Terms and Conditions
MachinedQuartz · Legal Information
Terms and Conditions of Sale
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your purchase of products and services from AIREKA SCIENTIFIC CO., LIMITED, operator of the MachinedQuartz brand (the “Company”, “we”, “our”, “us”), via the website machinedquartz.com or by direct quote, email, or purchase order. By placing an order or accepting a quote, you (“Customer”, “you”) agree to these Terms.
Contents
1. Parties & definitions
- “Company” — AIREKA SCIENTIFIC CO., LIMITED, a private company limited by shares incorporated in Hong Kong SAR (registered 2013, tax ID 61092008), operating the MachinedQuartz brand.
- “Customer” — the individual, business, or institution that places an order with the Company.
- “Products” — quartz cuvettes, capillaries, optical windows, plates, sample holders, custom-fabricated components, and any other items listed on machinedquartz.com or quoted by the Company.
- “Quote” — a written price offer issued by the Company to a Customer, valid for the time period stated on the quote (typically 30 days).
- “Order” — a Customer’s written acceptance of a Quote, or a direct purchase made through the website checkout.
- “Custom Order” — Products fabricated to Customer-supplied specifications (non-standard Z-dimension, custom path length, drawings, etc.) and not part of the standard catalog.
2. Quotes, orders & contract formation
2.1 Quotes are valid for 30 calendar days from the date of issue unless otherwise stated.
2.2 An Order becomes a binding contract when the Company sends a written Order Confirmation (by email) or when payment is received, whichever is earlier.
2.3 For Custom Orders, the contract is binding once the Company has confirmed the specification in writing AND received any required deposit. Once the Company begins fabrication, the Custom Order may not be cancelled (see §5).
2.4 The Company reserves the right to refuse or cancel any Order at our discretion, including in cases of suspected fraud, sanctioned-party screening, or material misrepresentation by the Customer. Any payment received in such a case will be refunded in full.
3. Prices & payment
3.1 All prices are stated in US Dollars (USD) unless otherwise specified, and exclude VAT, GST, sales tax, and import duties — these are the Customer’s responsibility (see §4.4).
3.2 Payment methods accepted include bank wire transfer (T/T), PayPal, and credit card (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX) via our payment processor. Bank wire is the preferred method for orders above US$2,000.
3.3 For Custom Orders, the Company may require a deposit (typically 50% of the order value) before fabrication begins. The balance is due before shipment.
3.4 For OEM, repeat-buyer, and institutional customers with established credit history, Net-30 or Net-60 payment terms may be offered on request. Standard orders are pay-on-confirmation.
4. Lead times & delivery
4.1 Standard catalog (stocked) SKUs
Ship from our Hong Kong warehouse in 5–8 business days from order confirmation, via FedEx Priority (or UPS where requested). Tracking number provided same day as shipment.
4.2 Custom fabrication lead times
- Standard 80 bonded cuvettes: 1–2 weeks fabrication, then ship.
- Sintered 80 / Sintered 83 cuvettes: 2–3 weeks fabrication.
- Molded 83 high-temperature sealed cells: 3–4 weeks fabrication.
Lead times are estimates given in good faith and may extend in cases of force majeure (§11). Material lead-time delays are communicated to the Customer in writing as soon as they are known.
4.3 Shipping
International shipping is via FedEx Priority Express (or UPS / customer-nominated carrier). Customers in the USA receive duty-free terms on most orders under HTS exemptions for scientific laboratory components. Full shipping rates and zones are detailed on our Shipping Info page.
4.4 Customs duty, VAT, and import taxes
Where applicable, customs duty, VAT, GST, and any other import tax is the Customer’s responsibility. The Company declares commercial invoice value accurately and cannot mark shipments as “gifts” or under-declare value.
5. MOQ & custom orders
5.1 Standard catalog SKUs have no minimum order quantity — orders accepted from 1 piece.
5.2 Custom-fabricated Products have a minimum order quantity of 2–4 pieces depending on geometry. Larger volumes may bring per-unit price down; ask for tiered pricing at quote stage.
5.3 Custom Orders are non-cancellable and non-returnable once fabrication has begun, except where the delivered Product fails the agreed specifications (see §7). Custom Orders may be cancelled within 24 hours of order placement, before fabrication begins, at no charge.
Important: Cuvettes fabricated to your specifications have no second buyer. By placing a Custom Order you accept that, once fabrication starts, the order cannot be returned, refunded, or cancelled except for spec non-conformance.
6. Title & risk
6.1 Title to the Products passes to the Customer on full payment of the invoice.
6.2 Risk passes to the Customer on delivery to the carrier (FCA Incoterms, our default), unless a different Incoterms 2020 term is agreed in writing on the Quote (e.g., DDP for some OEM customers).
7. Inspection, defects & returns
7.1 Inspection on arrival
The Customer must inspect the Products within 14 calendar days of delivery and notify the Company in writing of any visible damage, missing items, or non-conformance to specification. Photographs of any damaged or non-conforming items must be provided.
7.2 Standard catalog returns
Unused, undamaged, contamination-free items in their original packaging may be returned within 14 days of delivery for a refund or exchange, subject to:
- Original shipping fee is non-refundable.
- Return shipping is at the Customer’s expense.
- 20% restocking fee is deducted from the refund.
- The Customer must request a Return Authorization (RMA) from sales@machinedquartz.com before shipping the return.
7.3 Custom-fabricated returns
Custom Orders are not returnable except where the delivered Product fails to meet the agreed specifications. If specification non-conformance is verified by both parties, the Company will replace the Product at no cost, or refund the order at the Customer’s option.
7.4 Damage in transit
Where Products are damaged in transit, the Customer must photograph the outer packaging and the damaged contents before unwrapping further, and notify the Company within 7 business days. The Company will replace damaged Products at no cost and handle the carrier insurance claim.
8. Warranty
8.1 The Company warrants that Products will be free from material defects in fabrication and will conform to the agreed specifications at the time of delivery.
8.2 The standard warranty period is 12 months from delivery date for material defects (e.g., cracking of bonded joints under aqueous use, internal bubbles or inclusions affecting optical performance).
8.3 Warranty does not cover damage caused by:
- Improper use, mechanical damage, dropping, or scratching from improper cleaning;
- Exposure to chemistries the Product is not rated for (e.g., bonded cells in chloroform, glass cells below 340 nm);
- Use at temperatures or pressures outside the Product’s rated envelope;
- Normal optical-face wear from extended cleaning cycles.
8.4 The exclusive remedy for a valid warranty claim is, at the Company’s option, replacement of the Product, repair, or refund of the original purchase price.
9. Limitation of liability
9.1 To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Company’s total liability for any claim arising under or related to a Contract — whether in contract, tort, statute, or otherwise — is limited to the price paid by the Customer for the specific Products that gave rise to the claim.
9.2 The Company is not liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages, including loss of profits, loss of data, loss of business opportunity, or interruption of scientific or industrial work, even if the Company has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
9.3 Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by the Company’s negligence, fraud, or any liability that cannot be limited under Hong Kong law.
10. Intellectual property & drawings
10.1 All intellectual property in the Company’s standard product designs, fabrication methods (Standard 80, Sintered 80/83, Molded 83), website content, photographs, and technical guides remains the property of the Company.
10.2 Where the Customer supplies a drawing, CAD file, or specification for a Custom Order, the Customer warrants that they have the right to share that information. The Company will treat such Customer-supplied designs as confidential and will not use them for any purpose other than fabricating the Customer’s order.
10.3 The Company may use anonymized examples of completed work for portfolio and marketing purposes unless the Customer has signed an NDA covering the project.
11. Force majeure
The Company is not liable for delay or non-performance caused by events outside its reasonable control, including (without limitation) acts of God, war, civil unrest, terrorism, government action, sanctions, pandemic, fire, flood, earthquake, strike, raw-material shortage, courier strike, customs delay, or critical equipment failure. The Company will use reasonable efforts to mitigate any such delay and to communicate revised lead times in writing.
12. Governing law & disputes
12.1 These Terms and any Contract formed under them are governed by the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.
12.2 Any dispute arising from these Terms or any Contract will be resolved through good-faith negotiation between the parties for an initial 30-day period.
12.3 If negotiation fails, the dispute will be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration administered by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) under the HKIAC Administered Arbitration Rules in force when the Notice of Arbitration is submitted. The seat of arbitration is Hong Kong. The language of arbitration is English. The number of arbitrators is one.
13. Changes to these Terms
13.1 The Company may update these Terms from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page is the authoritative version date. Changes do not apply retroactively to Contracts already formed.
13.2 Material changes will be announced on the homepage of machinedquartz.com for at least 30 days before they take effect.
Questions: If anything in these Terms is unclear, email sales@machinedquartz.com before placing your order. We are happy to clarify or, for large/OEM orders, negotiate a separate written supply agreement that supersedes these Terms.
Company details
- Legal name: AIREKA SCIENTIFIC CO., LIMITED
- Brand: MachinedQuartz
- Founded: 2013, Hong Kong SAR
- Tax ID: 61092008
- Address: Kwun Tong district, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR (full address on order)
- Email: sales@machinedquartz.com
- Phone: +852 6336 0750