Frequently Asked Questions

The e-merchant must:

Accept payment by credit card
Has set contact information, legal entity, i.e. headquarters / address / email i.e. electronic address on the website of the e-store
The unique tax number of the company is set if the e-merchant is a TAX payer
It has set a Privacy and Personal Data Protection Policy available for informing users
Has set Terms of Use
It has highlighted the prices of the products/services offered (including taxes or other costs)
It has published a Product Return Policy
All costs to which the buyer is subject, including the costs of delivery of the products, are disclosed
It has announced the deadline for the delivery of the products
It has announced the ways to pick up / deliver the products
You will receive a confirmation email for the online order

What should e-shoppers know when they see the Verified e-Merchant Badge?

And in addition, you can:

To have a policy or notice on the use of cookies (cookies) – Cookies are small text files that are recorded when you visit a website. Cookies store information about settings in the web browser, such as: language, font size, etc.
In the user registration section (or during checkout) the individual policies (without pre-ticked checkboxes) that the buyer must agree to must be clearly set
To have an SSL certificate (https) in the URL of your web store ie. in the web address of the e-shop
To highlight the card organizations with which e-payment can be made
To enable buyers to make easy corrections to delivery data

The harm from shadow economy in e-commerce

The shadow economy, also known as the informal economy, refers to economic activities that occur outside the legal framework and are often characterized by the evasion of taxes, regulations and labor protections. Although the shadow economy may seem beneficial to some individuals or businesses in the short term, it generally has negative consequences and implications for e-commerce businesses and the overall economy.

What are the negative consequences of the gray economy in e-commerce?

Unfair Competition:

In the context of e-commerce, shadow economy operators can set up online stores and platforms without adhering to the same regulations, taxes and legal requirements that legitimate e-commerce businesses must follow. This unfair competition can lead to unfair market conditions where operators in the shadow economy can offer lower prices due to their evasion of taxes and other costs.

Loss of consumer confidence:

E-commerce relies heavily on consumer trust, as customers provide personal and financial information to conduct online transactions. Shadow economy operations, without the same level of accountability and transparency, can reduce consumer confidence in online transactions, leading to less trust and reduced e-commerce activity overall.

Violations of intellectual property:

In the shadow economy, counterfeit products, pirated software and other forms of intellectual property infringement can come to the fore. E-commerce platforms can inadvertently become hosts for these illegal activities, damaging the reputation of legitimate businesses and discouraging consumers from engaging in online shopping.

Unsafe products and services:

E-commerce businesses operating in the shadow economy may offer substandard or counterfeit products. This can result with unhappy customers, negative reviews and potential legal ramifications for legitimate e-commerce businesses that maintain high quality standards.

Loss of innovation and economic development:

E-commerce businesses that are part of the gray economy can focus on short-term profits at the expense of long-term growth and innovation. This may hinder the overall progress of the e-commerce sector and limit its potential to contribute to economic development.

Weak data security:

E-commerce relies on data security and privacy to protect customer information. Operators in the shadow economy may not prioritize data security, potentially leading to breaches and exposure of sensitive customer data.

The negative impact of the shadow economy can harm the reputation of legitimate e-commerce businesses, reduce consumer confidence, hinder growth and innovation, and create an uneven playing field that undermines fairness in the e-commerce marketplace. Addressing shadow economy activities is critical to ensuring a healthy and sustainable e-commerce ecosystem.

The Association for e-commerce of Macedonia – AETM is continuously working on numerous initiatives to deal with the shadow economy in e-commerce, among which is the Badge for a verified e-merchant.