eBay

lrp1958 · ‎03-07-2018

Is it true that ebay will remove your top rated seller discounts and badge if you don't offer 30 free returns by June 1st?

orangehound · ‎03-07-2018

@lrp1958wrote:
Is it true that ebay will remove your top rated seller discounts and badge if you don't offer 30 free returns by June 1st?

Yes. After June 1, all new listings or re-listings (for those items that are "good till cancelled") must have 30-day free returns in order to be eligible for the Top Rated Plus Discount and display of the badge.

The trade-off is that eBay allows you to deduct up to 50% of the refund to adjust for returns that are in a deteriorated condition from what was sent to the buyer.

To put this in perspective, the discount amounts to 10 cents on a $10 item (8 cents with a store) ... 50 cents on a $50 item (38 cents with a store) ... a dollar on a $100 item (77 cents with a store).

More information here:

http://pages.ebay.com/seller-center/seller-updates/2018-spring/simplified-returns.html

This new policy benefits eBay in two ways. First, sales will increase with free returns ... thus their profits increase. Second, the simplified returns process should translate into much fewer calls into customer service since buyers have power to make judgment calls on returned goods ... again, fewer CS calls will reduce eBay's overhead and help eBay's profits.

nancysjewelsandsupplies · ‎03-07-2018

Hmmm... This newest rollout from eBay has me really thinking about what I'm going to do. I've been a top rated seller for many years. I take a lot of pride in making sure my customers are happy and have a good base of repeat customers.

I wasn't thrilled when eBay insisted on 30 day returns in order to stay a top rated seller. I thought it made no sense. People know whether they want to keep the item or send it back pretty quickly - not 30 days. But, I wanted to keep my 20% discount as a top rated seller, so I put my listings at 30 day returns.

Then eBay reduced the 20% discount to 10%. That was a little upsetting but I was still willing to put 30 returns with buyer paying for that return.

Now, to hear that we must have 30 day free returns is just SO wrong. Even if we are able to not refund the full amount, it's still going to be stressful and cost me money. And, on top of that, I'm thinking that if a seller doesn't give a full refund then the buyer is going to leave a negative feedback. This seems like a win, win for everyone but the sellers. Not to mention the International orders! Shipping Internationally is already outrageous. I'm not going to eat that cost.

As much as I hate to part with my top rated status, I 'm considering changing my listings to no returns. Getting a 10% off of final value fees just isn't enough to justify the damage and cost this new policy will bring to the sellers.

luxgoods · ‎03-07-2018

The free returns policy that Ebay will introduce in June is simply another avenue for the scammers to abuse. This is a open door for those who want to try before they buy. Once again Ebay is protecting the buyers and ignoring the sellers. For those who opt in to this program, think long and hard because the number of returns will increase dramatically. Nordstroms used to take back any item for any reason without a receipt. Well that stopped because of the abuse. Way to go Ebay.

partial*eclipse · ‎03-07-2018

@lrp1958wrote:
Is it true that ebay will remove your top rated seller discounts and badge if you don't offer 30 free returns by June 1st?

30-day returns are already required for TR-Plus and the FVF credit.

The new part is that you must offer free returns.

TR-Plus is a listing status, not a seller status. So you can pick and choose, offering free returns selectively, perhaps only for items that have a low rate of return anyway and/or a low shipping cost. Then keep the current "Buyer pays for returns" policy for other listings such as those with high postage costs or a relatively high rate of returns, such as clothing.

cleaningoutmyclosets17 · ‎03-07-2018

From the comments I have read most of us that are top rated sellers will be changing our listings on June 1st to 2 day handling and no returns. (Ebay is also taking away the option for 14 day reurns)

it it not worth the lousy 10% discount to offer 30 free returns.

plumbingspecials · ‎03-07-2018

..

dtexley3 · ‎03-07-2018

@nancysjewelsandsupplieswrote:
Hmmm... This newest rollout from eBay has me really thinking about what I'm going to do. I've been a top rated seller for many years. I take a lot of pride in making sure my customers are happy and have a good base of repeat customers.

I wasn't thrilled when eBay insisted on 30 day returns in order to stay a top rated seller. I thought it made no sense. People know whether they want to keep the item or send it back pretty quickly - not 30 days. But, I wanted to keep my 20% discount as a top rated seller, so I put my listings at 30 day returns.

Then eBay reduced the 20% discount to 10%. That was a little upsetting but I was still willing to put 30 returns with buyer paying for that return.

Now, to hear that we must have 30 day free returns is just SO wrong. Even if we are able to not refund the full amount, it's still going to be stressful and cost me money. And, on top of that, I'm thinking that if a seller doesn't give a full refund then the buyer is going to leave a negative feedback. This seems like a win, win for everyone but the sellers. Not to mention the International orders! Shipping Internationally is already outrageous. I'm not going to eat that cost.

As much as I hate to part with my top rated status, I 'm considering changing my listings to no returns. Getting a 10% off of final value fees just isn't enough to justify the damage and cost this new policy will bring to the sellers.

Just to further clarify what others are saying. You DO NOT have to offer 30 day free returns to be a Top Rated Seller. If you want your LISTING to have the Top Rated Seller Plus sticker and receive the 10% off FVF for that listing, the LISTING must have free returns.

The announcement was poorly worded and people are confusing a Seller's Top Rated Seller status with the Top Rated Seller Plus listing status. Two different things, related, but different.

Member of the Grumpy Old Man crew

lampwarehouse · ‎05-22-2018

This is still a horrible idea. I only ship large items, costing $30-$60 per box to ship. It's already bad that people can just claim the product is defective when they ordered the wrong item. But now they want us to eat returns also....

staggcreek · ‎05-22-2018

It's my understanding that items without free 30 day returns will receive less visibility and poor search results. That's my concern.

scal.pete · ‎05-22-2018

I don't have a store, I've only been selling out here less than five years, I am a 'top rated' seller, but I've had to jump through the hoops for the customer and eBay to keep everyone happy. I have forty plus years experience in accounting. On eBay I have always had a no return policy (or an unopened return policy if items have factory sealed packaging). I also list 'two day' shipping, even though I ship same day or next day. Does all that cost me customers? Perhaps, but eBay is just supplemental income for me.

I too would like a store, and will probably end up with one, but eBay needs to give more consideration to the seller. eBay can easily give a seller MORE free listings if eBay sees the storefront is profitable; again, just another automatic code that kicks in additional free listings because the bottom line is for eBay's bottom line.

I wish eBay would recognize that 'shipping' is a "cost of doing business" and STOP deducting 10% of shipping as part of final value fee. eBay does this even with 'media mail', which what the post office charges and what the buyer or seller pays is the same amount. Example. Customer pays $2.66 media mail for item, post office charge is $2.66 (no discount); but then eBay charges the seller an additional 10% (.27), that is deducted as well, out of the seller's bottom line. I cry fowl! Also, because of the post office package rate change earlier this year, I have noticed eBay has not adjusted 'discounts', and often, with Priority Mail, again, eBay comes out ahead and the seller , again, is eating additional expenses the seller shouldn't have to eat.

eBay says this is to combat the folks that charge $1.00 for an item then $50 to ship it. I say **bleep** to this. eBay can write a program that disallows the extra 10% eBay takes when shipping cost to seller equals the shipping cost charged by the post office. Ebay and their 10% flat rate is stiffling.

Sorry, I digress, this latest thing of eBay's is just to compete with Amazon at our expense. I love eBay and I hate eBay in the same breath. But I like eBay about 10% more than I hate it.

plumbingspecials · ‎05-22-2018

Yes, and it is so unfair. Please let eBay know that you disapprove of this change, it is policy extortion and it is going to hurt a LOT of sellers.
Sellers = Fees = Profits for shareholders
Why would we sell here if we are going to be forced into taking losses on our items? It's beyond absurd.
So I do not understand WHY they are doing this (unless they are purposely trying to run eBay into bankruptcy so they can reconfigure).

plumbingspecials · ‎05-22-2018

So just to clarify - you DO NOT HAVE to participate in the free returns program. You also do not HAVE to enjoy discounts or the badge that has been hard-earned for years. Too bad, eBay says. You DO NOT HAVE to sell here. Okay, then... I probably won't.

calistas_closet33 · ‎05-22-2018

of course it will and in addition buyers are savvy and know if they claim defective they no longer need to prove anything and seller input is not taken into consideration. So by default it was a big f you..either comply or we will do it for you and make your life miserable. So that’s the gist of their “strategy” I did see this coming, for the most part, except I was not prepared for their tactic to force sellers to pay for returned items when they have a no return policy. So i’m selling my toys and then going home. Something just unmotivating being cornered by a company that makes money off my work but does not offer any protection or autonomy

calistas_closet33 · ‎05-22-2018

They are lying about you don’t have to participate in free returns because their policy changes including default to buyer if they claim an item is defective under every circumstance no matter what was written by them on the platform or any proof you may have. So if you do not take free returns, they will automatically do it for you. Isn’t that heartwarming?