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Speaking of legislation, today is the deadline for the country's lawmakers to collect public
opinion on a draft of a revised national consumers' rights law. One key part involves protecting
the interests of online shoppers. Here in Shanghai, more and more expats are trying
to get involved in online shopping. Our reporter Zhang Jun has more on how they're learning
to do it.
Dorene Munoz says the terra cotta soldier she bought online last week looked like this
when the courier delivered it. She got her money back. But Munoz is using it as a teaching
tool at the weekly Taobao for Expats class that she started teaching this month at an
office of the Shanghai Community Center. Munoz says she's placed more than 600 online orders
in the past year and a half. And she says breakage isn't the only problem.
"When you are looking at something, you have to be careful of what you are buying. But
you can also tell by the price. If it's 10 yuan RMB and should be a hundred. Then most
likely, it's fake," she said.
Her students say they come to learn the skills of online shopping here so they can avoid
problems and meet family demands.
"My most fear is maybe using if have to use my credit card that somehow it gets identity
stolen, also what kind of product I'm actually getting, if the courier's going to deliver
products on time in good shape like that says they were supposed to be. That's probably
my biggest concerns," said Steve Jarrett.
"The reason why I have to learn is my son, one of my sons, are graduating this year.
And I have to find so many products and things for the graduation party. And I am running
all over China, trying to find specific items and my friends told me, Jude, you should learn
how to use Taobao," said Jude Barrett.
Shanghai officials say as the number of online shoppers increases, they've received more
than 7,000 complaints this year alone. That's 15 percent higher than in the first five months
of last year. Many of them involve couriers or the quality of the merchandise. That's
one reason the draft of the country's new consumer rights law requires all sellers to
provide their addresses and other contact information.
"Now, complaints involving online shopping account for 16 percent of the total complaints
we receive every year. Many of them say that sellers provide inconsistent information.
With the new law, I believe the number will gradually decrease as both buyers and sellers
become more familiar with the process," said Fan Qiang.
Fan says the country's new law will probably give buyers seven days to get a refund for
things they buy online. But some experts say a new law could cause new problems if it means
some customers buy goods that they intend to return right away.