Seller Terms

Last Updated: July 1, 2025

 

This document outlines the terms and conditions ("Terms") for all individuals or entities ("Seller," "you," "your") who list or sell items on the Coral Auctions platform ("the Platform," "we," "us," "our").

1. Acceptance of these Terms

By creating an account, posting a listing, or otherwise participating as a seller on the Platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Seller Terms and Code of Conduct. If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use the Platform as a Seller.

2. Definitions

• Listing: Any offer for sale, auction, or trade of a product posted by a Seller on the Platform.
• WYSIWYG: An acronym for "What You See Is What You Get," referring to a Listing where the photographs are of the exact specimen the buyer will receive.
• DOA: An acronym for "Dead on Arrival," referring to a specimen that has perished during transit.

3. Listing and Specimen Standards

3.1. Accuracy and Truthfulness. You agree to provide accurate and complete information in all Listings, including but not limited to the coral's species, size, lineage (if known), and health status.

3.2. Photographic and Video Integrity. All media used in a Listing must be your own original work. The use of editing software or filters to materially misrepresent a specimen's color, size, or health is strictly prohibited. You must disclose the lighting conditions under which photos were taken to provide an accurate representation.

3.3. Legal and Ethical Sourcing. You represent and warrant that all specimens you list are legally acquired and compliant with all federal, state, and local laws. Listing any species protected under CITES Appendix I or harvested in violation of any regulation is strictly prohibited.

3.4. Specimen Health and Biosecurity. You agree to list only healthy, stable specimens. You must disclose any known pests (e.g., Aiptasia, Mojano, Asterina starfish) present in your systems.

3.5. Permitted Items. Only live corals and marine life may be sold on the Platform. The sale of non-livestock items, including dry goods, aquarium equipment, and chemicals, is prohibited unless explicitly permitted by the Platform in a designated category.

4. Sale, Shipping, and Customer Service

4.1. Professional Conduct. You are expected to communicate courteously and professionally with buyers and Platform staff. You agree to respond to all legitimate buyer inquiries within a reasonable time frame (preferably 24-48 hours).

4.2. Dead on Arrival (DOA) Policy. You must establish and clearly display a DOA policy. This policy must detail the requirements for a buyer to make a claim, including the timeframe for reporting (e.g., within 2 hours of delivery) and the type of evidence required (e.g., clear photos of the specimen in its unopened bag). You agree to honor your posted DOA policy in good faith.

4.3. Packaging and Shipping Standards. All live orders must be shipped via a priority overnight service in insulated containers, using heat or cold packs as weather dictates. You must coordinate and confirm a shipping date with the buyer prior to dispatch.

4.4. Seller Availability. If you are unable to fulfill orders for any reason (e.g., illness, travel, weather), you are responsible for deactivating your Listings or placing your store in a "vacation" mode if available.

5. Marketplace Integrity and Prohibited 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 descriptions, creating a false sense of urgency, using irrelevant keywords or brand names to manipulate search results, or posting retaliatory feedback.

5.2. Shill Bidding. Bidding on your own Listing or using an associate to do so for the purpose of artificially inflating a price is strictly forbidden and may result in immediate termination of your account.

5.3. Account Integrity. You may not create or use multiple accounts to circumvent Platform rules, manipulate feedback, or bypass a prior suspension.

6. Enforcement and Termination

6.1. Investigation and Discretion. We reserve the right to investigate any reported violation of these Terms. All enforcement decisions are at our sole discretion.

6.2. Enforcement Actions. Violations of these Terms may result in actions including, but not limited to, a formal warning, Listing removal, temporary suspension, or permanent termination of your selling privileges.

6.3. Termination. We may terminate or suspend your access to the Platform at any time, without notice or liability, for any reason, including for a breach of these Terms.

7. Modification of Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will provide notice of any material changes. Your continued use of the Platform as a Seller after such modifications constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms.

8. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms, please email us at: support@coralauctions.com