Free Return shipping and more

[smalltownbigcitysales]

Hi I wanted some perspective on using Free Return shipping option to get your listings qualified for top rated seller discounts.. 

1) If you use it does it help "trigger" the algorithm to increase sales in your opinion?

2) Do you see lots of abuse of the return policy?

3) Do you use it just for certain genres/categories you sell ?

** I sell a wide variety of categories and am just concerned about having to offer free returns on higher priced items but if it helps my sales I would be willing to try it out ..

Thanks for any feedback 

[kensgiftshop]

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@smalltownbigcitysales  

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I think it would depend on how many returns you get?

If you get 1 or 2 a year, it would be worth it.

If you get 1 or 2 a week or month, the free returns could add up pretty quick.

[rebell45]

As a buyer, it is pretty much meaningless to me. I know if I get something that is not as described or not working, eBay's MBG insures that I will get my money back, including return shipping. Of course, I buy most of my new items on Amazon anyway, where I know I have free returns.

[creativecrisis]

1) I've seen no difference in sales since offering free returns.

2) I haven't had a return in years ... but I'm lower-volume seller in a category that seems fairly trouble-free.

3) I list in only a couple of categories and use free returns in both.

I doubt I would offer free returns if I sold items that may be returned frequently (like clothing), but it hasn't been an issue at all for the items I sell. 

[dhbookds]

I'm never sure of how to answer......I have no idea how many returns I'd get if I didn't offer free returns.  As it is, I think I've only had one this year (400+ items sold), and that was because of a hairline crack I just didn't see.......but was obvious in one of my own photos.  I just told the buyer to keep the item and refunded totally.

When I started offering free returns (long before ebay made a big deal out of it)........I saw that I got very few returns......so figured it wouldn't cost me much and "could be" a good selling point.  Again, have no idea whether it helped or not.......with one of a  kind items, hard to tell.  My advice would be to look at your present experience.......if you have a few returns, but are fearful.......add a 25c to the price/handling charge on everything to cover returns and keep track of it........