Online shopping
Internet auctions
Internet auction is the term commonly used to describe any kind of website that allows people to sell a wide range of goods in a number of ways including through competitive bidding.
They do not normally fulfil the functions of a live auctioneer, and therefore the legal obligations of an auctioneer are not likely to fall on them.
This type of online shopping is growing in popularity but beware, problems do occur.
Tips for safe trading
Remember that, as a rule, you are not buying from the auction site itself, so the site won't have to accept responsibility if things go wrong with the goods. The site is legally acting as a ‘noticeboard’ similar to ones in your supermarket or newsagents where consumers and businesses can place items for sale. Check terms and conditions to find out.
Many tips for trading on internet auction sites are the same as for buying on the internet generally but there are some important differences.
You need to decide whether the person offering the item is trustworthy. Think of problems that could occur when buying from someone in a pub or in response to a classified advert.
Some of the most common problems are:
- Goods not delivered to buyer
- Payment not delivered to seller
- Goods of lesser value or very different from the description are sent to the buyer
- Late delivery of goods
- Failure to give relevant information about a product or terms of sale.
For more information, see the section on internet auctions on the Safe shopping page.
