Marketplaces must disclose contact information for many high-volume third-party sellers of new or unused products, and give a way to report concerns.
You are about to buy a handbag from a third-party seller on a big marketplace, and you cannot see who or where the seller is.
The INFORM Consumers Act says that online marketplaces must disclose contact information about many third-party sellers of new or unused consumer products, on product pages or in order confirmations, and must give shoppers a way to report suspicious conduct. The FTC explains it in a consumer alert.
What the FTC says
- The Act is designed to deter criminals from selling stolen, counterfeit or unsafe items through online marketplaces.
- Marketplaces must disclose contact information about many third-party sellers of new or unused consumer products on product pages or in order confirmation messages.
- Shoppers can use that information to learn more about a seller they do not know.
- Marketplaces must also give shoppers a way to report suspicious conduct.
- It covers only “high-volume” third-party sellers that meet specific sales thresholds, so you may not see the information for every seller.
- It took effect on 27 June 2023.
How to use it
- Look for the seller’s name and contact details on the page or order.
- Search for the seller’s name with “complaint”.
- Use the marketplace’s report tool if something looks wrong.
- Keep the information with your order records.
What it does not do
It does not apply to every seller, and it does not guarantee that a seller is honest. It also applies to US marketplaces and sellers.
What to look for on a listing
Contact details typically include a name and some way to reach the seller. If the details look false, such as a generic address that cannot be found, report the listing. If the seller is based in another country, returns may be slow and costly, so check the return address before you pay.
Where this answer stops
This is a consumer-level summary. The Act has detailed thresholds and exemptions, and it is enforced by the FTC and state authorities.
Sources and further reading
Three more perspectives
The Act covers only high-volume sellers that meet specific thresholds. A small seller may not appear in the disclosures, so the absence of details is not always a red flag by itself.
Look at the product page and your order confirmation for the seller’s details. If a high-volume seller of new goods shows none, think twice or ask the marketplace.
Use the information to check the seller. A search of the name and address with words like “complaint” can show you what other buyers have said.
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