendant’s
acknowledgement of a Purchase Order nor Azerty’s failure to object to conflicting,
contrary or additional Terms and Conditions of a Purchase Order shall be deemed
an acceptance of such Terms and Conditions or a waiver of the provisions hereof.
Revision date 11/10/15
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