Free return or no free return in 2025?

[ct_japan2020]

A few years ago, many sellers on YouTube were strongly advocating for Free Returns, but around 2023-2024, I’ve noticed more and more sellers opting out and choosing the "Buyer pays for return shipping" option instead.

I've also switched to Buyer pays for return shipping over the past year, and it seems like the number of return requests has decreased. However, when buyers select return reasons like "Wrong item sent", "Item not as described", or "Defective item" (regardless of the actual situation), sellers are still required to provide a Return Shipping Label at their expense. So in the end, it doesn’t feel all that different from offering Free Returns.

That being said, since I list almost everything as SOLD AS-IS and don’t offer Free Returns, I believe it helps deter unnecessary returns. But it’s a tough decision to make.

One of the benefits of Free Returns, as I understand it, is that if the returned item is not in its original condition, the seller can issue a partial refund to account for the loss in value.

However, in Remorse Returns, I’ve had cases where eBay automatically issued a full refund, making this feature somewhat unpredictable. Also, as far as I know, sellers can still issue partial refunds even without offering Free Returns, depending on the situation.

So both approaches have their pros and cons, and I’m still debating what’s best.

What are your thoughts on return settings? What has worked well for you, and what hasn’t? I'd love to hear about your experiences and best practices!

[victory777]

I have been scammed twice by Ebay buyers since April 2025.  Having dealt with EBay over this, I've concluded that Ebay is pro buyer, not seller.   It's not just Ebay either.  It happened to me on Mercari this week too. Buyer just simply changed her mind after we used expensive packing for a vintage mirror shipped to the east coast.  Im am not taking my listings down off Ebay, just not listing anymore and, and putting them on Local Only, FB Market Place and Offer up where I can meet the buyer, they can look at my item, and give me cash.  These returns are getting ridiculous.  

[tobaccocardyahoo]

I have a no returns policy as a deterrent. I have never gotten many returns because my items are things that only people who really want will buy and they have few other choices for purchasing much of what I offer.

The reason for the deterrent is that every year, come October, I would get orders from caring people who would buy a gift for a collector. 90% of such purchases boomeranged. They did not know exactly what the collector collected, what they already owned, and what the really wanted. Or they found something nicer and/or cheaper to give the collector.

All of my returns for the entire year were Christmas gifts.

I have other high maintenance buyer deterrents in my listings, like a relatively long handling time. In spite of these deterrents, my buyers get first class service, fast delivery and treatment equal or better to how they treat Ebay sellers.

[kalyoth]

Since most sellers can't issue partial refunds in any way, unless they meet all of ebays marks, free is nothing but a loss leader in today's high cost of shipping marketplace. ebay provides sellers no incentive to offering free returns shipping. Government & business keeps requiring more & more. The only way to provide truth in product cost, is to require the full cost of a buyers decision upon the buyer.