| Millions of would-be entrepreneurs want to | | | | twine/tobacco within is not for consumption. |
| sell things on ebay. eBay is the #1 | | | | |
| home-business opportunity in the world right | | | | * The collectible tobacco packaging must not |
| now, so it's natural that many are eager to | | | | be available at any retail outlet, and |
| find highly profitable items for re-sale on | | | | packaging must have a value that |
| eBay. However, it's important to know that | | | | substantially exceeds the current retail |
| there are certain items that can't be sold. | | | | price of that wine/tobacco product in the |
| Here are a dozen of them ... | | | | package. |
| | | | |
| Some items are copyright infringement and can | | | | * Sellers must take steps to ensure that the |
| actually land a seller in federal prison: | | | | buyer of these collectibles is at least 18 |
| | | | years of age |
| 1. Knock offs of music, TV shows or movies. | | | | |
| The "bootleg" movies, for example, are often | | | | 7. Firearms are strictly regulated by US law |
| made by guys who sneak a movie camera into a | | | | and may not be sold on eBay. |
| newly-released movie where presumably, they | | | | |
| crouch behind a seat and make a crummy copy. | | | | 8. Satellite and cable TV descramblers are |
| There is a large production of these | | | | forbidden by the Federal Trade Commission. |
| counterfeit items in Asia where US laws have | | | | |
| no power. | | | | 9. Animals and wildlife products may not be |
| | | | sold, which includes stuffed birds and pelts |
| 2. Software and computer games can likewise | | | | from endangered species. There are limited |
| be copied and their sale is illegal by all US | | | | sales of ivory, tortoise shell, marine |
| laws. | | | | products and other items relating to animals. |
| | | | This area is quite complex and any would-be |
| Naturally, the items above may be sold if you | | | | seller needs to thoroughly understand the |
| have a copy that you purchased legitimately | | | | various laws before getting involved in these |
| and no longer want. | | | | sales. |
| | | | |
| 3, The so-called "replica" market for | | | | 10. Event tickets have state-by-state laws |
| handbags, designer sunglasses and clothing is | | | | that make their sale complex. Some states, |
| definitely forbidden although these items are | | | | for instance, forbid anyone to make more than |
| often sold in physical stores around the US. | | | | a few dollars in profit (or no profit at all) |
| Ironically, when attending eBay Live In New | | | | on the resale of tickets. For instance, |
| Orleans in 2004, we found a store in one of | | | | Florida law states that tickets can be resold |
| their famous markets selling replica purses | | | | at no more than face value plus $1. In such |
| that were not allowed on eBay. | | | | states, these regulations apply only to |
| | | | buyers and sellers located in the same state |
| 4. Lazy and less-than-honest sellers often | | | | as the actual event, meaning if a seller |
| steal copyrighted material from other | | | | lives in Florida, he can't profit from ticket |
| sellers. This has happened to me many times | | | | sales to Florida events. However, if he |
| and eBay has a program called VERO (Verified | | | | lives in any of the other 39 states, this |
| Rights Owner) that will remove offending | | | | restriction doesn't apply. |
| auctions, although there seems to be no | | | | |
| penalty attached to the seller, which is | | | | 11. Listing a catalog of items that a seller |
| unfortunate. | | | | offers for sale is forbidden. The only |
| | | | catalogs legally sold on eBay are collectible |
| 5. Alcoholic beverage sales are not allowed | | | | kinds, such as an old Sears Roebuck or |
| although a beverage "container', especially | | | | Montgomery Wards catalog that is memorabilia |
| those of wine, may be sold for its value. | | | | and doesn't offer current merchandise for |
| | | | sale. |
| 6. Cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco or | | | | |
| coupons for such items are not permitted on | | | | 12. Raffles and prizes are 100% prohibited. |
| | | | According to eBay, such promotions are highly |
| The Ebay rules for collectible tobacco and | | | | regulated and may be unlawful in many states. |
| alcohol containers are the same: | | | | |
| | | | There are other kinds of merchandise that a |
| * The value of the item is in the collectible | | | | seller may not sell on eBay, so carefully |
| packaging, not in the wine/tobacco itself. | | | | check eBay rules before listing anything. |
| | | | It's much better to know the rules in advance |
| * The listing description should state that | | | | of spending money that can't be recouped. |
| the package has not been opened, but that the | | | | |