Has anyone paid a restocking fee in May?

[sharingtheland]

I'm in the midst of an argument over a return I made.  Yes, seller's description had "may charge restocking fee of 20%" but ebay's policy re no restocking charge starting in May, 2018, should overrule that, right?

Seller is saying restocking fee is necessary to cover the "free" shipping.  Which, I might add, was much less than 20% of the cost of the widget; I know this because I was a good little girl and paid the return shipping (a fit issue) and didn't make up a SNAD excuse.  In other words, seller pocketed quite a bit after charging me for the outbound "free" shipping.

Or, let me turn that around.  Is anyone still charging a restocking fee with no swift and slappy punishment from ebay?

[lasantino]

I think sellers are still allowed to charge a restocking fee. I don't think sellers that want to be top rated plus and qualify for  the discount off of their final value fees can charge a restocking fee..  I may be wrong. But I have restocking fees on my items. I usually wave it for buyers. But it still shows up when i process returns.

[slippinjimmy]

You can still enforce a restocking charge IF the sale was made prior to May 1st.

Sellers can and do put lots of garbage in the description area that is not enforcable, they always have and probably always will.

[sharingtheland]

Purchase was made after May 1.

[jklfindings]

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@sharingtheland wrote:

I'm in the midst of an argument over a return I made.  Yes, seller's description had "may charge restocking fee of 20%" but ebay's policy re no restocking charge starting in May, 2018, should overrule that, right?

Seller is saying restocking fee is necessary to cover the "free" shipping.  Which, I might add, was much less than 20% of the cost of the widget; I know this because I was a good little girl and paid the return shipping (a fit issue) and didn't make up a SNAD excuse.  In other words, seller pocketed quite a bit after charging me for the outbound "free" shipping.

Or, let me turn that around.  Is anyone still charging a restocking fee with no swift and slappy punishment from ebay?

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The policy you are quoting has not gone into effect as of yet.  The update says starting in May, not "starts on May 1st".  Unfortunately if the listing you purchased says a restocking fee may be charged, then it is valid.  For your second question, I don't charge restocking fees, but the options are still there when listing.

Streamlined returns policies

Starting in May 2018, we will streamline our returns policy options. Buyers' expectations are continuously evolving and we strive to deliver a returns experience that is consistent and competitive with the changing marketplace. Our simplified return policy options will help drive a retail-standard returns experience for buyers and may boost your sales. We recommend that you begin changing your returns policies now.

The five return policy options will be:

• No returns accepted
• 30-day buyer-paid returns
• 30-day free returns
• 60-day buyer-paid returns
• 60-day free returns

Restocking fees will no longer be a return option.

[sharingtheland]

Thanks, jk.  

How silly of me to think "starting in May" would mean "maybe we'll get our schmazzle together by May 31" or "policy sounds good but we have no way/intention of enforcing it."

Just call me still somehow, sometimes able to naively believe and adjust to something ebay puts in print; I should know by now that the published policies mean nada and it's the super-secret-you-don't-have-the-need-to-know-basis ones that are really the law around here.

[mg152]

Actually I think it starts June 1. I saw it somewhere on eBay but darned if I can find it now

[jklfindings]

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@sharingtheland wrote:

Thanks, jk.  

How silly of me to think "starting in May" would mean "maybe we'll get our schmazzle together by May 31" or "policy sounds good but we have no way/intention of enforcing it."

Just call me still somehow, sometimes able to naively believe and adjust to something ebay puts in print; I should know by now that the published policies mean nada and it's the super-secret-you-don't-have-the-need-to-know-basis ones that are really the law around here.

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I see you're point, but it isn't a policy until it's actually enacted.  It's the listing itself that matters.  If it says that a restocking fee might be charged, then that's whats important.  Don't get me wrong, I think restocking fees work against a seller most of the time, but until the new policy goes into effect, it's still something to look out for.

[lintbrush*]

You say it was in the seller's description, but was it in the structured listing in the Returns policy?