Russian authorities are considering amendments to the Law on Protection of Consumer Rights to restrict the return of goods purchased online. The initiative, proposed by the Center for Strategic Research (CSR), aims to align online return policies with offline retail standards.
CSR head Pavel Smelov stated that the government may be granted authority to define specific categories of non-returnable goods. This list could include electronics, perfumes, and cosmetics, which currently have different return rules compared to traditional brick-and-mortar stores.
The proposal addresses concerns from marketplace sellers regarding consumer abuse. Data indicates that return rates for major platforms like Ozon and Wildberries range from 30% to 45%, while Lamoda reports a 35% return rate. Sellers argue that these costs are often passed on to consumers through higher prices.
The Ministry of Economic Development is also working on a second package of platform economy regulations. This initiative proposes distinguishing between order cancellations before delivery and returns after receipt to improve transparency and reduce losses caused by potential damage during logistics.
