1. Home
2. Knowledge
3. Right of Withdrawal for Online Purchases

Right of Withdrawal for Online Purchases: 14-Day Returns Explained

If you buy online, you can usually return the goods within 14 days without giving a reason. That applies to bargains too.

14 days from receipt of the goods

The statutory right of withdrawal (Widerrufsrecht) applies to consumers buying online from commercial retailers. The 14-day period usually starts when you receive the goods. Many shops voluntarily give more time, especially during the Christmas season.

Who pays for the return?

The retailer may charge the return shipping costs to the customer if it informed you of this beforehand. Many large shops cover the costs anyway. The retailer must refund the purchase price within 14 days of the withdrawal, but may wait until the goods are back or you provide proof of shipping.

Exceptions

There is no right of withdrawal for, among other things, custom-made goods, perishable food, and sealed hygiene products and software if the seal has been broken. The right of withdrawal does not apply to purchases from private individuals, for example on eBay.

Statutory warranty is something else

If the goods are defective, you have a two-year statutory warranty (Gewährleistung) against the retailer, regardless of the right of withdrawal. If a defect appears in the first year, it is presumed to have existed at the time of purchase.