eBay

carpe_diem_jedi · ‎01-08-2019

So nowadays eBay forces seller to have more than generous free return policies.

In turn buyers, know they can return anything anytime for any reason and will abuse the protection program and return items after 29 days because they know they can return it for free and get a full refund. In other words you have buyers who simply use eBay as a 30-day free rental service.

Since eBay has implemented their new policy where you have to offer free 30-day returns on your listings to remain a top rated plus seller, my return rate has more than doubled.

In turns eBay now threatens sellers with higher selling fees if your return rate is above a certain threshold.

And voila!

By forcing seller to offer free returns for 30-days eBay has intrinsically doubled the number of returns. By increasing the number of returns, they not only made it harder for seller to turn on profit on the sales themselves but they also artificially increased the fees on these same sellers due to no fault of their own.

eBay has self engineered a crisis for their sellers.

There is nothing ethical about this company, their only goal is to generate maximum revenues for themselves regardless of what happens to the sellers.

I think my days selling on eBay are counted. It has become more trouble than it is worth.

mam98031 · ‎10-23-2019

@clarryf458 wrote:
I am showing 5 in wrong item 2 in doesn't match description/photos in another which should actually be "buyer did not read description and 1 in several for a total of 14. I have talked with a "specialist" who informs me that even though 1 Return was closed by buyer with the explanation of "buyer opened return by mistake" it will still be counted against me as a Return. Yes I have a "very high" rating of 1.91 percent.. Ebay continues to charge an additional 5% on my sales.

You misunderstand how the Service Metrics works.

It does NOT matter why a buyer opens an INAD nor does the outcome matter. The mere fact one was opened counts against you. Whether it was properly opened or opened by mistake does not matter. If it is an INAD, it counts against you in the Service Metrics.

Properly opened Buyer Remorse returns do not count against you. But the key is PROPERLY OPENED. If a buyer opens an INAD and selects a reason that is not accurate, it WILL count against you in the Service Metrics.

To dig yourself out, you need to up your game on your listing descriptions and pics in an effort to avoid more INADs. I'm not pointing fingers at you or placing blame on you. I'm simply saying you need to do whatever you can to avoid more INADs.

You also need to have sales or whatever else you can do to increase your transaction count. Transactions without INADs will help you to dilute the numbers and start to climb out of this problem. So do whatever you can to increase good transactions.

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999

zamo-zuan · ‎10-23-2019

@mam98031 wrote:
@clarryf458 wrote:
I am showing 5 in wrong item 2 in doesn't match description/photos in another which should actually be "buyer did not read description and 1 in several for a total of 14. I have talked with a "specialist" who informs me that even though 1 Return was closed by buyer with the explanation of "buyer opened return by mistake" it will still be counted against me as a Return. Yes I have a "very high" rating of 1.91 percent.. Ebay continues to charge an additional 5% on my sales.
You misunderstand how the Service Metrics works.

It does NOT matter why a buyer opens an INAD nor does the outcome matter. The mere fact one was opened counts against you. Whether it was properly opened or opened by mistake does not matter. If it is an INAD, it counts against you in the Service Metrics.

Properly opened Buyer Remorse returns do not count against you. But the key is PROPERLY OPENED. If a buyer opens an INAD and selects a reason that is not accurate, it WILL count against you in the Service Metrics.

To dig yourself out, you need to up your game on your listing descriptions and pics in an effort to avoid more INADs. I'm not pointing fingers at you or placing blame on you. I'm simply saying you need to do whatever you can to avoid more INADs.

You also need to have sales or whatever else you can do to increase your transaction count. Transactions without INADs will help you to dilute the numbers and start to climb out of this problem. So do whatever you can to increase good transactions.

The part that is scary for us is that we have software that requires 2 manual checks with visual confirmation of what is going in the box when packing. Despite having software that surpasses what the average seller has... eBay still claims we're above the average peer level.

We're still in the "Average" area, but towards the top of the bar near "high".

As in our position, most of our listings have been around for years and any issues with them has been repaired. So there's little we could do to improve metrics beyond this, yet eBay claims we're above the average.

This makes me feel horrible for sellers who don't have such software. They will certainly be having a tougher time, which means they will always be walking the line near the penalty. Seems very unfair for them

bilzbigdealz · ‎10-23-2019

I just glanced at this trying to find how this thread got so far and involved. I yearn for( and dont call me an old folk) when the buyer would contact the seller if there was a problem with sale. Now we have this system designed for larger operations. It seems no matter how hard I try it always gets to the point that a shipping label gets printed. I do understand that it doesent cost if not used , but it is still there. A loaded hun. Pfft. It is just an option for an error. Actually, the whole module is a system is an invitation for wrong doing. Also, when stating that it is that policies are poorly disguised attempt to increase cost to the seller it is because of the hurdles for the top rated discounts. Remember when twenty percent was the discount? Anyhoo, that what i was refering to. Sorry that i was unclear. Thats enough from me now. Be well and illegitimus non carborundum est.

esg-enterprises · ‎10-24-2019

You are correct, I currently have 16 in my metrics. Fortunately my volume is enough I am still below my peers percentage wise.

Of the 16, 10 are total garbage, some buyers messaged me they were wrong and the item worked and never returned, some the buyer said I ordered wrong item and still opened as INAD.

I refunded a guy yesterday and paid the label for a piece of trim that I had described as having dents, with the dents clearly pictured, he stated piece has dents and when I went back at him he stated, I don't want to remove dents.

I ate 18 on shipping, and a ding, but it's the policy.

bilzbigdealz · ‎10-24-2019

I feel your pain. Its not the easiest project begging to get a ding withdrawn

albany_sellers · ‎10-24-2019

@carpe_diem_sooner wrote:
Top Rated Plus status helps your listings display very high in the ebay search engine. If you are not in the first page then you won't sell much.
Your sales will literally explode when you get TRP status. I agree the 10% is not much of an incentive but the increased sales definitely are an enormous incentive.

In addition, the buyer pays return only forces the buyer to pay for the return if they have a change of heart. If the buyer claim that the item is defective or not as describe, wether it is a false claim or not, the SELLER THEN HAS TO PAY for the return shipping.

My items are made in China but the quality is actually very good, the factory tests them and so do I. The failure rate is less than 0.5%. More than adequate.

Sorry but I did the Top Rated Plus thing for a while there and saw no difference other than the hoops I had to jump through and the little tricks I had to do to entertain eBay. It's not worth the 10% in the least.

esg-enterprises · ‎10-24-2019

Be honest I have tried early on but never had any success, regardless of how obvious the buyer was working the system.

My buddy is on the phone with ebay daily, sometimes just shooting the breeze with CSR's. I made a vow about

3-4 years ago I would only call if ABSOLUTELY necessary. It has honestly saved me a ton of aggravation.

I chalk it up to cost of business, even though ebay's involvement in most issues actually causes many of the problems sellers face, my time is too valuable and you will never get satisfaction.

gwzcomps · ‎10-24-2019

@nickelsanddimes2015 wrote:
I tried the free returns too and wow was I suprised at how many returns I got. I average maybe 1-2 a month but for the 2 months I did free returns I had 14 one month and 16 the next. So all the listings got turned back to buyer pays. Sales have been going up and down but I am down 50% and I'm not the only one. Ebay is going to a fee based company.

This is exactly why I refuse to offer free returns. The buyers already don't read my listings as it is. With free returns there is no recourse or struggle to scare the bad buyers away. Being that I sell used electronics my return rate would go up tenfold just because of offering free returns. I am also seeing a pretty huge hit on my sales the beginning of this month. Things are picking up a little more now, hopefully you will see the same. If things don't get better next month I think I will be liquidating my company or going somewhere else.