How about finally reducing the time to return an item back to the pre-covid timeframe?

[rugerskick]

The reason ebay gave to extend the time was covid and the restrictions.

They  aren't a factor anymore.

Three weeks is incredibly way too long.

I should note ebay requires sellers to respond to returns in a few days, not three weeks.  Also noting that once a return is received sellers only have 1-2 days to deal with a refund even if there's an issue.

Buyers are the one who request a return, how about then not letting them have the item they don't want another 3 weeks, and instead have them get it in themail in a timely manner that ebay has decided is a reasonable timeframe for sellers.  4 days. Go back to the 4 days that existed before covid.

[iamalwaysright]

I actually don't mind the longer period. I think it makes the lazy buyers think "I don't have to get to it now because I have such a long return window". Then they forget about it and it totally creeps up on them and BAM! They forgot to return it. This happens to my wife all the time with Amazon stuff. Raise it to 30 days even and see more buyers fail to return the items.

One thing I DO wish though is that ebay would change the refund window from 2 days after return delivered to 2 business days.

[wastingtime101]

---

@iamalwaysright wrote:

I actually don't mind the longer period. I think it makes the lazy buyers think "I don't have to get to it now because I have such a long return window". Then they forget about it and it totally creeps up on them and BAM! They forgot to return it. This happens to my wife all the time with Amazon stuff.

One thing I DO wish though is that ebay would change the refund window from 2 days after return delivered to 2 business days.

---

Agreed on the 2 biz days to refund.

My experience is the opposite. My buyers almost never forget and the ones that don't ship within a couple days always ship the last couple days just before the return times out.

I was actually grumbling about the 3 week timeline a few days ago because I had a buyer file a return on a seasonal item (multi-item large order) and knew if they didn't ship right away then I wouldn't get it until it was past the selling period for that season. Fortunately that buyer did ship back quickly which I wasn't expecting because they filed the return just before the 30 day return window closed.

[vintagecraze50]

---

@rugerskick wrote:

The reason ebay gave to extend the time was covid and the restrictions.

They  aren't a factor anymore.

Three weeks is incredibly way too long.

I should note ebay requires sellers to respond to returns in a few days, not three weeks.  Also noting that once a return is received sellers only have 1-2 days to deal with a refund even if there's an issue.

Buyers are the one who request a return, how about then not letting them have the item they don't want another 3 weeks, and instead have them get it in themail in a timely manner that ebay has decided is a reasonable timeframe for sellers.  4 days. Go back to the 4 days that existed before covid.

---

It helps to PREVENT CHARGEBACKS from LAZY buyers who forgot and then think they have to chargeback on their credit card to get their money back. Keep it the way it is.

[wastingtime101]

That's actually a great point [payment disputes].

[robbie31415]

---

@iamalwaysright wrote:

I actually don't mind the longer period. I think it makes the lazy buyers think "I don't have to get to it now because I have such a long return window". Then they forget about it and it totally creeps up on them and BAM! They forgot to return it. This happens to my wife all the time with Amazon stuff. Raise it to 30 days even and see more buyers fail to return the items.

One thing I DO wish though is that ebay would change the refund window from 2 days after return delivered to 2 business days.

---

100% it should be BUSINESS days.

Ebay  messed me up over this.

Someone got an instant refund early Monday because they contacted eBay. The return tracking showed delivery attempt on Saturday: business was closed. The attempt allowed them to get a refund on Monday before it was even delivered to us.

[robbie31415]

Ebay used covid as an excuse.

They most likely wanted to increase it prior but didn't want to deal with backlash and PR.

It will most likely never go back.

Amazon is at like 50 days.

[wastingtime101]

---

@robbie31415 wrote:

---

@iamalwaysright wrote:

I actually don't mind the longer period. I think it makes the lazy buyers think "I don't have to get to it now because I have such a long return window". Then they forget about it and it totally creeps up on them and BAM! They forgot to return it. This happens to my wife all the time with Amazon stuff. Raise it to 30 days even and see more buyers fail to return the items.

One thing I DO wish though is that ebay would change the refund window from 2 days after return delivered to 2 business days.

---

100% it should be BUSINESS days.

Ebay  messed me up over this.

Someone got an instant refund early Monday because they contacted eBay. The return tracking showed delivery attempt on Saturday: business was closed. The attempt allowed them to get a refund on Monday before it was even delivered to us.

---

🤦

And if you refunded over the weekend you wouldn't even be able to inspect the return unless you went into the office. Actually - no - because carrier couldn't deliver it!

I get why eBay might be hesitant to make the buyer wait several days when a return is delivered on a Friday, but it sure doesn't make it easy on sellers when deliveries are at odd times.

At the very least I feel like it should be changed to 3 calendar days so we have at least 1 full business day to manage it.

Disregard strikethrough - not relevant since current window is 2 biz days.

[itscalledapostingid]

It is 2 biz days now isn't it?

"When you agree to give the buyer their money back, or once you receive the returned item, you'll need to issue their refund within 2 business days."

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/handle-return-request-seller?id=4115

[wastingtime101]

---

@robbie31415 wrote:

Amazon is at like 50 days.

---

In what respect? Timeline to return items? Almost everything I buy from amazon has a 30 day return window. Not only that, but Amazon seems to be making it more challenging to return items.

I had to return something recently 'cause they sent the wrong size (or the listing was wrong, I don't know) and drop off at Whole Foods wasn't even an option like it usually is.

My only option if using the free return was to go to a UPS Store specifically, or to use regular UPS and pay something like $7 or $9 for the label and even then would have to go to a UPS drop point or pay extra for pickup.

[wastingtime101]

---

@itscalledapostingid wrote:

It is 2 biz days now isn't it?

"When you agree to give the buyer their money back, or once you receive the returned item, you'll need to issue their refund within 2 business days."

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/handle-return-request-seller?id=4115

---

I didn't even realize that. I was used to the 2 calendar day window. I usually process within 1 day so I guess I haven't paid much attention.

You are correct though! That's awesome. I'm looking at an email for a return delivered Oct 24 and eBay says refund by Oct 28. 2 biz days.

[itscalledapostingid]

I noticed it back around labor day weekend when I saw ebay giving a refund date that was effectively 5 calendar days.

[robbie31415]

The  return stays open for them for 50 days once return is opened on Amz.

If they get a scan before 50 days they will be automatically issued a refund.

So on amz you technically can have the item for 80 days.

[wastingtime101]

It's actually been 2 biz days for a long time @itscalledapostingid . I went back and checked the internet archive.

Just goes to show how used to a process we can get that we sometimes miss those details.

Like because I almost always process returns within 1 day I glossed over the dates and never really paid attention to the deadline. 😂

[wastingtime101]

Interesting @robbie31415 . This particular Amazon order I recently returned had a 30 day window, was from a 3rd party seller but FBA, and when I filed the return which was right at the end of the return window (and 'cause I'm so nice I used "changed mind" even though it wasn't as described 'cause it was free returns) and Amazon gave me 2 days to get it to a UPS Store or I'd be outta luck. It was super strict.