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Online-Shopping

Shopping around the clock? No problem on the Internet. Clothing, musical tickets, groceries, electrical appliances and much more are just a swipe or a click away on your smartphone, tablet or laptop. Products can be ordered online and delivered directly to your home. But what do you need to know in order to shop safely on the Internet? And what to do if you fall into a subscription trap or have bought a counterfeit product?

The following articles provide you with relevant information about your consumer rights while making online purchases.

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Right of Withdrawal

You do not like the ordered goods? For online purchases, door-to-door sales or telephone orders, you benefit from the 14-day right of withdrawal.

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How to shop online

When you shop online: Choose your online shop carefully, compare prices and observe the delivery conditions! This and more advices.

Bezahlkarte, Online-Shop

Dating services

Dating sites often promise free registration but be wary of the terms they use! Generally, creating the profile is free, but accessing the messaging services or seeing all of the other profiles may require a paid subscription.

Stack with parcels.

Receiving and sending parcels

We explain your rights when you receive a parcel and what you need to know about sending parcels across borders. We also give you tips on how to combine parcel shipping and sustainability.

A women is shopping online with her smartphone.

Identifying fake shops on the internet

Fake shops are becoming increasingly professional and are often difficult to spot. You run the risk of getting counterfeit products or poor quality goods. Here are the six most common scams and how you can protect yourself.

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Dropshipping: drop shipments in the EU

Dropshipping is also referred to as drop shipment or direct dispatch. But what exactly is dropshipping? What should I be cautious about? And is dropshipping legal?

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What are online subscriptions and how do I cancel them?

Anyone who uses services such as online newspapers or streaming services over an extended period of time usually takes out an online subscription. But what types are there? How do you find reliable providers? What is the cancellation button? The…

A young woman sits on a couch. She uses her laptop to shop in an online shop.

Dark Patterns: How websites manipulate our user behaviour

A product that is quickly added at the end of the ordering process, a specially highlighted button, a reproachful-sounding message because a discount was refused, a subscription that can be ordered in the blink of an eye but is almost impossible to…

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Geo-blocking and Cross-border portability

Unjustified geoblocking has prevented consumers from using services and buying goods from a trader based in another EU country. Since 2018 this has largely come to an end.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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