Standard shopping – consumer rights
Standard shopping
Shopping in physical stores comes with clear trader obligations, though rules regarding returns differ significantly from online shopping.
Trader’s Information Obligations Before you complete a purchase in a physical store, the trader must provide key details in a clear manner (unless obvious from the context):
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Main Characteristics: Essential features of the goods or services.
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Trader Identity: Business name, physical address, and contact details.
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Total Price: Final price inclusive of all taxes, plus any mandatory additional fees.
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Payment & Delivery: Agreed terms for payment, delivery, performance dates, and complaint handling procedures.
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Legal Guarantee: Reminders regarding your statutory rights concerning defective goods.
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Contract Duration: Terms for cancellation or auto-renewal for ongoing contracts.
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Everyday Exemption: Traders are exempt from these disclosure rules for minor everyday purchases executed immediately (e.g., buying groceries or a newspaper).
Right of Return (Withdrawal)
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No Statutory Cooling-Off Period: Under EU and Polish law, there is no legal right to return non-defective items bought in a physical store simply because you changed your mind.
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Voluntary Store Policy: If a retailer accepts returns or exchanges for non-defective items, it is purely voluntary goodwill. The store determines its own terms (e.g., time limits, original receipt requirements, or issuing store credit instead of cash refunds)