How do you offer returns where the customer pays?

[meme6253]

I am wondering how you offer returns, but the customer pays for the return.

[sreu3058]

Well, I offer free shipping, so the customer has to pay shipping for a return.

[fab_finds4u]

You can have it where the buyer pays for the return if it's a remorse return but it only works if the buyer is honest. Most will claim not as described in order to force the seller to pay for thr return.

[luckythewinner]

---

@meme6253 wrote:

I am wondering how you offer returns, but the customer pays for the return.

---

That should be in the return policy for the listing. So how you do it would depend upon whether you use business policies or not. (If you use business policies, I think it is set up in the return policy that you choose for the listing).

But remember that if a buyer files a dispute for "Not as described", the seller always pays for the return shipping - regardless of what the seller's listing says about who pays for "returns". 

[meme6253]

That's what I was thinking, that it probably doesn't really work out for the most part.

[meme6253]

That does not work if the customer opens a NAD though.

[luckythewinner]

---

@meme6253 wrote:

That does not work if the customer opens a NAD though.

---

A NAD is not a "return". 

It is a "dispute". 

In a dispute, the seller is always required to pay return shipping. 

eBay does not let a seller ship a defective or fraudulent item and then force the buyer to pay to get a refund. The potential for abuse by sellers is too great. 

[mam98031 · Accepted solution]

@meme6253 

The return policies options are as follows.

1. No Returns
2. 30 day returns w/ buyer pays shipping
3. 60 day returns w/ buyer pays shipping
4. 30 day returns w/ seller pays shipping, AKA Free Returns
5. 60 day returns w/ seller pays shipping. AKA Free Returns
6. 14 Day returns in certain categories

With option number 1, No Returns the seller can completely deny taking a return for a Buyer's Remorse Return Request.  Or if they want to, they can accept the return and have the buyer pay the return shipping.  If the seller so chooses, they can withhold the original shipping if it was separately stated on the listing [not free shipping] when it is time to refund the buyer.

On options 2 & 3 the buyer is responsible for the return shipping on a Buyer's Remorse Return.  Plus, if the seller so chooses, they can withhold the original shipping if it was separately stated on the listing [not free shipping] when it is time to refund the buyer. As of October 1st 2019, sellers that are TRS have some additional protections as well as they can issue partial refunds if they use options 4 or 5 as their return policy.

On options 4 & 5 above, they are also known as Free Returns.  If a seller that has either of those policies, they will pay the return shipping even on a buyer's remorse return.  A seller can withhold the original shipping value from the refund if the shipping was separately stated in the listing [not free shipping].  Also, Seller’s offering options 4 or 5 have the ability to do partial refunds in certain cases if the item arrives back damaged, missing something or in a condition less than what it was sent to the buyer in, see the policy for more details, the link is below.  In the cases where a deduction in the refund is taken due to damage or other authorized reasons for a partial refund, Ebay will protect the seller from negative or neutral feedback.

ALL OPTIONS [1, 2, 3, 4 and 5] are required to process SNAD claims without exception.  Even if they are improperly filed and should have been a Buyer’s Remorse claim.

All return policies by sellers must meet or exceed what is stated in the Money Back Guarantee Policy!

14 day return policies are allowed in certain categories: Jewelry & Watches, Collectibles & Art, Cameras & Photo and Medical, Mobility & Disability Equipment.

For those with Free Return and/or TRS members with 30 day return policies, there are some added protection benefits, one of which is the ability to do a discounted refund under certain conditions.