So tired of buyers misusing returns

[natoman777]

In 2022, and so far 2 times this year I have had an increasing number of people who open returns lying about reason in order to get a prepaid label.  I have returns set for buyer pays (of course unless item is defective or not as described).  The most common is item not as described or defective.  Two said new items smelled of smoke, and I am highly allergic to cigarette smoke.  Thankful that eBay allows top rated sellers to deduct original shipping cost and more if buyer misuses returns. 

eBay is NOT Amazon.  We as sellers have to pay for returns when items are not as described or defective, not eBay.   Anyone else having this problem??

[ebooksdiva]

I really haven’t had many returns. Maybe 3-4 last year, none so far this year. I accept returns and provide full refunds, if the product they return isn’t all scratched up and unsellable. If it is a take a percentage off. 
Because sellers offer products to buyers and buyers expect to receive the item that sellers describe. If the item does not meet a buyer’s expectations, then yes, we as sellers are to foot the bill for the return. 

No, this not amazon, it is eBay, we have to play by their rules if we want to continue to sell here. I don’t have a problem with it. 

[superfectabox]

" Thankful that eBay allows top rated sellers to deduct original shipping cost and more if buyer misuses returns."

This is ONLY true if you are TRS and offer FREE RETURNS (which means you will pay for shipping no matter the reason the buyer provides) so I have no idea why you are complaining about misuse?

If you stop the FREE RETURNS then you can complain about lies in condition to avoid having to pay for the label...but then, you can't make deductions.

[sapphire_studio]

Not all top rated sellers can deduct 50% off for damages but you're wrong about it needing to be people with free returns. Buyer paid returns also qualifies

 

[sapphire_studio]

Also when the original post says that you can deduct original Shipping for misusing returns that's not exactly correct. You can only deduct the original Shipping on remorse returns and only if you have charged shipping (I have free shipping so I wouldn't be able to do that). 

If the buyer files a false INAD you have to get the return shipping back from eBay separately and you can only get up to $6. Taking it out of the 50% deduction is considered a policy abuse by eBay.

I have free returns and today somebody filed a return for a remorse reason saying that the beauty product travel items were smaller than they expected. So I will pay for it to be shipped back to me and assuming the products are not used they will get a full refund and I won't get any of the original Shipping back. I'm not bothered at all by this I consider this the cost of doing business.

[natoman777]

@superfectaboxI do not offer free returns.  Whenever I go to refund a return I am given the option to NOT refund original shipping, then I have to give an explanation. 

[natoman777]

@ebooksdivaWhat I am talking about is lying.  I didn't share the last two examples... One, "It smells smokey and musty".  A new with tags item.  Just so happens I am highly allergic to smoke smells and musty.  Causes me to stop breathing.  Got the item back, no smell whatsoever.

Example two:  Sold a vintage nylon coat, stated it needed to be dry cleaned.  They found two tiny dirt spots that could easily be wiped off with a wet rag, said "item not as described".  It took me 10 minutes to find the spots as they were so small.  I wiped them off in 1 second. 

[exeye]

I sell used computer stuff, some of which is heavy and not worth much.  Frequently the shipping is more than the item is worth.  I've had two returns in the past week of things that the buyer claimed were defective but weren't.  Both ended up costing me several times what the item was worth in two-way shipping costs, one of them close to $100.

eBay is asking buyers to cheat by letting them claim that an item is defective, with no verification and no way for the seller to appeal.  There are way too many people with no sense of honor.  Does anyone know a way to fight this?

From now on, I will sell things as "For parts or not working" with a note in the listing that it does in fact work.  This (I hope) will keep people from claiming that things don't work.  It will also probably greatly reduce my sales.

[buyselljack2016]

@exeye 

From now on, I will sell things as "For parts or not working" with a note in the listing that it does in fact work. This (I hope) will keep people from claiming that things don't work. It will also probably greatly reduce my sales.

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Time was "For parts or not working" would not be returnable, but that is no longer the case on eBay.

Alternative in your present situation is to refund without return to cut your shipping losses. You will have to determine if that is a good choice.

[exeye]

How can it be that if you advertise something as not working, someone can return it because it doesn't work?

I sure wish there was an alternative to eBay.  Another huge monopoly corporation that just does what it wants, customers be damned.