Notice to Merchant Seller of Limitation of Time for Rejection of Additional Terms

In most instances, the Uniform Commercial Code for all buyers and sellers alike. In some cases, it treats merchants differently than it does the occasional or casual buyer or seller. Unless it is expressly specified that an offer to buy or sell goods must be accepted just as made, the offeree may accept an offer and at the same time propose an additional term. This is contrary to general contract law. Under general contract law, the proposed additional term would be considered a counteroffer and the original offered would be rejected.

In a transaction between merchants, the additional term becomes part of the contract if that term does not materially alter the offer and no objection is made to it. However, if such an additional term from the seller operates solely to the sellers advantage, it is a material term and must be accepted by the buyer to be effective.