Listing Policy
Last Updated: July 1, 2025
This Listing Policy ("Policy") governs all advertisements, auctions, and offers for sale ("Listings") posted on the Coral Auctions platform ("the Platform"). This Policy is designed to ensure all Listings are accurate, transparent, and trustworthy, fostering a safe and reliable marketplace for all users.
This Policy is an integral part of our Legal Terms and is incorporated by reference into our Seller Terms and Code of Conduct and Community Standards. By creating a Listing on the Platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by the terms outlined below.
1. Definitions
- Listing: Any offer for sale, auction, or trade of a product posted by a Seller on the Platform.
- WYSIWYG ("What You See Is What You Get"): A term referring to a Listing where the photographs are of the exact specimen the buyer will receive.
- DOA ("Dead on Arrival"): A term referring to a specimen that has perished during transit.
2. General Listing Requirements
2.1. Accuracy and Truthfulness. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information in all Listings. This includes, but is not limited to, the specimen's species, common name, approximate size, lineage (if known), and health status. Materially misrepresenting a specimen in any part of a Listing is strictly prohibited.
2.2. Specimen Health and Condition. You agree to list only healthy, stable specimens. You must disclose any known pests (e.g., Aiptasia, Mojano, Asterina starfish) present on the specimen or in the system from which it originates.
2.3. Listing Relevance and Content. All Listings must be for permitted items and be relevant to the marine aquarium hobby. Content that is profane, obscene, sexually explicit, graphic, or otherwise inappropriate for a general audience is forbidden.
3. Photographic and Media Standards
3.1. Authenticity and Ownership. All photographs and videos used in a Listing must be your own original work and accurately depict the specimen for sale. You represent and warrant that you own the rights to, or have explicit permission to use, any media you upload.
3.2. Prohibited Editing. The use of photo editing software, digital filters, or colored lenses to materially misrepresent or exaggerate a specimen's color, size, or health is strictly prohibited. You must disclose the general lighting conditions (e.g., "14K metal halides," "blue-heavy LEDs") under which the media was captured.
3.3. WYSIWYG Requirements.
- Auctions: All Listings posted as an "Auction" must use WYSIWYG photos of the actual specimen for sale.
- Fixed Price: Listings posted at a "Fixed Price" are not required to be WYSIWYG but must use photos that are substantively representative of the size, quality, and coloration of the specimen the buyer will receive.
4. Permitted and Prohibited Items
4.1. Permitted Items. Unless explicitly permitted by the Platform in a designated category, only live corals, invertebrates, and other marine life may be sold.
4.2. Prohibited Items. You are strictly prohibited from listing any illegally harvested or sourced specimens, any species protected under CITES Appendix I, or any other item that is illegal to sell or possess under applicable federal, state, or local laws. You are solely responsible for ensuring the legality of your Listings.
5. Marketplace Integrity and Conduct
5.1. Marketplace Manipulation. Any action intended to deceive buyers or manipulate the marketplace is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, using misleading titles or descriptions, keyword spamming to manipulate search results, or creating a false sense of urgency.
5.2. Shill Bidding. Bidding on your own Listing or using an associate, alternate account, or any other coordinated means to artificially inflate a price is strictly forbidden and will result in immediate enforcement action.
5.3. Spam. Using a Listing to post unsolicited advertisements, irrelevant links, or other forms of spam is prohibited.
6. Dead on Arrival (DOA) Policy Requirement
You must establish and clearly display a Dead on Arrival (DOA) policy in either your public seller profile or within the body of each Listing. This policy must detail the buyer's requirements to make a valid claim, including the timeframe for reporting a DOA (e.g., "within 2 hours of carrier's first delivery attempt") and the specific photographic evidence required (e.g., "clear photo of the specimen in the unopened, original packaging"). You agree to honor your posted DOA policy in good faith.
7. Enforcement
We reserve the right, in our sole and absolute discretion, to review, edit, or remove any Listing at any time and for any reason. A violation of this Listing Policy constitutes a breach of our Legal Terms and may result in enforcement actions including, but not limited to, a formal warning, Listing removal, temporary account suspension, or permanent termination of your selling privileges and access to the Platform.
8. Modification of this Policy
We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to make changes or modifications to this Listing Policy at any time and for any reason. We will alert you about any changes by updating the "Last Updated" date of this Policy, and you waive any right to receive specific notice of each such change.
9. Contact Information
In order to resolve a complaint or to receive further information regarding this Listing Policy, please contact us at: support@coralauctions.com