Checking the Seller's Terms and Conditions — Typical Traps
A Polish company receives an offer for a CNC lathe priced at EUR 42,000. At the bottom of the email, in small print: "Es gelten unsere AGB." Attached: four pages of German legalese. Most buyers click "accept" without reading. This is a mistake that can cost anywhere from a few thousand to several tens of thousands of euros.
AGB (Allgemeine Geschaeftsbedingungen) are the seller's general terms and conditions. In B2B machinery trade, the parties can shape rights and obligations almost freely through these terms. This article highlights six clauses that every Polish buyer must review before signing.
Clause 1: Warranty period shortened to 12 months
The statutory warranty period for movable goods under German law is 24 months (Section 438(1) No. 3 BGB). For used goods sold between businesses, the seller may reduce this to 12 months — or exclude warranty entirely.
Common wording:
- "Die Gewährleistungsfrist beträgt 12 Monate ab Übergabe" (warranty period is 12 months from handover)
- "Gewährleistung wird ausgeschlossen" (warranty is excluded)
- "Gekauft wie gesehen" (bought as inspected — liability exclusion for detectable defects)
When warranty is fully excluded, the buyer's only protection is liability for fraudulent concealment (arglistiges Verschweigen, Section 444 BGB), which cannot be waived by contract. But the buyer must prove the seller knew about the defect and deliberately concealed it — a high bar.
Clause 2: Liability capped at the purchase price
"Die Haftung ist auf den Kaufpreis begrenzt." This clause limits maximum damages to EUR 42,000 — even if a defective spindle drive causes EUR 80,000 in production downtime.
In B2B sales, this cap is generally enforceable, with three exceptions:
- Damage to life, body, or health
- Gross negligence (grobe Fahrlässigkeit)
- Intentional misconduct (Vorsatz)
In practice: if the CNC controller was already defective before the sale and the seller knew it, that constitutes at least gross negligence. The liability cap does not protect the seller in that case.
Clause 3: Jurisdiction and choice of law
"Gerichtsstand ist [German city]. Es gilt deutsches Recht." This clause appears in over 90% of German machinery sellers' terms.
What this means for a Polish buyer:
- Disputes are litigated in Germany, before a German court
- A German attorney (Rechtsanwalt) is required
- Litigation costs at a dispute value of EUR 42,000: approximately EUR 7,000-9,000 (court fees + two attorneys)
- Language of proceedings: German
The clause is typically enforceable between businesses. Negotiating Polish jurisdiction is possible but rarely accepted by German sellers. An alternative: an arbitration clause (e.g., ICC) — more expensive, but faster and enforceable in both countries.
Clause 4: Retention of title
"Die Ware bleibt bis zur vollständigen Bezahlung Eigentum des Verkäufers." The machine remains the seller's property until the last cent is paid (Section 449 BGB).
Consequences:
- Resale before full payment is a breach of contract
- In case of payment default: the seller can demand return of the machine — even if it is already installed on the buyer's shop floor
- With installment payments: ownership transfers only after the final installment
Simple retention of title is standard and generally unproblematic. It becomes critical with extended retention of title (erweiterter Eigentumsvorbehalt): the seller claims rights over products manufactured with the machine. Check whether the terms contain such an extension.
Clause 5: Collection obligation and storage fees
"Der Käufer hat die Maschine innerhalb von 14 Tagen nach Bereitstellungsanzeige abzuholen. Bei Verzug wird eine Lagergebühr von 50 EUR/Tag berechnet."
This means:
- 14 days after the seller declares the machine ready for collection: the clock starts
- From day 15: EUR 50/day in storage fees
- In extreme cases: the seller may withdraw from the contract and retain the deposit
Typical scenario: the seller declares readiness on June 2, the buyer's carrier has capacity only on June 25. Nine days of delay x EUR 50 = EUR 450 in additional costs. For heavy or oversized machines, two-week transport delays are common.
Clause 6: Exclusion of documentation obligations
"Technische Dokumentation wird nicht geschuldet" (technical documentation is not owed) or "CE-Konformität wird nicht zugesichert" (CE conformity is not guaranteed).
Consequences for the Polish buyer:
- Without a CE declaration of conformity: potential issues commissioning the machine in Poland (Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC)
- Missing operating manual in the national language: an employer obligation under Polish labor law
- No wiring diagram: complicates installation and servicing
Negotiate documentation into the contract before signing. If the seller refuses, budget EUR 500-3,000 for recreating the documentation.
How Hutnia identifies AGB risks
As a procurement agent, Hutnia reads the seller's AGB before the offer comparison. We identify risk clauses and negotiate amendments on behalf of the buyer — in German, with reference to German law.
We do not replace a lawyer, but we know which clauses are standard (and acceptable) and which require renegotiation or legal advice. You do not sign blind.
Related articles:
- Retention of title in machinery purchases — what it means
- Defect notice in Polish — template and deadlines
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