Internet Auctions - Sellers Legal Obligations

Knowing the Laws First Offsets Problems Later

According to the Federal Trade Commission, sellers on Internet auctions are required to obey Federal commerce laws. This includes:

• Honest and accurate advertisement of the product or service and terms of sale.
  
• Sellers are prohibited from selling illegal goods. Most auction sites post a list of items which cannot be sold. If there is ever a question about what is prohibited, sellers should contact the auction administration for clarification.
  
• Once the auction has ended and funds are secured, sellers are required to ship the merchandise within the time period advertised, or if no time was specified, within 30 days.
  
• If for any reason the shipping date cannot be met, the seller is obligated to contact the buyer and offer a refund or agree on a new date.

More: Internet Auctions - A Guide for Sellers