HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Although they hardly bellow like art auctioneers, some people who regularly sell merchandise on eBay are being warned that they need a state auctioneer's license.

The rule applies only to people who sell merchandise for others through a site, not people selling their own goods. Getting such a license requires serving an apprenticeship with an auctioneer or taking college auctioneering courses -- and people risk a $1,000 fine if they do not comply.

According to the state, the licenses are designed to protect consumers.

"Our position is that brokers who accept goods from sellers on consignment and then sell goods on eBay and retain a percentage ... must have an auctioneer license," said spokeswoman Leslie Amoros of the Pennsylvania Department of State, which oversees 27 professional licensing boards.

Laura Maxwell runs "We Sell Now," a Pittsburgh-area company that sells your stuff on eBay for a commission.

"Having us spend that amount of time on things that I would probably argue are not relevant to our industry seems unfair," she said. "I would really hate to have to overcome the hurdle of making sure people know how to conduct live auctions."

Barry Fallon, who ran a business called iSold It on eBay in Lower Paxton Township, has been summoned to appear before the state Board of Auctioneer Examiners. He said the board is dominated by traditional auctioneers who fear competition.

"(It's) kind of like having the buggy whip manufacturers decide whether to allow new automobiles to be sold," Fallon said.

At least two bills awaiting committee action in the Legislature are designed to deal with eBay auctioneering.

Sen. Rob Wonderling, R-Montgomery, who sponsored one of them, said there are more than 15,000 state residents who make most of their money through Internet trading -- but only 2,100 licensed auctioneers in Pennsylvania.

"The bureaucracy, and those special interests that are encouraging the bureaucracy, are lacking in common sense," Wonderling said.

"That is silly if that is the law," said Gov. Ed Rendell. "We should change it. I do not want Pennsylvanians to be handicapped and not be able to sell on eBay when people in West Virginia can."

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