How do I get them to remove their listings?

[H-O-V]

Maybe this isn't that much of a legal issue just one of logic, but I need some help with something I have stumbled across while planning.

I am going to set up a site where people can come and list items they want to sell. I only advertise their item. The contact details will be the sellers, so I don't get envolved.

The problem I have is that I don't want my site to be full of stuff that has already sold and I don't want to phone up every person, pretend to be a customer and find out if their item is still for sale. But I want to offer a listing that will not run off a timescale but ends when the seller sells the item.

So I need to get the seller to remove the listing when it has sold -


Do I get them to agree to some terms and condtions?
->Then what would the consequences be

Do I make them pay a deposit that they can claim after the lisiting is removed?
-> Wouldn't that put them off?

Or what?

I need your help guys,
Thanks,

Mutasim

 

[Echelon17]

I'm assuming you're going to charge for them listing their item, and that's why you're having problems working out when it's sold etc, because you don't want a simple Ebay-like script?

What I'd do is set a clause that all items expire after a certain number of days, regardless. Maybe 30-60 days, or sooner. If you're charging per item for them to advertise, implement a 'renew' option and send them an e-mail 2 weeks or so before their deadline is up, prompting them to click a link and renew if their item is still for sale.

If they don't click, it'll be dropped automatically and they'll obviously miss out. Write this in your T&C's.

If you're charging for advertising their items, on a percentage basis or something, state this in the T&C's as well and make it known that any items that expire due to lack of user input, but are in fact not sold, will need to be recreated and a charge will be applicable.

 

[PoorDoggie]

Good idea.