The article and the referred articles are about the return shipping fee, not about handling and so. For example, fashion retailer H&M are beginning to charge European countries too, perfectly fine with the law :)

No, it’s not. You have the right to return it (Dutch: herroepingsrecht) but the cost of returning can be at the expense of the buyer when stated on their webshop. Check their ToS

They probably forgot to add the word ‘sore’ to throat. Happens to me quite often ;)