Judges from Beijing's Shunyi District are encouraging Chinese online shoppers to buy from e-commerce companies that deliver directly to China. In a report by China Daily, the suggestion is reportedly to avoid disputes that usually end in court.
Shunyi District is home to the Beijing Capital International Airport, as well as the logistics companies that support it.
The advice is especially timely as the Singles' Day shopping festival, which will take place on Nov. 11, is fast approaching. The annual festival has become China's biggest buying day, when most purchases are made.
According to Zhang Danfang, chief judge of one of Beijing Shunyi District People's Court's civil departments, choosing companies that deliver directly to the country can reduce the number of disputes relating to deliveries that occur every year.
There has been a rise in such incidences as more and more people are becoming enamored with online shopping from local and international e-commerce companies. These transactions often involve multiple express delivery companies.
Such types of deliveries could result in products that are in no condition to be accepted by the customer.
"The more transits, the higher risk a product will be lost or damaged," said Zhang.
In the past five years alone, Zhang's department has dealt with 347 logistics-related cases. Most of these cases were settled out of court, as most customers did not want to spend time or money to choose the legal avenue.
Shunyi District's judiciary, however, hopes that cases will be reduced as more overseas shopping platforms now offer direct delivery to China via companies like DHL and FedEx.
"Direct delivery can better protect logistics, even though they are a little bit expensive," said Zhang in an interview with China Daily.