The seller doesn't have to hand you a pen in an online sale, but their "fine print" that is burried in layers of "sub-links"
on the seller's web pages can have reperocussions for buyers.
ClickZ brought to my attention: "FTC Gets Out Word on Cyber-Crime. Their link to the FTC's new consumer protection site OnGuardOnline.gov made me do further research.
The FTC.gov web site has a section on "Advertising Practices" in which it says it " protects consumers from deceptive and unsubstantiated advertising. Its law enforcement activities focus on (among other things):
General advertising at the national and regional level, particularly advertising making objective claims that are difficult for consumers to evaluate." Wow! That encompasses a lot of advertising, as I see it.
The FTC's division of Marketing Practices deals with, among other things, "The Magnuson-Moss Act which requires that merchants make warranty information available to consumers before they make a purchase. I was glad to see this part of that Act: "Service contracts; rules for full, clear and conspicuous disclosure of terms and conditions; addition to or in lieu of written warranty." The words "full", "clear", and "conspicuous" disclosure are aspects of many kinds of sales that are barely conformed to, in my opinion. How do you believe most sellers follow through with these words in other areas than just guarantees and warranty's"
Image courtesy of www.artie.com.
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