Beijing Consumers' Association blasts ZARA for ignoring consumer rights

Beijing Consumers' Association has recently criticized the Zara Commercial (Beijing) Company for ignoring the rights and interests of domestic consumers on April 20, and will write to Zara s headquarters in Spain to urge it to comply with Chinese laws.
This is the first time that the Beijing Consumers' Association has taken measures against a foreign brand for ignoring the rights and interests of domestic consumers.
The consumers' association pointed out that it had conducted three comparative tests on dress-goods (including two tests on down jackets and one test on casual pants) since 2009 and authorized a third party quality inspection institution to conduct quality tests based on national standards.
The two ZARA down jackets and one pair of ZARA casual pants were determined as sub-quality products. This situation has been informed to the company in accordance with procedures and the test results were also disclosed to the public.
However, Zara Commercial (Beijing) Company has not presented a clear attitude regarding the product quality problem. The company ignored the supervision by public opinion and never responded to the opinion of the consumers' association and consumers.
Therefore, the Beijing Consumers' Association believes Zara is holding an indifferent attitude towards the legitimate rights and interests of consumers under the protection of Chinese laws.
In addition to public criticism, the consumers association said that it will also submit a letter to Zara s headquarters in Spain in the near future, which will urge Zara Commercial (Beijing) Company to observe Chinese laws and regulations, respect the legal rights of Chinese consumers, place attention to product quality and properly handle the losses of consumers related to poor product quality.
Luo Gang, director of the Consumer Guidance Department under the Beijing Consumers Association, said on April 21 that it has sent the results of the three quality checks to Beijing s industrial and commercial authorities. The Xicheng District Bureau of Industry and Commerce has initiated an investigation on a Zara store in the district.
Luo said that if Zara still does not respond or comment, Beijing s Consumers Association will submit more letters to its headquarters, step up the checks and monitoring on the Zara brand and call on consumers to rationally deal with this foreign brand.
Luo reminded consumers that if they have bought unqualified Zara products, they can directly claim a refund or exchange at a Zara store.
By People's Daily Online
Weekly review April 20 Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail to remove luxury seats April 18 China undergoing shift into nation of consumers April 18 Zhejiang checks food, raids illegal bun makers April 19 SASS: Chinese students mentally healthier than Asian peers April 23 The week in pictures April 19 Build legal bulwark against moral decline April 21 'China model' 30 years on: from home to abroad April 21 Piano student's bloody crime heart-wrenching in China April 18 China places firmer lid on home prices April 19 China puts brake on economic bullet train