Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov proposed introducing new rules for the return of goods on marketplaces. In particular, we are talking about creating a list of categories to which the non—refund rule will apply, similar to how it is implemented when selling airline tickets. The initiative is motivated by the desire to protect sellers from unscrupulous buyers, who, especially during the holidays, make massive returns of used goods.
According to the minister, such actions create a significant burden on business, as returns of goods with signs of use lead to losses and forced increases in final prices for all consumers. The senators have already supported the idea and stated the need to determine the list of goods before the New Year season.
Marketplaces reacted to the offer in different ways. Ozon noted that they welcome efforts to restore order in the field of refunds and expressed their willingness to participate in the development of new mechanisms. Representatives of the platform recalled that they are already applying control measures: from photofixation of packaging to inspection of goods by employees at pick-up points.
Yandex Market stated that they do not record serious problems with returns, emphasizing that most of the claims are related to discrepancies between the photos of the product and its actual appearance. The company advocates for improving the quality of product cards and offers to expand opportunities for direct interaction between buyers and sellers.
Wildberries expressed themselves more cautiously, noting that the issue requires a delicate approach and should not be solved solely through strict regulation. The company insists on the need to take into account the interests of all participants in the platform — both buyers, sellers, and regulatory authorities. They also stressed that refunds on their platform account for a small proportion of the total volume of orders.
Thus, the marketplace market in Russia is on the verge of possible changes. The introduction of non-refundable categories can be a step towards reducing abuse, but requires a balanced approach and a flexible regulatory system.
