The trend of online shopping in Montenegro is constantly increasing, which is why it is necessary to pass a new law in the field of electronic commerce, according to the Chamber of Commerce (PKCG).
The Chamber explained that the field of electronic commerce is regulated by the Consumer Protection Act in the part that refers to distance sales, that is, sales outside business premises and the conclusion of contracts at a distance.
– Since the Law on Electronic Commerce, which should regulate this area, has not been changed since 2013, it is necessary to adopt a new law and in accordance with it, amend the Law on Internal Trade – the Chamber said.
Electronic commerce, as they explained, has become a key factor in changes in the way of doing business and consumer behavior around the world, so under the influence of global trends of digitization and growth of e-commerce, Montenegro also faced challenges and potentials in that domain.
– The popularity of online trade has increased especially after the emergence of the covid pandemic, when it appears as one of the basic needs for the successful operation of all types of companies. The growth of electronic commerce with the arrival of the pandemic was an inevitability that changed the way of doing business and the habits of customers, who became more open to online shopping – said PKCG.
The results of the research in Montenegro for the year 2020 show that as many as 175 respondents tried online payments for the first time, just during the corona.
According to Monstat research, the percentage of those who bought or ordered goods or services in the last year is 47%. The types of goods or services that individuals most often ordered or bought online were clothing, sports products 80.4%, food or drink delivery 34.6%, cosmetic products 17.5%, toys, furniture 21.1%, movies, music 14.3%, video games, other computer software and their accessories 10.3%.
– What contributed to the increased trust in online commerce are the greater availability of online stores, additional shopping benefits such as discounts and gifts, harmonization of regulations and consumer protection as an element accompanying online payments, as well as, above all, more intensive education – said PKCG.
The user, as it is added, gains confidence in the online shopping process when he understands that it does not matter whether he paid for the goods with a card in a physical or online store, because the transactions are protected by the same security mechanisms, and in addition, he has a registered and irrefutable proof of his transaction , which is why he is consequently entitled to a replacement of the goods or a refund.
