Russian State Duma: "Consumer Extremism" is Impacting Merchants
The Expert Committee on Platform Economic Development of the Russian State Duma discussed the abuse by buyers in online shopping, with participants including deputies, digital platforms, banks, government departments, and representatives of industry associations.
Russian State Duma deputy Denis Krafchenko presented the core viewpoint:
"'Consumer extremism' is no longer a metaphor, but a loss on the accounts of many merchants. Buyers can return used electronic products, claiming 'hidden defects,' or return worn clothes, and the platform directly deducts money from the merchant's account without inspection."
He also said, "We need to introduce regulations to address such improper behavior, while not harming consumers' legitimate right to return unsuitable or defective goods. This area should not become a battlefield for everyone fighting against each other."
The report pointed out that consumer rights in remote transactions are much stronger than those of merchants: almost no-cause returns are allowed, while the quality of the product must be proven by the merchant. This creates conditions for large-scale abuse of the rules.
Suggested solutions:
-- Differentiate return rules by product category;
-- Prohibit returning food and pharmaceutical products to avoid risks of reselling;
-- Set return restrictions for certain categories of products after purchase.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856754385818636/
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