eBay

charis29 · ‎07-06-2024

Hello, I am a Top-rater seller located in the US, not a big volume seller by any means, I sell between 20 and 30 items per month, I normally list my items with "no returns accepted", but I want to try offering a 30-days Free Returns to see if it will help increase my sales and also take advantage of the benefits/protection that come with it.

I have quite a few questions, but instead of posting each question separately, I have decided to ask all my questions in this same post, if you can answer all of them that would perfect, if you can answer just one or two that would be great too.
Thank you very much in advance for your help.

1) Is there a difference between "Buyer paid 30-days free return" and "Seller paid 30-days free return"? Do they both offer the same benefits? Which one do you recommend for me to use?

2) Are all categories eligible for 30-days return? What about food items, OTC medicines, Dietary supplements?

3) Is it recommended to offer 30-days free return on expensive brand new electronics, like Tablets, Phones, Gaming consoles...etc?

4) In case of a fake "Item Not as Described" return, can I deduct the return shipping cost? The initial shipping cost? Or Both? What about restocking fees?

5) In case I receive an opened or used item that was sold as "brand new", will I be able to deduct a percentage from the refund? What percentage do you recommend?

6) In case of a fraudulent return, if I receive a different item or even an empty box, I know I can deduct up to 50% from the refund, but what about the remaining 50%?

Thank you.

simba6 · ‎07-07-2024

Since there is no such thing as no returns when selling in this venue, no need to worry.

Saying no returns may scare off buyers while doing nothing to protect you.

Yes there is return fraud. You have to add a little to all your prices to cover such costs. If a buyer says not as described, you giving a FULL refund.

When a buyer says SNAD , the seller is gonna be sad.

dolcetreasures · ‎07-07-2024

Offering free returns can be a death sentence as you are inviting returns and inviting rental of your items. It only works if you are in a category that inherently has very low returns. The biggest profits I ever made was when I offered “no returns”.

Keep in mind that most of retail is moving away from the free shipping and returns model, I’m not sure that stepping into it this late in the game would give you the benefits you are hoping for. It may be a “grass is greener on the other side” type of deal.

From my end and 3 eBay accounts, I don’t see any difference in visibility by offering free returns. Price & promotions will dictate visibility more so than any option you choose.

albertabrightalberta · ‎07-07-2024

I used to have a no return policy but a statement in my listing about not wanting buyers to feel obligated to keep something they didn't want, need or like. And I never refused return requests (even with my policy).

I didn't get many return requests.

That changed when a buyer damaged an item in order to return it and I wasn't able to deduct for the damage since I didn't have a return policy. (That was about 18 months ago.)

I changed my policy to 30-days, buyer pays return shipping and TBH, nothing changed! I don't have any more return requests than I had prior to having a return policy and those requests I did get (there have been 3) were honest remorse requests in which the buyers returned the items on their own dime. And since I charge separately for shipping, the refunds don't have to reimburse original shipping either. (Refunds on "free shipping" items have to be full refunds.)

I lost nothing except for a bit of time waiting for the relisted items to sell again.

And added benefit of having a 30-day policy is that if an item isn't returned in the same condition as sent, I can deduct from the refund to account for the alteration/damage. I've never had to take advantage of the benefit.

albertabrightalberta
Volunteer Community Mentor