The Ministry of Industry and Trade may return to the idea of ​​controlling marketplaces due to customer complaints

The government may once again raise the issue of tightening regulation of e-commerce. About it writes Kommersant, citing a letter from Nikita Kuznetsov, Director of the Internal Trade Development Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, to members of the commission for creating conditions for self-regulation in electronic commerce.

In the letter, Kuznetsov points to the increasing complaints from marketplace consumers. Basically, the claims relate to the work of Wildberries, Ozon, Avito“Yul”, “Yandex Market and SberMegaMarket, he clarifies. In particular, consumers talk about difficulties with returning goods, delivery delays, lack of reliable information about the product, etc.

As follows from the letter, the regional authorities proposed to the Ministry of Industry and Trade to oblige marketplaces to disclose information that would allow “uniquely identify sellers”, provide shipping documentation upon request, and also prohibit unilateral refusal to sell goods with reference to a technical failure.

In addition, the authorities consider it necessary to introduce interim accounts, payment from which will go to the seller after the consumer receives the order, and establish the responsibility of the sites for the lack of control over sellers and goods. The Ministry of Industry and Trade told the newspaper that the initiatives would be discussed at the next meeting of the commission.

Wildberries support payment through interim accounts, Kommersant writes. At the same time, the company assured that no other regulatory measures are required, since the problems that have arisen are “successfully resolved in dialogue.”

Artem Sokolov, President of the Association of Internet Trade Companies (AKIT), also believes that there is no need to tighten control over marketplaces. According to him, some of the issues raised have already been regulated by law, while others create “an exorbitant burden on business, do not meet the balance of interests of the parties, in particular, contribute to the development of consumer extremism.”

In February, users began to massively complain about Wildberries’ return policy. Consumers claimed that the marketplace was charging them money for returning misdelivered and defective products. To the problem drew attention of Rospotrebnadzor, noting that the marketplace cannot charge money for the return of low-quality goods. Wildberries said they are already working on automatic refunds that are written off for the return shipping of defective goods.