The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has revealed that shopping online with retailers outside the EU is causing problems for Irish shoppers, according to their latest helpline report for January to June 2025.
Online Shopping: Be Wary When Venturing from Irish or EU Site
I’d admit that I’ve ventured a fair bit away from shopping on Irish or EU websites. Getting products direct on AliExpress or TEMU has saved me money, cutting out the middle man who marks products up with margin. But, that doesn’t come without risk.
Shopping online is convenient given we all have busy lives. I find myself at times losing track of what I’ve ordered and being surprised there’s a delivery at the door again.
With an increase in online shopping, it’s no surprise that digital transactions are a flashpoint for frustration. Over 4,400 complaints to the CCPC so far this year were about online purchases, and almost 1 in 5 involved businesses outside the EU. Here, consumer protections can be much weaker. This reflects a tech trend: more people shop online, but not always safely.
This is one benefit when shopping with a website like Ochama, where I bought my smart rice cooker. Here you should be protected by EU law given the website ships from Dutch or Polish warehouses, inside the EU.
Protections of the EU
I never understand people who are anti-EU when you look at the protections it gives us. Data protection is one thing, but there are also massive consumer protections in place.
Grainne Griffin of the CCPC recommends “buying from businesses based in Ireland or other EU countries, where your consumer rights are strong. This means that if you buy a product online and the product doesn’t reflect the reviews – or if you’ve changed your mind – you have a 14-day right to cancel and receive a full refund.”
She continues with the classic advice of “if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Consumers should be very cautious of exclusively 5-star reviews or amazing deals that are out of step with other suppliers. Always do your research and if you spot a red flag, better to spend your money elsewhere”.
CCPC Online Tools
352,465 users visited the CCPC’s online Money Tools in the first half of 2025. These web-based tools help consumers find the best financial products, compare costs, and manage budgets – a real example of digital empowerment for consumers.
The CCPC has called for the government to create an online portal where car buyers can check a used car’s mileage, previous accidents, safety recalls, and import status. That’s a big tech-forward recommendation for consumer safety in car buying.
The CCPC also outlined that faulty goods in general and botched home improvements also top the list of complaints to the CCPC.
