Returning an online purchase
If you buy online, by phone or by mail order in France, you can withdraw from the contract within 14 days without giving a reason. For goods the period normally starts on the day you receive them. Once you withdraw, the seller must refund the price, including standard delivery costs, within 14 days, but may wait until it has received the goods back.
If the item is faulty
The seller is liable for defects that already existed when you received the goods for 2 years. You can first ask for repair or replacement and, if that is impossible or fails, for a price reduction or your money back.
Who has to prove the defect
During the first 2 years after delivery, a defect is presumed to have existed already at delivery: the seller has to prove the opposite. After that, you may have to show that the fault was not caused by wear or misuse.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you have to return an online purchase in France?
If you buy online, by phone or by mail order in France, you can withdraw from the contract within 14 days without giving a reason. For goods the period normally starts on the day you receive them. Once you withdraw, the seller must refund the price, including standard delivery costs, within 14 days, but may wait until it has received the goods back.
Can you return or exchange something bought in a shop in France?
The legal right of withdrawal covers distance purchases, that is online, by phone or by mail order, not purchases made in a shop. Whether you can exchange or return something bought in a shop is up to the shop: ask before you buy and keep the receipt. If the item is faulty, the legal guarantee applies.
Which stores give you more time to return in France?
Some stores give you more than the legal 14 days, for example IKEA (365 days), Leroy Merlin (180 days), About You (30 days), adidas (30 days), Boozt (30 days), Decathlon (30 days), H&M (30 days) and La Redoute (30 days). These periods are voluntary: the store sets them and can change them, so check the terms of your order.
What if the item turns out to be faulty after the return period?
The legal guarantee still applies after the return period has ended. The seller is liable for defects that already existed when you received the goods for 2 years. You can first ask for repair or replacement and, if that is impossible or fails, for a price reduction or your money back. During the first 2 years after delivery, a defect is presumed to have existed already at delivery: the seller has to prove the opposite. After that, you may have to show that the fault was not caused by wear or misuse.
Sources
- https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F11094
- https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/shopping/guarantees/index_en.htm
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudr/2011/83/article/4/adopted
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudr/2011/83/article/9/adopted
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudr/2019/771/article/10/adopted
Read on 2026-10-02 from the sources above.