Russia is preparing amendments to legislation governing the procedure for returning purchases from online platforms. The ministry proposes to deprive buyers of the opportunity to refuse certain categories of goods directly at order pickup points (OPPs). Additionally, an initiative to shift the transportation costs for returns onto the consumer is being discussed.
According to Izvestia, the head of the Ministry of Economic Development, Maxim Reshetnikov, outlined the key problem: current regulations do not distinguish between refusing an item before it is actually received (after inspection at a pickup point or from a courier) and returning a purchase some time after it has come into the buyer's possession. The new approach aims to resolve this legal conflict.
The essence of the ministry's proposals is that a number of goods ordered online cannot be returned immediately after inspection at a pickup point or upon courier delivery. This concerns products of adequate quality that are already considered non-returnable by law (if they have no defects). The list includes electronic devices, perfumery and cosmetic products, medical devices, food products, and medicines. That is, even if the buyer simply changes their mind, they will still have to take such an order home.
Market experts interviewed by the publication do not consider the new measures to be excessive tightening. In their opinion, the initiative is primarily aimed at combating unscrupulous consumers and fraudsters who exploit loopholes in the rules. Introducing a ban on the return of certain product groups at pickup points should increase buyer responsibility when placing orders and reduce sellers' costs associated with "reverse logistics," which may now be partially shifted onto customers.
Source
According to Izvestia, the head of the Ministry of Economic Development, Maxim Reshetnikov, outlined the key problem: current regulations do not distinguish between refusing an item before it is actually received (after inspection at a pickup point or from a courier) and returning a purchase some time after it has come into the buyer's possession. The new approach aims to resolve this legal conflict.
The essence of the ministry's proposals is that a number of goods ordered online cannot be returned immediately after inspection at a pickup point or upon courier delivery. This concerns products of adequate quality that are already considered non-returnable by law (if they have no defects). The list includes electronic devices, perfumery and cosmetic products, medical devices, food products, and medicines. That is, even if the buyer simply changes their mind, they will still have to take such an order home.
Market experts interviewed by the publication do not consider the new measures to be excessive tightening. In their opinion, the initiative is primarily aimed at combating unscrupulous consumers and fraudsters who exploit loopholes in the rules. Introducing a ban on the return of certain product groups at pickup points should increase buyer responsibility when placing orders and reduce sellers' costs associated with "reverse logistics," which may now be partially shifted onto customers.
Source