Explain the following business documents and state two uses of each: Consignment note; Delivery note;...

Explanation

(a) Consignment Note: It is a contract of carriage of goods between the carrier and the seller in 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 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 ship owner.

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 acknowledgment 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 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 custom duties.