Large-Scale German E-Retailers Say They Will Ignore Some New Online-Shopping Rules

Large-scale German retailers are unlikely to charge customers for returning goods bought online — despite new European Union online shopping regulations allowing them to do so — out of fear of losing customers in one of Europe’s quickest growing e-commerce markets, say analysts and retailers.

Implementing the Directive on Consumer Rights (2011/83/EC), the German amendment, entitled Act on the Implementation of the EU Consumer Rights Directive and on the Amendment of the Law on Housing, entered into force on the EU’s June 13 deadline. The act was published in the German Federal Law Gazette on Sept. 27, 2013 ...