Compiled from The Paper

Case review

At 8 PM on October 31, the Double 11 curtain officially rose, and surprisingly, the keyword "refund" quickly shot to the top of trending searches!

Some netizens noted that unlike previous years' deposit and balance rules, this year's merchants leave no room for refunds. Not only are the rules strict, but shipping speeds rival launch speeds—items that used to take 30 days to deliver now arrive at your doorstep the day after payment. If consumers are dissatisfied, they can only return the goods. As a result, although this year's Double 11 has just begun, the return rate remains high.

In fact, when shopping on online platforms, we often hear about "7-day no-reason returns and exchanges" and frequently use this rule, but what many don't know is that behind it lies the "right to regret" granted to consumers by law.

[1] "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests"

[2] Article 25

[3] Where business operators sell goods through the internet, television, telephone, mail order, or similar means, consumers have the right to return goods within seven days from the date of receipt without stating a reason, except for the following goods: (1) goods made to the consumer's specifications; (2) fresh, perishable, or easily spoiled goods; (3) digital goods such as audio-visual products or computer software that are downloaded online or opened by the consumer; (4) newspapers and periodicals delivered.

[4] In addition to the goods listed in the preceding paragraph, goods that, by their nature, are not suitable for return and have been confirmed as such by the consumer at the time of purchase are not subject to no-reason returns. Goods returned by the consumer must be in good condition. Business operators shall refund the purchase price paid by the consumer within seven days from the date of receiving the returned goods. The cost of shipping for returned goods shall be borne by the consumer; if otherwise agreed between the business operator and the consumer, such agreement shall prevail.
 

[1] The author's perspective

[5] It is most fitting to refer to the seven-day no-reason return and exchange policy as the consumer's "right to regret." Due to the inability to physically touch or clearly see goods in online shopping, the actual goods received by consumers may differ from the information provided on the purchase page. Moreover, given the nature of the internet, buyers and sellers are often not in the same city, or even thousands of miles apart, and communication can only occur via the internet or telephone, making dispute resolution more inconvenient than in offline transactions.

[6] To properly resolve disputes in sales contracts, China's relevant laws are continuously being updated and improved. The Civil Code stipulates the risk-bearing for damage or loss of subject matter under different delivery methods. It is evident that China's laws are advancing with the times, aiming to resolve conflicts and promote a harmonious society.