Based on a draft regulation, consumers in the country will soon be allowed to get full refund on unsatisfactory items they bought online even though they are already unsealed, China Daily reported.
The move is part of China's bid to intensify its protection of the rights of consumers.Public opinion on the latest draft issued by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce is until Sept. 5.
Under the document, consumers should receive their refunds within seven days since they returned their items. The goods must be intact; this category also includes packages that have been opened for inspection of quality and function.
Nonetheless, this new rule will not be applicable to other products such as those that are hazardous after they were opened or perishable items that are expiring soon.
The draft regulation is based on China's consumer rights protection law, whose revision in 2014, states that consumer can get refunds on returned goods with failing quality standards within seven days.
According to Wu Jingming, an economic law associate professor at China University of Political Science and Law and a participant in the draft formulation, the new document is the first one in China to specify that online purchases, even if packages are opened, can be returned to get a refund.
"The regulation is scheduled by the State Council to be adopted in October, though there are likely to be some changes made to the draft," Wu shared.
"The regulation was made because there have been a number of disputes in recent years involving businesses refusing to offer refunds for goods that they sold online, using the excuse that the packages have been opened," he added.
Meanwhile, Wang Li, a government employee in Beijing, expressed optimism on the draft regulation.
"I hope the regulation can be carried out so I will be able to buy more clothes online and not worry whether the sizes are OK before placing the order," the online buyer remarked.
Data from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine shows that around 30 percent of items sold via China's 10 major e-commerce portals failed quality standards. Counterfeit products are also considered as a major issue in the country's e-commerce sector.