How important is it to buyer to buy from someone that has free returns?

[dinpavent0]

I am curious, I actually posted before similar to this, asking what sellers thought of it and if they offered free returns. I want to know how many buyers actually search by free returns and is it important to the buyer to purchase from a seller with free returns? I am considering it again since I could use the discount. Business has picked up quite a bit and my ebay fees are outrageous. The 10% wasn't a big deal to me before but I could sure use it now since my sales are so much higher that before when I thought about doing this. Just looking for input from some buyers on this topic. Any feedback at all greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!

[tunicaslot]

Just tagging on dh - I think adopting free returns really is dependent on the category you sell in. Women's clothing is a diaster as some vloggers I follow have seen 4X as many returns in that category since they adopted free returns and yet those who sell male clothing haven't seen a change and their sales have increased.

It's hard to tell overall if sales do increase as most of us had the summer slow down and now we're heading into 4th quarter where most sellers' sales should pick up.

I don't buy a lot anymore - but I have to say - free returns would make me feel more confident in a seller - and like an above poster - I usually would just keep the item and sell it myself - but if I had the option of returning it on the sellers dime - I'd think about it.

[hillbillymedia]

I buy a lot on ebay. I have never looked at a sellers return policy. Ever

[southern*sweet*tea]

---

@tunicaslot wrote:

Just tagging on dh - I think adopting free returns really is dependent on the category you sell in. Women's clothing is a diaster as some vloggers I follow have seen 4X as many returns in that category since they adopted free returns and yet those who sell male clothing haven't seen a change and their sales have increased.

---

It is. Some categories are naturally going to have more returns even under the best of circumstances.  I sell mostly old cookbooks and recipe and other paper booklets. If described well, these types of items will rarely if ever have returns.  There's no "it doesn't fit" or "I just don't like it" in this category. Buyers buy because they want the actual item to add to their collections.  If I sold women's clothing, I might not have free returns. It would just depend on my particular return situation. Same thing if I sold electronics, cell phones or anything else trendy or popular. 

Color me silly, but I feel the more confidence a seller projects, the less problems they'll have, ESPECIALLY when they sell preowned or vintage items.  Wishy washy sellers, sellers with negative TOS and sellers with minimal/no descriptions will always have more problems.  They'll also attract buyers who spend LESS money. I've offered free returns for over two years. I never had a return before, I haven't had one since.

And just because I don't look at return policies doesn't mean the average buyer doesn't.  I actually have no idea if the average buyer looks at return policies or not. According to a lot of surveys floating around, free shipping and easy returns are the main things buyers look for when they shop online. If that's the case I must be an anomaly because I don't look for either of those, but as a seller I want to cater to all good buyers, although I admit I'm not too hot on the free shipping because it tends to lower sales for me.  I do have it on a few items and I might start adding it to more because I'm getting tired of shipping star dings. I just have to decide if it's worth the sales decrease to lessen my own personal irritation lol

[robot-hands]

Ussless unless you are a drive-by buyer.

The kind that doesn't read or doesn't really know what they are buying.

It only benefits bad buyers....not only that but it validates their terrible behavior.

[bigchief2472000]

---

@southern*sweet*tea wrote:

As a buyer, I've never once looked at what someone's return policy is.   I don't buy something to return it. I don't return things for buyer's remorse - if I don't like something I've bought I just resell it or give it to someone else who wants it.  If there were any sort of problem such as a SNAD, if the seller didn't make it right, Ebay, Paypal or my debit card would.

For me as a buyer, it's not important.

---

My sentiments exactly.  If it's not as described, the return will be free for me.  If I have buyer's remorse, I will sale it or give it away.  Free returns is not something I seek out as a buyer.

[sharingtheland]

We're responding as seasoned and informed ebay users, not as casual buyers.

I've been experimenting with free returns on lower weight items First Class items, but charging a minimal amount for shipping on the outbound leg.  I decided to do that once I saw ebay add Free Returns as a drilldown.

I am not offering it on 2 lb widgets.  

As a buyer on many other sites, I do check the return shipping policy because many of the items I order (golf bag) have free shipping but not free return shipping.  I'm certainly not one of those "bad/scamming/lying/thieving" buyers but buying something sight unseen...well, I do want to know the return policy.  

I'm aware of the sites that offer free return shipping, albeit always with some caveat(s), but I bought from several of them for decades before free shipping was offered.

Aside:  Imagine my surprise when the golf bag - a rather large box - came USPS in two days.  Not UPS or FedEx, which I expected.  And it wasn't ordered from a large big box retailer with a sweet deal with USPS.

[bigchief2472000]

If there's not enough detailed pictures of an item or a thorough enough description, I just hit the back button instead of buying it.

[jason_incognito]

anyone who is considering returning the item even before they buy it is not someone I want to sell to......

[pingpong517]

in general it depends on the person buying....ABND what it is..value or tech item...that they might fee they MAY need to return if not up to par....BUT ebay has a policy that covers most all...not that they all understand that...so maybe they look and see free returns...so they feel confident.

OVER ALL....it is the on-line companies "new" catch phase.."offer" the FREE shipping, the 2-day fast shipping...AND FREE RETURNS HASSLE FREE.... it's what on line shoppers seel andf hear all the time..SO...it is just the way.

but depends on the item and person as to what THEY want/use/expect......

[castlemagicmemories]

I agree.  I don't think most people look for free returns, but possibly those who are indecisive or uncertain an item will "work" for them might.  Logically, some may realize that they are, inessence, still paying for that free return in that they are being charged more altogether.  Those who realize this and don't need the free returns option may elect to skip buying the item that has a free return.

I understand about deducting a percentage but is a buyer really going to allow that to play out.  Having a scant or confusing description would drive more free returns, but actually the MBG already covers that.  An informative, accurate, thorough description is the best defense, of course, against SNADS, but then there may be those who didn't read that description and file a false SNAD.

[bosmingfarg]

I agree. If I offered free returns I would feel like "Rent A Thing" for free. What a nightmare, thinking I just made 200 bux, only to have it sent back a few weeks later on my dime. Suckaroo ! and give back 200 dollars, item full of stains that were not there when shipped, and ebay says "good doggie" then pats me on the head. I'm supposed to feel like a nice little corporate cog ? My past sales were so much fun and I adored my buyers. Ebay gives sellers no benefit of the doubt 99% of the time. No matter how careful we are, the buyer (scamming type) has us by the leash. Uncle Ebay has their back$, and a hook in our wallets. I long for my old days as a seller. They were golden.

[carlmarxx]

There was a recent  poll done asking  buyers   their  list   for online buying  that  they   look for from the merchants  .    every one of the buyers    had   free returns on bottom  of their list  as not important  part  for the item.    

[sharingtheland]

---

@jason_incognito wrote:

anyone who is considering returning the item even before they buy it is not someone I want to sell to......

---

And you'll never know if your buyer is considering a return, bought your widget because it said Free Returns, didn't care if your widget has free returns, yada, yada.

I would like to see market research re free returns from reputable sources, not just what ebay tells us (duh).  I know I always check return policies at other sites before purchasing.  I know I always click back from any listing here that says "no returns."

I don't buy anything while expressly "considering returning" it; I just want to know my options and how much they will cost.  

[lawnmowerpartsstore2]

I buy the item because i need it. I have never checked if they offer free returns. But i do check their Neg and Neutral feedback in depth to see how their customer service is. I have never purchased a item with a thought of returning it. I have really only had about 3 really bad purchases over some solar lights on Ebay. Thats because i didn't look close enough at their feedback and location of the seller as the listing stated they were in California but they were really in China. Long story short: i now look closer at their information and i NEVER buy from a China seller !!!! Still have a really bad taste in my mouth about those transaction on Ebay to this day. I now buy on other on line places besides Ebay due to those transactions.

[sharingtheland]

I'm not making my point well.  I've been trying to make the comparison between buying something on ebay and buying elsewhere.

I know I'm protected here so free returns isn't an issue.  I also know that I will pay for a remorse return.  All I'm pointing out is that buyers don't just buy here; they buy everywhere and how do those policies compare to yours?

My golf bag example:  Yes, I checked the return policy and cost of shipping before ordering, based on possibly returning it.  That's something that does need to be seen and checked out before deciding to keep it.  It's also an oversized item that would cost a lot to return. 

If there had been one, just one, store in this greater metropolitan area with the type of bag I wanted, I would have not ordered one online.