The law in your specific country and internationally is an essential consideration when planning to sell products online. Each country has its own legal rules and terms. The list below uses the UK as an example, but I recommend taking professional advice from the e-retail industry bodies in your country.
A Brief Overview of Items that are Often Within Distance Selling Regulations:
- You must give clear and detailed information about the goods and services you offer on your website, including product prices and shipping.
- When a customer has ordered you must send them conformation. This can be in way of an automated email acknowledgement.
- Delivery of products should be made within 30 days of the order date, unless otherwise stated.
- Your customer has the right to cancel an order within 7 working days (Monday–Friday). This period runs from the day after the delivery date.
- The effective date of a cancellation is the date on which your customer raised the cancellation with you.
- Your customer must cancel in writing, be it email, returns process on your site, by letter or fax.
- A refund must be actioned as soon as you can but within 30 days maximum.
- You can request that the goods are returned within a set period or as soon as possible.
- You can collect the goods yourself via courier if agreed, be it at a cost or free of charge.
