Simply-the-best-for-you Volunteer Community Mentor
People buy-try-return like it’s their hobby, and these folks will look for sellers who *gladly* take returns—especially free returns—and they will exploit the ever loving sh** out of it.
I reached my limit and stopped offering returns for clothing and shoes in late 2019 and all returns in 2020. I don’t regret it one bit. My return rate is currently 0.42% (1 INAD, 4 remorse). I noticed the quality of buyers greatly improved once I switched to no-returns policy. Furthermore, I eliminated a lot of stress and wasted time spent on these low-value buyers and their shenanigans.
I mean I still get the occasional PITA, but nothing like when I had 30-day returns and things were rented, sent back with lipstick stains, or reeking of perfume and cat peee.
Maybe you need to think about a strategy to reduce your return rate, or just stop taking them entirely and deal with each case-by-case.
Learn why buyers are requesting returns. For me, it was INADS for chest measurements being “not as described” (when they actually were), so now I show the tape measure in my photos. This eliminated measurement related INADs, especially with belts and tops.
List all measurements. Chest; shoulder; length; hip; waist; inseam; sleeve length, etc. Measure the insoles of shoes.
Does it stretch a lot or a little? 4-way stretch? Is the fabric heavy or flowy or scratchy? Show the fabric content tag.
If a buyer lowballs, is rude, has doubts or too many fit-related questions, block them. They will be a problem, guaranteed. There’s nothing rude about protecting yourself from toxic buyers.
Good condition vs very good means what exactly? It’s subjective. Be detailed, “minor wash wear throughout; light pilling on the sleeve cuffs; small tea-colored stain by the hem” along with photos noting each flaw.
I was on board when free returns were made a requirement for TRS+. Those first two weeks, I had 7—yes 7 remorse returns: didn’t like; changed mind; no longer needed; didn’t fit. I noped the heck out of free returns by the third week.
Continued accepting 30-day buyer paid, but kept getting dishonest SNADs for shoes and clothes.
My 30-day doormat policy was attracting this type of clothing buyer who would open a return for whatever reason. They don’t care about being dishonest b/c eBay has enabled this entitled buyer behavior.
No time to read all the answers right now, but as a clothing seller myself, I am No Returns. Right now some of my listings have returns b/c I'm testing something, but for most of my 25 years on eBay, I've been no returns. When you are No Returns AND they open a Remorse Reason return, you can decline it. Now everyone's gonna say, yeah but they'll just open it as a SNAD & you'll be forced to accept it. That CAN happen. Depending on your demographic, it may happen a lot or it may only happen on occasion. For me, it's happened more last year than ever before, but that was only 3x. My demographic is generally honest.
You could also Accept returns with them paying shipping. I don't understand why you're paying shipping? Again this only applies to properly filed returns, so same caveat as above applies.
I love being No Returns & I rarely even get requests for a return. I must say I do experience some stress that the honest people get their returns denied, while the liars, get theirs allowed, but that is eBay's doing, not mine. I would decline them all if I could.
AFAIC it's on the buyer to know their measurements when purchasing online. If you are a woman, you can NEVER go by the tagged size, even in NEW clothes.
Oops, ran out of edit time & just want to add 1 thing. As a clothing seller, make sure that YOU know how to properly measure clothing & that you NEVER use a ruler or yardstick. That is a glaring red flag that the clothing seller has no idea what they're doing as far as clothing is concerned.
I have been schooled by buyers who want to return for a 1/2" difference & they are using a ruler or are measuring incorrectly & don't know it. As a buyer, if I see a wooden measuring device, I back out of the listing 9 times out of 10.
@gdiesel70 Underrated comment. The OP's listings are VERY bare bones. I do all the things gdiesel reccomended except I don't photograph with a tape measure. It take me longer to do a listing, but I have VERY few return requests. I describe in great detail, ie; descibe like there are no photos & photograph like there is no description.
Also, not sure if @this-that-and-then-some is still here, but there's a product called Sizely that a lot of sellers use, which may help you. It shows a drawing representation of the item & the measurements overlaid on it. I trialed it & I liked it, but for me, it was just an extra step I didn't want to do, since I don't have many issues. But that visual representation can help buyers & many clothing sellers love the product (I have no affiliation with them). It won't help with the buyers who don't know their measurements though.
As for @pburn question about tape measures. I think it depends on the age of the buyer. But judging by the number of wooden & metal measuring devices in clothing sellers pics, I would say very few. My buyers skew older female & many of my buyer's do have one. Clothing sellers s/b using a flexible tape measure & as I learned from @chapeau-noir ages ago, should replace them periodically b/c they do tend to stretch out with use, over time.
ETA: Sizely is not free, but it's not particularly expensive IIRC.
