Web retailers urged to heed consumers' refund rights

Online retailers are being urged by authorities and consumer rights groups to do a better job of implementing the seven-day cooling-off period in the new consumer rights law amid a rising number of disputes with merchants.

The provision of a cooling-off period, which enables consumers to return goods purchased online for refunds without having to give a specific reason, has given rise to a large number of disputes between buyers and business owners. Industry and commerce authorities nationwide received 741 consumer complaints arising from such disputes in the first half of the year, according to the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.

"The large number of consumer complaints arises from the failure of business owners to honor the new consumer rights law," said Yang Hongcan, head of the consumer rights protection department of the administration, during a meeting with the country's major online retailers on Thursday.