What are Tips for Complying with the Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule.

• Compare and contrast. The Internet is a comparison shopper’s dream. They’ll be scrutinizing what you say on your website to grab the best deal at the lowest price. The law gives you a lot of leeway in how you pitch your products – as long as what you say is true and you can back up objective claims with solid proof.

• “Three easy payments of…” Consumers on a budget appreciate the convenience of payment plans. But as recent law enforcement actions make clear, disclosing the details of the deal in fine-print footnotes doesn’t cut it. The law requires that sellers explain the financial facts in a way consumers will understand.

• Special delivery. If you make claims about how fast you process orders – for example, “Delivery by December 21st” or “We ship within 24 hours” – you need more than wishful thinking to back up those promises. But what if your ads don’t say anything about delivery time? According to the FTC’s Mail Order Rule, which also applies to Internet or phone orders, you must have a reasonable basis for believing you can ship within 30 days. For more on prompt delivery, read A Business Guide to the Federal Trade Commission’s Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule, available at business.ftc.gov.

• Add an extra helping of security. Like brick-and-mortar retailers, Internet sellers have a legal obligation to protect their customers’ sensitive information. Limit access to account and credit card data on a need-to-know basis. Visit ftc.gov/infosecurity for more on creating a safer space for your customers.

• Many happy returns. Sometimes even the most promising product may turn out to be not quite right. That’s why it’s important to disclose your return policy up front so that buyers can make an informed choice. If there are conditions or limitations on getting a refund or making an exchange, make sure they’re clear and conspicuous. As successful marketers know, graciously handling returns with a minimum of red tape wins consumer loyalty.

 

 

For more information, see here:    https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/business-guide-ftcs-mail-internet-or-telephone-order

 

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