How to protect your consumer rights in China?
Do you like shopping? Here is a handy guide for you on consumer rights protection in China in case of any trouble you may encounter.
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When purchasing and using goods or receiving services for personal needs in China, foreigners enjoy the same rights and interests as Chinese consumers, such as free choice of goods or services and safety of person and the intactness of property. If these legitimate rights are infringed upon, consumers can safeguard legitimate rights and interests in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
Things worthy of your attention
Before shopping
Choose qualified shopping venues or stores for goods or services, instead of making purchases from vendors without a business license.
Pay attention to communication with the merchant. You can "bargain" or ask for a detailed description of the product.
During shopping
Choose the right mode for transaction and avoid property loss. The use of a third-party payment platform for secured transactions provides a fair transaction guarantee for both buyers and sellers.
Ask the seller for receipt or voucher, reserve the remittance slips, and keep communication record with the seller, such as emails or text messages. Once your legitimate rights are infringed upon, such proofs can aid you against any infringement.
After shopping
Pay attention to the shipping progress once it is shipped. When it exceeds 15 days by mail or three days by express delivery, you should contact the seller to inquire about the delivery. Meanwhile, you can check the logistics information.
Check the quality of the product right after receiving it. Check whether the product is consistent with the product information, whether there is damage or other problems. If there is any problem with the product, you can choose to refuse the delivery.
Resolution of consumers’ disputes with merchants
Generally speaking, consumers can resolve disputes with merchants over their rights and interests in the following ways:
1) negotiate with the business operator for a proper settlement;
2) request the local consumer association to mediate;
3) file complaints to the industrial and commercial administrative department and other relevant government agencies;
4) apply to an arbitral body for arbitration;
5) resort to the People's Court in accordance with the judicial proceedings and foreigners may delegate Chinese lawyers to resolve the disputes.
Other complaint hotlinesyou mayneed
China Consumers Assocaiation: 12315
Beijing Consumer Association: (010) 96315
Quality Supervision Department: 12365
Price Report Telephone: 12358
Food and Drug Department: 12331
Popular e-commerce & online payment platforms:
Taobao: 0571-88158198/0571-88157858
T-mall: 400-608-608
JD.com: 400-606-5500
Suning: 4008-365-365
Pinduoduo: 400-8822-528
Dangdang: 400-106-6666
Amazon: 400-810-5666
Alipay: 95188
Major express delivery service providers:
STO Express: 95543
EMS: 11183
SF Express: 95338
ZTO Express: 95311
Yunda Express: 95546
YT Express: 95554
BEST Express: 95320
TTK Express: 400-188-8888