If a motorist using GPS software drives their car into a lake who is at fault, the driver, the software provider or the person who sold them the car DVD?

Everybody has heard multiple stories on the news of people who have followed the directions of their outdated car GPS software to the letter. Even to the point where it lead them into the front room of a house, or the side of a construction site, that hadn't been there when the map was first put out.

As recently as August 2009 a tour bus had its roof torn off because the driver was following a GPS for directions and didn't notice a low overpass.

And while the opening question may not be as worthy or as ageless as the one about the tree in the forest car accidents do make a sound.

What's worse is that people who have been led astray by old GPS software tend to be more litigious than philosophical.

So under what circumstances are you culpable as a reseller and how do you protect yourself from being hit, in most cases by customers with faulty GPS software?

The first thing to do usually is to ensure that you don't stock auto DVD players with cracked software.

While even the most up - to date GPS software is known to have errors there has been an increase in the number of GPS car DVD players from China especially where suppliers have just put the sample or cracked software on the system and have passed it of as the 'genuine article'.

This creates problems for your buyers when they go to update the software and find that they can't or try to use the outdated software and get themselves into trouble.

To avoid this your better option is to ensure that you only stock software that you can be sure of (buying a sample car DVD if you are a dropshipper is an excellent idea) or stock automotive DVD players that are 'GPS ready' instead.

GPS ready means that the operating system has been prepared for GPS software but none has been installed.

Giving new buyers a series of tips, either on a sheet of paper, or as an email, is an excellent step also. Some suggestions you might want to give your buyers include:

* Please update your GPS software as soon as you have installed your car DVD player and check for software updates at least once a month

* If you notice an error with the GPS software's directions please don't hesitate to get in contact with the software provider so they can improve the service for everybody.

* This GPS navigational software is meant as an aide only. Please take into account any warning signs or driving conditions you may encounter while driving

By following these very simple tips you are sure to keep solid relationships with your customers and build up a reputation as the 'go to person' for auto DVD players.