Sold As Seen

[coffeeboy]

Can you sell items as sold as seen?

[Hypognosis]

If it's anything with internal workings, mechanical or electronic, don't expect to get an amazing price for it. People would be naturally suspicious if you don't show that a computer powers up and works, or that a car is driveable etc.

Any situations where possible faults aren't evident until it is made to perform its function.

[Buenchico]

Selling items 'as seen' is fine as long as there's no specific legislation relating to the particular type of items in question.

For example, if a car dealer advertises a car as 'sold as seen' he's breaking the law because it's an illegal disclaimer. Similarly if you sell a portable electrical appliance (without a proper safety certificate) at a car boot sale, the fact that you put 'as seen' on it doesn't prevent you from being prosecuted for selling it without a PAT certificate.

However auctioneers frequently use 'AF' (= 'all faults', meaning 'as seen') in their catalogues for things like porcelain or fine art. By doing so they're actually helping potential purchasers, by flagging up a possible problem with the item .

[joko]

i would be put off by it, because it implies there is a fault - even if there isn't.
but its like saying there is a fault but take it or leave it - and
the person cannot come back later and ask for a refund because of the fault you have already drawn there attention to.

i would be thinking you are using it to protect yourself from any comebacks when the fault is discovered - especially if you didnt actually point out the fault

also its bad for online selling because of course you cannot see it before purchase

but if its say, a vase, and they can physically pick it up and look then you could say it - but then there would be no point i suppose.

[FredPuli43]

Subject only to trading laws, anything can be sold as seen, and the original Sale of Goods Act specifically provided for this. It is common for yacht brokers to advertise "as is, where is" for boats costing millions, so you can see it is not just for near scrap items.