Do you like surprises and packages? For several months, certain companies have been reselling packages that have never found their recipients. This fashionable practice in neighboring countries has raised many questions in Luxembourg. The Minister of Consumer Protection, Martine Hansen (CSV), as well as the Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Margue (CSV) provided a response on the issue of “lost packages”.
Although this type of store does not exist permanently in Luxembourg, over the last year, ephemeral sales of lost and unclaimed packages have been observed. These pop-up stores, also present online, allowed certain buyers to obtain packages whose contents they did not know. Different organizations have looked into this type of practice in order to protect consumers.
The ILR, “proactive” in the fight against illegal trade
Concerned about the dangerous practices that this market entails, the Luxembourg Regulatory Institute (ILR) contacted the foreign company behind the various sales. The parliamentary question made public testifies to the verification of the conformity of the company’s activity on Luxembourg territory.
This company redistributes parcels of foreign origin. According to the amended law of December 26, 2012 on postal services, recalled in the press release, the ILR is “exclusively responsible for the processing of undeliverable items originating in Luxembourg territory, and determines the ownership thereof. right in order to allow the return of the shipment. The institute also wishes to emphasize that “if the right holder cannot be identified, the ILR then decides the fate of these shipments in question”. This law reflects the inability of the ILR to take up the subject. Indeed, the organization is not legally authorized to intervene if packages originating from other countries are put on sale in Luxembourg.
-The Consumers’ Union “remains vigilant”
Consumer law also requires the intervention of another body. The Luxembourg Consumers’ Union (ULC) also looked into the issue. She notes that there is, at present, no valid reason to prevent this type of practice. The companies that resell these packages do not make customers hope that they can find valuable items inside the packages.
On the other hand, the ULC mentions certain risks which were identified by Stiftung Warentest, a German organization which defends consumers. A report, published on January 13 this year, mentions risks for consumer protection. It also mentions several problems concerning the protection of minors and an age restriction necessary to acquire these packages. This report also raises the question of the conditions for returning goods and the absence of the right of withdrawal.
The consumer protection department is planning to raise awareness about this type of market and is preparing an informative campaign on social networks.
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