Dropshipping
Dropshipping - Engelska
Have you purchased something online from a company claiming to be Swedish? Have you later found out that the item was sent to you from outside the EU? Have you had to pay extra unexpected charges? If so, you may have been shopping from a dropshipping company.
Translated page: This text has been translated from Swedish. The text and appearance of the page may look different from the original page.
Your legal rights when shopping online
You have the right to lodge a complaint about a product if it is broken, does not work or does not match the company’s description.
You have the right of withdrawal and return for 14 days from the date you receive or pick up the item.
Companies must clearly inform you of the total price before you make your purchase. You should not be charged extra fees afterwards.
Learn about dropshipping
Dropshipping means that you buy a product from a company that sells goods online but does not hold its own stock.
When you place an order, the company passes your order on to its supplier, who then ships the product directly to your home. The supplier may be based outside the EU, which can affect both delivery times and the rules that apply.
Even though the product is shipped directly from the supplier, the company you bought it from is usually your contractual party. This means that if something goes wrong, you should contact the seller rather than the supplier. For example, this could be if the product is not delivered, arrives damaged or does not match its description.
Websites that use this type of business model are often advertised on social media.
How can you tell if a business is using dropshipping?
It is not always obvious that a business uses dropshipping when you shop online. However, there are some signs that may indicate that you are buying from a company that uses this business model.
Look out for the following examples:
Inadequate information about delivery times
Check the delivery time before completing your purchase. The supplier is usually based outside the EU. This means that delivery may take longer than expected. The company you buy the product from does not control the delivery process. As a result, information about delivery times may be inadequate.
Unclear address or a private individual’s address
The company's address must always be provided on the website. If the company lists the address of a private individual, it may be a sign that the business uses dropshipping. If returns are to be sent to the supplier, the supplier's address must also be provided on the website.
Spelling mistakes or poor translations
Sometimes a website may contain language errors or awkward translations. Some websites use text that has been translated directly into Swedish without proper review. If you notice spelling mistakes or sentences that are poorly written, it may be a sign that the business uses dropshipping.
Dropshipping itself is not an illegitimate business model. However, it is worth knowing that some dishonest traders use this business model.
Are you unsure whether the website you want to shop from is legitimate? There are many things you can do to reduce the risk of being scammed:
1. Search online and read what others say about the company
You can often find websites where other customers have left reviews of the company. Also check whether the company is active on social media and what others have written there. Do not rely solely on customer reviews published on the company’s own website. Critical comments may not be published, and some reviews may be fake.
2. Check that the company provides clear and reliable contact details
The company should provide its telephone number, address, email address and company registration number. If contact details are missing, you should be cautious. Without them, it can be difficult to verify who you are buying from. You may also find it harder to get in touch with the company if there is a problem with the delivery.
3. Pay after delivery
If possible, it may be a good idea not to pay when you place the order. Paying after delivery provides extra protection if, for example, the product is not delivered on time or is faulty.
If you pay by credit card or by invoice, your purchase is also covered by the Swedish Consumer Credit Act. This gives you additional protection. If a problem arises, you can contact the creditor, that is, the card issuer (your bank) or the company that issued the invoice, and request a refund.
Your rights regarding dropshipping
The price of the item you purchase must be be clear and accurate. Additional charges, such as customs fees, and other costs must also be indicated. The total price for your purchase must always be clearly presented before you complete the purchase.
You should not have to leave the order page to find the correct price information. It is not acceptable for the information to be provided through a link to another webpage or in the company's terms and conditions.
Has the company failed to clearly inform you of the total price of your purchase before you complete the order? If so, you are not required to pay any additional charges.
As a general rule, you have a 14-day right of withdrawal when shopping at a distance, for example online. These rules apply in both Sweden and the EU.
Tell the company that you want to cancel
You must inform the company that you wish to cancel your purchase within 14 days, starting from the day after you received or collected the product.
Contact the company in writing. This will allow you to prove that you exercised your right of withdrawal. If the company claims that you did not cancel the purchase, you will need evidence showing that you did so within the deadline. For example, this could be an email.
If you do not have the company's contact details, check your order confirmation or the terms and conditions on the company's website.
If you cancel before receiving the product
Has the product already arrived at a collection point? If so, you should still collect it, even if you have already cancelled the purchase. Many companies charge a fee for uncollected items.
If the company tells you that you do not need to collect the product, make sure you receive this information in writing, or that it is clearly stated in the company's terms and conditions.
Pay to return the product
You may have to pay the cost of returning the product if this is stated in the terms and conditions you accepted when making the purchase.
If the company requires you to return the product to a country other than the one where it is registered, this must also be stated in the terms and conditions.
When the company must refund you
Once you inform the company that you wish to cancel the purchase, it has 14 days to refund you.
To receive a refund, the company must have received the product back, or you must be able to show that you have returned it.
You have the right to make a complaint if there is an original defect in the product you have purchased. When you make a complaint, you are reporting a fault with the product. You can request that the product is repaired or replaced. If the fault is significant or cannot be resolved, you may be entitled to a refund.
You have at least a two-year right to complain when buying from a company based in the EU, Norway, Iceland or the UK. Some countries provide a longer period. In Sweden, you have a three-year right to complain.
If you purchase from a country outside the EU, you may not be protected by EU consumer legislation.
If a company targets Swedish consumers, Swedish consumer law should apply. However, it can sometimes be difficult to determine whether a website is directed at consumers in Sweden. Swedish law may apply if:
- the website is in Swedish
- you can pay in Swedish currency
- the company provides a telephone number beginning with +46
- the website address ends in .se
Who should you complain to?
You should make your complaint to your contractual party. In most dropshipping cases, this is the company you bought the goods from, not the supplier. However, there may be exceptions, and an assessment may need to be made in your individual case.
If you do not have the company's contact details, check your order confirmation or the terms and conditions on the company's website.
A product is considered delayed if:
- You do not receive the product within the promised delivery time. The promised delivery time is the time stated when you make the purchase, for example in the terms and conditions or in the order confirmation.
- No delivery time has been promised or agreed, and at least 30 days have passed since the purchase without the product being delivered.
Write to the company and request delivery
Your first step is to ask the company to fulfil its part of the contract and deliver the product. Contact the company in writing and request delivery of the delayed product.
When requesting delivery, you must give the company a reasonable additional period to deliver the product. This means setting a final date by which the product must be delivered. The company must be given a reasonable opportunity to deliver the product.
You may also be entitled to compensation for costs incurred as a result of the delay. You can only claim compensation for costs or financial loss that you can prove, for example by providing receipts.
If you do not have the company's contact details, check your order confirmation or the terms and conditions on the company's website.
Request to terminate the contract if you do not receive the product
Alternatively, you can request to terminate the contract. This means that the purchase is cancelled. You no longer have to pay for the product, and the company no longer has to deliver it.
You can terminate the contract if you have given the company a reasonable additional period to deliver the product and that period has passed without the product being delivered.
Contact the company and tell them that you want to terminate the contract.
If you have already paid for the product, you can request a refund from the company.
If you have already paid for the goods, a rescission means that you can insist on a refund from the company.
On 1 July, a customs fee of EUR 3 was introduced for goods valued at up to EUR 150. It applies when you shop online and the item is shipped from a country outside the EU.
Read more about the new customs fee on the Swedish Customs website:
New customs fee from 1 July 2026 (The Swedish Customs website, information in Swedish)
If you purchase an item from a company outside of the EU, you need to pay VAT. You might also need to pay customs duty. This also applies when the company you have a contract with has forwarded your order to a supplier outside the EU.
The amount of customs duty varies for different goods, depending upon declared value of the goods and what classification the goods fall into. The basic rule is that you are obligated to pay customs duty if the declared value of the goods exceeds SEK 1,800.
You are always required to pay VAT. For most goods, the VAT rate is 25%.
The Swedish Customs Service describes any charges that may apply when you shop online from a vendor outside of the EU.
If you do not pay the customs duty, there is a risk that you will not receive the item.
The company must inform you of any additional charges and costs, before you make the purchase. If the company has not informed you of the total price of the purchase before the transaction is made, you are not legally bound to pay these costs. You have the option of paying the customs duty under protest and subsequently claiming reimbursement of the customs duty paid from the company.
Further information about customs duties on the Swedish Customs website
According to EU regulations, all products sold must be safe, regardless of where they were manufactured.
Product Safety
The Product Safety Act and the EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) require that products offered to consumers must be safe. To prevent dangerous goods and services from reaching you, there are obligations that companies must fulfill.
Product safety act and the EU general product safety regulation
CE Marking
Many products must be CE marked to be sold in the EU. A CE mark means that the manufacturer guarantees that the product meets the safety requirements set by the EU for that specific product. Without the marking, it may not be sold within the EU. The manufacturer is responsible for determining whether a product must be CE marked or not.
Examples of products that must be CE marked include:
- toys
- electrical household equipment
- machinery
- fireworks
- life jackets
- helmets
All products must be safe, but not all are allowed to carry the CE mark. Examples of products that may not be CE marked include furniture, pacifiers, and children’s products.
Content of hazardous substances
When you buy a product from a company within the EU, you have the right to know whether it contains any of the hazardous substances included on the EU’s Candidate List.
About the Candidate List on the Swedish Chemicals Agency website (in Swedish)
If you buy products from a company outside the EU, it may be difficult to obtain information about the product contains and whether it contains any hazardous substances.
If your product is not safe
If you have bought a product that is not safe, you should not use it. It could cause injury.
If the product does not meet the requirements that exist, you should make a complaint to the company you bought the product from.
How to complain against a defective product
Report deficiencies
You can report deficiencies to the Swedish Chemicals Agency, the Swedish Consumer Agency, or the Swedish Electrical Safety Authority.
Swedish Chemicals Agency (Kemi)
You can inform the Swedish Chemicals Agency about goods (e.g. toys, clothes, shoes or electronics) that cause health problems or that you suspect contain dangerous substances.
You can also inform them of electronics or toys that do not have CE marking.
Contact the Swedish Chemicals Agency
The Swedish Consumer Agency
You can report products with inadequate product safety to us at the Swedish Consumer Agency.
Report to the Swedish Consumer Agency
The National Electrical Safety Board
Do you have an electrical product that is dangerous, does not meet the requirements or that you feel interferes with other equipment? Then you can report the product to the National Electrical Safety Board.
If you encounter problem
If you and the company do not agree, you may have the opportunity to seek further assistance.
If you paid by card
If you paid by card, you can make a so-called charge-back request. Contact your bank to see if they can help you with a refund.
You can made a charge-back request regardless of the type of card you used. However, if you paid by credit card, you have stronger protection than if you used a regular debit card.
If you paid by credit card or invoice
When you pay by credit card or invoice, you have the right under the Consumer Credit Act to get help from your credit provider if you encounter problems. The law states that you can make the same claims against the credit provider as you can against the company. This means you can demand a refund from the credit provider, such as the bank or the invoice company, if the company does not refund you.
Contact your bank or credit provider to find out how to proceed.
If you paid in another way
Are you and the company unable to reach an agreement, and you cannot get help from your bank or credit provider? Another option is to file a complaint with the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes (ARN).
ARN will assess your case and then recommend how your dispute should be resolved. Most companies follow ARN’s recommendations.
A typical processing time is about 6 months.
What does it cost to file a complaint with ARN?
It costs SEK 150 to file a complaint with ARN. When you submit your complaint, you can request that the company compensates you for the cost if ARN makes a recommendation in your favour.
Requirements for ARN to consider your case
- The company has either rejected your claims or has not responded within a reasonable time.
- The amount you and the company disagree on exceeds the value limit set by ARN. You cannot include the application fee to ARN.
- You file the complaint within one year from the first time you complained to the company.
If you believe that a company's marketing is incorrect or misleading, you can let us know by submitting a report.
Submitting a report to us will not result in help with your individual case. However, your report may help protect other consumers in the future.
Proofread: 20 April 2026
The content is presented in collaboration with ECC Sweden, which is part of the ECC network and the Swedish Consumer Agency's information service. ECC Sweden is part-financed by the European Union.
The content of this website represents the views of the author only and it is his/her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the European Innovation Council and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Executive Agency (EISMEA) or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.
