Liability insurance for E-commerce & Retail

Marketplace mandates like Amazon's $1M requirement.

Public record case files for E-commerce & Retail

A marketplace's role can put it in the product-liability chain
Amazon’s marketplace label did not automatically keep it outside a product-liability claim. The court said Amazon could face the claim because it stored, listed, charged for, and shipped the third-party seller’s battery. The decision is about Amazon’s role in that California case, not a rule that every marketplace is liable.

Questions by coverage line

Product Liability

Amazon seller insurance requirements — what do I actually need? Amazon requires commercial liability insurance — at least $1 million per occurrence — within 30 days of exceeding $10,000 in gross sales in a month, or whenever Amazon asks. That is Section 9 of the Business Solutions Agreement, not any law. The policy must cover every product you list and name Amazon as an additional insured.
Do you need insurance to sell on Etsy? No — Etsy's Seller Policy contains no insurance requirement, unlike Amazon's $1 million mandate. But Etsy's terms leave you fully liable for what you sell, and its Purchase Protection program resolves order disputes, not injury claims. If you make candles, soap, skincare, food, or children's items, product liability is the exposure that matters.
Product or general liability insurance — which do I need? Usually they're the same purchase. For most sellers and makers, product liability isn't a separate policy — it's the products-completed operations coverage built into commercial general liability. Standalone products policies exist for manufacturers and hard-to-place product lines. What matters is that your policy covers products claims, not which label the coverage wears.
What is the difference between product liability and completed-operations liability? No — product liability and completed-operations liability describe different causes of third-party injury or property damage. Product liability follows a defective or inadequately warned product through the supply chain; completed operations follows defective work after a contractor’s operation is complete or put to use. A CGL may place both in one products-completed-operations hazard, but the allegations still matter.

Coverage mechanics for E-commerce & Retail

Policy mechanics, exclusions, certificates, and claims questions live on our sister publication: E-commerce & Retail on isthiscovered.org.