Webshops angry about EU return rules

Online retailers are angry with the European Union because of the obligation to reimburse returns of customers. The expected extra costs are 10 billion Euro per year. The Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG), an advocate of the e-tail industry in Europe, strongly protests against the "calamity of Europe's Digital Agenda', which includes the obligatory payment for returns.

The so-called Consumer Rights Directive requires e-tailers to pay the costs of returning goods if the goods are worth more than 50 euros.

Increase customer confidence
The measure is aimed at raising the consumer confidence in e-tailers who are established in other countries than the client. This is one of the key points of Neelie Kroes, who wants to turn digital Europe into one market. With this legislation she wants to standardize and improve the rights of EU consumers.

According to the IMRG, the additional cost amounts to more than 4 percent of the total turnover of the European e-commerce industry. "That will disrupt the industry growth and development of the digital economy," writes the IMRG to the European Commission.

Unaffordable for smaller etailers
The cost of the returns without the new guidelines come at 5.7 billion euros, based on the current sales trend that 90 percent of customers live in the same country and 10 percent of the returns comes from other across the border. The new regulations will lead to a growth of return costs to 15.7 billion euros. "This huge increase will mean bankruptcy for smaller etailers"

Source: Webwereld.nl