Warning about fake stores on the Internet

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The consumer advocates of the Chamber of Labor (AK) in Upper Austria gave tips on Tuesday for ordering goods online. Particularly during the Advent season, caution is advised with products from overseas and against fake stores that imitate well-known online stores. Anyone who has paid in advance in such cases of fraud has lost their money.

To clarify the seriousness of the Internet provider, customers should find an imprint with a postal address, telephone number, and e-mail address on the homepage. Just “an at or de domain does not mean that you are ordering from Austria or Germany,” the consumer advocates explained.

Further warnings from consumer advocates regarding orders on the Internet
Orders from Asia, in particular, often come as a nasty surprise. Complaints are usually subject to a charge, and the price of the return shipment can even be higher than the purchase price. Simply leaving deliveries on the customer’s doorstep is “fundamentally inadmissible,” it continued. They must be handed over in person. If a parcel does not arrive for whatever reason, this is the problem of the sender, who is liable for the goods. To be on the safe side, AK OÖ recommends using pick-up stations.

And if the gift is not to your liking, the person giving it should think about returning it in advance. In online retail, goods can be returned within 14 days (from receipt and withdrawal instructions), and the full purchase price will be refunded. However, public holidays and weekends do not extend this period. It is also advisable to keep the original packaging, as companies often require goods to be returned in it. However, the lack of original packaging does not exclude the right to withdraw. Caution is also advised when giving away vouchers, as these become worthless in the event of insolvency.