Join OPPAA

Three OPPAA membership categories:

• Corporate Member: Corporate Membership in the Association is open to any company, corporation, sole proprietorship or other business entity located in North America actively engaged in the manufacture, distribution, import (or any combination thereof) of aftermarket replacement parts and/or accessories for outdoor power equipment. Each corporate member is entitled to have one vote, to be cast through its voting representative. Each voting representative shall enjoy the full rights of membership and privileges of the Association, including the right to hold office and to chair standing committees. The name of the voting representative shall be designated at the time the application for Corporate Membership is filed.
• Distributor Member: Distributor membership in the Association shall be open to any business entity whose primary activity is the wholesale distribution of parts and accessories for outdoor power equipment. Distributor Members shall enjoy identical Association privileges to Corporate Members.
• Affiliate Member: Affiliate membership in the Association shall be open to any business entity, individual, or any other interested party which is desirous of furthering the purposes and objectives of the Association but which may not qualify for membership in other categories. Affiliate members shall not be eligible to vote, hold an elective office (exception provided to Affiliate Member Observer), but may serve on committees, may be appointed as committee chairs and shall otherwise enjoy all other rights and privileges of the Association. Note: In the case of retailers/resellers – 75% of their business must be generated by non-whole goods or service related sales.

After approval of the membership application, OPPAA Membership begins with payment of annual dues. Annual dues for corporate members are kept confidential and are based on annual sales to non-OEM customers according to the scale below. Please use this schedule to determine the organization’s dues for the membership year. Dues are payable February 1st every year.

All OPPAA Members must agree to adopt the Limited Warranty & Product Liability policies of the Association; and promise to abide by the Code of Ethics as prescribed by OPPAA.

The following warranty and liability policies were adopted by OPPAA for all members in good standing as of February 9, 1992.

Limited Warranty
There is a misconception among most people that warranties exist to protect buyers. Under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), buyers are automatically afforded great protection in business-to-business transactions (excluding Louisiana) in the absence of any warranty by the seller. In reality, the main purpose of a warranty (typically referred to as a “Limited Warranty”) is risk management for the seller. Another purpose for warranties could be marketing-related when a company offers extended coverage in either time period or remedies. The recommended limited warranty stated below deals solely with the risk management concern:

Your company warrants its products against defective materials and workmanship for a period of ninety (90) days from delivery. Your company’s liability under this warranty shall be limited to the repair or replacement of any defective work or material. The Buyer agrees that the Buyers sole and exclusive remedy shall be such a repair or replacement. Buyer agrees that no other remedies, express or implied, concerning the products, including, but not limited to, any express warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, except as provided above.

Product Liability
Product liability insurance is another risk management tool. OPPAA Distributor Members should verify (by requesting a “Certificate of Insurance”) the existence of adequate product liability insurance for any manufacturer or supplier from whom they purchase. The recommended product policy is stated below:

“All Products sold by your company are covered by comprehensive and excess liability insurance policies for both bodily injury and property damage.”