McCormick Harvesting Machine Co. v. Okerstrom

Given, C. J. 1 I. The written order signed by the defendant is as folloAvs: “McCormick Harvesting Machine Company’s Order Blank. .Machine delivered on cars in Chicago'. McCormick Harvesting Machine Company will ship for the undersigned on or ab'out July, 1898, one of their 1898 six ft. cut harvester and binder, including the usual extras, consigned to the care of Hopkins, at "Wall Lake. The undersigned agreeing on deliA^ery of the machine to then pay the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company cash, or execute approved notes for the sum of $25.00, payable on the first of January, 1899, $30.00 payable on the first day of January, 1900, $35.00, payable on the first day of January 1901, $35.00 payable on the first day of January, 1902, with interest thereon at six per cent. j>er annum from 1-1-99 until due, and interest at the rate of ■-■ per cent, per annum from maturity until paid.” Following this is- a warranty of the machine, an agreement to put it in order if it should not Avork well, and that, if it could not be made to work well, plaintiff might return it. This order was given April 15, 1898, to Mr. Hopkins, agent at Wall Lake, Iowa, and Avas foiwarded by him to the gen [263] eral agent, who, on April 16, 1898, wrote the defendant, acknowledging receipt of the order, and saying, “This machine will be shipped promptly according to the terms and conditions of the order.” This notice was duly received by the defendant. Soon afted giving the order, the defendant éxamined one of plaintiff’s machines of the kind ordered, and again, prior to May 17th, made a second examination, but did not say whether or not he was satisfied, until May 17th, when he notified Mr. Hopkins by postal card that he would not take the machine, in reply to which Mr. Hopkins insisted that he was bound by the order. On May 26th the defendant wrote plaintiff’s general agent as follows: “I herewith countermand order I gave Mr. Hopkins for a binder. I don’t want it. I gave the order, if I don’t like the machine I don’t have to take it. Had sold some binders for $125, and others for a good deal less. Of course, he didn’t sell the binder any cheaper, but give in all the way from 50 ■ — 150 pounds of twine and other stock.” To this the general agent replied, declining to cancel the order. On July 8, 1898, Mr. Hopkins received a car load of machines at "Wall Lake to fill the orders taken by him, including one for the defendant, and on July 14th he notified the defendant that his machine was ready for delivery; but the defendant then, and evér since has, refused to take the same. The reasons given by the defendant in his evidence for not taking the machine were that it- was a “right-hand cut”; that he had dragged his stalks with a view to using a left-hand cut; and that his neighbors had left-hand cut machines, and that he could not exchange work with them with a right-hand cut machine. This evidence the court withdrew from the consideration of the jury. [265] 3 4 [263] II. This case seems to have been tried upon the theory that, notwithstanding the written order, the defendant might prove the verbal agreements set up in his answer. Appellee’s counsel insist that the case was not tried upon that theory, but they failed to point out upon what other theory it was [264] tried. Such, certainly, are the issues that were joined, by the answer without objection thereto, and it was to these issues that the evidence without objection and the instructions were largely addressed. The court instructed to the effect: “That, if the jury found that the order was an absolute one, without any reservations, as claimed by the defendant; that* the machine was delivered at Wall Lake for the defendant, and defendant notified thereof and that the machine had since been held for him — -they should find for the plaintiff. That if defendant had an agreement with plaintiff by which he had a right to- reject the machine if, upon examination of one of the kind, it was not satisfactory, and that, examining one, he found it unsatisfactory, and that he countermanded the order, the verdict should be for the defendant. That defe-n^dant’s claim that he should be the sole judge as to whether the machine was satisfactory to- him “means that the machine could not be objected to by defendant unless it was for a satisfactory reason.” That a satisfactory reason for its rejection “must be based upon some matter relating to said machine, and not simply a fact — if it be a fact — that he did not' like it, or that he did not want to accept said- machine.” That if it was agreed, as claimed by the defendant, “this would not give him the right-to arbitrarily refuse to take the machine, before he could thus refuse, he must have some reasonable ground for refusing. The mere fact that the machine in controversy was a right-hand cut machine is not sufficient excuse for the defendant to refuse to accept the machine, or demand the surrender of his order.” Parties may .contract that if, upon inspection, or upon trial, the purchaser is not satisfied with the article purchased, he may refuse to take it, or, if taken on trial, may refuse tú keep it. The authorities are in accord in holding that, where a chattel is purchased under an agreement as alleged in this case the buyer is not liable for the price unless he is satisfied, and accepts the article. In such case he is the sole judge as to whether the article is [265] satisfactory or not, and, if he is not satisfied, he is not bound to accept the article, although, as a matter of fact, he ought to have been satisfied therewith. It is further said that the buyer is bound to act honestly, “and to exercise such judgment and capacity as he possesses, his dissatisfaction must be real, not feigned. But, as it is the buyer who is to be satisfied, and not some one else, it has been held that he is not • bound to use the care and skill of ordinary persons in making the decision, but only such capacity and judgment as he himself possesses. 6 Am. & Eng. Enc. Law (2nd eel.) 4-64, 465. To act honestly, the buyer’s refusal must be based upon some objection to the article purchased. It. would not be an honest objection because he was induced, or preferred, to buy of a different manufacturer. The defendant, for the purpose of showing that he acted honestly, introduced evidence as to the advantage of his having a left-hand cut machine; but this, we have seen, the court withdrew from the jury, and in this we think the court erred, and also in stating to the jury that “the mere fact that the machine in controversy was a right-hand but machine is not sufficient excuse for the defendant to refuse to accept the machine, or demand the surrender of his order,” as this was a question for the jury. IVhat -we have said disposes of the other questions urged in argument,' and leads to the conclusion that, for the reasons mentioned, the judgment of the district court must be reversed.