§ 22. What happens if the shop asks to deliver later?
If the seller (selger) gives notice of a delay (forsinkelse) and sets a new date, and you do not reply, you are in practice accepting the new date. You then cannot suddenly cancel the purchase (heving) when the item arrives within the new deadline.
Machine-translated from Norwegian. The Norwegian text is the one that applies. Read the original in Norwegian.Norsk English العربية Polski Українська
The text of the law (unofficial translation)
If the seller asks whether the consumer (forbruker) will accept delivery (levering) despite the delay, or notifies the consumer that the item will be delivered within a specified time, but the consumer does not reply within a reasonable time after he or she has received the message, the consumer cannot cancel the purchase if performance of the contract (oppfyllelse) takes place within the time specified.
What does this mean?
This is the law's "silence means consent" rule for delays.
If you get an email saying "The new delivery date is 15 October" — and you do not reply — the law says you have tacitly accepted the new deadline. If the item arrives on 13 October, you must accept it and pay.
If you are not happy with the new date: reply immediately. Write: "This is not acceptable. I hereby cancel the purchase."
Example
Eva has ordered a robotic lawnmower for 1 May. On 25 April, the shop gives notice of delivery on 20 May. Eva reads the email, does not reply, and buys another mower locally instead. On 20 May, she refuses to accept the delivery. Since she did not reply to the shop's message, she lost the right to cancel the purchase — she is bound by the agreement.
Common mistakes
- Ignoring updates about a delayed delivery time and thinking you can still cancel the purchase
- Thinking that staying silent keeps the right to cancel the purchase
What should you do?
Can you live with the new date? Then you do not need to do anything. Can you NOT live with it? Reply immediately and demand cancellation of the purchase in writing.