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Buyers keep on wanting to return items…
Is anyone else having this issue? I mainly resell video games, but lately have been trying to sell items around the house I no longer use. During the pandemic, I did really well. Sold a lot of video games and never had issues with buyers wanting to return items. As of late, I have not been selling as much, my listings aren’t getting as many views, if any. And now it seems like the few items I sell a month, I have someone wanting to return an item and/or get a refund. And it’s usually a false claim.
For instance, I sold a Breaking Bad dvd set, and the buyer wanted to return because they said it was defected, and that all the DVDs skip. I accepted return, received the item back, tested it out again, and it works perfectly fine. Now I’m out money for both shipping labels, and on eBay’s sh*t list.
This morning, I receive a message from buyer asking why I didn’t accept their return, and if it’s because the item doesn’t work. It was an Amazon Echo Auto. I never received a return request from buyer, so I thought their message was a bit odd. Especially when they asked if I didn’t accept their return because the item doesn’t work. It works perfectly fine, and I think they are having buyers remorse. Of course they will never admit that, because they know they won’t be able to return it if that’s the case.
It just seems to me, as of late, that buyers are abusing the return system, and there is nothing I can do about it, because eBay will always back the buyer. It’s been really discouraging, and it makes me want to just close down my store, and try a different website to sell my goods. Just want to here other sellers’ thoughts and opinions.
Thank you!
kh-leslie
·3 years agoHi everyone,
Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread HERE if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.
Thank you for understanding.
mn467462
·3 years agoYes, I have had way more complaints in the first 6 months of 2023, then I have had in my entire 12 years of selling. Something smells. Something sells really bad.
bamorris
·3 years agoConsole video games have the highest return fraud rate I've encountered. It's your demographic.
It's not uncommon in clothing to have someone buy an item, wear it for the weekend and return it.
It happens. My advice to you is to have a firm policy on cash or stuff. Never both. Don't refund and forgo the item letting the customer keep it. Accept the return and wait for it to arrive before refunding. It's all part of the game.
kabilab
·3 years agoRavens,
I have been continually selling both movies and games for 31+ yrs. I have personally encountered occasions when each will play on one machine, but not on another unit. Upon inquiring as to why, I have never received a logical explanation.
kalyoth
·3 years agoIf it's fragile - unless you can accept it being broken in transit, don't sell/ship them. Stick to durable goods. As to people returning them - returns are ebay's policy as ebay thinks it is a retail store & needs to compete with amazon. As other sellers have stated - have to build in that cushion across all sales to cover that eventual ding.
dqdistribution
·3 years agoHave you seen the customer service desk line at Walmart. The majority of all those are abuse/buyer's remorse. That is just how this business is.
No return policy gives people a chance to hope for free item and full refund.
I'd recommend you thinking that choice over like @mtgraves7984 suggested.
mtgraves7984
·4 years ago"It just seems to me, as of late, that buyers are abusing the return system, and there is nothing I can do about it..."
@ravenousrhinos_gaming
The only advice I can offer is to revisit your Returns policy. Maybe your 'No Returns' is forcing abuse. Either way, you'll be refunding... you just won't have what you perceive to be 'abuse'. Fretting seems fruitless. Hang in there...
ravenousrhinos_gaming
OP4 years agoThank you! Yes, I have been thinking about that as well. Even though I say I don’t accept returns, I always do, especially if there was an issue on my end. I say that to try and discourage buyers from abusing the return. Especially with video games. Someone could buy the game and beat it within 30 days, and then just return it. But you’re probably right. Since I say I don’t accept returns, buyers are making false claims so they can get an accepted return.
It’s just tough, because I feel like I’m not making money anymore. It almost feels like I’m losing money. If I sold a lot more than I can handle a return here and there.
beachislandtreasures
·3 years agoThat's not always true. Do what works for you. I decided to do 14 day returns, buyer pays, and the 1st. Item I sold after that was a Brighton necklace. The buyer waited until the last day, then asked for a return. The request was that she just didn't like It, that it looked old and dingy, I got it back, and looked it over. It looked brand new. I relisted it and sold it to someone else who loved it. I went back to no returns. Then I felt perhaps I could do returns again the same way for heavier items, and the returns would decrease since the buyer would have to pay return shipping. I just got another request on a collectible porcelain figurine, she just didn't like it and it didn't go with her set. I listed everything to the tee with lots of photos every angle. eBay has my funds on hold, and not sure if this buyers even going to send it back in the double boxed secure peanut bubble wrapping. I can just picture it breaking on it's way back to me. This buyer has only 4 items bought in the past few years. I don't know how to prevent these buyers from buying from me, but I almost feel like they do it intentionally. I'm not Walmart, and surely they wouldn't be able to return an item from a thrift store on a remorse reason as it didn't match their set. eBay needs to work on changing the remorse returns because it's not fair to small business seller's just trying to get by. I would never do free returns. That's just ridiculous! But if you want to lose even more money go right ahead. I think if enough sellers pushed the point enough to eBay, that's the change I'd like to see, and do away with feedback.