What does the Fair Trading Act mean for Trade Me members?

The Fair Trading Act (FTA) makes sure everyone plays fair and that buyers get correct information before they purchase.

If you're selling on an in-trade seller on Trade Me, you must follow the FTA. Your listings must be truthful and accurate. They can't say things that aren't true. Commerce Commission New Zealand outlines your obligations as a business.

Misleading claims

Saying untrue things about customer rights breaks the FTA. This includes claiming you don't have to follow the rules or lying about a product.

For example, saying "no refunds" in your listing without explaining when that applies is against the rules. Customers might get their money back if something is wrong with the item they bought, or if you misled them about the product

The FTA on Trade Me

The FTA prevents sellers from making false or misleading statements about their products or services. Businesses selling on Trade Me can't contract out of their obligations under the Consumer Guarantees Act rules.

If we find you're breaking the FTA, we might edit or withdraw your listing. This is done at Trade Me’s discretion.

Serious FTA violations will get your Trade Me account closed permanently.