Web Site Advice!

[Scott]

The story so far


Over the past few years I have made a business of selling on eBay, then last year I sold a printer to a chap down south who stripped the printer of all its internals and ink cartridges then tried to send it back as “not as described”, so I called him a lying thieving bastard and all that! EBay then closed me down as he had reported me as selling stolen goods.
That was the last time I used eBay, about a year ago.
Me and two friend decided to set up our own Auction site called Buy purple.
Lots of people said it cannot be done, it will cost loads of money, and you will not get the customers, and a plethora of other negative remarks.
So we thought stuff it, let’s do it anyway!
A year on, the site is live and starting to get a few customers.
We have spent a long time getting the site to work correctly (hours of testing) and now we are working on an updated version that looks a lot better (should be up over the next couple of weeks)
So this is the thing….like eBay and a few other sites we currently do not allow the sale of alcohol or tobacco!
So
Me and my partners are “considering” changing the T&Cs and allowing the sale of pipe tobacco and cigars! No cigs and No rolling tobacco.
Me and my partners are “considering” changing the T&Cs and allowing the sale of alcohol via sellers with a liquor licence.
If we chose to go ahead then we will be very heavy on the T&Cs of the site.



Any advice, warnings or laws that I should be aware of?

https://www.buypurple.com

[Johnny Thunder]

I can imagine the laws covering the sale of alcohol and tobacco being extremely complex.

[oskihen]

A mine field I'd imagine with very hefty fines for under age purchases , especially in this PC world we live in

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[oskihen]

Also I reckon if it was feasible the big boys would of latched on to it years ago

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[cigarmo]

We looked into setting up a similar site for customers, they dropped 10k plus with lawyers over the sale of tobacco and alcohol, in the end called it a bad idea and gave up.

[cigarmo]

Got a link to your site?

[Scott]

https://www.buypurple.com

[PeeJay]

At least you got some replies on here Scott, good luck

[ValeTudoGuy]

Put knives and controlled chemicals on there too, you have found a niche that the big boys have missed as there is no other reason they wouldn't have these items on there otherwise.



On a serious note, it would become a den of counterfeit items, sales to underage buyers and attempted tax avoidance.

However, gun trader works..... Which proves that highly controlled things can have a viable online market.

[nplymouth]

Hmmm - Scott, I am all over people doing what you do and have done the same... I employ (did until an unfortunate liquidation) 25+ people in a tech startup... So big ideas and risk, I'm all for that.

The only way I can see it being viable is if you, through a holding company handle the goods on behalf of the seller first and you have the licenses.

But, there will likely be huge tax liabilities as a result. However I like the idea.

My only other thought is around counterfeiting etc... As others have said.

I think that's the reason there are issues with selling such things.

N


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[ValeTudoGuy]

IMO handling the goods would be a terrible idea, you want to indemnify the company as much as possible against responsibility for quality and originality or you are going to spend more time dealing with complains, returns and potential litigation than you are running the company.

[nplymouth]

I agree completely with that sentiment, my point was purely that the only legal route may be for them to be the licensed company...

I would add that I wouldn't do either!!


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[wayne_w]

It sounds a great concept & something that I hope will grow rapidly for you.
What's with the adult toys? I take it that's a niche product too?

All the same, I wish you all the success with it.

wayne

[monkey66]

You would never handle the goods. This is peer to peer. You could rent 'virtual shops' instead of comission ...just thinking out loud.

I think the legals maybe could be overcome (as long as everything was declared uk tax paid by the seller for instance) but you will need to spend , ?10k plus on specialists lawyers to explore. Maybe not of course, I have no expertise in this area.

The authorities may have kept strong laws in this area to prevent counterfeit cigarette sites. I doubt they will have differentiated different tobacco products.

The other problem is credibility as keeping counterfeit off would be really hard work by the time you reached a decent volume of business.

But saying all of that don't be put off, congratulations on your new venture.

[tippexx]

I can imagine the laws covering the sale of alcohol and tobacco being extremely complex.

They are rigorous but no more complicated than the Laws governing the buying and selling of anything. You just need to know and follow them.

When you talk about 'selling' cigars, pipe related items and alcohol you are not being very clear. Would we be correct in assuming that the items being sold are for want of a better term 'second hand', or are these 'new' unopened branded items?