Consumer Law Library

Granite Industry

16 CFR Part 99 · Trade practice rules · in the Code of Federal Regulations 1974-1974 (1 annual editions)

Scanned CFR pages, OCR text may contain errors; the linked Library of Congress PDF is the authority. Not legal advice; not affiliated with the FTC. These rules and guides are historical: most were rescinded or replaced, so do not assume any is in force.

Latest edition: Library of Congress, 1974 CFR · Earliest edition: 1974 CFR

Text (1974 edition, OCR)

Chapter I—Federal Trade Commission

industry engaged in commerce to pay
or contract for the payment of adver-
tising or promotional allowances or any
other thing of value to or for the benefit
of a customer of such member in the
course of such commerce as compensa-
tion or in consideration for any services
or facilities furnished by or through such
customer in connection with the proc-
essing, handling, sale, or offering for sale
of any products or commodities manu-
factured, sold, or offered for sale by such
meinber, unless such payment or consid-
eration is available on proportionally
equal terms to all other customers com-
peting in the distribution of such prod-
ucts or commodities.

(a) Prohibited discriminatory services
or facilities. It is an unfair trade prac-
tice for any member of the industry en-
gaged in commerce to discriminate in
favor of one purchaser against another
purchaser or purchasers of a commodity
bought for resale, with or without proc-
essing, by contracting to furnish or by
furnishing, or by contributing to the
furnishing of any services or facilities
connected with the processing, handling,
sale, or offering for sale of such commod-
ity so purchased upon terms not accorded
to ali purchasers on proportionally equal
terms.

(e) Inducing or receiving an illegal
discrimination in price. It is an unfair
trade practice for any member of the
industry engaged in commerce, in the
course of such commerce, knowingly to
induce or receive a discrimination in
price which is prohibited by the fore-
going provisions of this section.

(Sec. 2, 38 Stat. 730, as amended, secs. 2, 3, 4,
49 Stat. 1527, 1528; 15 U.S.C, 18, 18a, 13b,
21a)

§ 97.20 Aiding or abetting use of unfair
trade practices:

It is an unfair trade practice for any
person, firm, or corporation to aid, abet,
coerce or induce another, directly or in-
directly, to use or promote the use of
any unfair trade practice specified in
this part.

Group II
§ 97.101 Publication of price lists and
terms of sale.

The industry approves the practice of
each individual member of the industry
independently publishing and circulating
to the purchasing trade his own price
lists fully setting forth his terms of sale.

§ 97.104

§ 97.102 Return of merchandise.

The practice, by members of the in-
dustry, of selling merchandise and later
permitting the purchaser to return it for
credit or refund of purchase price, with-
out just cause, creates waste and loss,
increases the cost of doing business to
the detriment of both the industry and
the public, and is condemned by the in-
dustry, subject however, to the general
limitation that members of the industry
shall not engage in any combmation or
conspiracy in restraint of trade or use
any other illegal methods in the regula-
tion, control or prevention of the return
of merchandise.

§ 97.103 Repudiation of contracts.

Lawful contracts are business obliga-~
tions which should be performed in
letter and in spirit. The repudiation of
contracts by sellers on a rising market,
or by buyers on a declining market, is.
condemned by the industry.

§ 97.104 Arbitration.

The industry approves the practice of
handling business disputes between
inembers of the industry and their cus-
temers in a fair and reasonable manner,
coupled with a spirit of moderation and
good will, and every effort should be
made by the disputants themselves to
compose their differences. If unable to
do so they should, if possible, submit

these disputes to arbitration.
PART 99-——BARRE GRANITE
INDUSTRY
GrovurTt
Sec.
99.1 Deceptive deviation from established
standards.
99.2 Sales below cost.
99.4 False marking or branding.
99.6 Inducing breach of contract.
99.7 Imitation of trade-marks, trade
names, etc.
99.8 Consignment selling.
99.9 Enticing employees.
$9.10 Defamation of competitors.
99.11 Substitution.
99.12 Deceptive selling methods.
99.18 Misrepresentation in general.
99.14 Espionage.
99.15 Substitution of inferior materials.
99.16 Deceiving competitors as to bids of
others.
Group IT
99.101 Substitution of products.
99.102 Failure to accept delivery.
99.108 Violation of discount agreement.
99.104 Consumer protection.

497


§ 99.1

Sec.

99.105
99.106
99.107
99.108

False Invoicing.

Arbitration. ;

Fictitious bids.

Publication of price lists and terms
of sale.

Unethical acquisition of bid infor-
mation,

Dissemination of credit information.

Unauthorized use of designs, etc.

Classification of product.

Tolerance in measurements,

Solicitation of information with a

view to price cutting.

Solicitation of favors in bidding.

Cost accounting.

Repudiation of contracts.

Fictitious price lists.

Superficial foot as unit of measure;
tolerances.

Cubic foot as unit of measure; toler-
ances,

Gratuities or gifts to purchasers.

COMMITTEE ON TRADE PRACTICES
99.201 Industry committee.

AuTHoriry: The provisions of this Part 99
issued under secs. 6(g), 5, 38 Stat. 722, 719;
15 U.S.C, 46(g), 45, unless otherwise noted.

Source: The provisions of this Part 99
contained in trade practice rules, Barre
Granite Industry, FTC, Nov. 30, 1988, unless
otherwise noted.

99.109

99.110
99.111
99.112
99.113
99.114

99.115
99.116
99.117
99.118
99.119

99.120
99.121

Group I
§ 99.1 Deceptive deviation from estab-
lished standards.

Deviation from the established stand-
ards of the industry by any deceptive or
false means or device with the effect of
misleading or deceiving purchasers or
prospective purchasers is an unfair trade
practice,

§ 99.2 Sales helow cost.

The selling of goods below cost with
the intent and with the effect of injuring
a competitor, and where the effect may
be to substantially lessen competition or
tend to create a monopoly or to unrea-
sonably restrain trade, is an unfair trade
practice.

§ 99.4. False marking or branding.

The false marking or branding of
products of the industry, with the effect
of misleading or deceiving purchasers
with respect to the quantity, quality,
grade or substance of the goods pur-
chased, is an unfair trade practice.

§ 99.6 Inducing breach of contract.

Wiillfully inducing or attempting to in-
duce the breach of existing contracts be-
tween competitors and their customers

- Title. 16—Commercial Practices

by any false or deceptive means whatso-
ever, or interfering with or obstructing
the performance of any such contractual
duties or services by any such means,
with the purpose and effect of unduly
hampering, injuring, or embarrassing
competitors in their businesses, is an un-
fair trade practice.

§ 99.7 Imitation of trade-marks, trade
names, etc. :

The imitation of the trade-marks,
trade names, slogans, or other marks of
identification of competitors, having the
tendency and capacity to mislead or de-
ceive purchasers or prospective pur-
chasers, is an unfair trade practice.

§ 99.8 Consignment selling.

The shipment of goods on consign-
ment, with the intent and with the effect
of injuring a competitor and where the
effect may be to substantially lessen com-
petition or tend to create a monopoly or
to unreasonably restrain trade, is an
unfair trade practice.

§ 99.9 Enticing employees.

Willfully enticing away the employees
of competitors with the purpose and ef-
fect of unduly hampering, mjuring, or
embarrassing competitors in their busi-
nesses is an unfair trade practice.

§ 99.10 Defamation of competitors.

The defamation of competitors by
falsely lmputing to them. dishonorable
conduct, inability to perform contracts,
questionable credit standing, or by other
false representations, or the false dispar-
agement of the grade or quality of their
goods, with the tendency and capacity to
mislead or deceive purchasers or pro-
spective purchasers, is an unfair trade
practice.

§ 99.11 Substitution.

The practice of shipping or delivering
products which do not conforin to the
samples submitted or representations
made prior to securing the orders, with-
out the consent of the purchasers to such
substitutions, and with the effect of de-
ceiving or misleading purchasers, is an
unfair trade practice.

§ 99.12 Deceptive selling methods.

The sale or offering for sale of any
product of the industry by any false
means or device which has the tendency
and capacity to mislead or deceive cus-
tomers or prospective customers as to the
quantity, quality, substance or size of
such product is an unfair trade practice,

498


Chapter I—Federal Trade Commission

§ 99.13 Misrepresentation in general.

The making, or causing or permitting
to be made or published, of any false, un-
true, or deceptive statement by way of
advertisement or otherwise concerning
the grade, quality, quantity, substance,
character, nature, origin, size, or prepa-
ration of any product of the industry,
having the tendency and capacity to
mislead or deceive purchasers or pro-
spective purchasers, is an unfair trade
practice.

§ 99.14 Espionage.

Securing informatlon from competi-
tors concerning their businesses by false
or misleading statements or representa-
tions or by false impersonations of one
in authority and the wrongful use there-
of to unduly hinder or stifle the competi-
tion of such competitors is an unfair
trade practice.

§ 99.15 Substitution of inferior ma-
terials.

The practice of using or substituting
in structures materials inferior in qual-
ity to those specified by the purchasers,
without the consent of the purchasers
to such uses or substitutions, and with
the effect of deceiving or misleading such
purchasers, or the use of materials in-
ferior in quality to those required by
the applicable governmental laws, rules
and regulations in the territory affected,
is an unfair trade practice.

§ 99.16 Deceiving competitors as to bids
of others.

To mislead or deceive any bidder as to
the amounts and conditions of other bids
or by any other false information, for
the purpose of inducing him to cut his
own bid, is an unfair trade practice.

Group II

§ 99.101 Substitution of prodncts.

The substitution by a wholesaler or a’

retailer of another product for the prod-
uct ordered is condemned by the in-
dustry. —

§ 99.102 Failure to accept delivery.

The failure by a retailer to accept the
delivery of orders given by him is con-
demned by the industry.

§ 99.103 Violation of discount agree-
ment.

Violation by either party, buyer or
seller, of the agreement between them

as to the discount for cash is condemned
by the industry.

§ 99.111

§ 99.104 Consumer protection.

All members of this industry shall pro-
tect the consumer not only as far as is
required by law, but as required by good
morals and the best ethics of business.

§ 99.105 False invoicing.

Withholding froin, or inserting in, the
invoice statements which make the in-
voice a false record, wholly or in part, of
the transaction represented on the face
thereof, is condemned by the industry.

§ 99.106 Arbitration.

The industry approved the practices of
handling disputes in a fair and reason-
able manner, coupled with a spirit of
moderation and good will, and every ef-
fort should be made by the disputants
themselves to arrive at an agreement.
If unable to do so they should agree, if
possible, upon arbitration under some
one of the prevailing codes.

§ 99.107 Fictitious bids.

The industry approves of the “one-bid”
policy and condemns fake or fictitious
bids made for the purpose of deceiving
competitors and securing undue advan-
tage. If plans and specifications are
changed and new bids called for after
the original bids have been submitted
and opened, the same fairness should
obtain as with the original bid.

§ 99.108 Publication of price lists and
terms of sale.

(a) The industry approves the prac-
tice of each individual member of the
industry independently publishing and
circulating to the purchasing trade his
own price lists. —

(b) The industry approves the prac-
tice of making the terms of sale a part
of all published price schedules.

§ 99.109 Unethical acquisition of bid
information.

Surreptitiously obtaining information
relative to competitors’ bids in the prep-
aration of one’s own bid is condemned by
the industry.

§ 99.110 Dissemination of credit in-
formation.

The industry records its approval of
distributing to its members information
covering delinquent and slow accounts
insofar as this may be lawfully done.

§ 99.111 Unauthorized use of designs,
etc.

The practice of usurping designs,

styles, or patterns, originated by a com-

499


§ 99.112

petitor and appropriating for one’s
own use within 5 years after such origi-
nation, is condemned by the industry.

§ 99.112 Classification of product.

For the benefit of the granite industry
and the purchasing public the granite
designated and known throughout the
country as Barre granite is classified into
three grades as follows: 1. Dark monu-
mental granite shall be that grade of
materiai suitable for polishing but
adaptable for all finishes; 2. Light mon-
umental granite shall be that grade of
material adapted to ali finishes except
polishing; 3. Light mausoleum granite
shall be that grade of material which
because of the texture is not suitable for
monumental purposes but which custom
has accepted as the standard grade for
mausoleum use.

§ 99.113 Tolerance in measurements.

Owing to the nature of the material, in
filling an order for a monument of cer-
tain specified dimensions the industry
approves of the established practice of
permitting an allowance of one-half inch
on any dimension.

§ 99.114 Solicitation of information
with a view to price cutting.

To induce or attempt to induce an
architect, owner, builder or retailer to
reveal to a bidder the amounis and con-
ditions of any bid received on a competi-
tive job, with a view of giving the favored
concern an opportunity to meet or cut
below the lowest bid, whether the favored
concern was one of the original bidders
or not, is condemned by the industry.

§ 99.115 Solicitation of
bidding.

The inducing or attempting to in-
duce an architect, owner, builder or re-
tailer to reveal to any bidder on a com-
petitive job information relative to bids
already received, which information
would give the favored bidder an advan-
tage in the preparation of his own bid,
is condemned by the industry.

§ 99.116 Cost accounting.

It is the judgment of the industry that
each member should install a proper and
accurate method for determining his
cost.

§ 99.117 Repudiation of contracts.

Contracts, either written or oral, are
business obligations which shouid be per-

favors in

500

Title 16—Commerciol Practices

formed in letter and spirit. The repudi-
ation of contracts by sellers on a rising
market, or by buyers on a declining mar-
ket, is equally reprehensible, and its
condemned by the industry.

§ 99.118 Fictitious price lists.

Issuing fictitious bargain price lists is
a detriment to the trade and is con-
demned by the industry.

§ 99.119 Superficial foot as unit of
measure; tolerances.

The industry recognizes the super-
ficial foot as a unit of measure in slabs.
The industry further recognizes that the
working size of a dimension slab shall be
construed as aliowing not over 2 inches
oversize and on mill length slabs not over
10 percent allowance on length and not
over 2 inches on width.

§ 99.120 Cubic foot as unit of measure;
tolerances.

The industry recognizes the cubic foot
as a unit of measure. The industry fur-
ther recognizes that the working size of
said unit on rough dimension stock shall
be construed as permitting an allowance
of 2 inches or less on any dimension.

§ 99.121 Gratuities or gifts to pur-
chasers.

The giving of gratuities to purchasers
solely for the purpose of securing their
patronage promotes illegitimate sales-
manship, frequently leads to bribery, and
is condemned by the industry.

COMMITTEE ON TRADE PRACTICES
§ 99.201 Industry committee.

The provisions of § 16.1 of this sub-
chapter shall be applicable to an industry
committee established under this part.
[21 F.R. 1174, Feb. 21, 1956]

PART 101—UNIFORM INDUSTRY

Group I

Sec.

101.1 Misrepresentation of industry prod-
ucts.

101.2 Misbranding. .

101.3 Misrepresentation as to character of
business.

101.4 Misrepresenting unforms as “cus-
tom made,” “made to order,” etc.

101.5 Deceptive numbering.

101.6 Deception as to used garments.

101.7 Deceptive use of competitor's plates,
cuts, or illustrations.

101.8 Imitation of trade-marks, trade
names, etc.

101.9 Substitution of products.