Trade Customs

Best Practices for Conducting Printing Business

The Printing Industry Trade Customs reflect the common business practices of the printing industry. However, “Trade Customs” are not necessarily “recommended” practices. Some printers may elect to follow them; others may not.

The use of any Trade Customs must always be an independent, individual business decision. As each company drafts its own contractual provisions, it will also want to consider customers’ wishes, relationships with potential customers, and other competitive issues.

It is important to note that Trade Customs having to do with rates, payment terms, and warranties may be subject to modification. For further information, please contact Printing Industry Midwest.

QUOTATION. A quotation not accepted within 30 days may be changed.

ORDERS. Acceptance of orders is subject to credit approval and contingencies such as fire, water, strikes, theft, vandalism, acts of God, and other causes beyond the provider’s control. Canceled orders require compensation for incurred costs and related obligations.

EXPERIMENTAL WORK. Experimental or preliminary work performed at customer’s request will be charged to the customer at the provider’s current rates. This work cannot be used without the provider’s written consent.

CREATIVE WORK. Sketches, copy, dummies and all other creative work developed or furnished by the provider are the provider’s exclusive property. The provider must give written approval for all use of this work and for any derivation of ideas from it.

ACCURACY OF SPECIFICATIONS. Quotations are based on the accuracy of the specifications provided. The provider can re-quote a job at time of submission if copy, film, tapes, disks, or other input materials don’t conform to the information on which the original quotation was based.

PREPARATORY MATERIALS. Art work, type, plates, negatives, positives, tapes, disks, and all other items supplied by the provider remain the provider’s exclusive property.

ELECTRONIC MANUSCRIPT OR IMAGE. It is the customer’s responsibility to maintain a copy of the original file. The provider is not responsible for accidental damage to media supplied by the customer or for the accuracy of furnished input or final output. Until digital input can be evaluated by the provider, no claims or promises are made about the provider’s ability to work with jobs submitted in digital format, and no liability is assumed for problems that may arise. Any additional translating, editing, or programming needed to utilize customer-supplied files will be charged at prevailing rates.

ALTERATIONS/CORRECTIONS. Customer alterations include all work performed in addition to the original specifications. All such work will be charged at the provider’s current rates.

PREPRESS PROOFS. The provider will submit prepress proofs along with original copy for the customer’s review and approval. Corrections will be returned to the provider on a “master set” marked “O.K.”, “O.K. with corrections”, or “Revised proof required” and signed by the customer. Until the master set is received, no additional work will be performed. The provider will not be responsible for undetected production errors if: proofs are not required by the customer; the work is printed per the customer’s O.K.; requests for changes are communicated orally.

PRESS PROOFS. Press proofs will not be furnished unless they have been required in writing in the provider’s quotation. A press sheet can be submitted for the customer’s approval as long as the customer is present at the press during makeready. Any press time lost or alterations/corrections made because of the customer’s delay or change of mind will be charged at the provider’s current rates.

COLOR PROOFING. Because of differences in equipment, paper, inks, and other conditions between color proofing and production pressroom operations, a reasonable variation in color between color proofs and the completed job is to be expected. When variation of this kind occurs, it will be considered acceptable performance.

OVER-RUNS OR UNDER-RUNS. Over-runs or under-runs will not exceed 10 percent of the quantity ordered. The provider will bill for actual quantity delivered within this tolerance. If the customer requires a guaranteed quantity, the percentage of tolerance must be stated at the time of quotation.

CUSTOMER’S PROPERTY. The provider will only maintain fire and extended coverage on property belonging to the customer while the property is in the provider’s possession. The provider’s liability for this property will not exceed the amount recoverable from the insurance. Additional insurance coverage may be obtained if it is requested in writing, and if the premium is paid to the provider.

DELIVERY. Unless otherwise specified, the price quoted is for a single shipment, without storage, F.O.B. provider’s platform. Proposals are based on continuous and uninterrupted delivery of the complete order. If the specifications state otherwise, the provider will charge accordingly at current rates. Charges for delivery of materials and supplies from the customer to the provider, or from the customer’s supplier to the provider, are not included in quotations unless specified. Title for finished work passes to the customer upon delivery to the carrier at shipping point; or upon mailing of invoices for the finished work or its segments, whichever occurs first.

PRODUCTION SCHEDULES. Production schedules will be established and followed by both the customer and the provider. In the event that production schedules are not adhered to by the customer, delivery dates will be subject to renegotiation. There will be no liability or penalty for delays due to state of war, riot, civil disorder, fire, strikes, accidents, action of government or civil authority, acts of God, or other causes beyond the control of the provider. In such cases, schedules will be extended by an amount of time equal to delay incurred.

CUSTOMER-FURNISHED MATERIALS. Materials furnished by customers or their suppliers are verified by delivery tickets. The provider bears no responsibility for discrepancies between delivery tickets and actual counts. Customer-supplied paper must be delivered according to specifications furnished by the provider. These specifications will include correct weight, thickness, pick resistance, and other technical requirements. Artwork, film, color separations, special dies, tapes, disks, or other materials furnished by the customer must be usable by the provider without alteration or repair. Items not meeting this requirement will be repaired by the customer, or by the provider at the provider’s current rates.

OUTSIDE PURCHASES. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, all outside purchases as requested or authorized by the customer, are chargeable.

TERMS/CLAIMS/LIENS. Payment is net cash 30 calendar days from date of invoice. Claims for defects, damages or shortages must be made by the customer in writing no later than 10 calendar days after delivery. If no such claim is made, the provider and the customer will understand that the job has been accepted. By accepting the job, the customer acknowledges that the provider’s performance has fully satisfied all terms, conditions, and specifications.

The provider’s liability will be limited to the quoted selling price of defective goods, without additional liability for special or consequential damages. As security for payment of any sum due under the terms of an agreement, the provider has the right to hold and place a lien on all customer property in the provider’s possession. This right applies even if credit has been extended, notes have been accepted, trade acceptances have been made, or payment has been guaranteed. If payment is not made, the customer is liable for all collection costs incurred.