(Please see full terms and conditions lower down page.)

Making A Ratchford Purchase
We want to make purchasing goods online via our website an easy experience, and so have listed the following steps to ensure a smooth transaction.

To make a purchase firstly ensure your basket is empty from any previous shopping, then simply browse our online store, and click ‘add to cart’ when you find an item you’d like to purchase. Whilst viewing your cart, you are then able to change quantities using the arrows above and below the number of the quantity selected. Orders generated online can be amended before payment is made.

Once you have checked your order please proceed to the checkout. At this stage, you will be required to complete the signing up/registering process whereby we require your full address and delivery details, plus preferred method of payment. If you have already registered as a customer, your delivery and billing address will be saved within your account. You can also now checkout as a ‘guest’ to save yourself some time. Please read and understand then tick on the box saying you have read our terms and conditions.

Upon completing the order your delivery charge will be calculated. VAT at the appropriate rate will be added to the order. You can choose your preferred delivery option (post, FedEx etc.) Once details have been confirmed you will be taken through to the secure section of our website where you will be required to complete card details, either through PayPal or EPDQ (with a credit/debit card) – both are secure and trusted payment methods.

Upon completion please click on the submit payment option, where you will receive an email to confirm that your order has been received.  Although payment may have been received, a contract is not formed between the customer; yourself and Ratchford until goods are dispatched. FJ Ratchford reserve the right to reject any orders after payment has been made without reason, whereby payment will be returned in full within 30 days.
Due to promotions, offers, clearing lines etc. it is likely that occasionally some products will be less expensive online than they may be in store and sometimes vice versa. These are special deals and will be treated as such.

Minimum Order Value
Our minimum order value online is £15 per transaction, and prices shown are exclusive of carriage and subject to VAT at the appropriate rate.

Post, Packing & Delivery Schedule
Our postal rates are calculated on size and weight. A lot of our materials are dispatched on rolls to avoid damage and so will not be able to be sent via post – due to length and height restrictions. This means that some packages will be posted via Royal Mail and others via UK Mail or FEDEX couriers.  If there is an issue we will contact you to arrange an appropriate shipping method. We make an appropriate charge for packaging, calculated through dimensions, and our online postage and packing costs are automatically calculated based on the weight and size of your parcel. Wherever possible, we try and dispatch orders received before noon on the same day, however sometimes delays may occur, and we will always do our best under these circumstances.
Should items not be available for dispatch due to stocks etc, we aim to notify you within 24 hours. Our preferred couriers are Royal Mail, UK Mail, and UPS/ DHL.

For Royal Mail 1st Class deliveries please allow up to 1 week for delivery, UK Mail and UPS/ DHL are usually delivered between 1-2 working days. Any items sent via courier rather than the Post will all have tracking options available. Please contact us for your parcels tracking number/code if you should require it. We can provide same-day service at extra cost, but this would be available upon request, and we would suggest contacting us in advance of placing an order to be sure the desired delivery can be met.

Back Orders
Due to the nature of our business, holding stocks, and immediate dispatches cannot always be guaranteed. If your item is not in stock, with your approval we will place the item on back order and dispatch as soon as we can, however, if this means an unacceptable delay, we will either offer an alternative product or if this is still unacceptable we will cancel the order and offer a full refund.

Shipping Abroad
Our online store is set up for most European countries. VAT-free purchases are available for European customers who provide us with a company VAT number.
We can dispatch goods to most countries, but services are dependent on goods clearing Customs and you as the customer are liable to pay any local tax etc. VAT / Tax Charges. VAT at the appropriate rate is payable on all orders that are to be delivered to countries within the European Union.
All shipments made to countries outside of the EU are not subject to value-added tax (VAT). Please note, that shipments destined for countries outside of the EU, may be subject to local import duties and taxes in which the customer will be liable.

Reaching Ratchfords
If you would like to contact us, please either email us at [email protected] or alternatively, you can telephone us during office hours (Monday – Friday  9 am – 5 pm) on 0161 480 8484 or write to us at F. J. Ratchford Limited., Kennedy Way, Green Lane, Stockport, Cheshire SK4 2JX.

Ratchford Privacy Policy
F.J. Ratchford does not disclose buyer’s information to third parties. Confidential information is processed through our secure website, and all confidential information received by us is destroyed after use and not kept on file.  Data collected by this site is used to take and execute orders. Information is disclosed only for delivery purposes.

Returns
If you are a private individual wishing to return goods purchased from us, please contact us as soon as possible after the purchase (within 7 working days) for an authorisation code. Returned goods must be in the same condition when they left our warehouse. Our Returns Policy excludes products sold to businesses. These are business-to-business contracts, whereby the customer is liable for the cost of returning goods, with a 25% handling fee from the total invoice, which will be deducted from your refund. We will not be able to accept returned items that have been personalised, manufactured, or cut to a consumer’s specifications cannot, by their nature, be returned. Online selling is governed under the Distance Selling Regulations.

Payment Terms
Payment for goods can be authorized using a credit/debit card through PayPal or EPDQ – or alternatively a request can be made for a proforma invoice by contacting us. Please note – all bank charges on drafts will be the responsibility of the buyer.
We accept payment using the following credit cards, MasterCard, Visa, Switch and Visa Delta. If you are shopping from outside the United Kingdom, your order will be debited in pounds Sterling, and your credit card company will convert the transaction into your local currency. Credit card information can be sent by phone, fax, and post or via our encrypted form.
For security reasons, we request that confidential information is not sent by email. Orders will be charged at the time of execution, however, we will be only too pleased to offer a full reimbursement to the value of the invoice should we be unable to meet the required delivery time due to goods being unavailable.

International Deliveries
F.J. Ratchford Limited dispatch goods all over the world, and we would request that you contact us on [email protected] for quotations for goods sent outside Europe and the United States.
We are used to handling all shipping documentation (bills of lading, airway bills, packing lists, and Certificates of Origin (chargeable). Please contact our export department directly for that personal touch by calling 0161 480 8484.

Complaints
Should you feel the need to complain, then this should be made in writing and emailed to [email protected] please allow a few days for us to investigate your complaint ( and a little longer during busy periods) to respond. We respectfully request that our staff are treated courteously under the circumstances.

BUSINESS TO CONSUMER  – ONLINE TERMS & CONDITIONS FOR THE SALE OF GOODS.

These terms and conditions form the basis on which you can visit us and our website. Please read them carefully as they contain important information.

General terms and conditions

This site is owned and operated by FJ RATCHFORD of KENNEDY WAY, GREEN LANE, STOCKPORT SK4 2JX. If you have any queries about these terms and conditions or if you have any comments or complaints about our website, then you can contact us at [email protected] or phone 0161 480 8484.

1.0 The contract between us
We must receive payment of the whole of the price for the goods that you order before your order can be accepted. Payment of the price for the goods represents an offer on your part to purchase the goods, which will be accepted by us only when the goods are dispatched. Only at this point is a legally binding contract created between us.

2. Acknowledgement of your order
To enable us to process your order, you will need to provide us with your e-mail address. We will notify you by e-mail as soon as possible to confirm receipt of your order and to confirm details. For the avoidance of doubt, this correspondence does not constitute a contract between us.

3. Ownership of rights
All rights, including copyright, in this website are owned by or licensed to F.J.RATCHFORD LTD.. Any use  of this website or its contents, including copying or storing it or them in whole or part, other than for your own personal, non-commercial use, is prohibited without our permission. You may not modify, distribute or repost anything on this website for any purpose.

4. Accuracy of content
We have taken care in the preparation of the content of this website, in particular to ensure that prices quoted are correct at the time of publishing and that all goods have been described accurately. However, orders will only be processed if there are no material errors in the description of the goods or their prices as advertised on this website. Any weights, dimensions and capacities given about the goods are approximate only.

5. Damage to your computer
We try to ensure that this website is free from viruses or defects. However, we cannot guarantee that your use of this website or any websites accessible through it will not cause damage to your computer. It is your responsibility to ensure that the right equipment is available to use the website. Except in the case of negligence on our part, we will not be liable to any person for any loss or damage which may arise to computer equipment as a result of using this website.

6. Availability
All orders are subject to acceptance and availability. If the goods you have ordered are not available from stock, we will contact you by e-mail or phone (if you have given us details). You will have the option either to wait until the item is available from stock or to cancel your order.

7. Ordering errors
You are able to correct errors on your order up to the point on which you click on “submit” during the ordering process.

8. Price
The prices payable for goods that you order are as set out on our website. All prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which is subsequently added at the checkout / cart at the current rates and are correct at the time of entering information.

Where it is not possible to accept your order to buy goods of the specification and description at the price indicated, we will advise you by email, and offer to sell you the goods of the specification and description at the price stated in the email and will state in the email the period for which the offer or the price remains valid.

9. Payment terms

We will take payment upon receipt of your order from your credit or debit card. We accept no liability if a delivery is delayed because you did not give us the correct payment details. If it is not possible to obtain full payment for the goods from you, then we can refuse to process your order and/or suspend any further deliveries to you. This does not affect any other rights we may have.

10. Delivery charges

Delivery charges vary according to the type and volume of goods ordered.

11. Delivery

11.1        Our delivery charges are set out at checkout on our website.

11.2        You may be required to pay extra for delivery and it might not be possible for us to deliver to some locations.

11.3        Please note that we are only able to deliver to addresses within the United Kingdom, but areas including the Isle of Wight, the Isle of Man, the Scottish Isles, parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Channel Isles, may incur additional carriage costs.

11.4        We will deliver the goods to the address you specify for delivery in your order. It is important that this address is accurate. Please be precise about where you would like the goods left if you are out when we deliver. We cannot accept any liability for any loss or damage to the goods once they have been delivered in accordance with your delivery instructions (unless this is caused by our negligence). We will aim to deliver the goods by the date quoted for delivery but delivery times are not guaranteed and therefore time is not of the essence. In any event, we will aim to deliver your goods within 30 days from the day after the day we received your order. If delivery is delayed beyond this time, we will contact you and either agree a mutually acceptable alternative date, or offer you a full refund.

11.5        You will become the owner of the goods you have ordered when they have been delivered to you. Once goods have been delivered to you they will be held at your own risk and we will not be liable for their loss or destruction.

12. Risk and ownership

Risk of damage to or loss of the goods passes to you at the time of delivery to you. If you choose to use your own courier then the risk passes to you as soon as the goods are handed to your courier. You will only own the goods once they have been successfully delivered.

13. Cancellation rights

13.1        Under The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 SI 2013/3134 you have the legal right to cancel your order up to 14 calendar days after the day on which you receive your goods (with the exception of goods mentioned in 13.3 below). You do not need to give us any reason for cancelling your contract nor will you have to pay any penalty.

13.2        Should you wish to cancel your order, you can use the cancellation form provided at the end of these terms and conditions, or alternatively you can notify us by any other clear statement.

13.3        You cannot cancel your contract if the goods you have ordered are made to your specifications or are clearly personalised, especially if they have been especially cut from the roll, or cut into sheets, or if it’s an e book.

13.4       If you have received the goods before you cancel your contract then you must send the goods back to our contact address at your own cost and risk. If you cancel your contract but we have already processed the goods for delivery, you should not unpack the goods when they are received by you and you must send the goods back to us at our contact address at your own cost and risk as soon as possible.

13.5        Once you have notified us that you are cancelling your contract, and we have either received the goods back or, if earlier, received evidence that you have sent the goods back, we will refund any sum debited by us using the same online payment within 14 calendar days.

13.6        We may make a deduction from your refund for any loss in the value of the goods supplied if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you (for example using or wearing the goods prior to cancellation).

14. Cancellation by us

14.1        We reserve the right not to process your order if:

14.1.1    We have insufficient stock to deliver the goods you have ordered;

14.1.2    We do not deliver to your area; or

14.1.3    One or more of the goods you ordered was listed at an incorrect price due to a typographical error or an error in the pricing information received by us from our suppliers.

14.2        If we do not process your order for the above reasons, we will notify you by e-mail and will re-credit to your account any sum deducted by us from your credit/debit card as soon as possible, but in any event within 14 days.

15. If there is a problem with the goods

15.1        If you have any questions or complaints about the goods please contact us.  You can do so at [email protected].

15.2        We are under a legal duty to supply goods that are in conformity with this contract and in accordance with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (the Act).

15.3        If you wish to exercise your legal rights to reject goods which do not conform with the Act you must either return them in person to where you bought them, post them back to us, or (if they are not suitable for posting) or allow us to collect them from you. We will pay the cost of postage or collection.

16. Liability

16.1        Unless agreed otherwise, if you do not receive goods ordered by you within 30 days of the date on which you ordered them and decide to cancel the order rather than re-arrange delivery (in accordance with clause 11), we will provide you with a full refund.

16.2        We are only responsible for losses that are a natural, foreseeable consequence of our breach of these terms and conditions. We do not accept liability if we are prevented or delayed from complying with our obligations set out in these terms and conditions by anything you (or anyone acting with your express or implied authority) does or fails to do, or is due to events which are beyond our reasonable control.

16.3        Furthermore, we do not accept liability for any losses related to any business of yours including but not limited to: lost data, lost profits, lost revenues or business interruption.

16.4        You must observe and comply with all applicable regulations and legislation, including obtaining all necessary customs, import or other permits to purchase goods from our site. The importation or exportation of certain of our goods to you may be prohibited by certain national laws. We make no representation and accept no liability in respect of the export or import of the goods you purchase.

16.5        Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in these terms and conditions is intended to limit any rights you might have as a consumer under applicable local law or other statutory rights that may not be excluded nor in any way to exclude or limit our liability to you for any death or personal injury resulting from our negligence. You have certain rights as a consumer including legal rights (e.g. under the Act) relating to faulty and/or misdescribed goods.

17. Notices
Unless otherwise expressly stated in these terms and conditions, all notices from you to us must be in writing and sent to our contact address at FJ RATCHFORD of KENNEDY WAY, GREEN LANE, STOCKPORT SK4 2JX and all notices from us to you will be displayed on our website from time to time.
18. Changes to legal notices
We reserve the right to change these terms and conditions from time to time and you should look through them as often as possible.
19. Law, jurisdiction and language
This website, any content contained therein and any contract brought into being as a result of usage of this website are governed by and construed in accordance with English law. Parties to any such contract agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales. All contracts are concluded in English.
20. Invalidity
If any part of these terms and conditions is unenforceable (including any provision in which we exclude our liability to you) the enforceability of any other part of these conditions will not be affected.
21. How we may use your personal information
We will only use your personal information as set out in our privacy policy:
22. Third party rights
Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, nor shall it confer any rights on a third party.
23. Other important terms

Alternative dispute resolution is a process where an independent body considers the facts of a dispute and seeks to resolve it, without you having to go to court. If you are not happy with how we have handled any complaint, you may submit the dispute for online resolution to the European Commission Online Dispute Resolution platform.

BUSINESS TO BUSINESS – TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR SALE OF GOODS

The Buyer’s attention is particularly drawn to Clause 12

1.0 Definitions

Seller                           means F.J.RATCHFORD LTD

Buyer                          the person who buys or agrees to buy the goods from the Seller.

Conditions                   the terms and conditions of sale as set out in this document and any special terms and conditions agreed in writing by the Seller.

Goods                          the items which the Buyer agrees to buy from the Seller as set out in the Schedule.

Price                            the price for the Goods, excluding VAT and any carriage, packaging and insurance costs.

Force Majeure Event  has the meaning set out in clause 11.

2. Conditions

2.1        These Conditions shall form the basis of the contract between the Seller and the Buyer in relation to the sale of Goods, to the exclusion of all other terms and conditions including the Buyer’s standard conditions of purchase or any other conditions which the Buyer may purport to apply under any purchase order or confirmation of order or any other document.

2.2        All orders for Goods shall be deemed to be an offer by the Buyer to purchase Goods from the Seller pursuant to these Conditions.

2.3        Acceptance of delivery of the Goods shall be deemed to be conclusive evidence of the Buyer’s acceptance of these Conditions.

2.4        These Conditions may not be varied except by the written agreement of a director of the Seller.

2.5        These Conditions represent the whole of the agreement between the Seller and the Buyer.  They supersede any other conditions previously issued.

3. Price

The Price shall be the price quoted on the Seller’s confirmation of order.

4. Payment and Interest

4.1        The Buyer shall pay all accounts in full and not exercise any rights of set-off or counter-claim against invoices submitted by the Seller.

5. Goods

5.1        The Goods are described in the Schedule.

5.2        The Seller reserves the right to amend or change the specification of the Goods if required by any applicable statutory or regulatory requirements.

6. Warranties

6.1        The Seller warrants that for a period of SIX months commencing on the date of delivery of the Goods the Goods shall:

6.1.1     conform with their description;

6.1.2     be of satisfactory quality with the meaning of the Sale of Goods Act 1979; and

6.1.3     be fit for any purpose held out by the Seller.

7. Delivery of the Goods

7.1        Delivery of the Goods shall be made to the Buyer’s address.  The Buyer shall make all arrangements necessary to take delivery of the Goods on the day notified by the Seller for delivery.

7.2        The Seller undertakes to use its reasonable endeavours to despatch the Goods on an agreed delivery date, but does not guarantee to do so.  Time of delivery shall not be of the essence of the contract.

7.3        The Seller shall not be liable to the Buyer for any loss or damage whether arising directly or indirectly from the late delivery or short delivery of the Goods.  If short delivery does take place, the Buyer may not reject the Goods but shall accept the Goods delivered as part performance of the contract, and a pro-rata adjustment to the Price shall be made.

7.4        If the Buyer fails to take delivery of the Goods on the agreed delivery date or, if no specific delivery date has been agreed, when the Goods are ready for despatch, the Seller shall be entitled to store and insure the Goods and to charge the Buyer the reasonable costs of so doing.

8. Acceptance of the Goods

8.1        The Buyer shall be deemed to have accepted the Goods FIVE days after delivery to the Buyer.

8.2        The Buyer shall carry out a thorough inspection of the Goods within FIVE days and give notice in writing to the seller after discovering that some or all of the goods do not comply with the Warranty above, the Buyer must return the Goods to the Seller at the Buyer’s cost and the Seller shall, at its option, repair or replace any Goods that are defective, or refund the price of such defective Goods.

8.3        Where the Buyer has accepted, or has been deemed to have accepted, the Goods the Buyer shall not be entitled to reject Goods which are not in accordance with the contract.

9. Title and risk

9.1        Risk shall pass on delivery of the Goods to the Buyer’s address.

9.2        Notwithstanding the earlier passing of risk, title in the Goods shall remain with the Seller and shall not pass to the Buyer until the amount due under the invoice for them (including interest and costs) has been paid in full.

9.3        Until title passes the Buyer shall hold the Goods as bailee for the Seller and shall store or mark them so that they can at all times be identified as the property of the Seller.

9.4        The Seller may at any time before title passes and without any liability to the Buyer:

9.4.1     repossess and dismantle and use or sell all or any of the Goods and by doing so terminate the Buyer’s right to use, sell or otherwise deal in them; and

9.4.2     for that purpose (or determining what if any Goods are held by the Buyer and inspecting them) enter any premises of or occupied by the Buyer.

9.5        The Seller may maintain an action for the price of any Goods notwithstanding that title in them has not passed to the Buyer.

10. Carriage of Goods

Carriage will be chargeable on all sales at the appropriate rate at the time of order being received.

11. Force Majeure

11.1      For the purposes of this Contract, Force Majeure Event means an event beyond the reasonable control of the Seller including but not limited to strikes, lock-outs or other industrial disputes (whether involving the workforce of the Seller or any other party), failure of a utility service or transport network, act of God, war, terrorism, riot, civil commotion, interference by civil of military authorities, national or international calamity, malicious damage, compliance with any law or governmental order, rule, regulation or direction, accident, breakdown of plant or machinery, fire, flood, storm, earthquake, epidemic or similar events, or default of suppliers or subcontractors.

11.2      The Seller shall not be liable to the Buyer as a result of any delay or failure to perform its obligations under this Contract as a result of a Force Majeure Event.

11.3      If the Force Majeure Event prevents the Seller from providing any of the Goods for more than four weeks, the Seller shall, without limiting its other rights or remedies, have the right  to terminate this Contract immediately by giving written notice to the Buyer.

12. Limitation of Liability: THE BUYER’S ATTENTION IS PARTICULARLY DRAWN TO THIS CLAUSE

• Nothing in these Conditions shall limit or exclude the Seller’s liability for:
• death or personal injury caused by its negligence, or the negligence of its employees, agents or subcontractors;
• fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;
• breach of the terms implied by section 12 of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (title and quiet possession); or
• defective products under the Consumer Protection Act 1987.
• Subject to clause 12.1:
• the Seller shall under no circumstances whatever be liable to the Buyer, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, for any loss of profit, or any indirect or consequential loss arising under or in connection with the Contract; and
• the Seller’s total liability to the Buyer in respect of all other losses arising under or in connection with the Contract, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, shall in no circumstances exceed £500.

12.3      After the Warranty Period, the terms implied by sections 13 to 15 of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 are, to the fullest extent permitted by law, excluded from the Contract.

12.4      This clause 12 shall survive termination of the Contract.

13. General

• Any notice or other communication given to a party under or in connection with this Contract shall be in writing, addressed to that party at its registered office (if it is a company) or its principal place of business (in any other case) or such other address as that party may have specified to the other party in writing in accordance with this clause, and shall be delivered personally or sent by prepaid first-class post or other next working day delivery service, or by commercial courier, or e-mail.
• The provisions of this clause shall not apply to the service of any proceedings or other documents in any legal action.

13.2      Waiver.  A waiver of any right under the Contract or law is only effective if it is in writing and shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any subsequent breach or default. No failure or delay by a party in exercising any right or remedy under the Contract or by law shall constitute a waiver of that or any other right or remedy, nor prevent or restrict its further exercise of that or any other right or remedy. No single or partial exercise of such right or remedy shall prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy.

13.3      No partnership or agency.  Nothing in the Contract is intended to, or shall be deemed to, establish any partnership or joint venture between any of the parties, nor constitute either party the agent of another party for any purpose. Neither party shall have authority to act as agent for, or to bind, the other party in any way.

13.4      Third parties.  A person who is not a party to the Contract shall not have any rights to enforce its terms.

13.5      This Contract contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter of this Contract and extinguishes all previous agreements, promises, assurances, warranties, representations and understandings between the parties, whether written or oral.

13.6      Variation.  Except as set out in these Conditions, no variation of the Contract, including the introduction of any additional terms and conditions shall be effective unless it is agreed in writing and signed by the Seller.

13.7      Governing law.  This agreement and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with it or its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales.

13.8      Jurisdiction.  Each party irrevocably agrees that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with this Contract or its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims).

Signed:  JP Ratchford  Director on behalf of FJ Ratchford Ltd.,