PIASD - Trade Customs

Graphic Communications Business Practices

Best Industry Business Practices, Terms and Conditions of Sale

Over the past few years digital technology has greatly impacted printers’ business practices and relationships with customers and suppliers. Printing Industries of America, Inc. and the National Association for Printing Leadership set up a joint committee including a representative from Idealliance (formerly Graphic Communications Association) to review current business practices and terms and conditions of sale. The information provided is intended as guidelines for use in various business situations and in communications with customers and suppliers.

This information replaces the former set of “trade customs” and is not intended to be legally binding but are offered for use in client and supplier communications as determined by each printer. Three sections are provided:

Guidelines for best business practices in digital asset management issues.

Terms and Conditions of sale including quotations, orders, delivery, production schedules, and other issues.

A Glossary with definitions of various workflow terms used in the printing industry based on common usage.

This material is not intended to be used verbatim. Printers should carefully review this material and select which parts of these documents they wish to incorporate into their specific business practices as they relate to their position with their customers and prospects. Those sections highlighted by an asterisk (*), in particular, need to be reviewed for specific wording before used in communications with customers or potential customers.

This material will be reviewed by the joint committee and updated and revised as new issues develop. If you have suggestions for changes or new issues that should be included please submit them to Ron Davis at rdavis@printing.org.

THESE BEST INDUSTRY PRACTICES, TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE, AND GLOSSARY OF TERMS ARE VOLUNTARY, AND ARE PROVIDED FOR THE PURPOSE OF HELPING PRINTERS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS AVOID MISUNDERSTANDINGS CONCERNING THEIR RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS RELATED TO DIGITAL FILES. ALL ELEMENTS OF PRICE AND ALL OTHER CONTRACT TERMS ARE A MATTER OF NEGOTIATION AND AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL PRINTER AND ITS CUSTOMER. PRINTERS MAY CHOOSE TO MODIFY THESE BEST PRACTICES AND TERMS BEFORE PROVIDING THEM TO A CUSTOMER, BASED UPON THE PRINTER'S INDIVIDUAL SITUATION.

THIS DOCUMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE LEGAL ADVICE AND USE OF THIS DOCUMENT IS WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE READER. PRINTING INDUSTRIES OF AMERICA, INC. DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY WHATSOEVER ARISING FROM THE USE OF THIS DOCUMENT.