Am I allowed to return something I bought in Sweden?
It depends how you bought it and why you want to return it. If you bought at a distance (online, phone) or off-premises you have a 14-day right of withdrawal under the Distance Contracts Act — money back with no reason given, and the seller must refund within 14 days. If you bought in store and simply changed your mind there is no statutory right of withdrawal; open purchase and exchange are voluntary offers whose terms the shop sets itself. If the item is faulty, a 3-year right of complaint always applies (Consumer Sales Act), and a fault appearing within 2 years is presumed to have existed at purchase. Opened hygiene goods and made-to-measure items are among those excluded from withdrawal.
📋 The rules
- Distance purchase (online): 14-day withdrawal, no reason
- In-store purchase (change of mind): no statutory right
- Open purchase and exchange are voluntary offers
- Faulty item: 3-year right of complaint (Consumer Sales Act)
- A fault within 2 years is presumed present at purchase
🔓 Exceptions
- Sealed hygiene goods once opened are not covered by withdrawal
- Custom-made or made-to-measure goods are excluded
- Perishables, unsealed media and date-specific bookings are excluded
⚠️ Penalties & fines
This is civil law, not fines. If the seller will not accept your claim, the dispute goes instead to the National Board for Consumer Disputes (ARN): filing costs 150 kr and the process takes about six months, often longer than you can stand having the item sit unused. On withdrawal the seller must refund within 14 days. The Consumer Agency supervises and Hallå konsument (0771-525 525) gives free guidance. The real cost is the missed deadline: withdraw from a distance purchase too late and you have nothing left to invoke.
📎 Official sources
- Hallå konsument · Distance Contracts Act →
- Consumer Agency · Consumer Sales Act →
- Consumer Sales Act (2022:260) · Riksdagen →
❓ Frequently asked
Do I have a right to return something bought in a shop?
No, not if you simply changed your mind — there is no statutory right of withdrawal for purchases in a physical shop. Open purchase and exchange are voluntary, and the shop sets the terms and deadlines itself.
How long is the withdrawal right for an online purchase?
14 days from when you received the item, and you need give no reason. The right covers distance purchases and purchases off-premises, and the seller must refund your money within 14 days of your notice.
What applies if the item is broken?
Then you have a 3-year right of complaint under the Consumer Sales Act, wherever you bought it. A fault appearing within 2 years is presumed to have existed at purchase, so the seller must prove otherwise.
What is the difference between withdrawal and open purchase?
Withdrawal is a statutory right that only covers distance and off-premises purchases. Open purchase is the shop's voluntary offer, which it can limit or withdraw whenever it likes — it is not a right.
What does it cost to file a dispute with ARN?
Filing with the National Board for Consumer Disputes costs 150 kr and the process takes about six months. Before that you can get free guidance from Hallå konsument on 0771-525 525, and the Consumer Agency supervises.
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