Key Takeaways
Main points in short
A shopper adds a Metaltex Softex draining mat to the basket on Amazon.nl, but the checkout button still says “0 items” because nothing is selected yet.
A tiny checkbox next to the product decides whether the item really goes forward to payment.
Behind this simple screen sit strong European rules that give at least 14 days to change your mind after most online purchases, and Amazon.nl often offers 30 days.
Knowing how the cart screen works, and knowing these rights, makes everyday online shopping calmer and safer.
Story & Details
A quiet morning on a phone
At 07:40 local time and 07:40 in the Netherlands (Europe), a shopper unlocks a phone and opens the Amazon.nl app. The battery is healthy, the signal is strong, and the cart icon glows at the bottom of the screen. Inside that cart sits one small household item: a Metaltex Softex draining mat in green and grey, made of polyester, about forty by forty-five centimetres. The price is a little over five euros, and the line “In stock” gives a small sense of relief.
The delivery information is clear. The screen promises free pickup for Prime members on a Wednesday in December. The shopper can already imagine the mat on the kitchen counter, with clean plates and glasses resting on it.
The line that confuses many people
Right above the product, the screen shows a sentence that feels wrong: “No items selected.” The yellow button below says “Proceed to checkout (0 items).” It looks like the basket is empty, even though the dish mat is clearly there with a picture, price, and quantity.
The trick lies in a tiny square to the left of the product image. That square is a checkbox. When it is empty, the item is only “stored” in the cart. When it is tapped and shows a small tick, the item becomes “selected.” Only selected items are counted in the checkout button. One small touch changes the line to “Proceed to checkout (1 item).”
For a tired shopper, this difference between “in the cart” and “selected in the cart” can be hard to see. Yet it matters, because it controls what is actually ordered.
Buttons, badges, and gentle nudges
Below the draining mat, three buttons wait in a neat row: “Delete,” “Save for later,” and “Share.” A quantity box shows the number one, with a minus or trash icon on one side and a plus sign on the other. A small green badge talks about savings and explains that buying four similar items brings a small extra discount.
Under the product area, a calm promise appears: “Returns are easy – 30-day returns on millions of items.” Further down, a ribbon of product photos says, “Customers who bought items in your recent history also bought…” and shows colourful shoes and other goods. The screen gently pushes the shopper toward more browsing, but the return message also signals that it is safe to change your mind later.
The law behind the screen
This soft message about returns is backed up by firm rules. In the European Union, people who buy goods online from a business seller usually have a legal right to cancel the purchase within at least 14 days after receiving the order. This is often called a cooling-off period or right of withdrawal. It applies to most, though not all, products and services bought on the internet from traders based in the EU, Norway, or Iceland.
If the order is cancelled in time, the seller must refund the main payment. In many cases, the seller also has to refund the original delivery costs, while the shopper may need to pay for sending the parcel back. These rules are built into European law and are explained in clear language by the European Commission and by the European Consumer Centres Network, which gives cross-border shopping advice.
Amazon.nl adds another layer on top of this legal base. Its help pages explain that most items sold on the site can be returned within 30 days of receipt. Some products have even longer or special windows, but 30 days is the general rule for standard goods. This often goes beyond the legal minimum and is part of how big platforms try to build trust.
In December 2025, these laws and shop policies still shape how people in the Netherlands (Europe) and in other EU countries shop online, whether they order from the sofa at home or from a hotel room in Portugal (Europe).
A tiny Dutch lesson
Many Dutch-language shopping screens add a word that can puzzle visitors from abroad: “Retourneren.” It simply means “to return items.” On Amazon.nl and other sites, this word often appears next to buttons for sending a parcel back or next to links that explain the rules for returns.
Another useful phrase is the Dutch version of “Select all items.” When that link is tapped above the cart, every product in the list receives a tick in its checkbox. The checkout button then shows the full number of items. Learning just a couple of these short Dutch words helps turn a confusing page into a familiar one.
Why this small story matters
The draining mat is not an expensive product. It will not change a life. Yet the way it appears in the cart shows how design, law, and language all work together. The checkbox decides what is really ordered. The return line reminds shoppers they have time to reconsider. The Dutch words carry local flavour but sit on top of European-wide consumer rules.
Understanding this mix helps anyone who shops online. It shows that people are not alone with a phone in their hand. Behind that small screen sit clear rights, public bodies that explain them, and, sometimes, a friendly little dish mat waiting to dry the plates.
Conclusions
Small details, big comfort
A single line that says “No items selected” can feel like a barrier. In fact, it is only a gentle reminder to tick a box. Once that is done, the cart and the checkout button agree, and the order can move on.
At the same time, clear laws and store policies mean that most online orders in the European Union can be cancelled within at least 14 days, and many sellers, including Amazon.nl, offer 30-day return options. Knowing this reduces stress when shopping from the couch or during a busy day.
A little attention to symbols, words, and rights turns online buying from a puzzle into a simple everyday task. The shopper keeps control, and a small kitchen mat becomes a quiet example of how digital life and consumer protection now fit together.
Selected References
[1] Amazon.nl – “About Our Returns Policies” (customer-service page explaining that most items sold on Amazon.nl or by Marketplace sellers can be returned within 30 days of receipt). https://www.amazon.nl/-/en/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GKM69DUUYKQWKWX7
[2] Amazon.nl – “Return Items You Ordered” (guide on how to send back items and the typical 30-day window). https://www.amazon.nl/-/en/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G6E3B2E8QPHQ88KF
[3] European Commission – “Returns and the right of withdrawal” (overview of the EU-wide 14-day right to cancel most distance purchases). https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/shopping/returns/index_en.htm
[4] European Consumer Centres Network – “Cooling-Off Period” (simple explanation of the 14-day cooling-off period for online and other distance purchases across the EU, Norway, and Iceland). https://www.eccnet.eu/consumer-rights/what-are-my-consumer-rights/shopping-rights/cooling-period
[5] ECC Netherlands – “What are my rights during the cooling-off period?” (Dutch national centre explaining how the 14-day period works in practice for online buyers). https://www.eccnederland.nl/en/check-your-rights/shopping-eu/what-are-my-rights-during-cooling-period
[6] European Commission Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers – “Know your EU consumer rights” (short YouTube explainer video from the official EU Justice and Consumers channel, giving an easy overview of key consumer protections). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp13_ddcW2g
Appendix
Amazon.nl
The Dutch version of the Amazon online marketplace, where customers in the Netherlands (Europe) and nearby countries can order goods and services over the internet.
Cart checkbox
A small square next to each product in the online basket; when it is ticked, the item is selected and will be included in the checkout total.
Cooling-off period
A fixed number of days, usually at least 14 in the European Union, during which a consumer can cancel most online purchases without giving a reason.
Dish-drying mat
A flat, absorbent mat placed next to the kitchen sink to hold plates, glasses, and cutlery while they dry after washing.
Dutch lesson
A short explanation of everyday Dutch shopping words, such as the term used for returning items or for selecting all products in the cart.
Metaltex Softex draining mat
A specific brand of dish-drying mat made of soft material, used as an example of a small household item in an online shopping basket.
Online marketplace
A website or app where many different sellers offer products and services to customers under one common brand.
Prime free pickup
A delivery option for members of Amazon’s paid Prime service, allowing them to collect certain orders at pickup points without extra delivery cost.
Return window
The time period during which a customer may send back a purchased item and ask for a refund, set by law and by the seller’s own policy.
Shopping cart
The virtual basket in an online shop where selected products are stored before the customer confirms the order and pays.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 