3rd September 2019
- 72% of consumers in Ireland have bought online from a UK-based retailer in the past two years with 29% of consumers having done so more than 10 times
- 40% of consumers who bought online said they have returned items they purchased from a UK retailer
- 71% of those who had made returns did so because the product did not fit or they changed their minds – the right to return in these circumstances is a right under EU consumer law
- 25% of consumers said following Brexit they will buy more from Irish companies either in-store or online
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has today published new research on the experiences of consumers in Ireland who buy online from retailers based in the UK. The publication of the research comes as the CCPC begins a six-week public awareness campaign, aimed at preparing consumers for the potential impact of Brexit on their rights when they buy online from UK-based retailers.
The CCPC’s research, which was carried out amongst 1,000 adults across the country, found that a significant majority – 72% - of Irish consumers had bought online from a company based in the UK in the last two years. In terms of what consumers buy online from the UK, the category with the highest share was clothing, followed by electronics and footwear.
One of the main rights which consumers have when they buy online from an EU based retailer is the right to change their mind and receive a refund within a certain timeframe. The CCPC’s research found that 40% of those who had bought from a UK retailer had returned items. When asked about their reason for returning items, the research found that a large number of consumers in Ireland exercise their consumer rights under EU law - 55% reported they returned a purchase because the product did not fit or suit their needs and 16% said that they had changed their mind. In the event of a no deal Brexit, these rights may not be guaranteed.
When asked about changing their shopping behaviour as a result of Brexit, the research found that 31% plan to buy more from websites in other EU countries. Whilst 25% of consumers who have bought online from the UK plan to make no changes to their online shopping habits. Given the uncertainty around Brexit, the CCPC is advising consumers to be aware of the potential changes and to take action before they buy online from the UK.
Speaking today, Isolde Goggin, Chair of the CCPC said, “When you buy online from an EU-based business, there are protections which ensure that you have the opportunity to change your mind and also you have very strong consumer rights if something goes wrong, for example if you don’t get your items delivered. When the UK leaves the EU, these protections will no longer be guaranteed when buying from UK-based retailers. Whether you are a frequent or occasional online shopper, our message is simple - before you buy, check where the business is located and read the terms and conditions on the website – be sure to check in particular the returns policy and see if you can return goods if you change your mind. Also check to see if there are costs for returning items. Make sure you are happy with these before you purchase anything.
With less than two months until 31 October, the CCPC has commenced a six-week public information campaign to make consumers aware of the potential changes ahead and to provide information to help consumers understand their rights.”
Speaking today, ahead of the CCPC’s campaign, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD said “The Government, its agencies and the business community have been working hard to prepare Ireland for the impact of Brexit. However, there is still much uncertainty as to what is going to happen come 31 October. As consumers, there are steps that we can all take to lessen the potential impact. I am urging everyone to take heed of the information provided by the Government and to visit www.gov.ie/Brexit to find out further information about how Brexit will impact you and the steps you can take now.”
Consumers should also be aware that following Brexit, they may have to pay certain taxes and duties including customs duty, excise duty and VAT, if they are buying from UK traders. In addition to finding information at gov.ie/brexit, consumers can also find detailed information about their consumer rights and potential additional taxes and charges at www.ccpc.ie.
Ends
Notes
Businesses and consumers who are concerned about Brexit and what it may mean for them are encouraged to visit gov.ie/brexit where there is a range of practical information on how to get prepared.
Research methodology
The research was carried out by Ipsos MRBI and involved surveying 1,000, aged 15+ years (results in this poll exclude those under 18) consumers via telephone. The total sample is representative of the national population in the Republic of Ireland. The fieldwork was conducted in August 2019. The research is available on ccpc.ie.
Back to Department News