Lancashire firms 'must help online shoppers'

11:32 10th March 2010

Businesses in Lancashire are less likely to deal with product returns if they introduce use online retail services, new figures have suggested.

A survey by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has revealed that two-thirds of consumers are less likely to return goods when they buy online compared to purchases made on the high street.

However, the figures also highlighted that firms should consider increasing the information they release in regards to returns, as 77 per cent of people do not know there are differences between online and high street consumer rights.

More than one in ten also claimed they are not sure of their rights with online purchases.

Consumer minister Kevin Brennan said: "We are now Europe's biggest online shoppers, so it's important we all know that most online goods can be returned with no questions asked within seven days.

"We want confident consumers who can assert their rights and get a good deal."

Earlier this week, a study by Forrester Research revealed that the online retail market is expected to reach a value of €114 billion (£103 billion) by 2014, with the number of shoppers using web services expected to rise to 190 million.

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