Since more and more folks are e-shopping, I thought that the official United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Rules for Merchants' Shippings would be handy.

  • You must have a reasonable basis for stating that a product can be shipped within a certain time.

  • Shipment representations in ads or Web sites can only be revised before you accept an order.

  • You must notify a consumer before they complete their order that shipping may take longer than the original advertised time.

  • If you cannot ship within the promised time, you must notify the consumer and explain that they have a right to cancel the order.

  • Your obligation to ship begins when you receive the information needed to process the order. It does not matter when you actually process the payment.

    For those who are in the US, know your rights!