For obvious reasons certain products are better to sell Online than others. There aren’t any specific guidelines as to what can and cannot be sold, but of course, you will want to abide by all current laws governing Online product sales. Smaller, light weight products are generally the best types of items to sell since they are usually easier to ship and you don’t have to worry about the complicated shipping calculations that typically come along with larger items, but some smaller items should also be avoided.

Generally, items that should be avoided will fall into one of two categories; items that simply won’t sell through the Web or items that cannot be sold Online (whether it is against the law or it is physically impossible to sell them).

Items that don’t sell well Online…

It can be tricky determining whether or not a certain item will sell well Online or not. Using good common sense can tell you a lot, however there may be things that you cannot predict or don’t know enough about to make an educated decision on whether it will sell well to your target market, or any market.

Certain smaller items should be avoided, especially if they are fragile and can easily break during shipment or transport. Perishable items, like groceries, may also be small and cost little to ship, however it can be challenging to sell them Online as special packaging and quick shipping times are a must. Anything with a short shelf life should be avoided in addition to anything can can easily break during shipment.

Additional items that do not sell well can include things that consumers would want to physically taste, touch, smell or hold before buying (like a couch or cologne fragrance). Unless the shopper has already tasted, touched, smelled or used the item previously, chances are they won’t buy it Online.

Examples of products that don’t sell well include:

• Breakables
• Perishables
• Perfumes
• Colognes
• Furniture
• Cosmetics
• Custom Clothing

Items that are illegal to sell Online…

Items that are illegal to sell through the Web should be completely avoided all together. Some products are outlawed all together, some have specific rules put into place by individual cities, counties, states or federal laws.

Illegal drugs, weapons, and similar items are against the law to sell Online in most all states, however there are some gray areas for other illegal products. For instance, some states will allow the sale of alcoholic beverages while others classify it as a felony. In addition, certain guns and ammunitions can be sold in certain states Online where as others will charge you with a crime and may even possibly break federal laws. Animals and some food products are also illegal to sell Online in some states.

It can get complicated really easily and these aren’t the types of government officials you would want to mess with in the wrong manner. Think long and hard if you intend on selling items which are sanctioned in many states but can be sold in others. If you think you may be headed into a gray area with the products you’re selling, be sure to consult with an attorney first. There’s no point on taking chances as there may be accompanying fines, or possibly even jail time as a consequence.

Examples of illegal or gray area products include:

• Guns
• Knives
• Weapons
• Drugs
• Prescriptions
• Alcohol
• Beer
• Wine
• Tobacco
• Illegal Imports
• Pornography
• Livestock
• Animals
• Grocery Produce

Product fads and consumer buying trends…

Other items you may consider avoiding can include product fads or trends which may be here today and gone tomorrow. We have all seen trendy product hit the market with buzz and then several weeks or months later no one is talking anymore. It happens more often than you think.

If you want to operate your business for many years and continue selling the same types of products, you should avoid selling trendy or fad type items in the beginning. Be sure to choose a product that has some potential longevity in the Online selling world and that it projected to remain in demand for a long period of time. You could find yourself in a real mess if the only product you sell suddenly flops with consumers. It’s best to pick items that have real staying potential and have proven to sell well year after year Online.

Examples of fads or trends include:

• Elmo Dolls
• Pet Rocks
• Beanie Babies
• Pokemon
• Trading Cards
• Comics
• Pogs

No matter what you decide to sell, make sure it is something that will last and that has an extended shelf life. We recommend avoiding the types of items mentioned on this page, especially if you are a new merchant or starting an eCommerce business for the first time. Give careful consideration to the different types of products and the different products to avoid. If possible, always try to avoid illegal or gray area products, but also consider avoiding product that simply don’t sell well Online or are potential short term trends with little to no shelf life.

This article is one of several within our Start to Finish eCommerce Guides.