Terms and Conditions (T&Cs)

1. Scope, applicability and formalities

These Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) regulate the offering and contractual relationships of Careum Publishing and its customers, regardless of how the order is placed or the product category, especially, but not limited to the offering in the online shop at www.careum.ch/shop (incl. all sub-pages; hereinafter “online shop”). By placing an order, the customer explicitly agrees to these T&Cs and accepts them in their latest available version.

Careum Publishing is the operator of this online shop. Careum Publishing is a business unit of the Careum Foundation, Zurich; the Publisher is not a legally independent entity as such. The following terminology is used:

• “Publisher” for Careum Publishing, Moussonstrasse 4, CH-8044 Zurich, T +41 43 222 51 50
• “Foundation” for Careum Foundation, Pestalozzistrasse 3, CH-8032 Zurich, T +41 43 222 50 00

Other T&Cs shall not apply – even without any explicit objection to their applying being expressed. The latest valid version of the T&Cs can be viewed on the website www.careum.ch at any time. The T&Cs can be obtained from Careum Publishing in written form (PDF or printed) on request.

The T&Cs are an integral component of each contractual relationship between the Publisher and its customers. Ancillary agreements are only binding if they have been confirmed in writing. Verbal statements without any written confirmation are not binding. The T&Cs can be amended at any time without prior notification.

2. Offers

Careum Publishing sells teaching material, books, e-books and other digital content in its online shop. User licences are sold in the case of e-books and digital content. The products offered can also be ordered by other means, such as e-mail or phone. Most products are available and can be ordered off the shelf.

3. Digital content, e-books

With the acquisition of digital titles and e-books, customers obtain a non-exclusive, non-transferable, restricted right to use the digital products as well as any updates according to the number of licences they acquire. Whether this right can be exercised depends on the technical availability and the technical requirements necessitated by the product.

4. Prices

All prices are net in Swiss francs, including the statutory VAT and excluding shipping costs. The prices quoted for products in the online shop are subject to any changes to prices or products by publishers or suppliers.

5. Reduced price copies

We offer some of our titles at a reduced price (identified in the shop as “reduced price copies”). These are copies that customers have returned to us. They are mostly in mint condition but may show slight signs of damage caused in transport (such as bent corners). Reduced price copies cannot, in principle, be returned.

6. Rabatt

Private customers who order 10 or more copies of the same item are entitled to a volume discount based on the following discount scale:

• 10 or more copies: 5%
• 20 or more copies: 10%
• 50 or more copies: 15%

Schools and professional organisations can take advantage of special terms and conditions. You can find out more about these offers from the Publisher by phone or by e-mail (verlag@careum.ch).

The discount is not shown during electronic checkout for online orders, but it will be applied during order processing.

7. Orders

All orders are binding in principle. In the event of problems with deliveries, the Publisher will inform the customer by e-mail as soon as possible (provided an e-mail address is saved) or using the contact address provided by the customer. Titles that are not available temporarily will be earmarked and reserved for the customer and delivered automatically as soon as they become available.

8. Delivery conditions 

I. Delivery within Switzerland

We supply by post or courier. We despatch books that are in stock within 7 working days of receiving the order.

II. Delivery in Europe / in the Mediterranean region

Items will be despatched by post once the invoice has been paid in advance. We despatch books that are in stock within 7 working days of receiving payment. Depending on the destination and weight, customers may incur additional customs duties, which will be requested by third parties. The Publisher will not assume these costs and cannot be sued for such costs.

III. Delivery charges

Normal shipping costs via B-Post in Switzerland are included in the purchase price and are inclusive. Any costs or charges in excess of this will be invoiced in addition. The portion of shipping costs for courier charges will be billed separately at effective cost. 

IV. Delivery dates and assumption of risk

Delivery dates are non-binding. The Publisher shall assume any risks until the order is handed over to the postal service or courier.

V. Partial deliveries

The Publisher has the right to make partial deliveries. The customer has the right to explicitly waive partial deliveries.

9. Payment terms

30 days net from the invoice date. Unless agreed otherwise, discounts will not be granted. If payment deadlines are not met, the Publisher will apply the following charges:

• First reminder: free of charge
• Second reminder: CHF 20.00
• Third reminder: CHF 20.00
• Collection: Cost of collection

The assertion of additional damages due to the delay in payment remains reserved.

Partial payments require a written agreement on deadlines, amounts and final repayment date. All rights will remain with the Publisher until payment in full even if they are already in the possession of the customer. The customer is not entitled to offset claims against the Publisher with the payment owed. 

When checking out orders in the online shop, in addition to paying by invoice customers may choose from various other methods of payment that are offered and processed by the payment service. The legal contractual conditions of this third party shall apply here.

10. Withdrawal from the contract / cancellation / returns / acceptance of returns

If the order has not yet been despatched, the customer has the option of cancelling his/her order.

Generally, products cannot be returned once they have been received. Returns or acceptance of returns require agreement in writing from the Publisher.

The following cannot be returned in any case for copyright reasons:

• Flash cards in print version or digital form
• E-books, multimedia products, recordings, videos, DVDs and other digital products for which a user licence is issued

If the Publisher allows items to be returned and accepts the return on an exceptional basis, the customer must include the permission to return the item together with the invoice with the products in question and provide the invoice number and reason for the return. The arrangements for a refund will be discussed between the Publisher and the customer on a case-by-case basis.

Refunds will not be granted for incomplete products, sets or individual volumes that are not returned in perfect, resalable condition even if permission has been given to return them.

The Publisher may send products returned to the Publisher by customers without written permission back to them at the latter's expense. Alternatively, the Publisher has the right to retain products returned to it without permission without issuing a refund if it makes no economic sense to send them back to the customer.

For returns, a processing fee of at least CHF 30.00 shall be charged in any case – regardless of whether permission to return has been granted. An additional fee of CHF 2.50 per item – or per volume in the case of works comprising more than one volume – shall be charged in the case of returned e-book codes.

In the case of manufacturing defects or incorrect deliveries, the item in question will be replaced by a perfect copy or the correct product.

Any return to the Publisher will take place at the liability of and risk to the customer.

11.  Liability

The Publisher shall only be liable for damages caused by intent or gross negligence. Any additional liability is excluded where legally possible. In particular, the Publisher shall not be liable for other direct or indirect damage, subsequent damage, data losses, availability of products or loss of profit. Liability is limited to the value of the contractual amount in each case.

Where possible, the Publisher’s publications and teaching material are developed with the involvement of highly trained individuals and in accordance with the known state of science and research. Nevertheless, a publication of this kind will not replace diagnosis or treatment by professional medical personnel on an individual basis.

12. Warranty and complaints

On receipt, the customer must check the goods carefully and notify the Publisher immediately of any defects or incorrect deliveries. In the case of defects that can be demonstrated to have existed at the time of delivery and were reported in good time, the customer is solely entitled to ask for rectification. Conversely, the Publisher has the right to rectify defective goods several times or, at its discretion, to supply a replacement of equal value. The customer may withdraw from the contract if the rectification or replacement delivery has definitively failed. Any additional rights on the part of the customer, in particular, to rescission, withdrawal, reduction or compensation are excluded (the provisions governing withdrawal, cancellation, returns and acceptance of returns pursuant to these T&Cs remain reserved).

13. Security and data protection

The Publisher needs personal data such as names, e-mail addresses, postal addresses and telephone numbers to execute orders. All personal data will be handled confidentially. The address data needed to process the order will only be forwarded by the Publisher to service partners if the purpose of supplying the service to the customer makes this necessary.

By placing their order, customers give the Publisher permission to forward the requisite customer data to the relevant third parties to ensure they can fulfil their service in accordance with the contractual relationship between the customer and the Publisher. The transmission of the requisite personal data to any collection agencies and the competent government bodies is also permissible if necessary.

More information on data protection can be found in our Privacy Policy.

14. Copyright

All products produced by the Publisher itself or third parties’ products offered in the online shop are protected by copyright or by other intellectual property rights. All rights not exclusively granted to customers shall remain with the Publisher or the entitled third parties. Full or partial commercial dissemination is explicitly forbidden and requires the explicit, written agreement of the holder of the rights. References to copyrights or other intellectual property rights may not be removed, amended or suppressed. Use in accordance with the legal provisions on personal use or the production of backup copies by customers remains reserved.

15. Place of jurisdiction, applicable law, final provisions

The ordinary courts are responsible, Zurich is the place of jurisdiction.

Swiss law is applicable and the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods is excluded.

Should parts of these T&Cs be ineffective in whole or in part, the T&Cs will remain binding in other respects. The ineffective clause will be replaced by the legally enforceable provision whose effect comes closest to the economic objective at the time the contract was concluded.

Zurich, 09.08.2023