Christmas shopping online in Spain: delivery, returns and how to avoid scams

Ordering Christmas presents online in Spain is easy, but December brings its own problems: parcels that arrive after the big day, returns that are harder than expected and fake shops that pop up just before the holidays. This guide explains your rights when you buy online from Spain, how to plan around Christmas Eve and Three Kings, and how to spot a scam before you pay. If you are shopping during the November sales, our guide to Black Friday in Spain and your rights covers the discount rules in more detail.

Plan your orders around the Spanish Christmas calendar

In Spain the present-giving season is longer than in many other countries. Some families give gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, but for many Spanish households the main day is 6 January, when the Three Kings (los Reyes Magos) bring presents. If you are new to the traditions, our article on Christmas gift ideas from Spanish shops, and when to give them explains who gives what and when.

For online orders, this means two deadlines to think about:

• Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Shops publish their own last order dates for delivery before Christmas. They are usually on the shipping or help page, and they are often earlier for islands, Ceuta and Melilla and for orders from outside Spain.
• Three Kings (6 January): Many Spanish shops also publish a cut-off for delivery before Reyes. Many couriers do not deliver on public holidays such as 1 and 6 January, so do not count on those days.
• Orders from outside the EU: Parcels from non-EU countries can be held at customs and you may have to pay VAT and handling fees before delivery. Allow extra time, or buy from a shop that ships from within the EU.

The safest approach is simple: order early, check the shop’s stated delivery date before you pay, and keep the order confirmation email.

What the law says about delivery

When you buy online from a business in Spain, consumer law sets a default delivery time. According to Consumo Responde, the consumer information service of the Junta de Andalucía, an online shop must deliver within 30 days unless you agreed another date when you bought.

If the item does not arrive on time, contact the shop in writing first and keep a record. If the shop still does not deliver, you can cancel the order and ask for your money back. If you agreed a specific date because it was essential (for example, “delivery before 24 December”), say so clearly in your order notes or messages, as that makes your claim stronger.

Returning a Christmas present bought online

For most goods bought online or by phone from a business, you have a legal right of withdrawal (derecho de desistimiento). The main points, according to Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs:

• 14 calendar days: You can cancel without giving a reason within 14 calendar days. For goods, the period starts when you receive the product. Weekends and holidays count.
• Refund deadline: The seller must refund you within 14 calendar days of being told about your decision, using the same payment method you used, unless you agreed something else.
• Return postage: You normally pay the direct cost of sending the item back, unless the shop has agreed to pay it or did not tell you beforehand that you would have to.
• Missing information: If the shop did not inform you about the right of withdrawal, the period is extended by 12 months.

There are exceptions. The right of withdrawal does not apply, for example, to items made to your specifications or clearly personalised, sealed audio, video or software once unsealed, or concert and travel tickets for a specific date. So a personalised mug or a festival ticket cannot normally be returned just because you changed your mind.

Gifts and the 14 days: The legal period counts from delivery, not from Christmas or Reyes. If you buy in early December, the legal window may close before the person opens the present. Many shops offer longer Christmas return periods as a commercial policy. Check the terms before you buy and keep the order email so the recipient can return or exchange the item.

Shops on the high street: The 14-day right is for distance purchases. In a physical shop, returns of items that are not faulty depend on the shop’s own policy, so ask before you pay.

Faulty items and the legal guarantee

A return because you changed your mind is different from a faulty product. Since 1 January 2022, new goods bought from a business in Spain have a legal guarantee of three years, according to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. If something stops working, contact the seller first. They must repair or replace the item, and in some cases give a price reduction or refund.

How to spot a fake online shop

Fake shops and fake delivery messages are common around Black Friday and Christmas. Before you pay on a site you have never used, check these points:

• The price is too good: Big brands at very large discounts on an unknown site are a classic warning sign.
• No company details: A real Spanish or EU shop should show a company name, tax number (NIF or CIF), physical address and a returns policy. Missing or copied legal pages are a red flag.
• The web address: Check the spelling of the domain carefully. Scam sites often copy a well-known brand with a small change.
• Payment methods: Be careful if the only option is a bank transfer, a payment to a private Bizum number or a voucher. A card payment with 3D Secure confirmation from your bank gives you more protection.

Fake delivery texts are another Christmas classic. A message says your parcel is waiting and asks you to pay a small fee or update your details. Do not click the link. Go to the courier’s official website or app and type the tracking number yourself. Our guide to online scams in Spain, including fake SMS from Correos and your bank shows the most common versions.

Keep your phone and computer updated, and consider security software that warns you about dangerous websites, such as Panda Security (ad). It does not replace common sense, but it adds an extra layer when you are clicking on links from unknown shops.

What to do if something goes wrong

• Contact the shop first: Write to customer service and keep copies of emails, screenshots of the product page and the order confirmation.
• Get free consumer advice: In Andalusia, Consumo Responde answers questions on its free line 900 215 080. Your town hall may also have an OMIC (municipal consumer information office).
• EU shops: If the shop is based in another EU country, the European Consumer Centre in Spain (Centro Europeo del Consumidor) can help with the complaint.
• Scams: If you paid a fake shop, call your bank at once to block the card and ask about cancelling the payment, and report it to the police. INCIBE’s free cybersecurity helpline 017 can also advise you.

FAQ: Christmas shopping online in Spain

Do the 14 days for returns start at Christmas if the item is a gift?

No. The legal 14-day period starts when the product is delivered. Some shops offer extended Christmas returns, but that is a shop policy, so check the terms when you buy.

Who pays for return postage?

Normally you do, unless the shop has agreed to pay it or did not inform you beforehand that you would have to. Many shops offer free returns, but they are not obliged to.

How long does an online shop have to deliver?

Unless you agreed another date, a shop selling to consumers in Spain must deliver within 30 days. If it does not, contact the shop in writing and ask for delivery or a refund.

What should I do if I paid a fake shop?

Contact your bank immediately, keep all evidence and report it to the police. You can also call INCIBE’s helpline on 017 for advice on what to do next.

Useful links

• Ministry of Consumer Affairs: right of withdrawal leaflet (Spanish)
• Consumo Responde: complaints about online purchases (Spanish)
• INCIBE: 017 cybersecurity helpline

Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules and prices change, so check with the official source before you decide. Links marked “(ad)” are affiliate links – NewInSpain may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.