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As an eBay seller, it’s important to understand how the INFORM Consumers Act applies to your business. The INFORM Consumers Act, which became law in December 2020, aims to protect consumers from misleading or deceptive online marketplaces by providing greater transparency about the sellers and products available on those platforms. Here’s what eBay sellers need to know:

Seller Identification
One of the key measures of the INFORM Consumers Act is that it requires online marketplaces like eBay to provide greater transparency about the sellers who are selling products on their platform. Specifically, the INFORM Consumers Act requires that online marketplaces like eBay display the name and address of the seller, as well as any other information that may impact the consumer’s decision to purchase a product. For eBay sellers, this means that you need to ensure that your eBay account information is up-to-date and accurate, including your name, address, and any other identifying factors that may be relevant to your customers.

Product Information
In addition to seller identification, the INFORM Consumers Act also requires that online marketplaces like eBay provide accurate and readily available product information to consumers. Specifically, online marketplaces must provide clear and concise information about the products being sold, including the product name, price, and any relevant product specifications or features. This means that eBay sellers need to ensure that their product listings are accurate, complete, and up-to-date, including listing the product’s features, dimensions, materials, and any other information that may impact a consumer’s decision to purchase the product.

Product Reviews
The INFORM Consumers Act also addresses the issue of fake or misleading reviews on online marketplaces like eBay. Specifically, it requires that online marketplaces take steps to prevent and remove fake or misleading reviews, and to ensure that the reviews that are displayed to consumers are authentic and unbiased. For eBay sellers, this means that you need to be vigilant about the reviews that are left on your product listings, and to report any fake or misleading reviews to eBay’s customer service team.

Conclusion
Overall, the INFORM Consumers Act is designed to provide consumers with greater transparency and protection when shopping on online marketplaces like eBay. As an eBay seller, it is important to understand how the INFORM Consumers Act applies to your business, and to take steps to ensure that your eBay account information, product listings, and reviews are accurate, complete, and transparent. By doing so, you can help build trust with your customers and ensure the long-term success of your eBay business.

General steps on how to request an eBay exception to the INFORM Consumers Act:

1. Log in to your eBay account.
2. Click on “Customer Support” at the top of the page.
3. Scroll down and click on “Contact eBay” on the left-hand side of the page.
4. Under the “Select a topic” dropdown menu, choose “Shipping and Delivery”.
5. Under “Select the issue”, choose “INFORM Consumers Act Exception Request”.
6. Follow the prompts to complete the request and provide any necessary information.
7. Submit the request.

Here is the link to the eBay help page for requesting an INFORM Consumers Act exception (you will need to be logged in to your eBay account to access this page): https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/selling-tools/seller-protection?id=4772.