Shopping in Nepal

Trade, including wholesale and retail, represented 53.94% of all establishments and 30.6% of the workforce in Nepal according to the National Economic Census 2018. Trade contributed approximately 15.39% of gross domestic product in fiscal year 2022/23. Registered and unregistered businesses operate alongside one another, so product choice, receipts, formal complaint channels and return practices can differ between sellers. A bazaar is a local market area, while a haat bazaar is a periodic market. Other shopping channels include departmental stores, malls, specialist shops, online marketplaces, digital haat bazar services and social-media commerce. For groceries, compare the price, quantity, packaging, manufacturer and address, batch or lot information, manufacture date, expiry date and safety information. Food standards and label requirements are supported by the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control and the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology. Personal and household-care products also require checks of price, quantity, label, origin, expiry and safety. Products that need a special licence or approval follow their specific rules. Clothing is commonly sold through bazaars, stores, malls and online channels. Check size, material, stitching or other quality features and the seller's disclosed exchange or return policy. A seller does not generally have to accept a return merely because a buyer changed their mind when no defect or mismatch exists. A return, exchange or refund may be available when the product does not match its description or is defective, subject to the applicable rules and disclosed conditions. For mobile phones and other technology, check the model, seller, manufacturer, origin, warranty or guarantee and return conditions. Before buying a mobile device, check its IMEI through the Nepal Telecommunications Authority's Mobile Device Management System, known as NTA-MDMS. Buying or selling an unregistered device is illegal. An imported phone may require customs declaration and individual registration through the applicable process. The Electronic Commerce Act 2081 (2025) applies throughout Nepal. It covers a registered or licensed firm, company or institution that sells through a website, app, software service, marketplace or social-media channel, including a foreign provider serving Nepal. Online listings must disclose product characteristics, the final price including applicable tax, delivery charges, precautions, delivery date or time, payment method, warranty, producer, country of origin, after-sales terms, returnability and return period, cancellation terms, manufacturing or expiry date, understandable terms and conditions, and a review or grievance mechanism. An electronic purchase contract is valid. Payment may occur before, during or after purchase, including payment to a delivery service provider. The business must provide an invoice and receipt immediately, and delivery must follow the agreed terms. If an unused and undamaged product differs from its description, the buyer can return it unconditionally under the applicable online-commerce rules and receive an equivalent exchange or a refund including applicable tax. A defect, late delivery or other non-conformity can support cancellation, return and refund. Nepal does not have a generally established 14-day online withdrawal period for every purchase. Payments in Nepal include cash, bank cards, prepaid cards, mobile banking, internet banking, e-wallets, QR payments, connectIPS, interbank transfers and point-of-sale terminals. Nepal Rastra Bank regulates and licenses payment service operators and payment service providers. Cross-border QR payments, including approved UPI, WeChat Pay and Alipay networks, are available only through permitted arrangements. Foreign-currency payments and imported purchases remain subject to applicable federal rules. For overseas orders, customs, foreign exchange, shipping and possible taxes can affect the final cost. The Consumer Protection Act 2075 supports access to goods, choice of quality products at fair competitive prices, information about price, quantity, purity, quality and ingredients, product safety, compensation and a hearing or remedy. Producers, sellers and service providers are responsible for quality, appropriate labelling, honest advertising and compensation where their conduct causes legally recognized harm. For an unresolved problem, contact the business grievance unit electronically, in writing or in person first. A complaint can then be submitted through the Consumer Rights Management Information System of the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection. The submission generally records the complainant's name, permanent address and contact details, the shop or organization, its address, the subject and supporting evidence in PDF, JPG or PNG format up to 5 MB. A compensation claim for damage must be brought within six months of the damage date. Online sellers must state the delivery date, time or period, but Nepal has no single nationwide delivery service level or return period covering every seller and product. Access to shops, delivery reliability and return handling vary with location, logistics and season. Nepalese rupees, written as NPR, are the usual price reference. Online prices must include applicable tax, while delivery charges may be listed separately. Buyers should keep the listing, order details, invoice, receipt, payment record, delivery evidence and communications when a dispute may arise. Nepal prohibits the production, import, sale and use of plastic bags and other plastic products below 40 microns, except for specified industrial raw or semi-finished materials. Under the Solid Waste Management Act, the relevant local level or municipality manages waste and may require separation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. Reuse and recycling practices therefore depend partly on local rules and collection services. Nepal has no reliably evidenced nationwide retail take-back system for electronic waste; local and distributor arrangements remain fragmented.