Shopping sites: how to buy online safely abroad

Have you ever wanted to buy an outfit in a style you couldn’t find anywhere else? Or a piece you saw in a physical store and was super expensive?

Problems like this can be solved with purchases on foreign sites. Among its main advantages are the huge variety of models and styles, the convenience of not having to walk around shopping malls and stores and the price, which can be extremely inviting when compared to physical stores.

It is only necessary to always be attentive to the conversion of values ​​​​to Real and the fees that purchases may receive upon arrival in Brazil.

Check out some of the most amazing online stores and everything you need to know to shop wisely:

aliexpress

It is a Chinese website where several independent sellers make their products available. Therefore, the shipping deadlines for each product and the rules for exchanges and returns are established in accordance with the policy of each seller. The biggest attraction of Aliexpress is undoubtedly the very cheap price of the clothes, but be careful: as many sellers are from China, sizes are usually smaller than the Brazilian standard.

Mini in the Box

Mini in the Box is an online store that offers everything you can imagine in terms of cell phone accessories, as well as electronics, jewelry and watches among its products. There are two delivery methods: Standard, more expensive, which takes 10-25 days to arrive, and Cheaper, cheaper, which takes 15-35 days to arrive. The site does not add taxes; all the customer pays is the price of the product. In case of return, you must send an email to the Customer Service Department:

Alone

Asos is a British store famous for its huge variety of pieces – from party wear to basic clothes, including petit and plus size. It also works with Standard and Express deliveries (cheaper and more expensive, respectively) and the delivery time is calculated only after the customer enters his address – for Brazil, it usually takes up to 9 business days. For returns, the store must record receipt of the item back in order for the money to be returned to your account.

Light In The Box

You can find everything at LightInTheBox – from home and garden items to hair extensions! The store attracts for its low prices and has several ways of shipping – the most expensive arrives in 3 to 5 days and the cheapest arrives in 10 to 20 days. Shipping costs are calculated only when the purchase is being completed. There are no extra tax costs. If you need to return a product, the store asks the customer to contact Customer Support via email

Nordstrom

Those looking for sophisticated and branded clothing will find paradise at Nordstrom, which now also delivers in Brazil. The shipping cost is calculated based on the items purchased, which usually arrive within a range of 5 to 13 business days. But beware: international orders do not have free returns – meaning you will have to pay the costs of shipping the product back in order to be refunded.

Deal Extreme

Technology aficionados should already know Deal Extreme, this store with a huge variety of gadgets and accessories for cheap prices. There are several shipping methods that the customer can choose from, with different prices and delivery times. For returns, you must check the warranty period and contact the store’s Customer Service via phone or live chat.

eBay

On Ebay, you can find everything you need – and what you don’t! The site offers a wide variety and diversity of sellers from all over the world – which ends up causing shipping times and costs to change from seller to seller. But, unlike regular stores, Ebay works like an auction, where you have to give the best bid to get the product.

DH Gate

DH Gate is a superstore in the same style as Aliexpress and LightInTheBox: lots of products of all kinds where the low price is a big draw. There are a total of 8 shipping options, where the shortest delivery time is 4 business days and the longest is 54 days. The site has some bureaucracy for returned items, classifying four types of returns and can take up to 90 days to return your money.

7 tips for shopping online safely

If seeing all these stores has already made you want to buy, calm down! Before putting the credit card into action, clarify all doubts with the lawyer Taisa Santana, a specialist in consumer law:

1. How are taxes collected on an online shopping site? Are they the same as clothes sold in a physical store?

Taxes applied to products sold over the internet are the same as products offered in physical stores. It is worth remembering that, in the case of international sales sites, the taxation regime is different, with international purchases being subject to fees and taxes, depending on the type of product purchased, origin and purchase price. All international purchases are subject to inspection by the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service.

2. What rights does the consumer have in an online purchase (eg right of withdrawal, exchange and return)?

In your art. 49, the Consumer Code provides that contracting the supply of services or products, outside the commercial establishment, especially by telephone or catalogues, is subject to consumer regret. The deadline for repentance, also known as the reflection period, is 7 working days, counted from the signing of the contract or receipt of the product. Thus, wishing to exercise the right of repentance, provided that acting in good faith, the amounts eventually paid are returned to the consumer. But it must be borne in mind that not every purchase made over the internet is subject to regret. For example, if the purchase of products and services over the internet is marketed as if the consumer were in a physical store, such as the purchase of movie tickets, airline tickets, etc., there is no right of regret.

Regarding returns and exchanges, regardless of the place of purchase, the consumer can withdraw in two situations: when there is a product addiction or when the purchase characterizes non-compliance with the offer. In this case, the buyer must inform the supplier about the problem and, if the company does not correct it within 30 days, they can cancel the purchase and receive their money back. If you prefer, you can demand the replacement of the defective product by a similar one, in perfect conditions of use. It is worth remembering that the Consumer Protection Code applies to national relations – if the consumer makes purchases on sites with international hosting, he must pay attention to the marketing rules in the site’s countries of origin.

3. Should stores offer different forms of payment?

The supplier of products and services is not obliged to offer different means of payment other than cash, in cash. Consumer Protection bodies clarify that the establishment is not obliged to receive a check or card, but must leave the information clearly visible so that the customer can choose the best way to pay and not suffer constraints or inconvenience. It is important to note that the amounts charged by merchants must be the same for payments in cash or by credit card.

4. How to research or see if a site is reliable and has a good reputation?

The consumer must be attentive, seek information about the site with friends or family or consult the Consumer Protection and Defense Agencies, such as Procons and IDEC (Brazilian Institute for Consumer Protection), seeking to know about the existence of complaints register. The Consumer can also check the identification of the company registration and its registration data in the National Registry of Legal Entities (CNPJ), on the website of the Federal Revenue Service of Brazil. The Fundação Procon de São Paulo makes available on its electronic portal a list of sites that should be avoided, as they had records of consumer complaints, were notified and did not respond or were not found. In some other states, it is also possible to consult complaints. Before buying, it is also important to check the company’s privacy policy and the security and protection measures available to its users.

5. Is there a regulation on delivery time?

There is still no regulation on delivery time, and what has been offered and contracted is always valid. The delivery time information must be included at the time of purchase so that the consumer can plan and analyze whether the proposed deadline meets their expectations. The consumer, therefore, is not obliged to accept late delivery, a fact that constitutes non-compliance with the offer on the part of the company. Therefore, you have the right to undo the purchase when it is in your best interest.

6. What to do if the international purchase is held by the post office?

All imported orders are subject to the control and inspection of the Federal Revenue Service of Brazil. Purchases undergo a screening of content verification and application of import taxes. Upon arrival of the goods, the packages are separated and sent to special sectors, where they are inspected and undergo taxation analysis. In this way, goods from other countries may be held for analysis and investigation. It happens that many consumers are not aware, for example, of the existence of this inspection, the release and delivery deadlines established by the Federal Revenue and Post Office, as well as the taxation values. If the international purchase was withheld, the Consumer must go to the Post Office and find out about the reasons for the retention and the release period, and, if applicable, proceed with the regularization or payment of the tax, in order to receive the goods. .

7. If the consumer has a problem with online shopping, who should they turn to?

If you have problems with online shopping, the consumer should initially try to contact the establishment, supplier of the product or service. If the problem is not resolved, you can resort to consumer protection bodies and entities, such as Procon, Idec (Consumer Defense Institute), Decon (Consumer Defense Department), or even the Judiciary. It is important that the Consumer has all records of the purchase, order, confirmations, emails exchanged, proof of payments, etc. It is worth remembering that in international purchases, where there is no representation in the country, the Consumer is restricted to complaining to the company.

Now you can take advantage of online stores and shop safely and responsibly!