Explain the following business documents and state two uses of each:
- Consignment note;
- Delivery note;
- Bill of lading;
- Bill of sight.
Explanation
(a) Consignment Note: It is a contract of carriage of goods between the carrier and the seller in the home trade.
Uses:
- It is used when goods are sent on sale or return basis to an agent;
- It is used when goods are sent by other means other than the sellers’ vehicles;
- It gives details of the goods and the consignee;
- It states whether freight has been paid or not;
- It is used as evidence of the delivery of goods.
(b) Delivery Note: It is a document sent by the seller to the buyer to acknowledge the receipt of goods sent.
Uses:
- It contains a description of the goods, the address to which it is sent
- without price;
- Its purpose is to allow the buyer to check the details of the goods on arrival;
- It is used as evidence of goods delivered before invoices are issued in credit sales;
- It is used when goods are transported by the seller’s vehicles.
(c) Bill of Lading: It is a contract of carriage of goods between an exporter and the shipowner.
Uses:
- This is a document used in the shipping of goods;
- It serves as evidence of the contract of carriage;
- It is the document of title to the goods which enables importers to clear goods at the port;
- It gives the details of the goods and their destination;
- It serves as an acknowledgement of the goods by the shipowner.
(d) Bills of Sight: It is a document prepared by the importer stating the details of the goods pending the arrival of the bill of lading.
Uses:
- This is used pending the arrival of the bill of lading that contains details of goods;
- It contains details of the cargo to allow the importer to inspect the goods on arrival;
- It is used to calculate customs duties.