Tips to assure the seriousness of the seller

Before purchasing something on a foreign online shopping website, check:

The name and contact information of the seller

You should find them in the legal information of the website or in the terms and conditions.

The mailing address

Type the address you found on the seller’s website in a search engine and search street views. If it shows you a brownfield, a residential neighbourhood, or any other strange place for a company that sells this type of product, move on to a different seller.

The URL

If the website has a name or URL that doesn’t correspond to the goods sold on the website, it is not a good sign!

The general terms and conditions of sale

You should be able to find them easily, often at the very bottom of the website. Make sure they are written in a clear and understandable way. If you notice any gaps in the text or generic terms, this should alert you. The seller has probably used a template without making any effort to adapt the terms of use.

Telephone number

If the website displays a phone number, call it! Avoid premium-rate telephone numbers. Ask for additional information on the product, the after-sale service, or the delivery condition. How your demand is dealt with will give you a first impression of the seriousness of your seller.

The quality seals

The website might display a quality seal or brand of trust. Find out about the rules of the award and the services and guarantees it offers.

French spelling

If the site is written in a broken form of French (misspelling, a poor grasp of the language, etc.), run away!

Other sites and online reviews

Other buyers may have given their opinions on your seller and their bad experiences, if any.

When you buy on a marketplace

Did you find your dream product at a bargain price on a marketplace? You only have to confirm and pay, but do you know exactly who you are buying from?

The EU regulation “Digital Services Act” imposes certain obligations on online marketplaces that are European or that target European consumers. These marketplaces must check the identity and contact details of the seller or professional service provider whose ads they are hosting.

So, wait before you order on a major e-commerce website! Make sure you can see the name, country of residence and contact details of the seller you selected. The seller may be completely foreign to the website. If you see that the information is incomplete or the reviews about this seller are negative, then it’s best to move on to another seller.

Once you have identified your seller or service provider, go through our list of advice (see above). Go to the seller’s website to gather more information if necessary.

Any marketplace that doesn’t identify the professional sellers and service providers on its website may potentially be penalised. The fine imposed by the authorities can be up to 6% of the platform’s annual worldwide turnover.

Secure your payment on the Internet

If you still have doubts about your online seller

Vérifiez l’adresse internet du site via WHOIS, DENIC (pour les noms de domaine terminant par « .de »), AFNIC (pour les noms de domaine terminant en « .fr »). Vous pourrez ainsi déterminer qui a enregistré le site de vente en ligne et quand. Si l’identification du propriétaire est impossible, et seul l’hébergeur est identifiable, redoublez de vigilance.

And when it’s too late?

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.