Free Returns

[sandstonelake]

I am a small seller on Ebay, I have never been a TRS, and I don't want to be. I keep getting messages from Ebay telling me that I need to revise my items and give them free returns. Between shipping, ebay fees, and paypal fees, and the cost of making the item, if I return it for free I make zilch on the item. Nada, nothing, as it is, I may have to pay out of pocket to return an item, making negative dollars. Also, I could not resell the item after it has been used. What is the answer? Go elsewhere to sell? Stop selling altogether? I am retired, live on a very small fixed income, and enjoy the small amount of extra money I make occasionally on ebay. Now they want to take even that little bit away! Makes me angry, but what can I do?

[abfabvintage]

@sandstonelake

Hi, again. Here is the info regarding returns.

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

I would ignore the TRS info unless you are selling according to the TRS guidelines. 

[couldabeenworse]

What ebay is telling me is that all my items have an unsupported return policy and that I need to change them.

You'll need to update to 30 day returns (or No Returns if you prefer).  eBay no longer supports 14 day returns for most items as of June 1st.  Your items listed before that date still show 14 days.

eBay also eliminated restocking fees and the extra box for other Return Policy details, so if you have any listings with those, they will need to go as well.

So, the email probably has nothing at all to do with Free Returns.

[oncoyotemountainart · Accepted solution]

I went in to edit returns on the listing they tell me are noncompliant.  I was surprised to see that 14 days was still an option.  So yes, they need to remove it as an option if it's not an option.  That's kind of basic, but then lots of things ebay can't seem to do right are pretty basic.

As for TRS, if you're a small seller that sells one or two items a month you will not qualify for TRS.  So it's kind of a moot point to small sellers.

Out of sheer annoyance I went in and chose no returns.  At least that will stop the flood of ebay emails.  Yes, people can still return but since ebay is in the process of stripping our options away and forcing us to pay for unwaranted returns anyway, i have nothing to loose and nothing to gain no matter what I choose.

[sandstonelake]

I am revising all my items to 30 day returns, paid by buyer. I hope that makes ebay happy. Thanks for all the replies and all the help!

[zamo-zuan]

Don't worry. The webinars claim free returns will give you such an "increase in sales that it will cover any increased return costs according to their statistics".

In reality, that's not happening. The 2018 spring update has brought our #1 ranked store in our category to half the impressions we used to have. This forced us to start using free returns/guaranteed delivery/etc. 

Long story short, using free returns did NOT grant us any sort of recovery from the impression issues. 

Now if you look at what stores are most prevalent in the categories we sell in, you will see the ones with the highest momentum are NOT following the "best practices".

You will likely be better off without free returns for the time being. Unless they start actually rewarding users for taking advantage of the feature as they claim (at which point you would really make a little bit more sales in return). But right now... we have not seen any increase at all. 

Our store is still decreasing ever since the spring update. And to be honest, we would attempt removing free returns & see if it had any affect, except we can't afford our sales to decline anymore. 

EBay's search system is broken, best match is not rewarding best practices, and they can't even get their statistic keeping working correctly.

It's a sad time to be an eBay seller. They are taking loyal, top sellers in their category, and throttling their visibility.

[mrrufusandmsladya]

Since they sent out this FREE RETURNS that they will pay for shipping through August (which I did not activate) my sales have went in the toilet.  I was doing 10-15 packages a day, the last few days I have had 2 packages a day.  I have 30 day return with buyer paying return shipping unless I made a mistake in the listing...to which I have done before.  After all I am only human.    In my opinion if you don't follow with what ebay wants you to do (30 day return with FREE RETURND) it seems like your sales drop out big time.   I will keep plugging along they way I want to...ebay is not going to tell me  how and when I have to do my listings.  If I don't make sales....ebay doesn't make any money either.  For being a seller on ebay and doing over $40,000 last year (which I think is good for a part time hobby)  it is going to be their loss not mine.  I don't need ebay to pay my bill or feed me.

[castlemagicmemories]

Ebay is only suggesting free returns. You do not have to offer them.

You can just keep doing what you have been doing.

Don't let this stress you out.

[magicjohnsonsvariety]

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@couldabeenworse wrote:

What ebay is telling me is that all my items have an unsupported return policy and that I need to change them.

You'll need to update to 30 day returns (or No Returns if you prefer).  eBay no longer supports 14 day returns for most items as of June 1st.  Your items listed before that date still show 14 days.

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Even items listed after that date can show 14 day returns because ebay still has it as an option on the listings page.

[6060lacquer]

Under Tell us what you think.  Tell Ebay free 30 day returns for seller's with Antique, collectible, or used items is not acceptable. 

[usaflea]

Hello, I offer free returns but find it is discouraging me from selling larger and/or heavier items, since the return shipping on pottery lamps art etc can go really high..especially west coast etc....do others feel this way ?

ebay should know in 1 month if sales really drop on heavier items

I am a senior and need to figure how to get back in here kids, ...to see your responses anniescol@wyan.org   usaflea

[reallynicestamps]

How many requests for a return or a refund have you had?

 Is that more than one percent of your sales?

If it is, the problem is less likely to be eBay's policies than your listings.

Some categories have more problems than others, I'd be terrified to sell dolls or horsetack, and some categories like electronics and sneakers are notorious.

If you think you will be getting a lot of returns, look into Cookie Jar Insurance.

Keep in mind -- No Returns does not mean No REFUNDS

[tammybiscuit]

I have been trs for years.. by there own neglect they removed it and after a couple of calls still wasn't changed for 2 months....I am no longer interested in being a trs I have had two returns in a week...for no reason..saves me more money than there 10% ....hey eBay why not stop charging fees on shipping..shoul be illegal ..it's a service..no more trs is a blessing...no more hoops

[goodman11413]

It seems to me that ebay is favoring the buyer once again instead of the seller. I am a small seller in that most of my items are low price items with an occasional higher price item. In reading the new terms your fees will be higher and no more free listings unless you do a store. When I sell a comic for $6.00 and pay free shipping after my ebay and paypal fees I make very little. If I were to offer free returns and a customer returns it with a free return label I will be losing money, the only one making money is Ebay, Paypal and the Post Office. If I am going to be giving items away for free then why am I wasting my time selling on Ebay. If I am reading the new terms incorrectly please let me know.

[eunster1313]

[18704d]

" When I sell a comic for $6.00 and pay free shipping after my ebay and paypal fees I make very little. If I were to offer free returns and a customer returns it with a free return label I will be losing money,"."

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Because of this, and to maintain search visibility,

some of us sell comics in comparable bundles of 4 or 5 etc.

You know, instead of Issue #111, listing is for Issues, #111 - 115

Lynn