Yup, thats because the EU actually protects their consumers unlike the great ol’ US of A
Yes, it is. That’s because companies like trying unpopular policies in America first before moving them to Europe.
1smoothcriminal@lemm.ee 1 year ago
NateNate60@lemmy.world 1 year ago
It depends. If the company dives in headfirst with anticonsumer practices in the EU, you’re correct; EU institutions will regulate them out. But there’s a much smarter strategy that works more often than I think you’d like to admit:
- Start said anticonsumer practice in the USA
- USA is slower to enact legislation against it
- US customers get used to it
- Inch EU customers into said practices
- When confronted, point to the USA and say that the Americans are fine with it so it must not be that bad.
- 50% of the time EU regulators respond with “oh, alright then”. The news of said practice being introduced into the EU appears on The Register for a day and then everyone forgets about it. Most EU consumers don’t realise it happened.
realitista@lemm.ee 1 year ago
To do this in the EU would mean breaking the law, which mandates 14 days of free returns with no requirement to justify the reason whatsoever, so I’m pretty sure this wouldn’t work ;-).
atrielienz@lemmy.world 1 year ago
In the states these laws and policies vary. 14 days is a reasonable amount of time for a return free of charge. A lot of companies in the states have offered free 30 day returns and people have (as they do) taken advantage of that. Target here has banned certain individuals from returns for up to a year because they were returning items on purpose in order to buy them cheaper in store as an open box item or what have you. Amazon used to let you return just about anything regardless of the time passed. But this has led to significant waste. They sell off returned items by the pallet load and it’s basically a free for all grab bag scenario. And half of it ends up in a landfill anyway.
All it would take to work is a change in legislation. So if I were you I’d be diligent about keeping an eye on it because there’s a second side to living in a country quick to enact legislation.
NateNate60@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Yes, it would. The law says that the cost of the return can be borne by the buyer. So making customers pay for the cost of return postage would not be against the law. The company is not required to provide an absolutely free return.
barsoap@lemm.ee 1 year ago
When confronted, point to the USA and say that the Americans are fine with it so it must not be that bad.
Are you acquainted with the connotation of the term “American conditions”?
Mr_Blott@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Try telling that to my unequivocal legal right to return anything for any reason within 14 days
NateNate60@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Yes. You have to pay for postage. Americans pay nothing and Amazon forced them to pay one dollar. I’m sure retailers would happily trade free returns for a 14-day return policy that makes the customer pay for postage.
dojan@lemmy.world 1 year ago
In Sweden. Never paid postage to return anything to a shop. Never paid postage to send a product anywhere, actually, be it for warranty or what have you.
NateNate60@lemmy.world 1 year ago
That’s usually how it is in America too. Amazon started charging $1 if you took it to a courier office instead of a Whole Foods (Amazon-owned grocery store chain) if the Whole Foods was closer to you.
Alborlin@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Det inte sänt,eller?? Även med Biltema, Stadium ? Aldrig har provat, jag tar grejer direkt till butik. Om det är sänt jag vill gärna stoppa köra att bära retur.grejerna.