Legal Restraints on Mail Order Sales There are strict federal and local regulations governing the sale and labeling of such products. The federal government has laws against the mailing of obscene matter. Exaggerated claims and misrepresentations should be avoided. If any doubt exists, obtain an opinion from the Federal Trade Commission, Federal Food and Drug Commission, the Post Office in Washington, and the local Board of Health. New interpretations of law are constantly being made. A claim considered reasonable today may be not so tomorrow. Conversely, a federal court decision may upset a too strict interpretation by one of the regulating agencies. The knowledge that our largest corporations are in constant litigation with the federal agencies over matters of advertising claims and labeling, despite large high-priced legal staffs which should be able to advise what may or may not be said, indicates the difficulty of making any flat statement here as to what is proper. The self-censorship, imposed by most publications, radio and television, will to some degree prevent the new advertiser from making misleading or fraudulent statements in his advertising. Since a restraining hand may not be present in direct mail, the beginner is again counselled to write the above agencies for their bulletins and opinions. Where To Get Your Item ONCE AN IDEA OR ITEM HAS been decided upon, locating a supplier should be no problem. The classified telephone directory is a wonderfully helpful source book. So too are the statewide industrial directories which many states publish, listing the major manufacturing establishments and their products. These compilations and others published by private companies are available at most public libraries.
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02-10-2007
