Can I return goods within 14 days, no reason given?
Yes — but only if you bought at a distance, that is online or by phone. The right to withdraw within 14 days without giving a reason attaches to contracts concluded at a distance or off business premises. If you bought in a physical shop and simply changed your mind, the seller is under no obligation to take the goods back or refund you — whatever they offer is a matter of goodwill, not law. On withdrawal, the seller refunds the price paid and you return the goods. The key distinction: withdrawal within 14 days cancels the contract and needs no reason, whereas a defect claim deals with a fault — and that runs for 24 months, in a physical shop too.
📋 The rules
- The 14-day withdrawal applies to distance purchases
- It also covers contracts made off business premises
- No reason need be given
- In a physical shop the seller need not take goods back
- Withdrawal cancels the contract; a claim deals with a defect
🔓 Exceptions
- Many shops accept returns voluntarily — that is their policy, not the law
- Custom-made and perishable goods are excluded from the right of withdrawal
- A defect claim runs 24 months, in a physical shop as well
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The risk here is not yours but the seller's, if they refuse the withdrawal. If you bought at a distance, you have 14 days to withdraw without a reason — and the seller is obliged to refund the price paid. On refusal, send a written withdrawal (keep proof of sending) and then complain to the trade inspection. Beware two errors: "I have 14 days to return anything" — no, in a physical shop you have no such right; and "if I changed my mind, that is a defect claim" — it is not, a claim deals with a fault, not a change of heart. Custom-made and perishable goods are excluded from the right of withdrawal.
📎 Official sources
- Slovak Trade Inspection →
- Slov-Lex · Consumer protection in distance selling →
- European Consumer Centre Slovakia →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I return goods bought in a shop?
Not as of right. The 14-day withdrawal without a reason applies only to distance purchases or contracts made off business premises. If a shop accepts a return, that is goodwill.
Do I have to give a reason?
No. On a distance purchase you may withdraw from the contract within 14 days without giving any reason at all. The seller refunds the price paid and you return the goods.
What is the difference between withdrawal and a defect claim?
Withdrawal within 14 days cancels the contract and needs no reason. A defect claim deals with a fault in the goods and can be brought for 24 months — including on a purchase made in a physical shop.
Are there exceptions?
Yes. Custom-made goods and perishable goods are excluded from the right of withdrawal, along with certain other categories set out in the legislation.
What if the seller refuses my withdrawal?
Send the withdrawal in writing and keep proof of sending. If they still refuse, complain to the Slovak Trade Inspection, or to the European Consumer Centre if you bought from abroad.
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