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Study: still no EU single market when it comes to online shopping =
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 22 - 10 - 2009


The European Union"s single market was meant to
give customers a better deal by allowing them to find the cheapest
product in any member state, according to dpa.
But, while the internet may have produced virtual shopping malls
of continental proportions, most online shops still prevent foreign
customers from getting a bargain, according to a study published by
the European Commission on Thursday.
The European e-commerce market has expanded rapidly in recent
years, reaching a value of 106 billion euros (158 billion dollars) in
2006. More than half of the EU"s retailers also sell their products
over the internet.
However, a recent "mystery shopping" exercise, in which commission
officials posing as clients tried to buy 100 popular products
including digital cameras, books and CDs, found that 60 per cent of
cross-border transactions could not be completed.
This was either because the trader did not ship the product to
their country, or because it did not offer them adequate means to
make international payments.
Commenting on the findings, EU Competition Commissioner Meglena
Kuneva said the commission should now introduce new rules aimed at
helping online traders offer their goods abroad.
"Better deals and greater product choice for consumers on our vast
European market could be just a click of a mouse away. But, in
reality, online shoppers are still largely confined within national
borders. Europe"s consumers are being denied better choice and value
for money. They deserve better," Kuneva said.
One well-known electronic goods retailer, for instance, is
present in no less than 26 European countries. Its German website
sells a high-end digital camera for 1,759.90 euros (2,626 dollars) in
Germany. However, the same camera costs 132 euros more on its Irish
website.
Even allowing for shipping costs, an Irish customer would still
get a bargain by buying the product from the German website.
But the retailer does not allow them to do so, since it states
that "in the event where you want your goods delivered in another
country where (we are) present, you must purchase your order through
that site that corresponds to your country."
The commission"s study involved nearly 11,000 cross-border tests.
It found that in more than half of EU member states, at least half of
the products could be found 10 per cent cheaper from a website in
another country, even when transport costs are included.
However, a purchase made from another country could be completed
in only 39 per cent of cases.
Huge differences also exist within the 27-member bloc. For
instance, 70 per cent of the turnover made by online shops is
concentrated in three key markets: Britain, Germany and France.
Meanwhile, Latvia, Belgium, Romania and Bulgaria are the countries
where consumers are least able to buy from abroad.
The commission says the main obstacles to an EU-wide digital
single market are legal. These include fragmented consumer protection
rules and other rules on value-added Tax, recycling fees and levies.
The executive will now consult with business, consumer groups and
experts in a bid to find a solution, with a first round of talks
expected to take place in February.
--SPA


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