General Terms and Conditions
1.1 The contractual partnership between the Customer (“Customer”) and Schweitzer Fachinformationen GmbH & Co. KG (“Schweitzer Fachinformationen”) is governed by these General Terms and Conditions of Sale (“GTC”), unless otherwise agreed.
1.2 The GTC apply exclusively to all orders placed by consumers and entrepreneurs (hereinafter referred to as “Customer”) via any of the ordering methods offered: online shop, telephone, fax, or e-mail. All deliveries and services are provided solely on the basis of these GTC in the version valid at the time of order.
1.3 A consumer is any natural person who concludes a legal transaction for purposes that are predominantly not attributable to their commercial or self-employed professional activity. Entrepreneurs are natural or legal persons, or partnerships with legal capacity, who act in the exercise of their commercial or self-employed professional activity when concluding a legal transaction. This definition also includes small businesses, freelancers, as well as public institutions and authorities (schools, childcare centers, associations, institutions, etc.).
1.4 The GTC also apply to all future transactions with the Customer.
2.1 The presentation of goods and services in the online shop does not constitute a binding offer to conclude a purchase contract.
2.2 The offer is addressed exclusively to Customers who have reached the age of 18.
2.3 By submitting the order through the “Order with obligation to pay” button in the ordering process, the Customer makes a binding offer to conclude a purchase contract. Before final submission, the Customer can review and correct their entries. Input errors can be corrected using the browser's back function or by cancelling the process.
2.4 Schweitzer Fachinformationen sends an automatic acknowledgment of receipt by e-mail, which merely confirms receipt of the order and does not constitute acceptance of the offer.
2.5 A contract is concluded only with written or electronic order confirmation by Schweitzer Fachinformationen or by dispatch confirmation. The acceptance period is a maximum of 7 calendar days.
2.6 The contractual partner of the Customer is: Schweitzer Fachinformationen GmbH & Co. KG, Elsenheimerstr. 41–43, 80687 Munich, mail@schweitzer-online.de | +49 89 55134-0
2.7 By accepting the order, Schweitzer Fachinformationen makes the terms binding. Deviating conditions of the Customer (e.g. in general terms or correspondence) are excluded even without explicit objection.
2.8 The subject of the delivery and the scope of the order are determined by the order confirmation.
2.9 If delivery is not possible (e.g., product out of stock), Schweitzer Fachinformationen will refuse acceptance and notify the Customer immediately. Any payments already received will be refunded without delay.
2.10 Order data are stored in compliance with statutory provisions. Registered Customers can view their data in their account. In addition, an order confirmation is sent by e-mail.
2.11 Orders and order data are stored in the Customer account. The Customer can access and print them at any time. Immediately after ordering, printing is also possible on the confirmation page.
3.1 Delivery is made to the delivery address provided by the Customer. The delivery times indicated in the offer are binding.
3.2 Unless a binding delivery date has been agreed, delivery times are non-binding. For products in stock, shipment usually occurs within 1 – 3 business days after conclusion of the contract. Fixed-date transactions require prior explicit written confirmation.
3.3 If the goods are temporarily unavailable, Schweitzer Fachinformationen will inform the Customer immediately. If the delivery is delayed by more than two weeks, both parties have the right to withdraw from the contract.
3.4 Partial deliveries are permitted, as long as reasonable, without additional shipping costs for the Customer.
3.5 Deliveries are made exclusively within Germany, unless otherwise agreed.
3.6 If Schweitzer Fachinformationen is unable, through no fault of its own, to deliver the ordered goods because the supplier does not meet its contractual obligations, Schweitzer Fachinformationen is entitled to withdraw from the contract. In such cases, the Customer will be informed immediately that the ordered product is not available. The Customer’s statutory claims remain unaffected. Any purchase price already paid will be refunded immediately.
4.1 For contracts with consumers, the risk of accidental loss or accidental deterioration of the goods passes to the Customer only upon delivery of the goods to the Customer or a person authorized to receive them, regardless of whether shipping is insured or not.
4.2 If delivery to the consumer.
5.1 If the goods are dispatched in accordance with the agreements made with the Customer (shipment purchase), Schweitzer Fachinformationen is only obliged to deliver the goods to the carrier in due time and proper condition and is not responsible for delays caused by the carrier. Any delivery period indicated by Schweitzer Fachinformationen (period between handover to the carrier and delivery to the Customer) is therefore non-binding.
5.2 The risk of accidental loss, accidental damage, or accidental deterioration of the delivered goods passes to the Customer upon delivery of the goods to the carrier, provided that Schweitzer Fachinformationen is only obliged to dispatch the goods (see section 5.1).
6.1 The place of performance for all deliveries is the registered office of Schweitzer Fachinformationen. The place of performance for payments is Munich, unless explicitly agreed otherwise. Such an agreement must be made in writing.
6.2 For consumers, this provision applies only to the extent that it does not violate consumer protection regulations.
7.1 Business Customers, authorities, other institutions, and private Customers are offered the following payment methods: invoice, SEPA direct debit, advance payment, PayPal, and credit card.
7.2 All invoices are due for payment immediately upon receipt without deduction. The invoice is issued at the time of shipment of the complete goods. Alternatively, the Customer may grant Schweitzer Fachinformationen a SEPA direct debit authorization.
7.3 SEPA direct debits are collected within 7 days of the invoice date. The pre-notification period (pre-notification) is shortened to 4 days. The Customer undertakes to ensure sufficient account coverage and is liable for all costs arising from non-payment or return of the direct debit, provided they are attributable to the Customer.
7.4 Charges to credit card or PayPal accounts occur upon completion of the order. After review (e.g., credit check), Schweitzer Fachinformationen reserves the right, in individual cases, to accept only advance payment, PayPal, or credit card. In such cases, the Customer will be informed in a timely manner.
7.5 All invoices are sent electronically in PDF format by e-mail to the address stored in the Customer account, unless otherwise agreed. By placing the order, consent to receive the invoice in PDF format is deemed given. Business Customers within the meaning of § 27 para. 38 of the German VAT Act explicitly acknowledge this by accepting the GTC and placing the order.
7.6 If the Customer defaults on payments, Schweitzer Fachinformationen is entitled to engage third parties for collection. All resulting costs are borne by the Customer.
7.7 For contracts with business Customers and entrepreneurs, small credit notes (up to €10) are not paid individually to the Customer. The Customer may request payout from Schweitzer Fachinformationen once the accumulated credits exceed €150 or the contractual relationship ends. Until then, individual credits are not automatically paid out, unless otherwise agreed.
8.1 Prices are stated in euros, including statutory value-added tax (VAT), plus shipping costs, customs duties, or other import charges.
8.2 If Schweitzer Fachinformationen covers costs at fixed rates, any subsequent increases are borne by the Customer.
8.3 Books and other publishing products from German publishers are subject to fixed pricing. As a reseller, Schweitzer Fachinformationen is obliged to comply with all publisher-set prices for fixed-price products toward the Customer as the final purchaser. Price changes and errors are reserved.
8.4 Adjustments to the prices of fixed-price publishing products apply immediately to orders and subscriptions when these new prices are set by publishers or other legal requirements.
8.5 For deliveries to Austria, different prices may apply because the Austrian Federal Law on Fixed Book Prices also obliges foreign resellers to comply with the fixed prices. If the actual price is more favorable for the Customer, Schweitzer Fachinformationen will deliver the order without further inquiry. If, however, the legally fixed price is higher, Schweitzer Fachinformationen will always consult the Customer before delivery.
8.6 Unless otherwise agreed, the terms and prices for services and performance are based on the version of the Schweitzer Service Catalog valid at the time of conclusion of the contract.
8.7 Schweitzer Fachinformationen reserves the right to adjust the agreed prices for services and performance if this becomes necessary due to unforeseeable, substantial cost increases (e.g., increased raw material prices, labor costs, transport costs, statutory charges or taxes). Price increases will be communicated to the Customer in writing in text form in a timely manner, at the latest 4 weeks before they take effect.
8.8 If the Customer does not object within 14 days of receiving the notification, the price adjustment is deemed accepted. In case of objection, both parties have the right to withdraw from the contract. Services already rendered remain unaffected.
8.9 Price reductions will also be communicated to the Customer without delay and take effect from the date of notification.
10.1 The delivered goods remain the property of Schweitzer Fachinformationen until full payment of all claims arising from the respective contract.
10.2 In addition, the following applies to business Customers and entrepreneurs:
a) Schweitzer Fachinformationen retains ownership of the delivered goods until full settlement of all claims existing at the time of delivery arising from the ongoing business relationship.
b) If the entrepreneur or business Customer resells the goods subject to retention of title, they hereby assign to Schweitzer Fachinformationen all resulting claims up to the invoice amount. Schweitzer Fachinformationen accepts the assignment.
c) The entrepreneur remains authorized to collect the claims. However, Schweitzer Fachinformationen reserves the right to collect the claim itself if the entrepreneur defaults on payment, insolvency proceedings are filed, or otherwise the ability to perform is at risk.
d) Pledging or transferring the goods subject to retention of title as security is not permitted.
10.3 In the event of breach of contract by the Customer, particularly in case of default, Schweitzer Fachinformationen is entitled to withdraw from the contract and request the return of the goods subject to retention of title.
11.1 The Customer does not acquire ownership of electronic products (e-books, downloads, or databases). By paying the license fee, the Customer obtains a simple, irrevocable right to use the offered product exclusively for personal use, which may be transferred within the Customer’s organization.
11.2 The content of an electronic product may not be altered by the Customer, either editorially or substantively.
11.3 The Customer is permitted to make partial copies of the electronic products. It is prohibited to distribute the electronic products to third parties, make them publicly accessible, forward them, upload them to the Internet or other network media for free or for payment, or sell them further.
11.4 If Schweitzer Fachinformationen procures electronic products from third parties, Schweitzer Fachinformationen undertakes to ensure that the Customer is granted the rights specified in Sections 11.1 and 11.3.
11.5 Electronic products may be marked individually upon download with a personal, visible or invisible, non-removable watermark.
11.6 For license orders, Schweitzer Fachinformationen may act as an intermediary. The Customer will be informed which publisher becomes the direct contractual partner when selecting the license. In such cases, the publisher’s general terms and conditions also apply, provided that the Customer expressly accepts them during the order of the digital products.
12.1 The minimum subscription period for journals, weekly newspapers, or similar publications is one year. Termination of the subscription requires a written notice in text form, e.g., by e-mail or via schweitzer.Connect. For domestic journals, the notice period is based on the subscription conditions of the respective individual issue, which are indicated in the imprint of the journal or in the webshop under “More Details” and then “Cancellation Notice.” For foreign journals, termination is generally possible with a notice period of three months to the end of the current subscription period, unless otherwise agreed.
12.2 The order of loose-leaf basic works shall also include the subscription to the subsequent supplementary deliveries, unless the order expressly refers only to the basic work. After a minimum subscription period of 1 year, the subscription can be terminated with a notice period of 4 weeks to the end of the month, unless the respective publisher provides for longer periods in its subscription conditions. The contractual term of the subscription and the obligation to purchase relate to subsequent supplementary deliveries which are for a Date of Publication during the contractual term. The Date of Publication is determined by the date of the publisher's invoice.
12.3 In the case of multi-part works or series for which there is an overall acceptance or compulsory continuation, the purchase of one part obliges the Customer to accept the entire work. Withdrawal from the obligation to purchase the complete work is only permissible if the respective publisher provides for this in its terms of purchase.
12.4 The right to terminate continuing obligations by notice of termination shall be available to both parties equally.
Schweitzer Fachinformationen is entitled to engage third parties (e.g., subcontractors) to fulfill its own obligations, provided that no personal performance has been agreed.
14.1 For contracts with consumers, the statutory provisions on liability for defects apply. The limitation period for statutory warranty claims is two years from delivery of the goods.
14.2 For digital products or content, the special provisions regarding provision and updating obligations pursuant to §§ 327 et seq. of the German Civil Code (BGB) apply.
14.3 For contracts with entrepreneurs and business customers, the following applies: The Customer must inspect the goods immediately upon delivery and report any defects in writing within 7 calendar days of receipt. Hidden defects must be reported immediately after discovery. Otherwise, the goods are deemed approved. In the event of a justified and timely notice of defects, Schweitzer Fachinformationen shall, at its own discretion, remedy the defect or provide a replacement. The limitation period for warranty claims is one year from delivery of the goods, unless the defect was fraudulently concealed. If a reasonable additional period set by the Customer for rectification expires unsuccessfully, the Customer is entitled to remedy the defect at Schweitzer Fachinformationen’s expense.
14.4 It is expressly excluded as a defect if products acquired under ongoing contractual obligations are subject to product modifications at the discretion of the rights holder, as long as the main service remains unaffected.
15.1 Right of withdrawal for contracts for the delivery of goods
The following right of withdrawal only applies to consumers for all orders with the exception of the delivery of digital content, downloads or subscription contracts – see section 15.2 and section 15.3. below.
Right of Cancellation | Right of Withdrawal
You have the right to cancel this contract within fourteen days without giving any reason. The withdrawal period is fourteen days from the day on which you or a third party named by you who is not the carrier, a) have taken possession of the goods, if you have ordered one or more goods as part of a single order and these are delivered as a single order; b) have taken possession of the last goods or have taken possession of the last goods if you have ordered several goods as part of a uniform order and these are delivered separately; (c) have taken possession of the last partial shipment or piece, or have taken possession of the last partial shipment or piece if you have ordered goods that are delivered in several partial shipments or pieces; (d) have taken possession of the first goods or has taken possession of the first goods where goods are delivered under an order for the regular delivery of goods over a fixed period of time.
To exercise your right of withdrawal, you must inform us of your decision to withdraw from this contract by means of a clear declaration (e.g. a letter, fax or email sent by post). You can use the attached sample withdrawal form for this purpose, which is, however, not mandatory. To comply with the withdrawal period, it is sufficient that you send the notification of the exercise of the right of withdrawal before the expiry of the withdrawal period.
Consequences of the Withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we must refund all payments we have received from you, including delivery costs (with the exception of additional costs resulting from the fact that you have chosen a type of delivery other than the cheapest standard delivery offered by us), without delay and at the latest within fourteen days of the day on which we received notification of your withdrawal from this contract. For this repayment, we use the same means of payment that you used for the original transaction, unless expressly agreed otherwise with you; in no case will you be charged for this repayment.
We may refuse repayment until we have received the goods back or until you have provided proof that you have returned the goods, whichever is the earlier.
You must return or hand over the goods to us immediately and in any case no later than fourteen days from the day on which you notify us of the cancellation of this contract. The deadline is deemed to have been met if you send off the goods before the expiry of the fourteen-day period. You shall bear the direct costs of returning the goods.
You shall only be liable for any loss in value of the goods if this loss in value is due to handling of the goods that is not necessary for testing the quality, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exclusion of the Right of Withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to distance selling contracts:
- for the supply of sound or video recordings or computer software in a sealed package if the seal has been removed after delivery,
- for the delivery of newspapers, periodicals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts.
- Contracts for the delivery of goods which are not prefabricated and for the manufacture of which an individual selection or determination by the consumer is decisive or which are clearly tailored to the personal needs of the consumer;
- Contracts for the delivery of goods with loose components, e.g. supplementary deliveries, sales units, if the seal has been opened after delivery;
- Contracts for the delivery of calendars;
- Contracts for the delivery of electronic publications (e-books);
- Contracts for the delivery of goods marked "without right of return".
15.2 Right of withdrawal for the delivery of digital content such as e-books (download)
The following right of withdrawal shall only apply to consumers for the delivery of digital content that has not been delivered on a physical data carrier.
Right of Cancellation | Right of Withdrawal
You have the right to cancel this contract within fourteen days without giving any reason. The withdrawal period is fourteen days from the day of the conclusion of the contract.
To exercise your right of withdrawal, you must inform us of your decision to withdraw from this contract by means of a clear declaration (e.g. a letter, fax or email sent by post). You can use the attached sample withdrawal form for this purpose, which is, however, not mandatory. To comply with the withdrawal period, it is sufficient that you send the notification of the exercise of the right of withdrawal before the expiry of the withdrawal period.
Consequences of the withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we must refund all payments we have received from you, including delivery costs (with the exception of additional costs resulting from the fact that you have chosen a type of delivery other than the cheapest standard delivery offered by us), without delay and at the latest within fourteen days of the day on which we received notification of your withdrawal from this contract. For this repayment, we use the same means of payment that you used for the original transaction, unless expressly agreed otherwise with you; in no case will you be charged for this repayment.
Expiry of the Right of Withdrawal
The right of withdrawal shall expire in the case of a contract for the delivery of digital content not on a physical medium if the business has begun performance of the contract after the consumer:
- has expressly consented to the business commencing performance of the contract before the expiry of the withdrawal period, and
- has confirmed their knowledge that, by giving their consent, they lose their right of withdrawal upon commencement of the performance of the contract.
15.3 Right of withdrawal for consumers specifically for subscriptions
The following right of withdrawal shall only apply to consumers for the delivery of articles by subscription (e.g. magazine subscriptions, loose-leaf deliveries by subscription).
Right of Cancellation | Right of Withdrawal
You have the right to cancel this contract within fourteen days without giving any reason. The withdrawal period is fourteen days from the day of the conclusion of the contract. To exercise your right of withdrawal, you must inform us of your decision to withdraw from this contract by means of a clear declaration (e.g. a letter, fax or email sent by post). You can use the attached sample withdrawal form for this purpose, which is, however, not mandatory. To comply with the withdrawal period, it is sufficient that you send the notification of the exercise of the right of withdrawal before the expiry of the withdrawal period.
Consequences of the withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we must refund all payments we have received from you, including delivery costs (with the exception of additional costs resulting from the fact that you have chosen a type of delivery other than the cheapest standard delivery offered by us), without delay and at the latest within fourteen days of the day on which we received notification of your withdrawal from this contract. For this repayment, we use the same means of payment that you used for the original transaction, unless expressly agreed otherwise with you; in no case will you be charged for this repayment. Exclusion of the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to distance selling contracts:
- for the supply of sound or video recordings or computer software in a sealed package if the seal has been removed after delivery,
- for the delivery of newspapers, periodicals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts.
If you wish to withdraw from the contract, please complete and return this form.
To [the details of the company responsible for you will be displayed after your registration]: I/we (*) hereby withdraw from the contract concluded by me/us (*) for the purchase of the
following goods (*)/the provision of the following service (*)
Ordered on (*)/received on (*)
Name of the consumer(s)
Address of the consumer(s)
Signature of consumer(s) (only in the event of written notification)
Date
(*) Cross out where not applicable.
17.1 Schweitzer Fachinformationen is fully liable for intent and gross negligence, as well as for damages resulting from injury to life, body, or health.
17.2 In the case of simple negligence, Schweitzer Fachinformationen is only liable for the breach of essential contractual obligations (cardinal obligations). In such cases, liability is limited to the typical, foreseeable damage under the contract. Essential contractual obligations are those whose fulfillment makes proper performance of the contract possible in the first place and on which the contractual partner regularly relies.
17.3 Schweitzer Fachinformationen is not liable for damages that do not directly relate to the delivered products themselves; in particular, liability for lost profits and other financial losses is excluded.
17.4 The liability limitations under Sections 17.1 to 17.3 also apply to legal representatives, employees, and vicarious agents of Schweitzer Fachinformationen if claims are asserted directly against them.
17.5 The provisions of the German Product Liability Act and claims arising from assumed guarantees regarding the quality or durability of the products remain unaffected.
17.6 The above liability limitations also apply to legal representatives and vicarious agents of Schweitzer Fachinformationen if claims are asserted directly against them.
17.7 The provisions of the Product Liability Act remain unaffected, as do claims arising from assumed guarantees regarding the quality or durability of the products.
17.8 If the Customer violates obligations under this Section, in particular third-party industrial property or copyright rights (e.g., by unlawfully reproducing copyrighted works, training AI applications, or using a translation function for commercial purposes), the Customer shall indemnify Schweitzer Fachinformationen against all third-party claims and related costs to the extent the Customer is at fault.
18.1 German law applies, excluding the conflict of laws and the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG).
18.2 For Customers who enter into the contract for purposes that cannot be attributed to their professional or commercial activity (consumers), this choice of law only applies insofar as it does not invalidate mandatory provisions of the law of the state in which the consumer has their habitual residence.
18.3 The exclusive place of jurisdiction for all disputes between the parties is Munich.
18.4 The contract language is German.
18.5 These Terms and Conditions are issued in German, English, and French. In the event of any conflict between the German, English, and/or French versions, the German version shall prevail.
18.6 If one or more provisions of these Terms and Conditions are or become invalid, the remaining provisions of the contract remain in effect. To the extent the provisions are invalid, the content of the contract shall be governed by statutory provisions.
Dated 2026-02-01