General Terms and Conditions for the Sale of Mines Tickets

ARTICLE 1: PREAMBLE

These General Terms and Conditions of Sale apply to Tickets purchased by a person for a visit to the Bex Salt Mines and purchased by anyone at the Bex Salt Mines, Salines Suisses SA, hereinafter the Salt Mines.

The Client, as defined hereinafter, is asked to carefully read the General Terms and Conditions of Sale which define the contractual relationships between the Client and the Salt Mines, and the terms and conditions that apply to the purchase of Tickets online.

The Client acknowledges that these General Terms and Conditions of Sale have been translated from French. In the event of a discrepancy between this translation and the original French text, the French version shall prevail.

Confirmation of the order of a Ticket from this website results in the conclusion of a valid contract and implies unconditional acceptance by the Client of the General Terms and Conditions of Sale in their entirety, which he acknowledges that he has read and understood before validating his purchase. The Client agrees to the safety and access arrangements and the additional guideline for visiting the Site.

The Client is aware that if he fails to comply with these guidelines he will be refused access to the Site and will not be entitled to compensation. The additional guidelines will be published on the Bex Salt Mines website or printed on the Ticket.

The General Terms and Conditions of Sale that apply are those that are in effect on the Site on the date on which the Ticket is purchased. Salines Suisses SA reserves the right to amend or update these General Terms and Conditions of Sale at any time to the extent permitted by law.

It is advisable to purchase Tickets in advance and book the date and time of your visit to the Bex Salt Mines.

ARTICLE 2: DEFINITIONS

All the expressions beginning with a capital letter as defined below have the following meanings, whether they are used in the singular or plural:

• “Ticket”: means the right of admission to the Bex Salt Mines, irrespective of its method of issue and format, purchased by the Client on the website. The Ticket prices are displayed on the website.
• “Client”: means anyone who purchases or reserves a Ticket on the website and has accepted the General Terms and Conditions of Sale in accordance with the provisions of Article 3.2 hereof.
• “General Terms and Conditions of Sale”: mean these terms and conditions which are designed to define the terms and conditions of purchase and use of the Tickets.

ARTICLE 3: TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PURCHASE

3.1 - PURCHASING PROCEDURES

The Client selects the number of Tickets required and the date and time of the visit depending on availability.

The available time slots are the ones that are accessible on the website. Some slots may be full and thus unavailable.

3.2 - ACCEPTANCE OF THE GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE

By clicking on “Validate” on completion of the order process and ticking the box “I accept the General Terms and Conditions of Sale”, the Client declares that he has read and unconditionally accepted the General Terms of Conditions of Sale in their entirety.

3.3 - PAYMENT METHODS

Online payment may only be made using a credit card: Visa, Mastercard, Postcard, Maestro or with Twint.

After verifying the order and accepting the General Terms and Conditions of Sale as described above, the Client is redirected to a payment gateway on which he makes the online payment of the order using his credit card details, which comprise the number and expiry date of his credit card and the security code on the reverse side of the card.

The purchase is completed when the Client has accepted the General Terms and Conditions of Sale and has validated his payment.

The amount of the order will be charged to the Client’s credit card as soon as the transaction is validated. The Client will receive a printable payment receipt upon completion of the transaction.

If the payment is rejected by the payment centre, the purchase transaction will be automatically cancelled.

Every purchase is binding. The Client will not be able to cancel or alter the purchase once payment has been confirmed.

After completing his transaction, the Client will receive an order confirmation e-mail.

This e-mail does not constitute a Ticket. It may serve as proof of purchase of the Ticket, which will be issued in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in Article 4.3 “Issue of the Tickets” below.

ARTICLE 4: TICKETS

4.1 - RESTRICTIONS ON USING THE TICKET

The Ticket is solely valid for the date and time slot that are indicated on the Ticket.

The Ticket cannot be returned, exchanged or refunded, subject to the provisions set forth in Article 5 of these General Terms and Conditions of Sale.

As each Ticket is personal and non-transferable the Client is not permitted to resell the Ticket to a third party. The Salt Mines accordingly reserve the right to ask for valid photo identification and any holder of a Ticket which could have been purchased illegally may be refused access to the Site.

4.2 - PRICE OF THE TICKETS

The price of the Tickets is quoted in Swiss francs and is payable in Swiss francs and in euros. The prices shown are inclusive of all taxes, and exclude shipping and handling charges, where applicable.

The price that is valid at the time of purchase is the applicable price. It is displayed on the website.

4.3 - ISSUE OF THE TICKETS

The confirmation page or the e-mail sent by the Salt Mines to the Client does not constitute a Ticket. Under no circumstances may this document be used as a Ticket and permit access to the Site. The Ticket is either printed out or can be read on a device such as a smartphone or tablet.

4.3.1 - PRINT-AT-HOME TICKET (E-TICKET)

Print-at-home Tickets are available and the Client may print them up until the date the Client has booked for the visit by clicking on the link in the confirmation e-mail.

In order to be valid, one (1) copy of the E-Ticket must be printed on an inkjet or a laser printer. A ticket (colour or black and white) will not be valid unless an image resolution of at least 300 dpi and has been used and the Ticket has not not been printed in "economy” mode. The Client is responsible for ensuring that the Ticket is printed on white A4 paper blank on both sides, that the printer is a standard model and that the ink cartridge and the toner contain sufficient ink.

Each Ticket has a QR code that permits access to the Site.

Good print quality is essential. Tickets that are partially printed, soiled, damaged or illegible will not be accepted and will be deemed invalid. In the event of an error or poor print quality, the Client shall reprint his Ticket. The Client can check whether the print quality is good by ensuring that the information displayed on the Ticket and the QR code are easy to read.

In cases where the microstructures or the QR codes are damaged in any way, shape or form, the Tickets will become invalid. If counterfeit or fraudulently obtained Tickets (resulting in seizure by the appropriate authorities) are presented, the Salt Mines reserve the right to refuse all the Tickets and to refund the holders of genuine Tickets.

If an E-Ticket is lost or stolen or an E-Ticket is duplicated, only the first person who presents such a Ticket will be considered to be the legitimate Ticket holder and will be permitted to enter the Site. If the visitor’s name is on the Ticket the Salt Mines may ask the visitor to show some form of identification when the Tickets are checked. This is not a mandatory procedure.

4.3.2 - TICKET DISPLAYED ON A SMARTPHONE / TABLET SCREEN (M-TICKET)

A mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet is needed for an M-Ticket.

For the M-Ticket to be valid, the Client must download one (1) copy of it as an image on a smartphone or open it directly in the e-mail application on a tablet before the start of the visit.

ARTICLE 5: CANCELLATION - REFUND

The Tickets do not entitle the purchaser to a cooling-off period. Every Ticket purchase is binding and the Client is not given a cooling-off period.

Once purchased, a Ticket may not be returned or refunded, not even if it is lost or stolen or forgotten at the time of the visit. The Client will not be issued with a duplicate.

The Salt Mines may need to restrict access or cancel the visit to the Site.

If a force majeure event compels the management of the Salt Mines to restrict access to the Site or to part of the Site for more than 2 consecutive hours, only the amount that corresponds to the limited access caused by this restriction would be eligible for a refund. If the restricted access is related to a decision by the Public Authorities, a request for a refund will not be considered.

A refund request form will be available at the Site during access restrictions. The Client shall dispatch this completed refund request form together with the unused Tickets no later than one (1) week after the date of the visit. A refund request will not be considered after this deadline.

Refunds will not be made on the spot. No refund or exchange will be made in the event of a delay or impossibility of accessing the Site due to lateness on the part of the Client or in the event of a delay that is attributable to the operation of the Site.

The Salt Mines cannot be held liable for a force majeure event that disrupts the smooth running of the visit to the Site and potentially results in its total or partial closure to the public, such as inclement weather (wind, snow, etc.) or a decision by the Public Authorities.

ARTICLE 6: TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ACCESS TO THE SITE

6.1 - WELCOME AND VISITING PROCEDURES

The visitor with a Ticket must arrive at the welcome centre no later than at the time indicated on the Ticket. The visitor must go to the security checkpoint situated at the entrance to the Bex Salt Mines at the date and time shown on the Ticket. It may be necessary to wait during busy periods.

Latecomers who arrive after the time indicated on the Ticket will only be allowed entry if the maximum number of visitors in the following time slot is not reached. Whether latecomers will be allowed entry to the site depends on the number of visitors as priority will be given to Clients who adhere to their schedules.

It should be noted that if a force majeure occurs or there is a delay that is attributable to the operation of the Site, visitors with a reservation will enter the Site in the order of their reservations.

6.2 - TICKET CHECKS

Only Tickets with a bar code or a QR code are valid.

Each Ticket is systematically checked at the entrance to the Site. This check will be conducted by reading the code reproduced on the paper Ticket (printed E-Ticket), the Ticket on the smartphone / tablet screen and by presenting proof of entitlement to the reduced rate (where applicable) and/or a valid form of photo identification if the Ticket is in the visitor’s name.

The Ticket may not be resold. The Salt Mines accordingly reserve the right to refuse anyone who holds a Ticket that has been obtained illegally access to the Site.

ARTICLE 7: LIABILITY

The Client assumes sole responsibility for the visit to the Site.

The Salt Mines cannot be held liable for indirect and/or consequential loss suffered by the Client, including, but not limited to loss of earnings, loss of chance, loss of profits, loss of clients, loss of data, any financial or commercial loss, any commercial disadvantage or any non-material damage.

The Salt Mines cannot be held liable if failure or partial failure to fulfil its obligations under the General Terms and Conditions of Sale is attributable (i) to the Client, or (ii) to the unforeseeable and unavoidable act of a third party unconnected with the provision of the services specified in the General Terms and Conditions of Sale or (iii) to a force majeure event.

The Salt Mines are unable to promise the Client that the Site will fully meet his expectations or that no errors will occur while using the website.

The website is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, subject to closure for maintenance or repair or in the case of a force majeure event or any event that is beyond the control of the Bex Salt Mines.  The Bex Salt Mines cannot be held liable for any loss or harm suffered by the Client or by any third parties as the result of failure to (i) access the website, (ii) the Internet, (iii) the communication media, and (iv) more generally, due to a force majeure event, as defined in the case law of the Swiss courts, during a visit to the website or when placing an order.

The Salt Mines shall not be held liable for damage caused by using the Internet such as data loss, cyber attack, computer virus or downtime.

The Salt Mines shall not be held liable for any unauthorised use of the website and/or the online ticketing service by the Client or by any other third party. If a liability claim were to be brought against the Salt Mines on the grounds of a breach by the Client of any of the provisions of the General Terms and Conditions of Sale, the Salt Mines will be entitled to bring third-party proceedings against the Client.

The Client is solely responsible for the manner in which he orders the Ticket and the Ticket issuing procedures. Consequently, the Salt Mines accepts no liability for any malfunction related to a compatibility issue between the E-Ticket, the M-Ticket and the computing environment.

ARTICLE 8: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

The website and all its constituent components (in particular logos, brands, domain names, headers, images and other content provided by the Salt Mines) are the property of Salines Suisses SAor prior permission for their use has been obtained from third parties.

ARTICLE 9: PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA

In order to process the orders and offer their services, the Salt Mines are required to process the Client’s personal data which may be collected at the time of registration on the website and/or when placing an order for a Ticket.

Mandatory personal data identified by an asterisk are essential for processing the orders and offering the online services. If the Client does not complete the mandatory fields, the Salt Mines will be unable to process the orders and provide the services. In particular, the Salt Mines will be unable to contact the Client in the event of cancellation or change to the date or time of the visit for which the Tickets have been purchased, when this is possible.

All personal data will be kept confidential.

ARTICLE 10: MISCELLANEOUS

10.1 - ELECTRONIC STORAGE OF CONTRACTS AND THE PAROL EVIDENCE RULE

Salines Suisses SA will store the orders, payment receipts and invoices on a reliable and durable medium, thereby constituting an exact copy.

The computerised records kept by Salines Suisses SA will be regarded as proof of the communications, orders, payments and transactions entered into between the parties.

The Client acknowledges that all correspondence and/or communication and/or transmission of information conducted electronically with the Salt Mines are presumed to have the same probative value as the hard copy of a document.

10.2 - CLIENT SERVICE

If the Client requires information or has questions when purchasing his Ticket, he may contact the Welcome Service of the Salt Mines by telephone: +41 24 463 03 30 during office hours.

The Welcome Service is also available on this number to provide information or answer questions prior to purchase.

10.3 - ORDER TRACKING

If the Client requires information or has questions regarding a purchase already made, he may contact the Welcome Service of the Salt Mines, ensuring his order number is to hand:

• by telephone: +41 24 463 03 30 during office hours
• by e-mail
• by post to Salines Suisses SA, Bex Salt Mines, Route des Mines de Sel 55, P.O. Box 277, CH - 1880 Bex.

Should any of the provisions of the General Terms and Conditions of Sale prove to be void and unenforceable with regard to applicable legislation or a final judgment, such a provision would then be deemed null and void, but would not render the contract null and void or affect the validity of the remaining provisions.

10.4 - APPLICABLE LAW - DISPUTES

In the event of a complaint, the Client may contact the Welcome Service whose details are provided in Article 10.3 - of the General Terms and Conditions of Sale.

If an amicable settlement cannot be reached, any legal action that is brought will come under the jurisdiction of the ordinary courts.

This contract is exclusively governed by the law of the country where the Salt Mines are based. The relevant jurisdiction will be determined in relation to the domicile of the Salt Mines.

 

© Salines Suisses SA, January 2022