SALE OF GOODS ACT / HIRE PURCHASE ACT

SALE OF GOODS

A contract of sale of goods is a contract whereby the seller transfer the property in goods to the buyer for a money consideration called the price.

The parties to this contract are known as the seller (vendor or transferor) and the buyer (vendee or transferee). The seller must be either the owner of the goods or his duly authorized agent.

The relevant law is the Sale of Goods Act 1893. This law does not cover the buying and selling of immovable or real property like land and houses. The Sale of Goods Act deals with only the rules and regulation which governs the buying and selling of personal movable property like motor vehicle, future, machinery, food, clothing and other similar commodities.

PROVISION OF THE SALE OF GOODS ACT (1893)

A seller has the legal rights to offer goods for sale
The sample goods offered to the customer must have the same quality with the actual goods the seller display for sale
If the seller sells by description, the description must correspond with the description of the actual goods displayed for sale
The goods must be suitable for the purpose they are meant to serve
The goods offered for sale must be free from any claim in favour of any third parties (i.e. equities).
A buyer must examine carefully the goods he is to buy and make sure of the quality before buying and failure to do so; he bears the consequences of any default. This is the principle of “CAVAET EMPTOR” or “let the buyer beware”

CONDITIONS THAT CONTITUES ACCEPTANCE IN THE CONTRACT OF SALE OF GOODS

In a contract of Sale of Goods, the buyer is deemed to have accepted goods (i.e.) taken over their ownership under the following circumstances

If he informs the seller that he has accepted them
If, after receiving the goods he does any act in relation to the goods which can only be done by the owner e.g. reselling the goods.
If he retains the good beyond a reasonable period without informing the seller that he rejected them.

DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF PARTIES OF THE CONTRACT

Sellers owe the duty, subject to the express terms of the contract to:
Deliver the goods and at the right time
Ensure that the goods supplied are of the right quantity and quality
Pass good title to the buyer
Buyers too owe the duty, subject to the express terms of the contract
To accept and pay for the goods
To observed all stipulations as to time

HIRE PURCHASE ACT 1975

This Act spells out the rights and duties of the hire purchaser (buyer) and the hire vendor (seller) and also protects the buyer from cheating and exploitation.

PROVISION OF THE HIRE PURCHASE ACT (1975)

In hire purchase transactions the cash sale price must be shown along with hire purchase price to enable the buyer know the difference.
If the buyer defaults after paying 1/3 of the hire purchase price the seller cannot repossess the article except through court order
iii. The buyer has the right to stop paying the installments and return the article if he has paid ½ of the hire purchase price.
Where the buyer is compelled or made to sign the Hire Purchase agreement at his home, he has the right to cancel it within three days of the contract.

GENERAL EVALUATION QUESTIONS

Explain five factors affecting the choice of transportation of frozen products
State five disadvantages of air transport
State seven features of a public corporation
List and explain six new trends in retailing
State five features of a mail order business

THEORY

State two provisions of the sale of Goods Act 1893
State four features of Hire Purchase