Over half of online second-hand traders in the EU fail to meet consumer protection laws

A recent investigation by the European Commission and national consumer protection authorities from 25 EU countries, along with Iceland and Norway, has revealed significant shortcomings in the compliance of online traders selling second-hand goods. The screening, known as a “sweep,” examined 356 online traders operating websites or platforms that offer second-hand products such as clothing, electronics, and toys. The findings indicated that more than half of these traders were potentially in breach of EU consumer laws.

European legislation guarantees that consumers purchasing second-hand goods online should receive the same level of protection as they would when buying new products. This includes clear information about the product, their rights as consumers, and details about the trader they are purchasing from. However, the investigation found that 52% of the reviewed traders failed to meet these legal requirements.

A significant portion of the traders did not properly inform consumers about their right to withdraw from a purchase. Many websites failed to clearly explain that consumers can return a product within 14 days without justification or additional costs. Additionally, 45% of traders did not provide correct information regarding the right to return faulty goods or items that did not match their advertised descriptions. More than half of the traders also failed to comply with the legal requirement of offering at least a one-year guarantee on second-hand goods, depriving consumers of essential protections.

Environmental claims made by some traders also raised concerns. Among those that promoted sustainability or eco-friendly attributes on their websites, 20% did not provide sufficient evidence to support their claims, while 28% presented misleading or false information, which could qualify as unfair commercial practices under EU law.

The European Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to consumer protection by ensuring that traders provide accurate and transparent information on product durability, reparability, and legal guarantee rights at the point of sale. Consumer authorities have flagged 185 traders for further investigation and will assess whether enforcement actions are necessary to bring them into compliance with national and EU regulations.

Source: EC