Distance Buying

It is possible to buy something by phone or online instead of in an “ordinary” store. Such a purchase is called a “distance selling”. Distance buying (especially online) is attractive to the consumer because the offer is much larger than in a “normal” store.

For the consumer, however, there is also a disadvantage to the distance buying. With a purchase out of distance, it is difficult for the consumer to properly estimate the product or service before purchase.

Because of this disadvantage of distance selling, the legislator has imposed a number of obligations on the seller. For example, the seller must properly inform the consumer about the product and the cooling-off period.

The consumer also has a reflection period of 14 days within which he or she can dissolve the purchase agreement – without giving any reason. This cooling-off period does not apply to all products. For example, this reflection period does not apply to the purchase of customized products, newspapers, magazines and travel.