Purchase & Order
Buyer Protection
7 important questions about Geo-blocking
The Geoblocking Regulation prohibits discrimination against consumers on the basis of their nationality or place of residence when making cross-border purchases. This has applied EU-wide since 2018 to transactions concluded online as well as offline.
EU: Price comparison of parcel delivery services
Whenever a parcel has to be sent cross-border, the price for its delivery would increase significantly - regardless of the actual distance. Many Europeans therefore avoid shopping in another country. The EU wants to change that and created new rules for parcel delivery services.
Brexit - travellers and consumers
In the referendum on 23 June 2016, 52 percent of Britons voted in favour of Brexit. On 24 December, the EU and the UK concluded a far-reaching trade and partnership agreement. What are the consequences for consumers in Europe? Here are some hints about the changes from the perspective of travellers and consumers
Shopping Online
Warning against wmshoe
Wmshoe.com is an online shoe seller that ships low-quality products from China to Europe. It is a prime example of dropshipping. Order elsewhere!
Valid conclusion of a purchase on the internet - the button solution
There are quite precise rules about what must be written on order and purchase buttons in order for a transaction concluded with them to be valid on the Internet. If this is not the case, a purchase contract concluded online is not valid.
What is drop shipping?
Have you ordered from an Austrian online shop and then had to wait weeks for delivery because the package then came from abroad? Then you are probably dealing with drop shipping. This article explains what drop shipping is, how to recognise it and what to look out for before placing an online order.
Finance & Insurance
Gift vouchers in Europe
Gift vouchers are popular and have certainly landed under the Christmas tree for many. In the meantime, they do not even stop at national borders within the EU. But are gift vouchers even allowed to be bought and redeemed in another EU country? When do they expire? The European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net) provides information.
Credit cards versus subscription traps
Since the beginning of the year, the three largest credit card companies in the EU have had to provide better protection against dubious subscriptions by informing customers more precisely in the payment process that they are purchasing services with recurring payments.
Secure online payments
The pros and cons of different payment options.
