Terms and conditions

The short version

Contract

Quote by email, your “yes” by email, my confirmation

Price

Fixed price in euros, no VAT (small business)

Payment

In advance by bank transfer

Delivery

Shipping anywhere in the EU or pick-up by arrangement

Withdrawal

None for pieces made to your specifications

Warranty

Statutory, 2 years for consumers

This overview is a reading aid. The sections below are what counts.

1. Who I am and what these terms cover

Stratum (sole trader)
Owner and postal address: see the legal notice
Email: office@3d-stratum.com

These terms apply to every order with Stratum: 3D prints, modelling from a photo, sketch or idea, and small batches. They apply to private customers (consumers) and to businesses. Where something applies only to consumers or only to businesses, I say so.

If you are a consumer, the mandatory rules of the Austrian Consumer Protection Act (KSchG), the Distance and Off-Premises Contracts Act (FAGG) and the Consumer Warranty Act (VGG) always take precedence over these terms. Other terms, such as a company’s purchasing conditions, only apply if I agree to them in writing.

2. Quote and contract by email

Nothing on this website is an offer yet. You send me a request through the request form or by email. I look at your file, photo or description and send you a quote by email.

The quote names the piece, material, colour, size, quantity, the fixed price, shipping costs or pick-up, and the lead time. With the quote you also get the link to these terms, so you can save and print them. Quotes are free and non-binding, even if I model something for them first. A quote is valid for 14 days.

The contract is made when you accept the quote by email (a “Looks good, please print” is enough) and I confirm the order by email. With the confirmation you get the invoice and the payment details. The quote, your acceptance and my confirmation together form the contract text. You have it in your inbox, and I keep a copy too.

If I model your piece from scratch, I send you a preview (an image or a view of the 3D model) before printing. I only print once you approve the preview. Small changes before approval are included in the price. Larger changes after approval get a new quote.

The contract language is German or English, depending on which language we write in.

I may turn down requests without giving reasons. For example, I don’t print brands or characters without rights, toys, weapons or weapon parts, anything for contact with food, or safety-critical parts such as parts for brakes, child seats, helmets, medical uses, load-bearing parts or parts that protect against electricity. And nothing that breaks the law.

3. Prices and VAT

All prices are fixed prices in euros. What’s in the quote is what you pay. Shipping costs are listed separately in the quote. Pick-up is free.

Stratum is a small business. Under § 6(1)(27) of the Austrian VAT Act (UStG) I don’t charge VAT. My prices are therefore final prices, and the invoice carries the note “VAT-exempt under the small business rule”. Businesses can’t deduct input VAT from my invoices.

4. Payment

You always pay in advance by bank transfer, even if you collect your piece. You get the invoice and bank details with the order confirmation. Please pay within 7 days. I start as soon as the money is in my account, and the lead time counts from that day.

If a transfer doesn’t arrive in time, I remind you once by email and give you 7 more days. If it still doesn’t arrive, I may cancel the contract.

I don’t accept cash, PayPal or other online payment services.

5. Lead time, shipping and pick-up

The lead time is in the quote. It counts from receipt of payment. Complex designs or special material take a little longer. If anything changes, I tell you straight away.

If you are a consumer and I don’t deliver within the agreed time, you can set me a reasonable extra deadline. If I still don’t deliver, you can cancel the contract and get your money back right away.

Shipping: I ship anywhere in the EU with a parcel service. The shipping cost is in the quote. I don’t ship outside the EU. I pack every piece so it arrives in one piece.

Consumers: I carry the risk until the parcel reaches you (or the person you named). If it gets lost or damaged on the way, you decide: I reprint it and send it again for free, or you get your money back including shipping.

Businesses: The risk passes to you as soon as I hand the parcel to the carrier (§ 429 of the Austrian Civil Code, ABGB).

If a parcel arrives damaged, please write to me as soon as you can, with a photo of the parcel and the piece, and keep the packaging for a while. That helps me claim from the carrier. You don’t lose any rights if you get in touch later.

Pick-up: You can collect your piece by arrangement. When it is ready, I write to you and we agree on a place and time. If you don’t collect it within 4 weeks, I remind you. After that I can ship it to you at shipping cost.

6. No right of withdrawal for pieces made to your specifications

For contracts made by email, consumers normally have 14 days to withdraw without giving a reason. This doesn’t apply to goods made to the customer’s specifications or clearly personalised (§ 18(1)(3) FAGG).

At Stratum that covers almost every order: I only print your piece after you order it, from your file, logo, photo, dimensions, material and colour. So for these orders you have no right of withdrawal. I also point this out in the quote.

If I ever offer you a finished piece that isn’t made to your specifications, I say so in the quote. Then you have the statutory 14-day right of withdrawal, and I send you the instructions and the form with it.

Cancelling: Your order is binding. If you still want to cancel a confirmed order, tell me as early as possible. If I haven’t started, I refund everything. If I have already modelled, ordered special material or printed, I only charge those costs (design, material, print time) and tell you the amount first. If the piece is already finished and shipped, you pay the full price. Your warranty rights (section 7) are not affected.

7. Warranty

You have the statutory warranty. If your piece is faulty, I reprint or repair it. If that doesn’t work or takes too long, you can ask for a price reduction or, for a defect that isn’t minor, your money back.

Consumers: The Austrian Consumer Warranty Act (VGG) applies. The period is 2 years from handover. If a defect shows within the first year, it is presumed to have existed at handover.

Businesses: §§ 922 ff of the Austrian Civil Code (ABGB) apply. Please check the delivery right after receipt and report defects in writing within 7 days (§ 377 of the Austrian Commercial Code, UGB).

To be clear about what counts as a defect: these features are part of every FDM print and are also stated in the quote. They are not defects.

Surface

Visible print layers and fine ridges

Supports

Small marks where support material was removed

Colour

Slight differences between spools and compared with photos on screen

Dimensions

Deviations of up to about ±0.5 mm, a little more for large parts

It is also not a defect if a piece is used beyond the limits of its material, for example PLA in a hot car or in the sun. What each material can take is on my Materials page and in the quote. My pieces are not food-safe and not watertight. They are not toys and are not meant for children under 14.

If I print from your file, I check that it prints well. Whether the part fits, holds or works in your application I only check if the quote says so explicitly. Errors in your file or your dimensions are not a defect of my print. I don’t give any additional guarantee.

If you find a defect, write to me at the email address above, ideally with photos. I reply as soon as I can. If I need to see the piece, I pay for the return shipping.

8. Liability

I am liable for damage I cause intentionally or through gross negligence. I am not liable for slight negligence. This does not apply to personal injury: for that I am always liable. Liability under the Austrian Product Liability Act is not affected.

Towards businesses I am also not liable for lost profit or consequential damage, except in case of intent or gross negligence, and for personal injury.

Please always keep your own copy of your files. I delete requests and files after the periods set out in the privacy policy.

9. Rights to logos, files and photos you send

When you send me a logo, a 3D file, a sketch or a photo, you confirm that you may use it for this order. That means it’s yours, or the rights holder has agreed, or the licence allows printing and selling. This mainly concerns copyright (UrhG), trade marks (MSchG) and designs (MuSchG). People shown in photos must have agreed.

You allow me to use your files for your order: view them, edit them, prepare them for printing and print them. Nothing else. I don’t pass your files on and don’t print them for anyone else.

If I have doubts about the rights, I ask or turn the order down. If someone still takes action against me because you sent me a file you weren’t allowed to use, you cover the resulting costs, provided you are at fault.

What I model for you: Once paid, the printed piece is yours, and you may use it as agreed in the quote (for example as a logo in your shop). The 3D file I build for it stays with me. If you want the file itself or want to reuse it, we agree on that in the quote.

Reselling: If you’re a business and sell my pieces on under your own name or brand, you become the manufacturer under the EU General Product Safety Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/988). Please tell me beforehand. I’ll give you the material and safety details you need.

Photos of your order: I only show pieces on my website or on social media if you agreed beforehand. I never show your own photos or files.

10. Retention of title

The piece remains my property until it is paid in full. Because you pay in advance, it is yours on handover.

11. Dispute resolution

If there’s a problem, write to me first. We almost always find a solution. If that doesn’t work, consumers can contact the Internet Ombudsstelle (www.ombudsstelle.at). Whether I take part in a dispute resolution procedure I tell you case by case.

12. Applicable law and jurisdiction

Austrian law applies, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) and conflict-of-law rules. If you are a consumer living in another EU country, you keep the protection of the mandatory rules of your country.

If you are a business, the place of jurisdiction is the court with subject-matter jurisdiction for 8160 Weiz. If you are a consumer, the statutory places of jurisdiction apply.

Your order is governed by the version of these terms that was on this page when I sent the quote. If any provision is invalid, the others remain valid.