Cheap goods from the Far East
Dropshipping: Avoid the hassle of shopping online
September 28, 2024, 7:32 p.m
Online shopping is quick and easy, but it can also go wrong: First the goods don’t arrive, then you don’t like them and the return has to go to the Far East? How to detect clues in advance.
The product looks great online and the price is right too. One click and bought. But then the order takes forever to arrive. And if you ultimately want to make use of the right of return, it turns out that the goods did not come from Europe and therefore have to be sent to China, for example. The European Consumer Center Germany (EVZ) describes this case and predicts “endless trouble”.
Goods from a manufacturer in Asia
Dropshipping is when an online shop only accepts the order and has the goods sent directly from the manufacturer or wholesaler to the person ordering. It is not uncommon for these to be cheap goods from Asia. Returns are then really difficult.
At first glance, this is not necessarily noticeable. The ordering website may end in “.de”, the ad text is German and there is even a European address in the legal notice. However, this does not automatically mean that a return will be accepted there.
Check for keywords
So what can you look out for to avoid dropshipping? Read the legal notice, return information and terms and conditions. If the text is too long, you can search specifically for keywords: “China”, “Asia”, “Far East”, “Return”, “Address” and “Costs”. According to the EVZ, there is often a hidden indication that the return to Asia should be carried out at the consumer’s expense or that the return address is only provided upon request.
Sometimes the imprint also states that the address given there is not the return address. This often means that the online shop requires the item to be returned to a country outside the EU. The experiences of other customers in rating portals are also helpful. If you find several references to problems with the shop, this should be a warning.
Only a few online shoppers take precautions
An EVZ survey shows that many consumers do not make this effort. Accordingly, only about one in five of those who order online at least once a month find out about the return conditions before each purchase. One in four online shoppers never do this.
