BL Chapter 9
BL Chapter 9
BL Chapter 9
(008974-T) 2010
CHAPTER
Sale of Goods
OBJECTIVES
This chapter:
lays down the basic principles of the law governing sale of goods
PREVIEW
Applicable Laws Definition of Goods The Contract of Sale Agreement to Sell Formation of the Contract Terms of the Contract Transfer of Property Transfer of Title Performance of the Contract Remedies for Breach Consumer Protection Legislation
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APPLICABLE LAWS
Sale of Goods Act 1957 (SOGA 1957) applies in Malaysia (except Penang, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak) Section 1 of the Sale of Goods Act 1957 Penang, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak is governed by the English Sale of Goods Act 1893 see Seng Djit Hin v Nagurdas Purshotumdas & Co the provisions of the Contracts Act 1950 (Revised 1974) continues to apply to contracts for the sale of goods unless they are inconsistent with the express provisions of the Sale of Goods Act section 3 of the Sale of Goods Act 1957
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DEFINITION OF GOODS
every kind of movable property other than actionable claims and money; and includes stock and shares, growing crops, grass and things attached to or forming part of the land which are agreed to be severed before sale or under the contract of sale section 2, SOGA 1957 it does not include:
land things attached to land (though it does include timber and growing crops which are to be harvested before sale or under the contract of sale) choses in action or rights, e.g. debts, negotiable instruments and patents services, such as work and labour, or repair
classifications of goods:
1. Existing 2. Future 3. Specific 4. Unascertained 5. Ascertained
goods which form the subject of a contract of sale may either be existing goods or future goods section 6 of SOGA 1957
existing goods goods already owned or possessed by the seller, and may be either specified or agreed upon at the time a contract of sale is made
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specific goods goods identified and agreed upon at the time a contract of sale is made ascertained goods goods which, in a contract for the sale of unascertained goods, have become identified and agreed upon by the parties unascertained goods those identified by description only future goods goods to be manufactured or produced or acquired by the seller after the making of the contract of sale: section 2 of SOGA 1957
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a contract whereby the seller transfers or agrees to transfer the property in goods [the ownership] to the buyer for a price [a money consideration] section 4(1) of SOGA 1957 there must be:
1. Goods 2. Money consideration (price) 3. Transfer of property
AGREEMENT TO SELL
a contract under which the transfer of the property in the goods is to take place at a future time or subject to some condition thereafter to be fulfilled section 4(3), SOGA 1957 an agreement to sell becomes a sale when the time elapses or the conditions are fulfilled subject to which the property in the goods is to be transferred section 4(4), SOGA 1957
what is a reasonable price is a question of fact dependent on the circumstances of each particular case section 9, SOGA 1957 Capacity to Contract the legal principles and the law on contract governing capacity in ordinary contract law apply to contracts of sale
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whether a stipulation is a condition or warranty depends in each case on the construction of the contract. The stipulation may be a condition, though called a warranty in the contract section 12(4), SOGA 1957
1. Condition a stipulation essential to the main purpose of the contract, the breach of which gives rise to a right to treat the contract as repudiated section 12(2), SOGA 1957
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a breach of condition entitles the innocent party to repudiate the contract however, in the following circumstances, the innocent party cannot repudiate the contract but can merely claim damages:
where the buyer waives the condition where the buyer elects to treat the breach of condition as a breach of warranty and claims damages only where the contract of sale is not severable and the buyer has accepted the goods or part thereof, the breach of any condition must be accepted as a breach of warranty unless otherwise provided in the contract
2. Warranty a warranty is a stipulation collateral to the main purpose of the contract, the breach of which gives rise to a claim for damages but not to a right to reject the goods and treat the contract as repudiated section 12(3), SOGA 1957
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unless a different intention appears from the terms of the contract, stipulations as to time of payment are not deemed to be of the essence with respect to the contract of sale section 11, SOGA 1957 whether any other stipulation as to time (e.g. time for delivery) is of the essence of the contract or not depends on the terms of the contract section 11, SOGA 1957
a breach of this condition entitles the buyer to repudiate the contract section 14(a) SOGA 1957
4. Implied Warranty that the Buyer shall have and Enjoy Quiet Possession of the Goods
in a contract of sale, unless the circumstances of the contract are such as to show a different intention, there is an implied warranty that the buyer shall have and enjoy quiet possession of the goods section 14(b), SOGA 1957 Business Law All Rights Reserved
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a breach of this stipulation will not entitle the innocent party to repudiate the contract
there is an implied warranty that the goods are free from any charge in favour of a third party who is unknown to the buyer; for example, storage charges which have to be paid before the goods can be collected section 14(c) of SOGA 1957
where the sale is by sample as well as by description, it is not sufficient that the bulk of the goods correspond with the sample if the goods do not also correspond with the description section 15, SOGA 1957 see Lau Yaw Seng v Cooperativa Ceramica DImola, Nagurdas Purshotumdas & Co v Mitsui Bussan Kaisha Ltd, Beale v Taylor
common law rule is Let the buyer beware a buyer must exercise care when he makes purchases. If he does not, he must bear the consequences. this rule is restated in section 16 of the SOGA 1957 there is no implied warranty or condition as to the quality or fitness for any particular purpose of goods supplied under a contract of sale exceptions to this rule are:
a) Goods must be reasonably fit for purposes for which the buyer wants them b) Goods must be of merchantable quality
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where the goods have only one purpose, the description of the goods is enough to indicate their purpose see Grant v Australian Knitting Mills
however, even when goods may have only one obvious use, if the goods are required for a special purpose, the buyer must expressly notify the seller of that purpose and rely on the seller to provide him with a suitable article see Griffiths v Peter Conway Ltd, Cammell Laird & Co. v Manganese Bronze and Brass Co Ltd
quality of goods refers to their state or condition factors to be taken into account to determine merchantability include:
a) price
b) the description applied to the goods c) whether the purpose for the goods had been made known to the seller d) any other circumstances relevant to the sale
if the description in the contract is so general that goods sold under it can normally be used for several purposes, then goods would be merchantable under that description if they were fit for any one of those purposes see Henry Kendall & Sons v William Lillico & Sons Ltd, Wren v Holt
sometimes there can be a breach of both of the conditions of fitness for purpose and merchantable quality on the same set of facts Grant v Australian Knitting Mills, McWilliams Wines Ltd v Liaweena (NSW) Pty Ltd
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a) the bulk shall correspond with the sample in quality b) if the differences are only of a minor nature and the quality of the goods is still the same, this condition will not be breached c) the buyer shall have a reasonable opportunity of comparing the bulk with the sample
see Drummond v Van Ingen, Godley v Perry, Lau Yaw Seng v Cooperativa Ceramica DImola
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terms implied in a contract of sale are only between the contracting parties, i.e. the buyer and the seller if a third party uses goods purchased by another and is injured as a result of some defects in the goods, he cannot sue the seller in an action under contract his remedy would be to sue the manufacturer under tort see Donoghue v Stevenson
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TRANSFER OF PROPERTY
when property passes to the buyer, the goods are at the buyers risk irrespective of whether the goods have been actually delivered to the buyer or not section 26, SOGA 1957 the importance of transfer of ownership is that risk of loss of the goods goes with the person who has the ownership in the goods section 26, SOGA 1957 unless the parties agree otherwise, risk is borne by the owner regardless of whether he is in possession or not section 26, SOGA 195
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in the case of a contract for the sale of unascertained goods, the property in the goods can only be transferred to the buyer after the goods are ascertained section 18, SOGA 1957 in the case of a contract for the sale of specific or ascertained goods, the property in them is transferred to the buyer at such time as the parties to the contract intend it to be transferred section 19(1), SOGA 1957 in order to ascertain the intention of the parties, the following are to be considered:
a) The terms of the contract b) The conduct of the parties and the circumstances of the case
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unless otherwise determined by the parties, the rules of ascertaining the intention of the parties as to the time at which the property in the goods is to pass to the buyer are those laid down in sections 2024, SOGA 1957. They are:
where there is an unconditional contract for the sale of specific goods in a deliverable state, the property in goods passes to the buyer when the contract is made. It is immaterial whether the time of payment of the price, or the time of delivery of the goods, or both, is postponed section 20, SOGA 1957
TRANSFER OF TITLE
according to section 27, SOGA 1957, when a person takes goods (e.g. a buyer), he or she gets only the same rights to the goods as the person from whom he or she took them (e.g. a seller) nemo dat quod non habet see Lim Chui Lai v Zeno Ltd, Ng Ngat Siang v ArabMalaysian Finance Bhd & Anor
where the owner by his conduct makes it appear to the buyer that the person who sells the goods has his authority to do so and the buyer relies on that conduct, the buyer obtains a good title because the owner is precluded by his conduct from denying the sellers authority to sell section 27, SOGA 1957 where a mercantile agent is, with the consent of the owner, in possession of the goods or of a document of title to the goods, any sale made by him when acting in the ordinary course of business of a mercantile agent shall be as valid as if he were expressly authorized by the owner of the goods to make the same section 27, SOGA 1957
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however, the buyer must have acted in good faith and, at the time of the contract of sale, had not received notice that the seller has no authority to sell a mercantile agent having in the customary course of business as such agent authority either to sell goods, or to consign goods for the purpose of sale, or to buy goods, or raise money on the security of goods section 2, SOGA 1957
if one of several joint owners of goods has the sole possession of them by permission of the co-owners, the property in the goods is transferred to any person who buys them from such joint owner in good faith and has not at the time of the contract of sale notice that the seller has no authority to sell section 28, SOGA 1957
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where the seller of goods has obtained possession thereof under a contract voidable under sections 19 or 20, Contracts Act 1950 (Revised 1974), but the contract has not been rescinded at the time of the sale, the buyer acquires a good title to the goods provided he buys them in good faith and without notice of the sellers defect of title sections 29, SOGA 1957 a contract is voidable under either section 19 or section 20 of the Contracts Act 1950 when the consent of the original owner is caused by coercion, fraud, misrepresentation or undue influence
if a seller resells to a second buyer the goods sold by him previously to the first buyer, the second buyer will obtain good title to the goods if he has received the goods in good faith and without notice of the previous sale section 30(1), SOGA 1957 if a buyer, having bought or agreed to buy goods, obtains possession of the goods or the documents of title with the consent of the seller, he can pass a good title to a subsequent buyer acting in good faith, even if under the first transaction he has not obtained a good title section 30(2), SOGA 1957
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Chapter IV, SOGA 1957 the physical performance of the terms of the contract which includes:
a) Delivery b) Acceptance
Delivery
it is the duty of the seller to deliver the goods whilst the buyers duty is to accept and pay for them in accordance with the terms of the contract of sale section 31 unless otherwise agreed, delivery of the goods and payment of the price are concurrent conditions sections 32
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voluntary transfer of possession from one person to another delivery of goods may be made by doing anything which the parties agree shall be treated as delivery or which has the effect of putting the goods in the possession of the buyer or of any person authorized to hold them on his behalf section 33
if the seller wrongfully neglects or refuses to deliver the goods to the buyer, the buyer may sue the seller for damages for non-delivery
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whether the seller is required to send the goods to the buyer or the buyer has to take possession of the goods depends on what has been agreed upon between them section 36(1), SOGA 1957 goods agreed to be sold are to be delivered at the place at which they are at the time of the agreement to sell, or, in the case of goods which are still non-existent, at the place of manufacture or production section 36(1), SOGA 1957 unless the parties agree otherwise, the expenses of and goods incidental to putting the goods into a deliverable state shall be borne by the seller section 36(5)
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where under the contract of sale the seller is bound to send the goods to the buyer, but no time for sending them is fixed, the seller is bound to send them within a reasonable time what is deemed reasonable time is a question of fact where the seller delivers to the buyer a quantity of goods less than that which he contracted to sell, the buyer may reject all the goods so delivered. If the buyer accepts the goods so delivered, he is bound to pay for them at the contract rate section 37(1)
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if the seller delivers to the buyer a larger quantity of goods than that which was contracted, the buyer may:
a) Accept the goods included in the contract and reject the rest b) Reject all the goods c) Accept all the goods
where the seller delivers to the buyer the goods he contracted to sell mixed with goods of a different description not included in the contract, the buyer may:
a) Accept the goods which are in accordance with the contract and reject the rest b) Reject the whole
unless agreed by the parties, the buyer is not bound to accept delivery by instalments
where the seller is authorized or required to send goods sold to the buyer and the goods are delivered to a carrier for transmission to the buyer or to a wharfinger for safe custody, such delivery to the carrier or wharfinger is prima facie deemed to be a delivery of the goods to the buyer
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however, unless otherwise authorized by the buyer, the seller shall make such contract with the carrier or wharfinger on behalf of the buyer as may be reasonable having regard to the nature of the goods and the other circumstances of the case if the seller omits to do so, and if the goods are lost or damaged in the course of transit or whilst in the custody of the wharfinger, the buyer may:
a) Decline to treat the delivery to the carrier or wharfinger as a delivery to himself b) Hold the seller responsible in damages
performance of the contract and transfer of ownership unless otherwise agreed, when the seller delivers the goods to the buyer, the seller is bound when requested by the buyer to allow the buyer a reasonable opportunity of examining the goods in order to ascertain whether they conform to the contract
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the buyer is deemed to have accepted the goods in the following circumstances:
1. When he intimates to the seller that he has accepted them 2. When the goods have been delivered to him and he does any act in relation to them that is inconsistent with (or which would prejudice) the ownership of the goods by the seller 3. When, after the lapse of a reasonable time, he retains the goods without intimating to the seller that he has rejected them general rule is that a buyer is not bound to return rejected goods since it is sufficient if he intimates to the seller that he is rejecting the goods
when a buyer neglects or refuses delivery of goods, he is liable to the seller for any loss caused by his neglect or refusal to take delivery. He is also liable to pay a reasonable charge for the care and custody of the goods section 44, SOGA 1957
where the buyer wrongfully neglects or refuses to accept and pay for the goods, the seller may sue him for damages for non-acceptance section 56, SOGA 1957
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Chapters V and VI of the Sale of Goods Act 1957 deal with the:
1. Rights of the unpaid seller against the goods 2. Rights to sue for breach of the contract 3. Rights of the buyer to sue for damages for nondelivery 4. Rights of the buyer to bring an action for specific performance 5. Remedies available to the buyer for breach of warranty 6. Buyers action in tort
where a bill of exchange or other negotiable instrument has been received as conditional payment, and the condition on which it was received has not been fulfilled due to the instrument being dishonoured or for some other reason
when the buyer of goods becomes insolvent and the unpaid seller has parted with the possession of the goods, the seller has the right of stopping them in transit so long as the goods are in the course of transit. This means that the seller may resume possession of the goods and retain them until payment or tender of the price
Resale a contract of sale is not rescinded by the mere exercise by an unpaid seller of his right of lien or stoppage in transit section 54(1), SOGA 1957
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since the contract is not rescinded, the seller would not be allowed to resell the goods however, section 54(2), SOGA 1957 provides that the seller has authority to resell where:
1. The goods are of a perishable nature section 54(2) 2. He gives notice to the buyer of his intention to resell and the buyer does not within a reasonable time pay or tender the price section 54(2), SOGA 1957 3. The seller expressly reserves a right of resale in case the buyer should make default and the buyer makes such default section 54(4), SOGA 1957
the seller can sue for the price of the goods where:
the property in the goods has passed to the buyer and the buyer wrongfully neglects or refuses to pay for the goods where it is contracted that the price be paid on a certain date irrespective of delivery and the buyer wrongfully neglects or refuses to pay such price even though the property in the goods has not passed and the goods have not been appropriated to the contract
where the seller wrongfully neglects or refuses to deliver the goods to the buyer, the buyer may sue the seller for damages for non-delivery section 57, SOGA 1957
the buyer may bring an action for the specific performance of the contract by the delivery of specific or ascertained goods. But this remedy is available only at the discretion of the courts section 58
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where the seller commits a breach of warranty or where the buyer elects or is compelled to treat a breach of condition by the seller as a breach of warranty, the buyer cannot reject the goods but he may:
set up against the seller the breach of warranty in diminution or extinction of the price sue the seller for damages for breach of warranty
buyer can sue the seller in tort by bringing an action in detinue and conversion wrongful detention of chattels belonging to the plaintiff after their return has been demanded the dealing with the goods in a manner inconsistent with the ownership of the buyer
detinue
conversion
definition of goods goods which are primarily purchased, used or consumed for personal, domestic or household purposes, and includes fixtures, vessels and vehicles but does not include negotiable instruments, shares, debentures and money section 3, SOGA 1957
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protects consumers against misleading and deceptive conduct, false representation and unfair practice; ensures safety standards and requirement for goods and prohibits unsafe goods; provides guarantees in respect of supply of goods; such as:
1. Implied guarantee as to title section 31
2. Implied guarantee as to acceptable quality section 32 3. Implied guarantee as to fitness for particular purpose section 33 4. Implied guarantee that goods comply with description section 34
Part VI of the Act provides consumers with certain rights against suppliers in respect of guarantees in the supply of goods
Part VII provides consumers with rights against manufacturers in respect of guarantees in the supply of goods
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Part X of the Act concerns product liability Tribunal for Consumer Claims:
1. Hears claims of up to a value of RM10,000 2. No jurisdiction over land matters (except fixtures), wills or intestacy, goodwill, chose in action, trade secret or intellectual property 3. No representation by advocates and proceedings are open to the public 4. Agreed settlements and awards are final and binding and deemed an order of Magistrates Court and are enforceable 5. Failure to comply with an award within 14 days fine of up to RM5,000 or 2 years imprisonment or both
REVIEW
Applicable Laws Definition of Goods The Contract of Sale Agreement to Sell Formation of the Contract Terms of the Contract Transfer of Property Transfer of Title Performance of the Contract Remedies for Breach Consumer Protection Legislation
All Rights Reserved Ch9: 68