A reputable trader will provide their contact information. Always check if you can find their name, e-mail address, telephone number and the organisation number.
Research online to find out if the company is trustworthy. A useful tip is to search the company’s name in relation to words such as “fraud”, “complaint” and “review”. If the shop is located in the United States, you can check out Better Business Bureau.
Traders often operate with different terms and conditions for their procedures related to, for instance, a delay, cancellation, and return. Check the terms and conditions that is applicable in your case before you proceed. This is especially important if you are shopping outside of the European Union (EU), where your rights will vary extensively.
A good idea is to compare the prices with other shops. You could potentially save a lot of money.
In addition, always check what the total amount is. Shipping, fees, and other charges are often added to the stated price. If you are importing goods, you should check the import calculator on the Norwegian Custom’s website.
NOTE! Norwegian Customs can take hold of pirated products if they suspect that you plan to resell them. You should therefore check that you are buying “authentic goods” before placing an order.
In most cases, we recommend that you pay with a credit card or through a payment solution, such as PayPal, when you shop online.
When using a credit card, you have a legal right to demand the money back from the bank if
For debit cards, the process leading up to a refund is more complicated and banks often have short deadlines. Read more about your rights on our page about chargeback.
Be careful about the type of information you share about yourself – for instance, your social security number. This reduces the risk of being exposed to fraud and misuse of your personal information. The shop should specify why they are asking for the information and what it will be used for.
European traders are also obliged to have a privacy policy on their pages that states what type of information they are collecting, how it will be used and how to delete information about yourself.
All products sold in Norway or the EU, must follow European product safety rules. This means, among other things, that the products must be safe and not contain dangerous chemicals.
You are considered an importer if you are buying goods from outside Europe and will therefore be responsible for ensuring that the product complies with European regulations.
You can check if the product you want to buy has been registered with the supervisory authority at the EU Comissions website. NOTE! It can take a long time before the product is checked and declared as dangerous.
If you are dissatisfied with an item or the item is not delivered, you must first contact the trader. Feel free to use one of our complaint letters.
If you purchased an item from a Norwegian online shop, you can submit your case to The Consumer Authority (Forbrukertilsynet) for mediation.
