(1)Where a right, duty or liability would arise under a contract of sale of goods by implication of law, it may (subject to the M1Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977) be negatived or varied by express agreement, or by the course of dealing between the parties, or by such usage as binds both parties to the contract.
(2)An express [F1term] does not negative a [F1term] implied by this Act unless inconsistent with it.
(3)Paragraph 11 of Schedule 1 below applies in relation to a contract made on or after 18 May 1973 and before 1 February 1978, and paragraph 12 in relation to one made before 18 May 1973.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 55(2) substituted (3.1.1995) by 1994 c. 35, ss. 7(1), 8(2), Sch. 2 para. 5(8) (with s. 8(3)).
Marginal Citations
Paragraph 13 of Schedule 1 below applies in relation to a contract made on or after 18 May 1973 and before 1 February 1978, so as to make provision about conflict of laws in relation to such a contract.
(1)Where goods are put up for sale by auction in lots, each lot is prima facie deemed to be the subject of a separate contract of sale.
(2)A sale by auction is complete when the auctioneer announces its completion by the fall of the hammer, or in other customary manner; and until the announcement is made any bidder may retract his bid.
(3)A sale by auction may be notified to be subject to a reserve or upset price, and a right to bid may also be reserved expressly by or on behalf of the seller.
(4)Where a sale by auction is not notified to be subject to a right to bid by or on behalf of the seller, it is not lawful for the seller to bid himself or to employ any person to bid at the sale, or for the auctioneer knowingly to take any bid from the seller or any such person.
(5)A sale contravening subsection (4) above may be treated as fraudulent by the buyer.
(6)Where, in respect of a sale by auction, a right to bid is expressly reserved (but not otherwise) the seller or any one person on his behalf may bid at the auction.
In Scotland where a buyer has elected to accept goods which he might have rejected, and to treat a breach of contract as only giving rise to a claim for damages, he may, in an action by the seller for the price, be required, in the discretion of the court before which the action depends, to consign or pay into court the price of the goods, or part of the price, or to give other reasonable security for its due payment.
Where a reference is made in this Act to a reasonable time the question what is a reasonable time is a question of fact.
Where a right, duty or liability is declared by this Act, it may (unless otherwise provided by this Act) be enforced by action.
(1)In this Act, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires,—
“action” includes counterclaim and set-off, and in Scotland condescendence and claim and compensation;
[F2“bulk” means a mass or collection of goods of the same kind which—
is contained in a defined space or area; and
is such that any goods in the bulk are interchangeable with any other goods therein of the same number or quantity;]
“business” includes a profession and the activities of any government department (including a Northern Ireland department) or local or public authority;
“buyer” means a person who buys or agrees to buy goods;
[F3“consumer contract” has the same meaning as in section 25(1) of the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977; and for the purposes of this Act the onus of proving that a contract is not to be regarded as a consumer contract shall lie on the seller]
“contract of sale” includes an agreement to sell as well as a sale;
“credit-broker” means a person acting in the course of a business of credit brokerage carried on by him, that is a business of effecting introductions of individuals desiring to obtain credit—
to persons carrying on any business so far as it relates to the provision of credit, or
to other persons engaged in credit brokerage;
“defendant” includes in Scotland defender, respondent, and claimant in a multiplepoinding;
“delivery” means voluntary transfer of possession from one person to another ; [F4except that in relation to sections 20A and 20B above it includes such appropriation of goods to the contract as results in property in the goods being transferred to the buyer;]
“document of title to goods” has the same meaning as it has in the Factors Acts;
“Factors Acts” means the M2Factors Act 1889, the M3Factors (Scotland) 1890, and any enactment amending or substituted for the same;
“fault” means wrongful act or default;
“future goods” means goods to be manufactured or acquired by the seller after the making of the contract of sale;
“goods” includes all personal chattels other than things in action and money, and in Scotland all corporeal moveables except money; and in particular “goods” includes emblements, industrial growing crops, and things attached to or forming part of the land which are agreed to be severed before sale or under the contract of sale; [F5and includes an undivided share in goods;]
“plaintiff” includes pursuer, complainer, claimant in a multiplepoinding and defendant or defender counter-claiming;
[F6“producer” means the manufacturer of goods, the importer of goods into the European Economic Area or any person purporting to be a producer by placing his name, trade mark or other distinctive sign on the goods;]
“property” means the general property in goods, and not merely a special property;
[F7“repair” means, in cases where there is a lack of conformity in goods for the purposes of section 48F of this Act, to bring the goods into conformity with the contract;]
F8. . .
“sale” includes a bargain and sale as well as a sale and delivery;
“seller” means a person who sells or agrees to sell goods;
“specific goods” means goods identified and agreed on at the time a contract of sale is made [F9and includes an undivided share, specified as a fraction or percentage, of goods identified and agreed on as aforesaid];
“warranty” (as regards England and Wales and Northern Ireland) means an agreement with reference to goods which are the subject of a contract of sale, but collateral to the main purpose of such 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.
F10(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3)A thing is deemed to be done in good faith within the meaning of this Act when it is in fact done honestly, whether it is done negligently or not.
(4)A person is deemed to be insolvent within the meaning of this Act if he has either ceased to pay his debts in the ordinary course of business or he cannot pay his debts as they become due, [F11whether he has committed an act of bankruptcy or not,][F12and whether he has become a notour bankrupt or not].
(5)Goods are in a deliverable state within the meaning of this Act when they are in such a state that the buyer would under the contract be bound to take delivery of them.
[F13(5A)References in this Act to dealing as consumer are to be construed in accordance with Part I of the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977; and, for the purposes of this Act, it is for a seller claiming that the buyer does not deal as consumer to show that he does not.]
(6)As regards the definition of “business” in subsection (1) above, paragraph 14 of Schedule 1 below applies in relation to a contract made on or after 18 May 1973 and before 1 February 1978, and paragraph 15 in relation to one made before 18 May 1973.
Textual Amendments
F2Definition of "bulk" in s. 61(1) inserted (19.9.1995) by 1995 c. 28, ss. 2(a), 3(2).
F3Definition of "consumer contract" in s. 61(1) inserted (3.1.1995) by 1994 c. 35, ss. 7(1), 8(2), Sch. 2 para. 5(9)(a)(i) (with s. 8(3)).
F4Words in the definition of "delivery" in s. 61(1) added (19.9.1995) by 1995 c. 28, ss. 2(b), 3(2).
F5Words in the definition of "goods" in s. 61(1) added (19.9.1995) by 1995 c. 28, s. 2(c), 3(2).
F6Definition of “producer” in S. 61(1) inserted (31.3.2003) by S.I. 2002/3045, reg. 6(1)
F7Definition of “repair” in s. 61(1) inserted (31.3.2003) by S.I. 2002/3045, reg. 6(2)
F8Definition of "quality" in s. 61(1) repealed (3.1.1995) by 1994 c. 35, ss. 7, 8(2), Sch. 2 para. 5(9)(a)(ii), Sch. 3 (with s. 8(3)).
F9Words in the definition of "specific goods" in s. 61(1) added (19.9.1995) by 1995 c. 28, ss. 2(d), 3(2).
F10S. 61(2) repealed (3.1.1995) by 1994 c. 35, ss. 7, 8(2), Sch. 2 para. 5(9)(b), Sch. 3 (with s. 8(3)).
F11Words repealed (E.W.) by Insolvency Act 1985 (c. 65, SIF66), ss. 235, 236(2), Sch. 9 para. 11, Sch. 10 Pt. III
F12Words repealed (S.) by Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 (c. 66, SIF 66), s. 75(2), Sch. 8
F13S. 61(5A) inserted (3.1.1995) by 1994 c. 35, ss. 7(1), 8(2), Sch. 2 para. 5(9)(c) (with s. 8(3)).
Marginal Citations
(1)The rules in bankruptcy relating to contracts of sale apply to those contracts, notwithstanding anything in this Act.
(2)The rules of the common law, including the law merchant, except in so far as they are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, and in particular the rules relating to the law of principal and agent and the effect of fraud, misrepresentation, duress or coercion, mistake, or other invalidating cause, apply to contracts for the sale of goods.
(3)Nothing in this Act or the M4Sale of Goods 1893 affects the enactments relating to bills of sale, or any enactment relating to the sale of goods which is not expressly repealed or amended by this Act or that.
(4)The provisions of this Act about contracts of sale do not apply to a transaction in the form of a contract of sale which is intended to operate by way of mortgage, pledge, charge, or other security.
(5)Nothing in this Act prejudices or affects the landlord’s right of hypothec F14. . . in Scotland.
Textual Amendments
F14Words in s. 62(5) repealed (S.) (1.4.2008) by Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3), ss. 226(1), 227, Sch. 6 Pt. 1 (with s. 223); S.S.I. 2008/115, art. 3, Sch. 2 (with art. 9)
Marginal Citations
(1)Without prejudice to section 17 of the M5Interpretation Act 1978 (repeal and re-enactment), the enactments mentioned in Schedule 2 below have effect subject to the amendments there specified (being amendments consequential on this Act).
(2)The enactments mentioned in Schedule 3 below are repealed to the extent specified in column 3, but subject to the savings in Schedule 4 below.
(3)The savings in Schedule 4 below have effect.
Marginal Citations
(1)This Act may be cited as the Sale of Goods Act 1979.
(2)This Act comes into force on 1 January 1980.