I was wondering how they were going to protect intermediaries from the growth of desintermediation platforms were consumers buy things from the factories or just the next link on the chain down from that.
Because intermediaries are the ones making lots of money importing the same stuff as people are now buying direct, putting a label on it, and selling it locally for at least 3x the price and their business model is threatened by consumers buying directly from the places were all the factories are.
Mind you, I’m all for less stuff being made in China and more in Europe, I just don’t think the Commission is doing this for that reason, since historically they tend to do what’s best for “business” and a lot of “business” in Europe is just being a brand for junk made in China or some other non-European country with cheap labour.
Keep in mind: If you order a device directly from China, you become the importer of that device. This includes liability, e.g. for damage caused by a faulty product.
The importer into the EU is liable. They may have an insurance for covering the claims. But usually private individuals ordering directly from wish, temu, ali express, … don’t have that insurance.
Yes. If you buy from a commercial importer, that company is liable. But, as I said, if a private individual buys directly from China, that person is liable for the damages done due to a faulty product. So as a private individual you’d need that insurance, not only if you decide to resell the product. If your usb charger from AliExpress bursts into flames and burns down your house, harming your neighbour you are liable. If you bought it from an importer, the importer would be liable.
Makes sense. Same as you’re liable if you use a candle and it catches something on fire or forget a water tap open during the day and it overflows flooding your appartment and the one of your neighbour below.
I was wondering how they were going to protect intermediaries from the growth of desintermediation platforms were consumers buy things from the factories or just the next link on the chain down from that.
Because intermediaries are the ones making lots of money importing the same stuff as people are now buying direct, putting a label on it, and selling it locally for at least 3x the price and their business model is threatened by consumers buying directly from the places were all the factories are.
Mind you, I’m all for less stuff being made in China and more in Europe, I just don’t think the Commission is doing this for that reason, since historically they tend to do what’s best for “business” and a lot of “business” in Europe is just being a brand for junk made in China or some other non-European country with cheap labour.
Keep in mind: If you order a device directly from China, you become the importer of that device. This includes liability, e.g. for damage caused by a faulty product.
That’s what business insurance is for.
Its cost per-item is well below the price markup.
The importer into the EU is liable. They may have an insurance for covering the claims. But usually private individuals ordering directly from wish, temu, ali express, … don’t have that insurance.
And the importer gets business insurance to cover it which is what one should get if importing to resell to others.
Yes. If you buy from a commercial importer, that company is liable. But, as I said, if a private individual buys directly from China, that person is liable for the damages done due to a faulty product. So as a private individual you’d need that insurance, not only if you decide to resell the product. If your usb charger from AliExpress bursts into flames and burns down your house, harming your neighbour you are liable. If you bought it from an importer, the importer would be liable.
Makes sense. Same as you’re liable if you use a candle and it catches something on fire or forget a water tap open during the day and it overflows flooding your appartment and the one of your neighbour below.
By yeah, it’s a valid point.
Yes. I don’t know if importing products from abroad is covered by the usual private liability insurances.