Is A 30 Day Return Policy Required as A TRS To Keep Protection

[myfrugalboutique]

I have a buyer who purchased a beautiful Southwest bracelet from me in May. I offer 30 day returns. She opened a return request yesterday which was just at 29 days. "Said She changed her mind" . I am very irritated at this buyer as she had plenty of time to touch, look, feel, wear this, and she left glowing feedback. Well I will send her a label and she has been blocked.

I feel that 30 days is way to long to "decide" if you like something. I cannot get a straight answer from customer service......(surprise). If I change my returns to 15 days will I loose all my protection and "benefits" as a TRS.

Thanks in advance.

[ebooksdiva]

I offer 14 day returns. I'm TRS. 

Changed mind is a remorse return, buyer pays to return it.

TRS plus requires 30 day free returns and 1 day handling. TRS plus is the TRS that gives you a badge in your listings and 10% off fvf.

[monica-sells]

As a Top Rated Seller, you get 10% off final value fees, as well as a seal on your listings, when you offer same or 1 day handling time, and, for most categories, a free 30 day return policy.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/seller-standards-policy?id=4347&#top-rated-plus

[myfrugalboutique]

That is good to know. I was just going for the label and deduct it from the refund. 

[myfrugalboutique]

However I just searched one of your listings, and it doesn't say the "TRS" logo.

[ebooksdiva]

That's because Idon't subscribe to TRS Plus

You can see that I am TRS in my feedback. 

My Seller dashboard also says TRS

[myfrugalboutique]

That is what I thought. So I guess I have to keep the 30 day returns. Honestly I have never had anyone “abuse”returns like this woman. 

[ebooksdiva]

eBay charges the buyer for the label they deduct the shipping from the refund you send.

[monica-sells]

In Jewelry & Watches, and most Collectibles & Art categories, you need to offer 14-day free returns

Seems you have some items that fall in this category

You don't have to accept returns for these categories:

Wristwatches (you have listed)

the exception list is extensive

[myfrugalboutique]

As a seller, I didn’t see anything, and as I said the TRS didn’t come up in search. I feel like we need every bit of advertising. I guess I am stuck with 30 day returns. As I said, this is the first one to abuse it. 

[ebooksdiva]

Maybe this will help you

Seller standards policy | eBay

eBay Top Rated Plus requirements and benefits

Once you've reached Top Rated status, you can qualify your listings for these exclusive Top Rated Plus benefits if you offer same- or 1-business-day handling time and 30-day or longer free returns:

• The Top Rated Plus seal will be displayed prominently in search results and in the listing description
• A 10% discount on your final value fees, which is calculated on the total amount of the sale, including shipping and tax
  • The discount does not apply to the $0.30 per order portion of the final value fee
  • The discount does not apply to any additional final value fees applied to sales in categories where you're rated as Very High in your service metrics for 'item not as described' returns

Please note, the 10% final value fee discount is only available to sellers resident in the country in which they're Top Rated. For example, if you're selling through eBay.com, you must be resident in the US to qualify for this discount.

Free returns must be based on your item's location in order for your listings to qualify for Top Rated Plus:

• If the item location is in the same country as the eBay site you listed on, you need to offer 30-day free domestic returns
• If the item location isn't in the same country as the eBay site you listed on, you need to offer 30-day free international returns

In some product categories, we'll extend the discount benefit (but not the seal) even if you don't offer 30-day free returns.

[myfrugalboutique]

Yes I know all of that, and will keep the 30 day returns. 

[pjcdn2005]

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@myfrugalboutique wrote:

That is good to know. I was just going for the label and deduct it from the refund. 

---

If you have free returns you can't deduct the cost of the return label.  But if the buyer paid for original shipping you can deduct that.

[jahood1984]

I've been doing the 1 day handling for years and it's starting to catch up with me, on the same note that 10% off the fees really adds up! Realistically with the discount (on the fee itself) eBay probably averages more like 15-17% ish per sell. I know many will argue it's only 13.x & 30 cents but given that's on the price + tax & we don't get the tax, I consider the % taken of my payout. 

  FB Marketplace was working out amazing for awhile with its 5% vs 15% but ultimately the scammers are completely ruining it now.  First it was the endless fake buyers wanting to send fake PayPal/Zelle etc emails, steal your phone number for a Google voice code etc. Now it's bulk fake sellers wanting you to buy from a website or buying stuff on stolen accounts and shipping it to you.  Granted eBay isn't much better in that department, if not for the option to deduct 50% from scammers (which deters the majority & pointing it out on shady returns preventing more) there is no way w/o that and the final discount fee that I'd still be here.  It's certainly not like shipping cost have gone down, they just continue going up while taking away services like region A % B that routinely saved me a lot.  Now we use lose first class for this ground service, I'm not sure how it will work out price wise nor am I sure it's still going to be 2-3 days which would lead to more unhappy buyers. Everyone is set on making this more difficult for us when it's not exactly an easy job to begin with, depending volume and you what sell it may be easier for some than others. 

[diane1959]

There is a difference between Top Rated Seller and Top Rated Plus.  I am a Top Rated Seller and do not offer returns to avoid situations like the one you described ( People returning Books they read during the 30 day window, clothes they wore, Jewlery they wore etc).  Top Rated plus must offer the 30 day returns to get an additional discount on Final Value Fees.  Good luck