Strategies Frank Ross on 26 Oct 2006 04:15 pm
Taking Responsibility for Errors
I often run across a lot of disclaimers in website and auction listings. I ran across this gem on eBay:
‘We are not responsible for typographical or other errors within our listing’
I’ve seen things like that before and often wonder if the seller is not willing to take responsibility for errors in their listing, then who is? Is the buyer supposed to be responsible for those errors? And why would I want to buy from a seller who has this disclaimer in place? When you really think about it, it has the potential to get them off the hook for just about anything that does not come up in their favor.
For example, what if shipping is $12.95 and someone accidentally put in $8.95 when they set up the listing? Would such a disclaimer give them the right to say “Oops sorry buyer, the shipping is really $12.95″?
I think sellers SHOULD take responsibility for errors in their listing and correct them accordingly. Of course, that’s my way of doing business and if my competitors want to lean on such disclaimers, I suppose I should say go ahead.