Section 13-8-36. Predelivery and preparation obligations; repair parts availability; return of surplus parts inventory

   (a) Every manufacturer shall specify and every wholesaler shall provide and fulfill reasonable predelivery and preparation obligations for its farm equipment or implements prior to delivery of same to purchasers.

(b) Every manufacturer shall provide for repair parts availability throughout the reasonable useful life of any farm equipment or implement sold.

(c) Every manufacturer shall provide to his wholesalers, on an annual basis, an opportunity to return a portion of his surplus parts inventory for credit. The surplus parts return procedure shall be administered as follows:

   (1) The manufacturer may specify and thereupon notify his wholesalers of a time period of at least 60 days' duration, during which time wholesalers may submit their surplus parts list and return their surplus parts to the manufacturer;

   (2) If a manufacturer has not notified a wholesaler of a specific time period for returning surplus parts within the preceding 12 months, then he shall authorize and allow the wholesaler's surplus parts return request within 30 days after receipt of such request from the wholesaler;

   (3) Pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, a manufacturer must allow surplus parts return authority on a dollar value of parts equal to 10 percent of the total dollar value of purchases by the wholesaler from the manufacturer during the 12 month period immediately preceding the notification to the wholesaler by the manufacturer of the surplus parts return program, or the month the wholesaler's return request is made, whichever is applicable; provided, however, that the wholesaler may, at his option, elect to return a dollar value of his surplus parts less than 10 percent of the total dollar value of purchases by the wholesaler from the manufacturer during the preceding 12 month period as provided in this subsection;

   (4) No obsolete or superseded part may be returned, but any part listed in the manufacturer's current parts price list at the date of notification to the wholesaler by the manufacturer of the surplus parts return program, or the date of a wholesaler's parts return request, whichever is applicable, shall be eligible for return and credit as specified in this subsection; provided, however, that returned parts must be in new and unused condition and must have been purchased from the manufacturer to whom they are returned;

   (5) The minimum lawful credit to be allowed for returned parts shall be 85 percent of the wholesale cost thereof as listed in the manufacturer's current parts price list at the date of the notification to the wholesaler by the manufacturer of the surplus parts return program, or the date of a wholesaler's parts return request, whichever is applicable;

   (6) Applicable credit pursuant to this subsection must be issued to the wholesaler within 30 days after receipt of his returned parts by the manufacturer; and

   (7) Packing and return freight expense incurred in any return of surplus parts pursuant to the terms of this Code section shall be borne by the wholesaler.

Code 1981, § 13-8-36, enacted by Ga. L. 1993, p. 1585, § 4.