According to the General Directorate for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF), sellers of refurbished smartphones and tablets do not sufficiently inform consumers on the condition of the products.
Abnormalities observed in 62% of stores
A survey carried out between 2020 and 2021 by the Fraud Suppression revealed anomalies in 62% of the establishments inspected. Most of the time, the DGCCRF specifies that it is a lack of information “to help distinguish products restored to good condition from simple second-hand goods”. Even if your iPhone will soon tell you more precisely if its parts are original or not, the border is thin and the sellers hardly mark the difference anymore, whereas it has its importance on the quality of the products.
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The repression of fraud has officially published the results of his investigation on Monday, March 7. According to the DGCCRF press release, “the use of the term refurbished implies that the functions of the device have been tested and that it has been repaired if necessary”. On the 84 stores and online sales sites screenedthe vast majority do not sufficiently inform consumers about the true condition of the products sold.
The repression of fraud issues 27 injunctions and 26 warnings
The Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention considers that there is a “insufficient justification of the checks and tests carried out, which would make it possible to distinguish reconditioned products from simple second-hand goods”. Summary information like ” very good state “ Where ” in a perfect state ” are not enough to distinguish between used products and refurbished products. The repression of fraud thus issued 27 injunctions and 26 warnings.
The sellers concerned will have to comply with the law that prevails on the subject. Indeed, the Consumer Code requires professionals to deliver, prior to the sale to the consumer, “information relating to the essential characteristics of the property, and not only summary information”.
Another point raised by the fraud prevention investigation: information on legal warranties is often inaccurate, absent or sometimes even misleading. The results of this survey show that it is important to support the implementation of reconditioning channels to ensure optimum information for the consumer. In general, the DGCCRF calls on consumers to be attentive to the content of the information provided to them by sellers when purchasing a refurbished product.