Competition Bureau warning online shoppers about third-party sellers

 

The Competition Bureau Canada is warning consumers of businesses using third parties for shipping goods purchased online.

According to the report, many big-name businesses are including online marketplaces on their websites, which allows private vendors to sell products as well.

While purchasing items from third-party sellers can be painless and problem-free, it also presents the risk of purchasing items that aren’t quite as advertised, as well as a lack of a proper return policy, and complications related to shipping.

In order to determine whether an item is being sold by a third-party vendor, consumers are advised to look for words like “sold by,” “shipped by,” or “fulfilled by” in the product’s description.

Consumers who wish to purchase items from third-party sellers are strongly advised to check the vendor’s return policy and contact information, as vendors without a detailed return policy should be considered less credible.

Additionally, purchasing items from third-party sellers could lead to complications related to shipping, as they may set their own shipping and delivery fees, and consumers may be required to communicate with them as opposed to the marketplace owner if a problem arises during the shipping process (such as a lost package).