With the popularity of e-commerce platforms, online shopping has become an indispensable part of people's daily lives. However, while enjoying the convenience of online shopping, consumers also face some problems, one of the most prominent of which is the cost of shipping for returns and exchanges. So, under the seven-day no reason return policy, who should bear the freight?
The answer is: in the absence of a special agreement, it is borne by the consumer.
First of all, we want to clarify the significance of the seven-day no reason return policy. This policy is to protect the rights and interests of consumers, so that consumers have a seven-day "cooling-off period" after purchasing goods, during which they can return or exchange goods without reason. However, this does not mean that consumers can return and exchange goods at will, as this will also bring certain losses and costs to merchants.
According to Article 25 of the Consumer Rights Protection, if a business operator sells goods by means of 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, except for the following goods: (1) Custom-made by consumers;(2) Fresh and perishable;(3) ** or digital goods such as audio-visual products and computer software that have been unsealed by consumers;(4) Newspapers and periodicals delivered. In addition to the goods listed in the preceding paragraph, other goods that are not suitable for return according to the nature of the goods and confirmed by the consumer at the time of purchase are not applicable to return without reason. The goods returned by the consumer should be in good condition. Proprietors shall return the price of the goods paid by consumers within 7 days of receiving the returned goods. The cost of shipping for the return of the goods is borne by the consumer;Where proprietors and consumers agree otherwise, follow the agreement.
So, in the process of return and exchange, can the merchant be completely exempted from bearing the freight of return and exchange?This needs to be judged on a case-by-case basis. If the goods or services provided by the merchant do not meet the quality requirements, the merchant needs to bear the necessary costs such as transportation. If there is a special agreement when shopping online, the merchant or the platform will bear the freight for return and exchange, it will be handled in accordance with the agreement.
Some e-commerce platforms will provide shipping insurance services for returns and exchanges. This kind of service is to reduce the cost and risk of returning and exchanging goods for consumers, so that consumers can buy goods with more confidence. If the consumer has purchased shipping insurance, they can enjoy a reduction when returning or exchanging the product, but the premium is usually added to the product**.
To sum up, the issue of freight bearing under the seven-day no-reason return and exchange policy needs to be judged on a case-by-case basis. Merchants and consumers should strengthen communication and negotiation, and formulate reasonable return and exchange rules and shipping costs. E-commerce platforms should also strengthen supervision and management to protect the rights and interests of consumers and merchants. At the same time, we also need to raise awareness of the protection of rights and interests, understand our rights and obligations, and avoid unnecessary disputes and losses.