The elderly have a new right to buy health care products from January 1, 2023, and they can return them without any reason!
In the digital age, market consumption patterns and consumer protection are constantly evolving, and timely adjustment and updating at the national level are indispensable to protect the interests of consumers.
In view of the long-standing blind spots in the protection of consumer rights and interests, the Regulations on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone were adopted by the 22nd meeting of the Standing Committee of the Seventh People's Congress of Shenzhen on November 29, 2023, and will come into force on January 1, 2024.
In response to the problem of health care products in the consumption behavior of the elderly, the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone has introduced innovative policies. This article will analyze two new regulations in depth: one is to prohibit automatic renewal of insurance by default booking from next year, and the other is that the elderly can return health products without any reason.
Currently, a product called"Auto-renew by default"The model is becoming more and more popular. So-called"Auto-renew by default", means that when a consumer makes a purchase for the first time, the system is configured to automatically renew after expiration, and without the consumer's knowledge, the service expires automatically and is charged. The drawbacks of this model have attracted widespread attention from consumers, legislators, and regulators.
Auto-renewal status.
In most cases, auto-renewal is chosen by default in an extremely stealthy way. For example, when purchasing a subscription service, the terms and conditions of auto-renewal will appear in small print, and consumers can easily ignore this information during a quick click. Without careful analysis or a comprehensive understanding of the terms of service, consumers will unknowingly enter the cycle of automatic deductions, which will not only cause financial losses, but also cause psychological stress to consumers.
In addition, some service providers deliberately set up obstacles in the process of canceling auto-renewal, such as hiding cancellation options, complicated cancellation steps, and even needing to contact customer service, which makes it more difficult for consumers to terminate the service. These practices leave consumers feeling helpless and trust in businesses diminishing.
The most direct impact of automatic default renewals on consumers is the financial burden. In addition, at the psychological level, when consumers feel that their rights and interests have been violated, they often have dissatisfaction and distrust, which will not only affect consumers' attitudes towards specific companies, but also affect their trust in the entire online consumption platform. In the long run, this short-sighted behavior of enterprises will lead to widespread consumer resistance to network services, affecting the healthy development of the digital economy.
The consumer has the right to return the goods within seven days of receipt without giving any reason.
The new regulations stipulate that if the operator sells goods through the Internet, television, mail order, etc., the consumer has the right to return the goods within seven days from the date of receipt without giving reasons. In addition to the non-application of seven-day no-reason returns, according to the provisions of the "Consumer Rights and Interests Protection of the People's Republic of China", operators must make important reminders in the process of selling goods.
Nowadays, in terms of marketing strategies, health care product companies often use direct sales or online sales to induce the elderly to buy, exaggerate the efficacy of products, spread health misunderstandings, and take advantage of the elderly's ignorance of new technologies.
Some health supplement sellers also take advantage of family or neighborhood ties to conduct so-called"Word-of-mouth marketing", thereby enhancing the purchasing confidence of the elderly. In such cases, older people buy supplements that they may not need, are too expensive, or simply do not work, both wasting money and potentially harming their health.
The introduction of the new regulations means that the rights and interests of elderly consumers will be protected like never before. Those who take advantage of the cognitive impairment or trust of older adults to market health supplements will be strictly regulated. Seniors only need to return the purchased health products within a certain period of time without providing any reason.
The implication of this policy is:
Safeguarding the autonomy of older consumers. The new regulations give older consumers more initiative and reduce the likelihood that they will passively accept unsatisfactory products.
Increase market transparency. **Merchants must describe product information more truthfully and accurately, and reduce misleading advertising to maintain goodwill and avoid loss of revenue.
Strengthen industry self-discipline. The healthcare industry must self-reflect, adjust sales behavior, avoid selling inaccurate information and bad products, and improve the industry as a whole.
Promote social integrity. The elderly are one of the most vulnerable groups in society, and the implementation of the new regulations will help to create a more fair, just and transparent consumption environment.
In short, the rectification of the elderly health care products market will not only have a significant impact on the elderly consumers themselves, but also bring positive changes to the entire health care products market and consumption environment. It is hoped that with the support of such policies, the future market will pay more attention to the real needs and protection of consumers' rights and interests, and achieve more healthy and sustainable development.