July in eCommerce
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July was a busy month for online retail. From BNPL regulation finally becoming law to Amazon's latest fulfilment expansion and growing pressure on marketplaces, here's what UK retailers should know.
1. BNPL regulation brings new checks and clearer customer rights
Buy now, pay later services officially came under Financial Conduct Authority regulation on 15 July. Providers such as Klarna, Clearpay and PayPal must now carry out affordability checks, present clearer information at checkout and offer greater support when customers struggle to repay. Shoppers can also take unresolved complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Why it matters: Retailers offering BNPL should review how these options are presented and test whether the additional steps affect checkout completion. The changes may add some friction, but clearer protections could also strengthen customer confidence in BNPL.
We'll be touching on BNPL within our panel ‘The Future of Payments: Faster Checkout, Smarter AI, Safer Commerce’ on the 23rd of September at eCommerce Expo.
2. Amazon takes 30-minute grocery delivery beyond London
Amazon has launched Amazon Now in selected Manchester postcodes, its first expansion of the service outside London. Customers can order thousands of groceries, medicines and household essentials through Amazon’s website or app for delivery in around 30 minutes. The service uses smaller fulfilment centres positioned close to residential areas.
Why it matters: Rapid delivery is moving towards a feature offered by major retail platforms. Grocery retailers and delivery partners will need to decide where speed actually improves the customer experience and where the added fulfilment cost is difficult to justify.
We'll be chatting further about what the future of delivery looks like within our panel 'The Future of Post-Purchase: From Tracking Links to Predictive Customer Journeys' on the 23rd of September at eCommerce Expo.
3. Visa moves AI-assisted shopping into live European checkouts
Visa has completed live European transactions in which assistants searched for products, selected items and started purchases on behalf of shoppers. The transactions took place on participating merchant websites, including Frasers and lastminute.com, rather than within controlled test stores. Customers still set the rules and explicitly authorise the payment.
Why it matters: This is an early but practical step towards customers buying through AI services rather than visiting a retailer’s website directly. Retailers will need product information that outside systems can understand, alongside controls that distinguish trusted shopping tools from fraudulent traffic.
4. EU fines AliExpress €550m over unsafe and counterfeit goods
The European Commission has fined AliExpress €550m for failing to properly assess and reduce the risk of illegal, unsafe and counterfeit products being sold through its marketplace. The platform has also been ordered to take corrective action, with further penalties possible if it does not comply.
Why it matters: Marketplaces are being held more responsible for what third-party sellers list. Retailers operating marketplaces, selling into the EU or competing against overseas platforms should expect stronger checks around seller identity, product safety and the evidence supporting product claims.
5. eBay simplifies international selling for UK businesses
eBay is bringing its International Shipping programme to the UK from August. Sellers will send orders to a UK hub, after which eBay will handle customs paperwork, duties, overseas delivery and post-sale support. It will also manage international buyer returns without taking the refund from the seller’s payout.
Why it matters: Customs administration and international returns can make overseas growth unprofitable for smaller retailers. By taking responsibility for more of the process, eBay is lowering the operational risk of testing new markets and could encourage more UK sellers to offer international delivery.
6. Etsy lets UK sellers pay EU duties before parcels are sent
Etsy has become the first marketplace to offer Royal Mail’s new duties-paid service for EU deliveries. Duties are calculated and collected when the seller purchases postage through Etsy, helping prevent customers from receiving unexpected charges when an order arrives. The launch follows new EU customs requirements introduced on 1 July.
Why it matters: Unexpected customs charges are a common cause of refused deliveries, complaints and returns. Collecting duties before dispatch gives customers a clearer final price and provides a practical model for UK retailers reviewing their own European delivery experience.
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