Special Rules Pertaining to the Swap Forum

[Lee]

A new set of rules concerning the swap forum has been implemented effective 22 July 2010. These rules and an associated FAQ are available on the Registration and Forum Rules page. Members should become familiar with these rules before using the swap forum.

[Andrew]

If your threads are disappearing, it is likely due to your failure to read and comply with the rules.

[Lee]

Now viewable at the link in the first post above, a revision has been made to section 5 of the special rules for the swap forum. This change reduces restrictions on swap forum threads promoting a business or commercial website.

5. Advertisements containing links or directions to commercial websites and or auction sites may be deleted without notice, except as otherwise specifically permitted in these rules. Images must be uploaded and placed as displayed attachments, rather than as links. Members of the forum community who are also dealers or have a related business may create a thread with the name of their business in the swap forum within the title and include links to their on-line stores and or websites. Replies to this thread to announce special sale events and arrivals of new merchandise may be made. A new replacement thread may be started to reduce clutter, after which the earlier thread must no longer be refreshed. Should a member be advised by a moderator that he/she are overusing (or spamming) this service, that member is expected to comply with such limitations as the moderator advises. Dealer threads for single items complying with the fourteen day exclusivity rule above are permitted outside of this provision. Book publications, museum exhibitions and related events may also be announced and updated in this manner.

[Lee]

Members are advised to review legal restrictions applying to their jurisdiction when offering or acquiring items that incorporate such materials as ivory or rhino horn.

At the US national level, here is a brief review of restrictions to import, export and interstate trade:

Further analysis of state level restrictions may be found at:

[Lee]

Users are most strongly cautioned that trade in ivory, rhinoceros horn and many other derivatives from 'endangered wildlife' may be prohibited or severely restricted by various local, national and international regulations (CITES).

Enforcement is very strict in some jurisdictions with severe penalties. These regulations often do not further legitimate aims and sometimes defy "common sense." However, this is no defense to authorities enforcing these regulations and ignorance is unlikely to be an effective defense.

BEFORE engaging in any transaction involving these materials, you and your counterparty should familiarize yourselves with your local regulations, those regulations in jurisdictions through which the item(s) may be transported, and, of course, the regulations in force in the destination jurisdiction.

It is beyond the competency of the operators of this website to provide legal advice in these often complex matters and users should seek their own reliable advice before trading in these restricted materials.

We have not chosen to arbitrarily prohibit listings including such materials, as there are transactions that remain legal within some jurisdictions. Under no circumstance should users consider this website as a "safe, unwatched, out of the way" place for such prohibited transactions.