OHIO – Selling items on eBay may become a lot more complicated for residents of Ohio, where a new law set to go into effect on May 2 would require sellers to obtain a license and be bonded in order to legally auction their items.Authors of the legislation have vowed to make changes to the law before that date which would exempt individuals. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that the law was meant to insure that auctioneers were abiding by the established rules and regulations. The law was signed by Gov. Robert Taft on Feb. 1, and requires Ohio residents who sell products online to obtains a state auction license.
Obtaining such a license is no easy matter. The license cost $200 and requires a $50,000 bond, a one-year apprenticeship to a licensed auctioneer, experience as bid-caller in at least 12 auctions, attendance at an approved auction school, as well as passing both the written and oral exams.
The penalty for auctioning without a license could be as much as $1000 and carry a jail sentence of up to 90 days.
State Sen. Larry Mumper, who was the primary author of the legislation, stated that it was never intended to apply to individuals selling items on eBay. But, while Mumper promised to make necessary changes, it was not made clear who would be exempt from the license requirement
“It certainly will not apply to the casual seller on eBay, but might apply to anyone who sells a lot,” he said. “If someone buys and sells on eBay on a regular basis as a type of business, then there is a need for regulation.”
Similar regulation efforts have been made in Tennessee and Illinois, but were either withdrawn or left unenforced due to the number of complaints from the public over the regulations.
Hani Durzy, spokesperson for eBay, said the company has reviewed Ohio’s law and is not concerned.
“We do not believe the law applies to people who sell items on eBay or to eBay itself,” he stated.
