China to Mandate 7-Day Returns for E-Commerce Purchases
Tencent Tech, 4/24/13
A draft version of China's revised consumer protection law in China was submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for approval yesterday. The draft stipulates that customers who purchase products from a business that sells merchandise through the internet, television, telephone, or post has the right to return such merchandise within 7 days of delivery. This stipulation does not apply to products that have expiration dates, such as food and medicine. Furthermore, business operators must provide refunds for returned merchandise within 7 days of receiving the returned product.
Editor's Note: E-commerce platforms such as Beijing-based B2C e-commerce platform Jingdong (formerly branded as 360Buy), Suning's (002024.SZ) Suning.com, Tencent's (0700.HK) consumer electronics B2C e-commerce site 51buy.com, and B2C clothing website Vancl all have return policies that meet or surpass the 7-day standard set in the new law. However, meeting this standard will be more difficult for C2C e-commerce merchants, who account for the majority of the e-commerce market, due to their smaller profit margins.
Keywords: regulation e-commerce Internet law consumer protection service/quality guarantee
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