Short answer. No. When you have the right to refuse goods delivered to you, the law only requires you to notify the seller of your refusal. You are not obligated to haul them back. What you do with the goods after refusing them, however, matters — storing them voluntarily changes your legal position.
What the law says
he is not bound to return them to the seller, but it is sufficient if he notifies the seller that he refuses to accept them. If he voluntarily constitutes himself a depositary thereof, he shall be liable as such.
Civil Code, Article 1587 — Buyer's Refusal to Accept. Read the full provision →
Notification is enough — no physical return required
Article 1587 of the Civil Code is clear: where goods are delivered to you and you have the right to refuse them, you are not bound to return them to the seller. Your obligation ends at notification. Tell the seller, in a manner you can document, that you are refusing acceptance. That message — whether by letter, email, or any other verifiable means — satisfies your duty under the law. You are not required to arrange and pay for return transport.
Why notification must be timely and clear
The statute works on a straightforward principle: once goods land at your door, the seller retains the burden of recovering them. Your refusal just needs to be communicated clearly. Silence is not refusal — if you do not notify the seller, you risk being treated as having accepted the goods. Notify promptly, be specific about which goods you are refusing and why, and keep a record. Vague or delayed notices can be used against you in a dispute about whether acceptance occurred.
The depositary exception — when storing the goods changes everything
The second part of Article 1587 introduces an important caveat: if you voluntarily constitute yourself a depositary of the refused goods, you become liable as such. This means that if, instead of simply notifying the seller and leaving the goods where they stand, you actively take custody — store them in your warehouse, safeguard them, move them — you take on the duties of a depositary. Those duties include reasonable care and accountability for the goods while they are in your possession. Accepting custody voluntarily is not the same as returning them, but it does attach responsibility.
What to do as a practical matter
If the goods arrived and you do not want them: send written notice of refusal as soon as possible, state the reason, and leave the goods available for the seller to collect. Do not take action that could look like you are treating them as your own. If the goods are perishable or the seller cannot collect quickly, the situation becomes more complicated — what you do next will depend on your contract and the nature of the goods. Consulting a lawyer before you store, use, or dispose of refused goods will help you avoid unintentionally assuming depositary liability.