Taiwan – Retail and Consumer Issues

What are the typical opening hours for shops in Taiwan?

Taiwan’s retail sector is notably accommodating when it comes to trading hours. Stores are open every day of the week and generally stay open until around 10 pm, with many operating from approximately 8 am. On Friday and Saturday evenings some retailers extend their hours further still. In contrast to countries such as the UK, where large shops face statutory limits on Sunday trading, Taiwan imposes no such restrictions — retailers are free to open at any time, any day of the week.

At the smaller end of the spectrum, convenience store chains including 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and HiLife operate around the clock and stock a practical selection of food, beverages, toiletries, and everyday essentials. 7-Eleven alone runs approximately 6,432 outlets across Taiwan in a convenience store format that incorporates grocery sections, meaning that a store open at any hour is rarely far away.

Larger supermarkets and hypermarkets are increasingly shifting to extended hours as well. Taiwan’s leading supermarket chain, PX Mart, had roughly 1,200 stores as of spring 2025, and many of its larger branches trade around the clock, making them an attractive option for fresh produce and refrigerated goods at more competitive prices than convenience stores. As of March 2025, Carrefour Taiwan operated 311 outlets — ranging from compact express-format shops to large-scale 24-hour hypermarkets — with close to half of all locations open throughout the night.

Department stores and shopping centres follow a somewhat different schedule. The vast majority remain open virtually year-round, typically reducing hours only on Lunar New Year’s Eve before resuming normal trading from New Year’s Day. Taipei 101 Shopping Center, for instance, usually operates from 11 am to 9:30 pm, shortening to 11 am to 6 pm on New Year’s Eve. Independent retailers in smaller rural townships may keep shorter hours, so it is worth confirming locally if you are living away from a major urban centre.

Night markets are one of Taiwan’s most distinctive retail institutions. These lively open-air bazaars typically begin trading from around 8 or 9 pm and run well past midnight, selling clothing, street food, and a wide assortment of everyday goods. They are worth exploring both as a cultural experience and as a genuinely affordable source of daily items.

What forms of payment are typically accepted in Taiwan?

Taiwan’s payments environment combines a persistent cash culture with rapidly growing digital alternatives. Cash continues to be the most common method for face-to-face transactions — in 2023 it accounted for more than 42% of total transaction volume — so carrying New Taiwan Dollars remains a practical necessity in many situations even as electronic options expand.

Visa, Mastercard, and JCB are accepted at most large retail chains, restaurant groups, and well-known hotels. Shopping malls, upmarket restaurants, and international hotel brands present few obstacles to card payment. The value of credit card transactions rose by 20.8% between 2022 and 2023, reflecting the growing appetite for cashless payments.

That said, local markets, night market stalls, and small independent businesses continue to operate largely on a cash basis. Visitors to traditional shops, street food vendors, or smaller neighbourhood retailers should expect to pay in New Taiwan Dollars — a situation comparable to parts of Japan or Germany, where cash retains its dominance in smaller commercial settings even as digital payments gain ground elsewhere.

Global digital wallets including Apple Pay and Samsung Pay are available and allow users to link credit or debit card details to their devices, but locally developed platforms dominate the mobile payments space. LINE Pay and JKoPay are the most widely used for QR code and mobile transactions, offering functionality that extends well beyond simple payments. Taiwan Pay was designed specifically for the local market and supports QR code payments at traditional markets and smaller outlets, making it a useful tool for cashless shopping across a broad range of venues.

Contactless payments are well established in urban areas, particularly through EasyCard and iPASS for both public transport and certain retail purchases. The EasyCard, originally conceived as an IC card for commuters, can now be used to pay at many convenience stores and participating shops — functioning somewhat like London’s Oyster card but with wider retail applicability. Newly arrived expats who use public transport regularly will find topping up an EasyCard one of the most practical early steps after landing.

What are the major supermarkets in Taiwan, and how do they differ?

Taiwan’s supermarket sector spans several distinct tiers, from no-frills value chains to premium importers. Familiarising yourself with what each chain does best can make a meaningful difference to both your grocery bill and the quality of your weekly shop.

PX Mart stands as Taiwan’s largest supermarket operator, with around 1,200 branches as of spring 2025. Many of its bigger stores trade 24 hours a day and stock fresh fruit, vegetables, and chilled goods at prices that undercut convenience stores. Some locations feature in-store bakeries, deli counters, and extensive fresh fish and meat sections. In terms of market positioning, PX Mart occupies a role comparable to Aldi or Lidl — dependable, straightforward value across a wide range of everyday categories.

Simple Mart had 798 stores across Taiwan as of March 2025 and is more commonly encountered in rural areas and smaller towns. Despite a lower profile in major cities, it is Taiwan’s second-largest supermarket chain by store count.

Carrefour provides a broad shopping experience across both hypermarket and supermarket formats and has built a reputation for stocking a strong selection of imported goods. Its footprint has grown through the acquisition of Wellcome and Jasons outlets in recent years. Product ranges combine locally sourced Taiwanese goods with groceries from around the world, placing Carrefour in a position broadly analogous to Tesco or Walmart — covering groceries, electronics, clothing, and homeware within a single destination.

Mia C’bon targets more affluent shoppers with premium grocery offerings and an upscale in-store atmosphere. It forms part of Uni-President’s push into the high-end market segment and carries a range of imported and specialty products. Jasons Market Place and City Super occupy a similarly elevated tier, focusing on hard-to-find international brands and premium ingredients. These are the places to seek out Wagyu beef, fresh oysters, or certified organic produce that mainstream supermarkets do not routinely carry.

Taiwan’s no-free-bag policy means plastic carrier bags are sold at a small charge at every supermarket format. Bringing a reusable bag will save you money and is standard practice among local shoppers.

How popular is online shopping in Taiwan, and what are the main platforms?

Taiwan ranks among the world’s highest markets for e-commerce adoption, with a sophisticated consumer base that keeps pace with global digital retail trends. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated an already strong shift toward blended shopping behaviour, with consumers increasingly comfortable moving between physical stores and online platforms depending on convenience and price.

Online grocery shopping has grown particularly quickly within the broader e-commerce sector. In 2023, internet grocery sales represented approximately 10.4% of total fast-moving consumer goods sales, reaching a market size of around US$3.5 billion. The wider e-commerce market in Taiwan has expanded at a pace of 10–20% per year over a five-year period, achieving a total market size of US$43 billion.

The principal domestic platforms that expats should know about include:

• PChome 24h Shopping — one of Taiwan’s largest e-commerce marketplaces, distinguished by its 24-hour delivery service within the greater Taipei area.
• Shopee Taiwan — the regional marketplace platform popular throughout Southeast and East Asia; extensively used for clothing, electronics, and everyday products.
• momo購物網 (momo) — a major Taiwanese shopping channel and online retailer offering a broad product catalogue and reliable fast delivery.
• Yahoo奇摩購物中心 — Yahoo Taiwan’s retail platform, covering electronics, fashion, and household goods.
• Carrefour Online — an online grocery delivery service drawing from Carrefour’s store network, practical for expats wanting a hypermarket-style product range delivered to their door.

Taiwanese online shoppers place particular importance on convenience, reliable information, and competitive pricing. Research shows that 77% of consumers cite convenience as the primary driver of online purchases, while 69% consult product reviews before making a decision. Delivery speeds are generally strong in Taipei and other major cities, with same-day or next-day service widely available through leading platforms. In rural areas, delivery windows of two to three business days are more typical.

For purchases made directly from overseas retailers, customs duties may be applicable on imports exceeding certain value thresholds. Before placing an order from abroad, it is advisable to verify current thresholds and duty rates with Taiwan Customs (web.customs.gov.tw), as these figures are subject to revision. Where overseas retailers do not ship to Taiwan, parcel forwarding services are a commonly used workaround among the expat community.

Are there shops or products in Taiwan catering specifically to expats or international tastes?

Taiwan has a well-established supply of international and imported goods, particularly within Taipei and other major cities. Expats from many different backgrounds will generally find their needs reasonably well catered for, though the range of speciality imported items narrows considerably outside urban areas.

Carrefour is a solid starting point for expats seeking familiar international brands. The chain has successfully woven together local Taiwanese products and imported goods from Europe, Japan, South Korea, and beyond, making it a reliable first port of call when hunting for something from home.

Those seeking a more curated selection of premium international products will find Jasons Market Place and City Super (C!ty’super) to be the most rewarding destinations. These stores carry ranges that mainstream supermarkets simply do not stock, presented in a more spacious and polished shopping environment. Prices are higher than in standard supermarkets, but the breadth of imported options justifies the premium when you are searching for something specific. Many of these stores are situated on basement floors of major shopping malls.

Don Quijote (ドン・キホーテ, locally marketed as Don Don Donki) is a prominent Japanese discount retailer with several branches in Taipei. Its shelves are packed with Japanese food products, snacks, cosmetics, household items, and clothing — a significant draw for expats who follow Japanese cuisine or simply appreciate the breadth of Japanese consumer goods.

For fresh produce, fish, and meat, many local residents shop at traditional wet markets rather than supermarkets. These markets typically offer lower prices and fresher goods than the large chains, and wherever you are based in Taiwan, one is unlikely to be far away. They are also a reliable source of minimally processed, locally grown items that suit a wide variety of dietary preferences.

Taipei’s Tianmu district (士林區/天母) has long served as the informal hub of the expatriate community and hosts a range of international restaurants, bakeries, and small import grocers carrying goods from Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and South Asia. Specialist shops in Taipei — particularly in the Zhongshan and Da’an districts — stock Middle Eastern ingredients such as tahini, halal meats, and flatbreads, as well as Indian spices and pulses. Health-conscious shoppers should be aware of Leezen (里仁) and Santa Cruz (聖德科斯), two well-regarded chains specialising in organic, gluten-free, and plant-based products.

Taiwan is an exceptional destination for electronics shoppers, combining competitive pricing with a vast selection and solid consumer protections. In Taipei, Guanghua Market is the go-to multi-storey hub for computers, smartphones, components, and gadgets. Other major cities have their own electronics districts — Jianguo Road in Kaohsiung and Beimen Road in Tainan among them.

What are your rights as a consumer in Taiwan?

Consumer protection in Taiwan is primarily governed by the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), which sets out clear rights relating to returns, refunds, product safety, and deceptive commercial practices. The Consumer Protection Act and the Fair Trade Act together uphold the principles of truthful representation and full disclosure. Expats benefit from exactly the same protections as local residents under these laws.

The most immediately useful protection for everyday shoppers is the statutory cooling-off right that applies to distance and door-to-door purchases. Consumers who buy through distance selling or via door-to-door sales may return goods or rescind the contract in writing within seven days of receiving the goods or services, without needing to give a reason and without bearing any associated expenses, subject to reasonable exceptions for certain categories of distance sale. This seven-day appreciation period is firmly embedded in Taiwanese e-commerce culture, and most reputable online retailers provide a clear returns process.

Once a consumer notifies a trader of their intention to cancel, the trader must arrange collection of the goods within 15 days from the day following receipt of that notification. A full refund must then be issued within 15 days from the day following whichever comes latest: retrieval of the goods, receipt of the returned items, or notification to rescind a service contract. This establishes a transparent and enforceable timeline for reimbursement, unlike some markets where refund schedules are left entirely to the retailer’s discretion.

It is important to understand that the seven-day right applies specifically to distance and door-to-door sales. For goods purchased face-to-face in a physical store, there is no automatic statutory right of return for change-of-mind purchases — the retailer’s own return policy governs. This is broadly consistent with EU consumer law, which provides a 14-day cooling-off period for distance purchases while imposing no obligation on retailers to accept in-store returns on non-faulty goods. Checking a retailer’s return policy before completing a purchase in-store is always advisable.

Where an authority determines that a business’s advertising is false or misleading, it may require that business to provide evidence of the truthfulness of its claims. The Fair Trade Act expressly prohibits businesses from making false or misleading representations on matters affecting purchasing decisions — including price, quantity, quality, content, production date, shelf life, or country of origin. This gives consumers meaningful recourse when faced with deceptive commercial practices.

Regarding product safety, manufacturers and sellers can be held liable under the CPA for harm caused by defective goods. Retaining receipts and any product documentation is strongly recommended, as these will be necessary when pursuing a complaint. For the most current guidance on specific consumer rights, the official Consumer Protection Committee website or a qualified legal adviser should be consulted.

Which organisations protect consumers in Taiwan, and how can you contact them?

Taiwan operates a structured consumer protection system with bodies functioning at both national and local government levels. These services are accessible to expats regardless of nationality, though processes are generally conducted in Mandarin Chinese.

The Consumer Protection Committee (CPC; 行政院消費者保護會) is the Executive Yuan agency responsible for consulting on, deliberating, and reviewing key consumer protection policies, legislation, and regulations, as well as coordinating across relevant government departments. The CPC is composed of between 17 and 27 members serving two-year terms, chaired by the Vice President of the Executive Yuan, with membership drawn from relevant government agencies, national consumer protection organisations, business associations, and academic or professional experts.

• Consumer Protection Committee (CPC), Executive Yuan — The principal national body for consumer protection policy in Taiwan. Website: cpc.ey.gov.tw/en
• Fair Trade Commission (FTC; 公平交易委員會) — Handles complaints relating to false advertising, misleading representations, and anti-competitive conduct affecting consumers. Website: ftc.gov.tw
• Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA; 經濟部) — Oversees trade and commercial activity, encompassing business registration and retail sector standards. Website: moea.gov.tw
• Local Government Consumer Protection Offices — Every city and county government in Taiwan operates its own consumer protection office alongside a Consumer Dispute Mediation Commission. These commissions are made up of between 7 and 21 commissioners and are responsible for mediating consumer disputes at the local level.
• Taipei City Consumer Protection Office — Expats based in Taipei can access a dedicated consumer protection service run by the city government. Contact: english.gov.taipei or by calling 1999 (Taipei City Service Hotline).

Articles 43 and 44 of the Consumer Protection Act set out a staged dispute resolution process: when a consumer dispute arises, the consumer may first lodge a complaint with the business, a consumer protection group, or a consumer service centre. If the matter remains unresolved, a petition for mediation may be submitted to the Consumer Dispute Mediation Commission of the relevant municipal or county government. This graduated approach — complaint, mediation, and litigation if required — mirrors frameworks in many other countries and gives consumers a practical route to resolution without immediate resort to the courts.

Consumer protection officers may receive complaints from consumers where businesses or consumer service centres have failed to handle them adequately and may act as chief commissioner in the Consumer Dispute Mediation Commission. For expats who are uncertain where to begin, contacting the local government consumer protection hotline is typically the most accessible first step.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a Sunday trading law in Taiwan that restricts shop opening hours?

No. Taiwan imposes no statutory limits on Sunday or public holiday trading, unlike countries such as the UK and Germany where such restrictions exist. Retailers operate freely across all seven days of the week, and a large number of convenience stores and major supermarkets remain open around the clock throughout the year.

Can I get a refund if I change my mind about something I bought in a physical shop in Taiwan?

No statutory right to a change-of-mind refund exists for goods purchased in a physical store in Taiwan — the applicable policy is set by each individual retailer. For online or distance purchases, however, the Consumer Protection Act provides a seven-day cooling-off period during which you can return goods without explanation and without bearing any associated costs. It is always worth reviewing a retailer’s stated return policy before completing an in-store purchase.

Do major international credit and debit cards work in Taiwan?

Yes. Visa and Mastercard enjoy widespread acceptance at supermarkets, department stores, restaurants, and hotels throughout Taiwan. JCB is also broadly supported. American Express is accepted at many larger retailers but is less universally available. It is prudent to keep some New Taiwan Dollar cash on hand for night markets, wet markets, and small independent traders, many of whom accept cash only.

What is LINE Pay and do I need it as an expat in Taiwan?

LINE Pay is a mobile payments service built into the LINE messaging app, which is the dominant messaging platform in Taiwan. Operating similarly to services such as Venmo, WeChat Pay, or Paytm, it enables QR code and tap-to-pay transactions at a wide array of shops, markets, and food stalls. While not strictly indispensable, activating it significantly streamlines everyday transactions — particularly at smaller vendors who do not accept overseas credit cards.

Are imported foods and international products easy to find in Taiwan?

In large cities — Taipei especially — imported goods from Japan, South Korea, Europe, and North America are well stocked at retailers including Carrefour, Jasons, City Super, and Don Quijote. Specialist dietary products such as halal foods, certified organic items, gluten-free ranges, and vegetarian produce are available but require more effort to locate. Availability falls off considerably in smaller towns and rural areas, so expats living beyond major urban centres may find it more practical to order certain imports online or make periodic city visits for specific items.

How do I complain about a faulty product or misleading advertisement in Taiwan?

The first step is to contact the retailer or business directly and document all correspondence carefully. If a satisfactory outcome is not achieved, you may submit a formal complaint to the consumer protection office at your local city or county government, or reach out to the Consumer Protection Committee of the Executive Yuan at cpc.ey.gov.tw/en. Where the issue involves false or misleading advertising, the Fair Trade Commission (ftc.gov.tw) is the appropriate body to approach.

Do I pay customs duty on packages shipped to Taiwan from overseas?

Imports into Taiwan may attract customs duties and value-added tax once they exceed certain value thresholds. These thresholds and applicable rates are subject to change, so it is advisable to confirm the current figures with Taiwan Customs before placing an order with an overseas retailer. Low-value shipments are frequently exempt, whereas higher-value goods such as electronics are more likely to incur charges. Current information is available from the Taiwan Customs Administration at web.customs.gov.tw.

Is the retail experience in Taiwan very different from what I might be used to elsewhere?

In many ways it will feel familiar — international retail brands are well represented, card payments are broadly accepted, and consumer protections are robust. A handful of differences are worth noting: a small charge applies to plastic bags at the checkout; shoppers in supermarkets generally bag their own groceries; night markets form a significant and lively part of local retail culture; and homegrown mobile payment apps like LINE Pay and JKoPay are far more prevalent than they would be in most Western countries. Most expats adjust quickly and find Taiwan’s overall retail environment both convenient and well-priced.