Expert: Marvinator - 8/13/2006

Question
Marvinator,

First off, I very much appreciate your insight into the dropshipping concept as I have been scrutinizing the concept thouroughly as I consider entering into it, but was unable to find all the flaws.  Thank you for your thoughts.

My question is based on liability, in the situation where a dropshipper is unable to supply and you become liable for a product you do not have within the established thirty days.  Is there a way of removing yourself from this liability other than buying the product ahead of time?  If I were to inform my buyer of the chance that my product may exceed the 30 days of arrival should it be out of stock, in a "fine print" or even open bold admission of the situation would I then be removed of FTC liablity?

Another quick question, are you an active eBay seller and have you ever used dropshippers yourself?

-Nicholas Bohn
nsbohn@gmail.com


Answer
No, you can't circumvent the FTC.  A lot of people think that with some "fine print" (or not so fine print) that they can somehow justify breaking the rules.  It's not gonna work.

Oh you may have auctions that end ok, and people that pay considering the time frame, but all in all, it's going to backfire on you.  Once a customer pays, the FTC (And Ebay) says you must ship within 30 days.

I personally have never used a Drop Shipper.  I won't sell a product which I do not have in hand.