Over half of second-hand online sellers are breaking EU consumer laws

A recent sweep by the European Commission and national consumer authorities has revealed that over half of second-hand online traders are not complying with EU consumer protection laws. The review, which covered 356 online platforms across 25 EU countries, Iceland, and Norway, found that 52% of the traders may be breaching consumer rights.

Under EU law, consumers purchasing second-hand goods, including clothes and electronics, are entitled to the same guarantees and protections as when buying new items. However, the investigation found widespread violations. Specifically, 40% of traders failed to clearly inform consumers about their right to return items within 14 days, 45% neglected to outline the process for returning faulty goods, and 57% did not comply with the mandatory one-year legal guarantee on second-hand items.

Additionally, 34% of traders made environmental claims, but many of these were either unsubstantiated or misleading, with 28% deemed deceptive.

As a result, 185 traders are now under further scrutiny, and authorities will decide on the necessary actions to ensure compliance. The EU continues its commitment to better consumer protection, focusing on transparency regarding product durability, reparability, and legal rights.

With information from the European Commission.