Japan¡¯s National Consumers Affairs Center is raising an alert over unexpected cash-on-delivery goods.
In fiscal 2024 through March this year, the NCAC received inquiries and gave advice on problems associated with cash-on-delivery services, such as paying for delivered goods they did not order, in a record 14,013 cases, of which 66% originated from online advertisements.
In the current year, 4,498 such cases had already been reported to the center as of the end of June, roughly tripling from a year earlier.
In a case, a woman in her 40s found a pair of luxury sneakers made of genuine leather sold at some ?30,000, which represented a discount of over 50%, on a website she was directed to by a social media ad and made a cash-on-delivery order. After paying, she saw fake, artificial leather sneakers in the box and sought the center¡¯s advice on how to get a refund in April.
Meanwhile, a man in his 50s ordered a cash-on-delivery golden lantern via a website advertised on a video streaming service. However, a black lantern was delivered. He made phone calls to a product replacement center specified on the invoice, but the line was always busy. The parcel delivery firm told him that it did not know the ship-from address. He eventually asked the NCAC for help in May.
According to the consumer affairs center, the involvement of multiple businesses in cash-on-delivery makes replacement and compensation difficult.
To avoid problems, customers need to check whether correct contacts are posted on the sellers¡¯ websites while gathering information on authentic products they are buying by visiting official sites of those products¡¯ makers before placing cash-on-delivery orders, experts say.
¡°If you feel something fishy, even just a little bit, don¡¯t order it,¡± an NCAC official said.
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