Canada's Office of Consumer Affairs publishes short advice for online shoppers. Here are its main points. The page does not address cancellation rights, so check your province's rules separately.

This guide is based on the public sources listed at the end. We have not tested the products or services mentioned.

This is a short reference page. The full guide is Online Shopping Rights and Returns: UK, EU, US and Canada Compared.

Before you buy

  • Check the vendor's physical location and contact details.
  • Look for legitimate reviews or industry memberships.
  • Find out whether you are buying from the retailer or from a third-party seller, because this affects pricing, returns and shipping.
  • Read the sale terms and the shipping, complaint, return and exchange policies, and save a copy. Walk away if terms are missing or too complicated.

Payment and privacy

  • Use secure payment. Be wary of sites asking for card details before a secure page, or pushing quick decisions.
  • Avoid vendors with no privacy policy, and find out why they collect your information.

Records and reporting

  • Keep product details, prices and order information.
  • Report foreign vendor issues to econsumer.gov and health or safety concerns to Health Canada.

Duties and taxes

Goods ordered from abroad can have duty and taxes added. See our guide to duty and tax on parcels coming into Canada and the general before-you-buy checklist.

Last checked: 15 October 2026. Sources: Office of Consumer Affairs, online shopping.