Website renames but tactics stay the same

Danish website LuxStyle accused of misleading customers has changed its name to Digital Sourcing, after the Commerce Commission warned consumers to be wary of the site.

In January, the commission warned consumers about LuxStyle’s ‘‘deliver now, pay later’’ scheme which allows shoppers to be sent goods without first paying for them.

The commission’s competition and consumer general manager, Antonia Horrocks, said the company had changed its name, but not its sales method.

‘‘Consumers are mostly familiar with the concept of adding items to an online shopping cart. In general that doesn’t commit you to making a purchase, and you can withdraw from making the order at any time up until you make payment. The Digital Sourcing portals don’t work that way,’’ Horrocks said.

The commission’s message to customers was to be careful about clicking through any site operated by LuxStyle or Digital Sourcing.

‘‘If you hit ‘order now’ you are not simply adding to the cart – you may receive the goods and a bill for them. Customers should not hit the ‘order now’ button if they don’t wish to receive the goods,’’ Horrocks said.

Digital Sourcing operates the digitalsourcing.com website but also targets consumers via social media advertisements, which direct them to online portals in the same manner as LuxStyle.

The commission has received more than 60 complaints about LuxStyle or Digital Sourcing since May 2016, with many people apparently unaware they would be sent goods before tendering payment.

When contacted by the commission in 2017, LuxStyle denied that it breaches consumer laws.

People who receive an order confirmation email from Digital Sourcing for goods they did not intend to order are advised to follow the link to cancel the order or contact Digital Sourcing’s customer service to request a cancellation.