UCC delivery timing question - if not otherwise agreed upon the ucc states that the time of delivery is

Thanks for the section reference. How do courts typically define 'reasonable time' for equipment deliveries? Is there any case law on this?

Industry standards matter a lot here. What type of equipment are you selling? That could affect what's considered reasonable.

Ouch, sorry to hear about the legal fees. Did you end up having to deliver immediately or were you able to negotiate?

We delivered within 10 days which the court found reasonable for that type of industrial equipment. But the stress wasn't worth it.

This is why I always include delivery timeframes in my purchase agreements now, even if it seems obvious.

Interesting, I hadn't thought about checking document consistency. Did it find actual problems in your paperwork?

Yes, caught a mismatch between our collateral description and the actual equipment model numbers. Could have caused issues later.

How long does that verification process take? We're usually working under tight deadlines.

The vagueness is actually intentional - it allows for flexibility across different industries and circumstances. Rigid timeframes would cause more problems than they solve.

maybe for lawyers but not for us trying to run actual businesses

I get the frustration but industry customs do vary widely. What's reasonable for custom manufacturing isn't the same as for stock items.

This is really helpful. Do you know if there are any industry-specific guidelines for equipment sales?

Some trade associations publish recommended delivery timeframes, but they're not legally binding. Still worth checking for your industry.

The previous dealings factor is important - if you've delivered similar equipment to this buyer before, that timeline could be considered reasonable.

Good point about documentation. I should probably send an email explaining our delivery schedule and reasoning.

Exactly. Create a paper trail showing you're acting in good faith and following reasonable business practices.

Also consider sending a formal notice of your intended delivery date - gives the buyer a chance to object if they think it's unreasonable.

That's exactly what I was worried about. Can I legally hold delivery until payment clears?

Generally yes, especially if your terms call for payment on delivery or you have concerns about buyer's creditworthiness.

Right, but check your specific contract terms first. Some agreements require delivery before payment.

Definitely worth doing a contract review. Clear delivery terms prevent most disputes.

Yeah, prevention is cheaper than litigation for sure.

Good reminder. We did file a UCC-1 but I should double-check the collateral description matches exactly.

That's another thing Certana.ai caught for us - our UCC-1 collateral description was too generic compared to our purchase agreement.

Generic descriptions are dangerous. Courts are getting stricter about requiring specific identification of collateral.

Thanks everyone, this has been really helpful. I feel much more confident about handling this situation now.

Glad we could help. These UCC issues can be tricky but they're manageable with the right approach.

Great questions! From what I've learned here, it seems like proactive communication is key. I'd recommend sending a written notice explaining your proposed delivery timeline with specific business justifications - like equipment preparation time, shipping logistics, or industry standards. This creates documentation that you're acting reasonably and gives the buyer a chance to object if they disagree. It also shows good faith effort to communicate. Negotiating a specific date upfront is probably even better since it eliminates the "reasonable time" uncertainty entirely, but when that's not possible, documenting your reasoning for the timeline you choose seems like the safest approach.

Jessica, you've hit on one of the most practical challenges in UCC transactions! I'd add that you should also consider your leverage position. If you're dealing with a repeat customer or someone with solid credit, you might have more flexibility to educate them about reasonable delivery timelines. But if it's a new buyer or someone pushing aggressively, getting a specific agreed-upon delivery date in writing upfront is definitely the safer route. Also, don't forget that "reasonable" can work both ways - if they're demanding unreasonable speed, you can push back by explaining industry norms for your type of equipment. The key is building that paper trail Mikayla mentioned earlier.