Off-Site Solicitation Policy

Offering to buy or sell outside of Audiogon is not allowed.

We understand that shipping logistics, item details, etc. can sometimes be better discussed through a different medium, but this is a security concern we take very seriously, as it opens both parties up to the risk of fraud and harassment. You will also not be covered by any of our protection programs or mediation services.

Buyers and sellers also can't share contact information, including email addresses and phone numbers, prior to completing a transaction on Audiogon.

After an item has been purchased, marked sold, or an offer has been accepted, Audiogon provides the contact information of the seller and buyer on the order page for discussing further logistics.

What is the policy?

Buyers and sellers can't:

• Engage in any action with a user on the site designed to complete or facilitate a transaction outside of Audiogon
• Share or request direct contact information prior to completing a sale. This includes:
  • Name
  • Addresses
  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • Social media ID
  • Instant messenger ID
  • External website addresses (URLs)
  • Payment information
  • Bank details
• In any communications with another Audiogon member, refer to or promote external websites that facilitate sales outside of Audiogon
• Use contact information obtained through an Audiogon transaction to offer to buy or sell an item outside of Audiogon
• List an item and then mention or link to additional identical or related items for sale outside of Audiogon
• Offer catalogs or other items that are used to order items directly outside of Audiogon

Parties should complete transactions on Audiogon, as all private user listings have Buy It Now enabled, or, if enabled by the seller, send an offer that can be accepted or countered.

Activity on Audiogon is required to follow this policy, the Audiogon Terms of Use and all applicable laws, as well as respect the rights of third parties.

If a buyer or seller solicits communications or transactions outside of Audiogon, please report it.

Penalties for Violating This Policy

Taking a sale off-site is how scams happen. Any attempt at soliciting off-site communications or payments will require us to take actions that include but are not limited to:

• Issuing a warning
• Issuing an account flag (three flags = auto suspension)
• Restricting activity (e.g. seller can only use List Until Sold)
• Removing the listing
• Account suspension

At our discretion, we may also charge you a transaction fee at our standard site rate even if your item doesn't sell, regardless of listing type. More details can be found in the Off-Site Fee Assessment section of the Fees article.

Why does Audiogon have this policy?

Unfortunately, we have 20+ years of examples of people who take things off-site and had no recourse in getting their money or item back. Both buyer and seller may be upstanding citizens simply hoping to save money, but this potential transaction was created on Audiogon. We invest in connecting interested buyers with sellers (like paying to promote listings on Google Shopping), and we want to foster an ecosystem of safe transactions.