Legal obligations when selling electronics

[twf1]

Hello, I'm currently making some money selling both modern and vintage electronic appliances on a well-known auction site. Due to rising fees and complete lack of seller protection on this website, I am looking at starting my own website to sell my items.

My main question is, what are my legal obligations in selling electrical items in this manner? Do I need to have every item tested and safety certified before I sell, to avoid being possibly sued? Or can I just put in a disclaimer saying, for example, "All items are sold as vintage/collectables, not for general use, therefore any damage or affliction caused by the use of these items is not the responsibility of the seller".

Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[kulture]

Are you selling them as working appliances or as items to view? If you removed the electric cable would you still be able to sell them? If you are selling second hand electrical appliances which can be plugged in and used, then I suspect you need them to be PAT tested. If however you are selling them without any cable so they are effectively ornaments, then I suspect that you need not.

 

[twf1]

Most of them I sell as working appliances; would advertising them as working appliances mean I have assumed responsibility for their electrical safety?

I would definitely be sacrificing profit if I removed cables; I would only do that as an absolute last resort (I'm also not qualified to do this!)

I thought I might need PAT testing Do you know if the law extends to JUST items with a plug? For example, would battery powered items require testing before being sold?

And if an item comes with a detachable power lead, can I sell the item without the lead or would I need the actual appliance tested?

Thanks!