July 15th P&A remorse Return Policy... Starting another thread with clear & focused replies w/o Bull
Ok, So here we are. Another eBay policy regarding returns.
I have been a Buyer and Seller for many years and have seen a positive change and decline in Seller protection, but It always seem to decline and put pressure on legitimate Honest Sellers.
It seems eBay is targeting business retailers with new and new (other) items listed and is also requiring a forced return policy for these sellers because the individual purchasing the item realizes what they bought was wrong. I get that, but sellers pay fees after auction end on Price sold, shipping chg and tax, not to mention a final value fee and the work to package and ship the item. Do sellers get back a percentage of those fee's?
I don't have a Business, but I do sell from time to time New or New (other) items.
I primarily list all items I sell in an action format with an occasional Buy it Now option. My descriptions are always clear with great images.
Most people have never been to a live auction as I have many times. You see the item, make a decision and the place a bid. Done deal. Ebay needs an educated Buyer community not people that are unsure of the item they are purchasing.
Most sellers don't have the Billions of Dollars in Capital as big box stores that can absorb the work for returns for an item because the buyer is negligent in their decision.
Also understand that eBay is a publicly traded company with a board that requires the company to meet expectations with their earnings reports every quarter (4 times a year). Good earnings bring the stock price up in most cases but, future guidance provided by Ebay also need to be aligned with expectations in earnings.
It seems the pressure is coming from the Top. They see the numbers for vintage auto parts and accessories. I bet the sales figures surpass all other categories and is why they focused on P&A.
Glad I sold the stuff I did not want this year. Not much left from my estate.
2025 you can sell up to $2500.00 without receiving a 1099.
Next year, 2026 it go's down to $600.00
donsargo2003
·9 months agoI certainly do not agree with the change to a forced return policy in automotive parts and accessories and have already suffered from it. We have sold everything as no return accepted since starting on eBay over 20 years ago and have a nearly 100% positive feedback rating. The buyer claiming item not as described to force me to accept a return at least kept the truly honest buyers with a consience from returning remorse purchases or purchases they were to lazy to research to verify fitment. I have reported and blocked the buyer from future purchases from us every time this has happened. This new policy takes the guilt factor completely away from buyers and lays the costs directly on the seller. Ebay covering half the return shipping label certainly is not half the actual cost of processing the return and still leaves me with an expense higher than I am willing to bear. As soon as I sell out of my current automotive parts and accessories stock I will no longer be listing anything in the parts and accessories category. Ebay automatically changing the return policy on my existing listings that were created previous to this new policy seems like a serious overreach. The really scary part is that this policy like alot of bad ideas could spread to other categories. Due to having no way to submit feedback directly to eBay which I find very interesting, as if they have no interest in what sellers who are the ones paying the fees that fund them have to say. The truly great deals have always been on eBay because it was different. I find myself here wondering will this return policy contagion spread or will the almighty powers that be see the folly of their ways in time to prevent the wonderful platform eBay has been for many years from becoming just another online retailer destined to fail because they follow the herd to Amazon.
quicksilverdiecast
·1 year agoHere is also a problem that escalates the return issue., the compatibility chart is filled with inaccuracies, then they base guaranteed fitment onto it and now add the free returns...you cannot layer inaccurate information with guarantees and returns...buyer reads chart and assumes it is accurate as well as many sellers who when provided inaccurate choices are not entirely sure...example 1969 Dodge Charger R/T is listed as having been made with a 318...never happened never built only on ebay...in the same vein they tell you you can choose a 1969 Charger BASE model with a 426 HEMI! nope again! only on a 69 Charger R/T, 500 or Daytona could you get a HEMI!. On returns you send out a new unused part., (no returns on electrical items even from dealerships ever PERIOD) you get back an opened/tried/etc that can no longer be sold again as new!.
qualityrandomitems
·1 year agoI wonder how many sellers will just give up with this new policy? Maybe that's what they want? Consolidation of sellers into only larger sellers who can absorb these costs? Then turn around and just start selling for higher prices to make up for the loss of income.
aspme
·1 year agoSo far, haven't had any luck getting bulk editing to take. nothing has changed in my listings. I'm going to wait and see what happens on or after 7/15 Ebay could have been a little more clear/helpful to us sellers, as to what we needed to do/or not do regarding this change! I'm guessing the number of listings this affects is huge
aspme
·1 year agoAs Tobaccocard mentioned, this new policy only applies to Automotive Parts and Acessories (P&A) Fixed price listings Returns Buyer remorse/changed mind = Ebay now pays half the return label, Doesn't fit my vehicle under the Guaranteed fit program = Ebay pays 100% for the return label, any other returns, the seller pays for the return shipping (assuming the buyer chooses the correct option!) and as of 7/15 those of us selling in the P&A Category, have to offer 30 day free returns.
What's unclear to me... is Ebay going to update the return policy on my 700+ existing listings? or do I have to go in and do it?
FWIW (Knock on wood) I don't get many returns , so this really isn't a big issue for me.
gator08041971
·1 year ago@aspme
Fortunately, if you have to change the shipping, you should be able to do this easily with the policy tool. You just edit the policy that those listings are using and it can then be updated to all listings using that policy:
https://www.ebay.com/bp/manage?profileType=SHIPPING&sortType=-listingCount&_pgn=1&limit=25
tobaccocardyahoo
·1 year agoAutomotive parts and accessories is a business with well documented high rates of returns. It rival's women's clothing.
Ebay has chosen this as one of its featured categories, and may or may not have thought through all of the implications of this category.
This change is clearly a reaction to what it sees as a growth barrier. Since they are unlikely to have anyone on their staff who knows about auto parts, people who do might think it is a wrong decision.
Complaints from sellers who use the auction listings will probably be ignored more often than those who sell fixed price. The Ebay auction is a minor part of Ebay's business. Both auction buyers and sellers are outside the mainstream.
People's relationship with Ebay and their perceptions have commonality with the parable of the elephant and the blind men.
qualityrandomitems
·1 year agoJust ANOTHER seller cost forced on by eBay. Nothing is free and simply will increase prices overall.
powell-collectibles
·1 year agoWill it? Average cost associated with a sale might go up – might. A lot of factors will go into that. How much might they go up? I would challenge you to do your own calculations. You might be surprised at what you find. You can’t calculate increase in cost as if everyone is going to return every item.
what is clear is that eBay thinks that this action will increase sales – significantly. I suppose that time will tell if that sales lift will outweigh the small percentage increase in per sale costs.
unfortunately, too many sellers are operating out of a place of severe pessimism and fear. It would really help a lot of folks to just run the numbers, and play out a few scenarios. This free returns program might be a great thing for sellers.
qualityrandomitems
·1 year agoit's all part of overhead cost of doing business on eBay... ANY cost pushed onto sellers ultimately will end up on the buyers. It's how (smart) business works. There's no such thing as free shipping... it's built into the selling price on those "free" shipping items.
powell-collectibles
·1 year agoYes, I understand the costs might increase. And, yes, some sellers would put that cost increase into their price.
but what if a seller has 50% margins. What if his sales increase by 15% under this new program. What if his returns cost him, on average, one percent of revenue. What if, under this program his return expense now averages 2% of his sales. Sure, you’d get a lot of people on here crying that the sky is falling. How can eBay do this to their cost structure? How outrageous!
Sadly, That seller doesn’t do the math or doesn’t understand that he’s better off under the program, even with the increased selling costs. Heck, you can run a lot of scenarios where a sellers return costs will decrease. If that seller gets enough false reports of item not as described in order to get a free return,, and under the new program, buyers don’t need to lie, and eBay picks up half of the return cost, that seller is in much better shape.
qualityrandomitems
·1 year agoMaybe we just give out free product too and pay ebay the fees based on intrinsic value of the free item... eBay would LOVE to be able to do that for sure.
out2seafishing
OP1 year agoI can't stop laughing! Thumbs up, too funny.
stainlessenginecovers
·1 year agoSeller have ALWAYS got those 'fees' back when you refund the buyer
out2seafishing
OP1 year agoNot if you add your time. Time is money.
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoBuyers already know all they have to do is file an INAD to get a free return and refund.
At least this way, Ebay will cover half of the return shipping.
stainlessenginecovers
·1 year agoAlthough sellers does NOT get 50% of the shipping back if buyer files a INAD
bonjourami
·1 year agoI get the 'no bull', but if a buyer bought the wrong item, and wants to return, thats a remorse return, and the buyer would be responsible for the return shipping. A seller does get his fvf credited back,and the sales tax is returned by Ebay.You dont get back the work to package and ship the item, since you are self employed.
out2seafishing
OP1 year agoUnderstood. I was trying to make a point with time spent on listing and answering emails in a timely fashion as well as time for remorse purchases in regards to returns. Perhaps I failed miserably.
I'll continue to list items as Auctions from this point on and let the buyer decide on their purchase as if the item is new or new (other).
50% on a shipping label is not what I'm about.
Look, decide and purchase on an Auction is fine with me. The board may decide to mandate returns on used items also in the future but, who knows.
Thanks for your response.
buyselljack2016
·1 year agoNew policy is "30 day or more FREE return" must be offered by the seller. Buyer pays "zero" for any return, for any reason.
bonjourami
·1 year ago"New policy is "30 day or more FREE return" must be offered by the seller. Buyer pays "zero" for any return, for any reason."
Actually I was just speaking to the op who has thirty day return, buyer pays return shipping. And even has in the shipping details that if the buyer uses an Ebay return label, the cost will be deducted from his refund. Not sure if thats enforceable or not.
out2seafishing
OP1 year agoI primarily list all items I sell in an action format with an occasional Buy it Now option.
The word Action is Auction for all people that are not with the actual debate and conversation and figure out what the typo means. This a no Bull thread.