Verkauf

Verkauf is the act of selling goods or services and, in German commerce, the corresponding organizational function responsible for selling. A sale occurs when a buyer and seller reach agreement on a price for an item, the seller delivers the item or performs the service, and the buyer pays the consideration. The term encompasses both the transaction itself and the activities that prepare, negotiate, and close it.

Sales take place through various channels, including retail (Einzelhandel), wholesale (Großhandel), and online (E-Commerce). They can be business-to-consumer (B2C) or business-to-business (B2B). The concept covers direct customer contact, negotiations, order processing, and after-sales service. In modern practice, Verkauf is closely connected to marketing, distribution, customer relationship management, and pricing strategy.

In German law, a sale creates a Kaufvertrag regulated by the Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB). The essential elements are offer and acceptance, the object, and the price. Ownership generally transfers with delivery, and the risk passes to the buyer upon transfer according to contract terms. Sellers are liable for defects under Gewährleistung, and consumers enjoy protective rights under applicable rules.

Etymology: Verkauf derives from verkaufen, meaning to sell. In organizational terms, the term is commonly used to designate a company’s sales department as well as the broader function of selling within an economy.