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Questions about Online Shopping I Questions about Globeshopper |
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| Information on Online Shopping |
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01. Which information should I pay attention to when shopping online?
02. Which payment options do online shops generally accept?
03. What are my rights regarding cancellation and return policies in online
shops?
04. What are my rights regarding warranty regulations in online shops?
05. What are my rights regarding free guarantees in online shops?
06.What are my rights regarding privacy & security regulations when
shopping online?
07. What does shipping generally cost and which services are available
when shopping online?
08. What kind of tax and customs do I have to pay when shopping online?
09. Which information on size of shoes and clothing size do I need for
shopping in international online shops?
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01. Which information should I pay attention to when shopping online? |
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German Regulations - In Germany, online shops have to provide information
on identity and geographic address of the company, on specifications of the products,
on price and availability, on the conclusion of the contract, on delivery costs,
on payment options and on your rights regarding cancellation and return policies.
European Directive - Online shops throughout the European Union are instructed
to provide information on identity and geographic address of the company, on
specifications of the products, on price and availability, on the conclusion
of the contract, on delivery costs, on payment options and on your rights regarding
cancellation and return policies.
For further information please see: European Commission (Directive on Electronic Commerce), European Consumer Centre Germany
International Regulations - International online shops have to follow
their individual national regulations.
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02. Which payment options do online shops generally accept? |
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Cash before Delivery - The amount is paid before delivery either by cheque
or by bank transfer. The online shop will ship the products after receipt of
the amount.
Cash on Delivery (COD) - The amount is paid to the shipping company at
the time of delivery. Additional costs may apply.
Credit Card - The online shop debits the credit card with the amount.
Current service providers are Visa,
American Express, Diners
Club, MasterCard
etc.
Invoice - The seller issues a request for payment to the buyer. Payment
will be made after receipt of goods, eg by bank transfer. Some online shops offer
payment by invoice via clearing companies which arrange the settlement.
Debit - The buyer gives the online shop a direct debit authorization for
the amount.
Bank Transfer - The buyer transfers the amount to the bank account of
the online shop and the amount is credited to the seller´s account. Transfers
throughout Germany have to include the account number („Kontonummer“)
and the bank code (“Bankleitzahl”, “BLZ”). International
transfers have to include the international account number (IBAN) and the international
bank code (BIC/SWIFT Code).
International Money Transfer - The International Money Transfer is a
remittance from one bank to the other. The amount is paid out to the seller at
a local bank. Worldwide money transfers are offered by Western
Union, for example (Western
Union Money Transfer). In Germany, international money transfers are offered
by the Postbank, Reisebank, American
Express etc.
Cheque - The buyer writes out a cheque in favour of the online shop. The
seller cashes the cheque at a bank.
International Money Order - An International Money Order is a guaranteed
crossed cheque. The seller pays the money into his account at his bank. In Germany,
international money orders are offered by American
Express etc.
Email Payment Services - The buyer pays the amount to an “e-money
company“ which directs the money to the online shop. The payment transaction
is processed via email. Current services are PayPal, Moneybookers etc..
Billing Services - Billing companies debit the buyer´s account by
the amount he spent over a fixed accounting period. Current services are ClickandBuy,
etc.
Prepaid Cards - Prepaid cards carry a certain amount which can be used
for online shopping. The prepaid card is debited by the amount of the transfer.
Current services are Paysafecard,
etc.
Charge Services - The buyer acquires a currency owned by the service
company which can be used to buy products in cooperating partner stores. Current
services are WEB.Cent,
etc.
Mobile Payment Methods - The account is settled via the phone bill. Current
services are T-Pay, Vodafone u.a.
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03. What are my rights regarding cancellation and return policies in online
shops? |
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Cancellation - For a cancellation of an order the buyer generally just
has to state that he likes to cancel the order. If the seller only allows return,
the buyer has to send the product back.
German Return Regulations - In Germany, you generally can return the
products purchased online without stating any reasons within a period of 14 days
after delivery. If the online shop does not point out a fixed period of time
for returning the products, the period may extend up to 6 months.
European Return Regulations - Throughout the European Union, products
purchased in online shops can be returned without stating any reasons within
fixed periods of time after delivery. The deadlines for returning goods vary
from one country to another. However, the buyer has the right to return the products
within a period of at least 7 workingdays.
For further information please seen: European Consumer Centre Germany
International Return Regulations - International online shops have to
follow their national regulations and their individual “Terms and Conditions“.
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04. What are my rights regarding warranty regulations in online shops? |
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Warranty - Warranty means that the seller is liable for any defects of
the product at the time of selling and within a fixed period of time after selling.
Warranty Regulations in Germany - In Germany, online shops have to provide
a warranty of 2 years for new products.
Warranty Regulations in Europe - Throughout the European Union, online
shops are instructed to provide a warranty of 2 years.
For further information please see: European Commission (Directive on Consumer Protection), European Consumer Centre Germany
International Warranty Regulations - International online shops have to
follow their national regulations and their individual “Terms and Conditions“.
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05. What are my rights regarding free guarantees in online shops? |
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Guarantee - By offering a free guarantee, the online shop provides a voluntary
liability for any defects of the product beyond the implied warranty of 2 years.
In many cases, these guarantees are valid only in the country where you have
bought the product and cannot be claimed internationally.
If a guarantee is provided by the online shop, you can find it in its “Terms & Conditions“.
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06.What are my rights regarding privacy & security regulations when
shopping online? |
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Privacy & Security Regulations in Germany - In Germany, online shops
have to inform the customer about the type and purpose of personal data that
is asked for. A passing on of data to a third party is allowed only with permission
of the customer.
Privacy & Security Regulations in Europe - Throughout the European
Union, online shops are instructed to inform the customer about the type and
purpose of personal data. A passing on of data to a third party is supposed to
be allowed only with permission of the customer.
For further information please see: European Commission (Directive on Data Protection)
International Privacy & Security Regulations - International online
shops have to follow their national regulations and their individual “Terms
and Conditions“.
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07. What does shipping generally cost and which services are available
when shopping online? |
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Shipping throughout Germany - Shipping throughout Germany takes between
14 hours and 2 days depending on the service used. Rates range between 10 and
70 Euros for 2 kilograms. Current services are DHL, UPS, DPD etc.
Shipping throughout Europe - Shipping throughout Europe takes between
1 and 7 days depending on the service used. Rates range between 20 and 140 Euros
for 2 kilograms. Current services are DHL, UPS, DPD, FedEx etc.
International Shipping - Worldwide shipping takes between 1 and 30 days
depending on the service used. Rates range between 15 and 190 Euros for 2 kilograms.
Current services are DHL, UPS, FedEx etc.
International Shipping from the U.S. - Some U.S. online shops do not offer
international shipping but advise their customers to use mail forwarder services.
Mailforwarders accept the goods in the U.S. and pass them on to the customer´s
international geographic address. For further information please see individual
Terms and Conditions of the services. Selected services are AccessUSA, USA2Me, USGlobalMail, USAbox, YankIt etc.
 
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08. What kind of tax and customs do I have to pay when shopping online? |
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Value-added tax (VAT) in Germany - In Germany, end consumers have to
pay a sales tax of 19 per cent. The VAT rate on books, newspapers etc. is reduced
to 7 per cent.
Value-added tax in Europe - Throughout the European Union, the end consumer
has to pay the VAT rate in the country of the online shop in which he buys the
goods (Principle of Origin). He does not have to pay any additional VAT or customs
upon the the import of goods into Germany.
However, some European online shops are legally obligated to levy the tax rate
on the basis of the customer´s country, especially if they ship to the
country regularly (Principle of Destination). For detailed information please
see the Terms and Conditions and FAQs of each online shop.
For further information please see: European Commission (Taxation and Customs Union)
Import turnover tax and import duties on goods purchased outside the European
Union - The buyer has to pay import duties and import turnover tax on imports
from outside the European Union into Germany. Import duties are based on the
type of product being ordered, for example 4-12 per cent on clothing, 0 -5,6
per cent on furniture and 0-14 per cent on digital gear. Import duties are collected
on invoice value basis.
The import turnover tax is equivalent to the general VAT rates between 7 (reduced
rate) and 19 per cent. The import turnover tax is collected upon the basis of
the sum of invoice value and import duties.
Returning of goods - If the consumer likes to return goods purchased
outside the European Union, he can invalidate the customs declaration on the
basis of which the duties and taxes have been charged at the customs office in
charge within 3 months.
For further information please see : German
Customs
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09. Which information on size of shoes and clothing size do I need for
shopping in international online shops? |
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Sizes of shoes and clothing vary from one part of the world to another. The following
list gives you an overview of the most common markings. Please note that it is
not exhaustive.
Women´s International Shoe Sizes
| Germany |
35 |
36 |
37 |
38 |
39 |
40 |
41 |
| England |
2,5 |
3,5 |
4 |
5,5 |
6 |
7 |
7,5 |
| USA |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
9,5 |
Men´s International Shoe Sizes
| Germany |
40 |
41 |
42 |
43 |
44 |
45 |
46 |
| England |
6 |
6,5 |
7,5 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
| USA |
7 |
7.5 |
8.5 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
Women´s International Clothing Sizes
| Germany |
34-36 |
36-38 |
38-40 |
40-42 |
| England |
8-10 |
10-12 |
12-14 |
14-16 |
| USA |
XS |
S |
M |
L |
| USA (inches) |
26-27 |
28-29 |
30-31 |
32-33 |
Men´s International Clothing Sizes
| Germany |
40 |
42-44 |
46-48 |
50-52 |
54-56 |
58 |
| USA |
XS |
S |
M |
L |
XL |
XXL |
| USA (inches) |
28-29 |
30-31 |
32-33 |
34 |
36-38 |
38 |
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