Conditions of Use

Full terms and conditions of sale

The following terms and conditions apply to all transactions made on the 1stchoicemetals.co.uk website. The placement of an order indicates your acceptance of these terms and conditions. This does not affect any statutory rights that you may have. We advise that you read these terms and conditions carefully and print off a copy for future reference

 

1.0    OUR PRODUCTS

1.1    All products advertised on this website are as new – we do not sell any reclaimed or previously used materials. However please be aware that the items offered for sale are ‘raw materials’ that are designed to be finished (i.e polished / painted / anodised / machined) by the user.  Unless specified on the the individual product page, we do not finish or treat any of the items prior to despatch and therefore unprotected surfaces can be scratched / marked / scuffed. These surface marks are caused by the storage, handling and cutting processes. These are unavoidable and therefore are not returnable as ‘damaged’.

1.2   We stock the items offered for sale on this website in full lengths (sections are usually 5mtrs long) & sheets (usually 2500mm x 1250mm). As buyers place orders we then cut these larger items down to the buyers required size and despatch.  This cutting and handling process can often result in surface scratching on the material. This is completely normal for the metal stockholder industry, and is not a reason for return / rejection. These are raw materials, and they need to be professionally finished (i.e machined, polished, anodised or painted) if a totally blemish free look is desired. The only exceptions to the above are our sheet products, in both Aluminium and Stainless steel / Splashbacks, from 0.9mm thick up to and including 4mm thick. These items are supplied with a PVC coating on 1 side of the sheet to protect against scratching during the cutting process. Once received, the buyer simply peels off the PVC coating and this will leave a totally blemish free finish on the one side. The other side will be subject to surface scratching. Please note that we do not treat any cut edges prior to despatch, and whilst our cutting equipment generally leaves a good finish, the buyer should take care when unpacking / handling the materials as sharp edges are possible.

2.0         HOW TO PLACE AN ORDER

2.1        Select the type of material e.g “Aluminium”
You will be presented with a list of aluminium tube sizes (from smallest to largest) e.g  “3/8″ od x 16swg”

Click the “View / Buy Products” icon located adjacent to the required size of tube.

Use the dropdown menu to select the length required e.g “1200mm”

You will then be asked if you require the item cut down to size. If no cutting is required,
enter the quantity required and then click on the  “Add to basket” icon

If cutting is required, select “Yes, I would like to provide cut information” and enter details into
the dialogue box. More details of how to use our cutting service can be found in section 13.0
Finally enter the number of tubes required and click “Add to basket”

2.2       Once we have received your order we will email you an acknowledgement. This does not constitute acceptance of your order.  Your order is accepted, and therefore our contract begins when you receive your despatch notification email.

3.0    REGISTRATION – YOUR DETAILS
3.1    In order to purchase from our site you will be required to register.
As part of this registration process we will require your full name, address, email address and a working telephone number that we and / or our courier companies can contact you on.

Please be assured that other than the relevant delivery company, we will not pass your details on to any other company.

4.0    PAYMENT   

4.1    Via our website we accept the following types of payments:
VISA, Mastercard, JCB, Delta, VISA Electron, Maestro.
Card payments are regulated by the laws of Great Britain.

We can also accept payments made by PAYPAL.

5.0    ACCURACY OF INFORMATION

5.1    Whilst we do our best to ensure that all product descriptions, sizes, prices and other information that is displayed on this website is correct, we are unable guarantee the accuracy of any information. If you come across an error or omission on our site please email the details to sales@1stcoicemetals.co.uk so that we can amend the site accordingly.

5.2    All quoted sizes of sections (Diamteres, Widths, Wall Thicknesses etc) are subject to the relevant European manufacturing tolerances. Tolerances for specific items are available from us upon request.

5.3    All quoted lengths of sections, and also the quoted length & widths of sheet & plate products are subject to our standard +/-2mm cutting tolerance. For further details about our cutting services, please see section 12.0 of this document.

6.0    DESPATCH & PRODUCT AVAILABILITY

6.1    We aim to despatch all orders within 2 working days (Monday – Friday, excluding all public & bank holidays and also certain days over the Christmas period; these dates will be displayed on the website during December). However in most instances we will despatch sameday or next working day.

6.2    You will receive an email advising when your item has been despatched, the method of delivery and when to expect to receive your item.

6.3    We have tried to be as flexible as possible with regards to delivery methods. Smaller, lighter items are defaulted to delivery via Royal Mail 48. At checkout, the buyer then has the option to upgrade this service to Royal Mail 24 or to Next Day Courier.  Items that are over 1mtr in length and/or 2kg in weight will be sent via Courier.

6.4    The courier companies that we use levy surcharges on deliveries to all Islands, the Highlands and some other areas of Scotland. Therefore, the delivery costs quoted by the website will be significantly higher if you live in one of these areas. The affected postcodes are as follows:-
AB31-38, AB41-45, AB51-56, IV1-32, IV36, IV40, IV63, KW1-14, PA21-28, PH1, PH5-10, PH15-26, PH30-41, PH49-50, PO30-41, BT(ALL).  Prices offered on items to be delivered by Royal Mail are unaffected are offered at the standard UK rates.

Due to costs varying wildly between Courier Companies, if you are in a Scottish Off-shore location you will be unable to complete your purchase on our website. Please contact us with your material requirements, (via email or telephone) and we will find the most competitive delivery method for the size and weight of your parcel currently available. The relevant postcodes are:- HS1-9, IV41-49, IV51-56, KA27-28, KW15-17, PA20, PA41-49, PA60-78, PA80-88, PH42-44, ZE1-3

6.5    We usually carry stock of all products that are listed on our website.  However, due to there being literally thousands of different length & quantity permutations available, it is impossible to show live stock availability and therefore we do occasionally run out. If this happens we will contact you either by telephone or email to advise you of the situation. You will then be given the option of waiting until new stock arrives – we will advise you of a new despatch day, this will normally be within 3 working days. Alternatively should you not wish to wait you will be given the option of having a full refund and the order cancelled.

7.0    DELIVERY

7.1    Dependant on the overall size and weight of the items ordered, delivery will be made either by Royal mail, or by one of our appointed Courier companies.

7.2    The actual delivery time will depend on the method of delivery selected.

Royal Mail 48 (2nd Class)   – The vast majority of this mail is delivered within 2 working days after despatch (Royal Mail work Monday – Saturday, but not Bank Holidays). However, please note that this is a non guaranteed service and on occasions delivery can take considerably longer.

Royal Mail 24 (1st Class)  – The vast majority of this mail is delivered next working day after despatch, but again please note that there are no guarantees.

24 Hour courier –  Fully tracked and insured next working day (after day of despatch) service. Standard delivery days are Monday – Friday (Excluding all Bank and some public holidays)

For items sent in the post, please contact us if your item has not been received 6 working days after we despatched it.

For items sent by courier, please contact us if your item has not been received by the end of the working day following the day we despatched it.

7.3    Upon delivery the Courier will require a signature. If your premises are unoccupied, the driver will leave a card advising that delivery has been attempted. Please ensure that you follow the instructions on the card in order to ensure prompt re-delivery of your item, or to organise to pick the item up from the courier’s local depot, should this be more convenient. If the courier company receives no contact from you within a few days they may return the parcel to us. If this happens then we reserve the right to pass on to the buyer any charges that the courier company makes in relation to returning the item to us. The buyer will then also be required to pay a re-delivery charge in order to get the items sent back to their premises.

7.4    Upon receiving your parcel it is important that you check it over for damage as soon as you can, preferably whilst the delivery driver is present.  If you suspect that the item is damaged, please sign the drivers pod with the word “DAMAGED” – this will enable us to make a swift claim on the Couriers insurance policy and facilitate prompt despatch of replacement items to the buyer.  In any case, the courier’s will not consider any claims that we make for damage once 24 hours has elapsed once the buyer has signed for the item

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8.0    RETURNS (BUSINESS / TRADE / COMMERCIAL CONSUMERS)

8.1         If your order is damaged or incomplete upon arrival you must advise us, by either telephone
or by email, within 24 hours of receipt.  No claims made outside of this period will be
considered.  You may be required to supply us with photo’s of any damage.
The buyer is required to keep both the damaged item, and the original packaging as a representative from the    relevant courier company may wish to inspect the damage.

Assuming the above conditions are met we will arrange for the damaged item(s) to be collected and we will despatch replacements(s) at no cost to the buyer. This will be done within 3 business days.

 

8.2    If your item arrives and we have sent the incorrect product, or it is not as described on this website you should advise us within 3 business days.
We will then conduct an internal investigation in order to determine how the mistake occurred. We will then organise for the incorrect item to be collected at no cost to the buyer and for a replacement item to be despatched free of charge. This process will take no longer than 2 Business Days.

8.3    Should you wish to return your item(s) for any reason other than those defined in clause 8.1 or 8.2 (e.g You order the incorrect item or size, or simply change your mind) then the decision to accept will be at our discretion and will be dependent on the type / size of the product(s) in question. The original delivery charge will not be refunded and in certain circumstances, we reserve the right to charge a restocking fee of up to 50%.

Please note that the buyer is responsible for the cost of returning the item(s) to us.

Once we have received your returned item(s), we will carry out an inspection to ensure that the item(s) are in good condition. Providing that they are, we will issue the relevant refund
within 2 business days.

 

9.0    RETURNS (PRIVATE CONSUMERS)

9.1         If your item is damaged or incomplete upon arrival please advise us as soon as you can, but no later than 14 days after delivery, by either telephone or by email. We will then conduct an investigation to establish the cause of the problem . If your item is damaged, at this point we may require photographs of the damage to both the packaging and the material.

The buyer is required to keep both the damaged item, and the original packaging as a representative from the relevant courier company may wish to inspect the damage.

It is our responsibility to collect the incorrect / damaged item from the buyer and therefore there is no cost to the buyer for returning damaged items.

Once our investigation is complete, we will then despatch replacement item(s) at no cost to the buyer. This process will take no longer than 3 Business days.

 

9.2    If you wish to return your item for any reason not detailed in clause 9.1 (e.g you order the  incorrect item / size or simply change your mind) then you must advise us within 14 days of delivery.  Once we have accepted your return you must send the item back to us within 14 days.
The cost of returning the item(s) is the buyers responsibility.
Once we have received your returned item(s), we will carry out an inspection to ensure that the item(s) are in good condition. Providing that they are, we will issue a full refund of the purchase price, excluding the original delivery cost, within 2 business days.

9.3    If you take advantage of our cutting service in order to cut one of the product offered on our website down to size, or if you contact us via telephone or email and ask us to supply you with a specific size or type of product that is not currently offered for sale on the website, then these types of purchases are excluded from the returns policy detailed in clause 8.2, and no returns will be accepted.

10.0    Liability

10.1    We will not be liable for any consequential losses incurred, or damage caused by the supply or use of any of our products.  This includes, but is not limited to:
Late or non delivery,
Incorrect material supplied
Defective material.

11.0       ABOUT US

11.1     This website www.1stchoicemetals.co.uk is owned and operated by 1st Choice Metals Ltd

11.2    We can be contacted via the following methods:
Mail:   Unit 2 Judge Court
Berry Hill Industrial Estate
Droitwich
WR9 9AB

Email:  Sales@1stchoicemetals.co.uk
Telephone: 01905 774623

12.0    MATERIAL GRADE DISPUTES

12.1    To the best of our knowledge the material supplied is to the specification stated on the product description page and test certificates or letters of conformity are often available upon request.

12.2    Should there be any dispute over the actual grade or specification of any piece of material supplied, then the following procedure will apply.

We will provide any evidence that we have (e.g test certificates) to back up our claim. Usually this will be free of charge, however if we have to contact manufacturers for copies of paperwork, there may be a charge which is the responsibility of the buyer.
Should the dispute still not be resolved then we will collect the metal and send it to a metallurgist for testing, which will give a definitive answer on the actual grade.

12.3    We will advise the buyer of any costs (of obtaining certificates or for material testing) and they are to be paid upfront by the buyer in full before any work is undertaken.

12.4    Should the results of the testing prove that the material supplied by us is not of the grade or specification that we claim, then we will refund any monies paid in clause 12.3.

 

13.0       CUTTING SERVICE

13.1       Using our range of in house machinery, we offer a cutting service that enables you to purchase material cut down to the size that you require.

13.2       For each line item purchased, we offer the 1st cut free of charge, then any further cuts are
charged at £0.50each + VAT.

13.3      Once you have selected the item that you require, you will be asked if you require the item cutting. To take advantage simply click on the box that says “Yes I would like to provide cut information”. A dialogue box will then open up in which you can detail the 1st cut that you require. If you require more than one cut, click the “Add another cut” button and another dialogue box will open up. When you have finished entering your cutting details, enter the quantity of items that you require with those specific cut details and then add the item to the shopping cart.

13.4        When taking advantage of our cutting service, we will always send any off cuts where possible.  For example , if you purchased a 1000mm Length of bar and asked for 1 cut at 925mm long, we will send you the remaining 70mm that is left. Please note that on occasions, if the off cut is very small, it can get damaged by, or lost behind the saw / guillotine and in these cases the off cut will be deemed too small to be of any use and will not be sent.

13.5    When ordering Aluminium, Brass, Stainless or Plastic sections (i.e Bars, Tubes, Angles etc) please note that due to the width of the saw blades, approximately 5mm of material is lost each and every time we make a cut. For example:  If you ordered a 100mm length of aluminium bar and wanted it cut into 20mm long pieces, the bar would need to be cut 4 times, so approx 20mm of material would be lost, therefore the 100mm length would actually yield 4 pieces @ 20mm long, and not 5 pieces. This also applies to plate that is over 6mm thick. Aluminium & Stainless sheet that is 0.9mm up to 6mm thick is cut on a guillotine and no material is lost from this cutting process.
13.6    We offer a standard cutting tolerance of +/-2mm on all of our items. If you require greater accuracy than this, please contact us prior to purchase as this is often possible.