LAPADA CODE OF PRACTICE
1. All goods to be sold to the public by members shall, have:
 | 1.1 The full price indicated clearly on a label or ticket attached to or
immediately adjacent to the article in question, or where this is
undesirable on security grounds.
| 1.2 The full price shall be written in a price-list on stock-book, with
sufficient description to identify the article, which is available at all
times during open business hours for inspection by the public on request.
| Note: In the case of (1.2) there shall be a prominent notice stating: "Written Prices of All Goods Offered For Sale May Be Examined On Request ." Members shall observe the terms of the Department of Trade and Industry's
Code of Practice for Traders on Price Indications. | |
2. The dealer member shall give the customer as much reasonable information as possible about the goods, and this shall normally include such detail as:
| The circa date of manufacture (or actual year if hall-marked/date
-marked).
| The material (eg walnut, bronze, etc).
| The maker's or artist's name, if relevant/known.
| Any major restoration or later additions;
| if reproduction. | |
3. The member shall not attempt to confuse or mislead the customer or falsely describe any of the goods he/she offers for sale or seeks to purchase. He/she shall in all respects comply with the provision of the Trade Description Act 1968, Sale of Goods Act 1979, Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, Sale and Supply of Goods Act 1994, Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract Regulations 1994 and all other relevant enactments.
4. Description details as indicated on the label and/or as described verbally shall be written on a proper invoice which shall state the name, address, telephone number and VAT registration number of the member and date of issue.
5. Members accept responsibility for descriptions of items given to customers by their staff. Staff must be appraised of all requirements in the Association's Code of Practice.
6. Any member who accepts advance payment or deposit for goods shall clearly record in writing the terms of the transaction and by what date the full amount is to be paid. A copy of this record is to be supplied to the customer at the time.
7. Members shall not make unsolicited visits to private domestic premises.
8. Members shall apply standards of fair dealing equally to members of the public, fellow members and non-member dealers.
9. Members have no authority to act on behalf of or speak for the Association, save insofar as expressly authorised by the Directors.
10. Members shall not state or imply that membership of the Association is any guarantee of authenticity of any article offered for sale or that memberships entitles them to any special standing insofar as authentication of articles is concerned. Responsibility for all claims or statements as to authenticity lies solely with the member.
11. Valuations carried out professionally (i.e. for a fee) shall be provided in writing, signed and dated, and worded to indicate clearly whether they are for insurance (replacement cost) or for probate (resale value).
12. Members are required to co-operate to the best of their ability with consumer protection agencies (e.g. the police, trading standards authorities).
13. Members shall comply with the British Code of Advertising Practice, British Code of Sales Promotion Practice and any other relevant codes of similar standing.
*Clauses 1, 2 and 4 do not apply to members who deal SOLELY with the trade.
Conciliation Services
Should an occasion arise where either the customer or dealer feel they have been unfairly treated, the LAPADA Conciliation Service (under the scrutiny of an independent adjudicator) will provide prompt conciliation where the customer and the member are not able to resolve their dispute. Details may be obtained from: LAPADA, 535 Kings Road, London SW10 OSZ. Tel: 0171-823-3511, Fax: 0171-823-3522
Attention is expressly drawn to the fact that nothing in the above conditions shall affect the legal rights or obligations of any party to a dispute.
LAPADA, 535 Kings Road, Chelsea, London SW10 0SZ. Tel: +44
(0)20 7823 3511. Fax: +44 (0)20 7823 3522.
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