Consumer goods are more expensive in most of Europe, sure, but that's because of VAT - after adjusting for VAT, the price is usually the same.
This makes sense if you consider that customer protection usually covers (1) returns and (2) defective goods. Returns are not exactly a cost to the retailer - they can still sell the merchandise, and replacing defective goods obviously only applies if you stock them. If you weren't selling bad goods, you wouldn't have that problem.
Consumer goods are more expensive in most of Europe, sure, but that's because of VAT - after adjusting for VAT, the price is usually the same.
This makes sense if you consider that customer protection usually covers (1) returns and (2) defective goods. Returns are not exactly a cost to the retailer - they can still sell the merchandise, and replacing defective goods obviously only applies if you stock them. If you weren't selling bad goods, you wouldn't have that problem.