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Watchdogs eye action on second-hand sellers

A sweep of online traders that sell second-hand goods across the EU has found that around half of those examined could be breaching EU consumer law. 

The exercise, co-ordinated by the European Commission, was carried out by the national consumer-protection authorities of 25 EU members (including Ireland), as well as Iceland and Norway. 

Consumer authorities checked 356 online traders and identified 185 (52%) as potentially in breach of EU consumer law, according to the commission.

Right to return faulty goods 

The traders examined were selling goods that include clothes, electronic equipment, and toys. 

Among the findings were: 

• 40% of traders did not inform consumers of their right of withdrawal in a clear manner,
• 45% did not correctly inform consumers of their right to return faulty goods or goods that do not look or work as advertised,
• 57% did not respect the minimum period of a one-year legal guarantee for second-hand goods,
• Out of 34% of traders that presented environmental claims on their website, 20% were not sufficiently substantiated, and 28% were manifestly false, deceptive, or likely to qualify as unfair commercial practices, and
• 5% did not provide their identity correctly, and 2% did not provide the total price of the product, including taxes. 

Circular economy 

The commission said that national consumer authorities would now decide whether to take action against the 185 traders that were earmarked for further investigation and request compliance according to their national procedures. 

Commissioner Michael McGrath, who is responsible for consumer protection, said that second-hand goods played a crucial role in a circular economy. 

“It is important that all traders – including those dealing in second-hand goods – uphold consumer rights. The results of our recent sweep indicate that this is not always happening,” he stated.