Commerce Ministry advises online shoppers to know their rights

With the rise of online shopping in Saudi Arabia as an easier and faster way for people to get what they need, especially during these uncertain times, consumers’ rights have never been clearer.

Shopping online has gained a wider audience in the past few months due to the closure of stores during the coronavirus pandemic. But customers face difficulties due to delayed shipments, the delivery of faulty items, paying full price for packages with missing items and companies refusing to return shipments. These problems, and others, prove to be a major headache for shoppers.

The Saudi Ministry of Commerce and Investment (MCI) has set four recommendations to protect online consumers, informing them of their rights before purchasing items online and recommending them to purchase from online stores that have secured commercial registration numbers or are registered on the ministry’s ecommerce platform “Maroof.”

Consumers are allowed to cancel their orders and get a full refund when a shipment is delayed by more than 15 days. They have the right to return or exchange items purchased within seven days if they are unused, excluding items that have been specially designed or manufactured for the buyer. Food, vehicles and property are also excluded.

The ministry also says that online stores must inform buyers if there is a delay in shipment and must specify a deadline for the delivery of items.

Finally, consumers have 24 hours to make adjustments to their order if they notice a mistake in it through the online store’s official channels.

HIGHLIGHT

The ministry says that online stores must inform buyers if there is a delay in shipment and must specify a deadline for the delivery of items.