How many sellers are going to offer free returns?

[tweetystwades]

Just curious how many sellers will do this, I can not afford to do it.  I will have to pay the return shipping, and make no profit on the sale.  That's a bad business plan for me.  Also, how much business do you think we will lose for not offering it? Will we be so buried we won't see the light of day?

[sharingtheland]

#1.  Any buyer who will only buy from me because I offer free returns is "Not" the type of buyer I am looking to attract.   

Hey, I resemble that remark.   Free return shipping is definitely one of the things I want, all other terms of sale and price and whatever being equal.  

Try ordering a 10' x 10' rug or a bathroom vanity or 8 panels of heavy linen drapery or a cat treehouse tha that weighs 43 pounds; one with free return shipping and one without.  Same brand, same color, etc.  You'd pick the one you have to pay $60 to return?  

[getitright1234]

Or better yet, the buyer proceeds with the purchase...........And, simply returns it free of charge.   They got the item from a "Free" Returns "any" reason seller.   So image this: 

Buyer buys a short sleever shirt for  $29.99, and within 30 days, its now winter.  No need for that short sleeve shirt,  plus that shirt is now on sale for $15.99.   No, problem just return it free of charge, no need to lie about the reason, ...........................but just out of curiosity, please tell me why you wish to make a return:     I am  in need of a  winter waredore.       

Seller originally offered free shipping and now has the pleasure and honor of paying for return shipping.  Please tell me, what is smart about this seller's business practice.  

[ryanrobyn]

Many regular companies are now switching to buyer pays return postage. Looks like Ebay is on the tail end of what was a trend.

[mistwomandancing]

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getitright1234 wrote:

A few posts up, we had a buyer state,  they do not purchase based on "Free" returns.   eBay has a lot of small sellers, sellers who can not afford to accept returns just for the "hell" of it.   So, if eBay buries those sellers,  they will also be limiting their inventory/buyers who are not looking for  Sears, HomeDepot, JC Penny, type products.   A lot of what made eBay great and buyers coming back were for those hard to find treasures.    So, in essence, it will be eBay whom will be shooting themselves in the foot.  Small business should adopt some of big business concepts, but we all can't go jumping off a cliff.  

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We don't know at all that those sellers who opt NOT to offer Free Returns will be buried though... they may actually end up being shown at about where they are now, as we don't know yet how many will list with this Free Returns thing.

My guess at this time would be that Free Returns may be offered at a somewhat higher rate in those categories where returns are already at minimum amounts, and few sellers in the *high rate of returns* categories will jump on board.

I'll still judge this by where my listings appear in search, how many above me DO offer Free Returns, and whether it looks like it actually means much when it comes to placement in search.  Frankly, I think there is so much more to search placement and will continue to be, regardless of whether a seller offers this or not.

[swenson8781]

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@mistwomandancing wrote:

First of all, you don't have to make a decision on this yet, so plenty of time to consider all the pros and cons.. and to see where there actually ARE many pros and cons.

So you'll be given better search placement?  HOW much better?  In front of all the other sellers who decide to try Free Returns?... or still down the page quite aways. 

Do you offer 30-day returns right now?  NO returns policy?  How is your current return policy working for your? 

AND, you do know that you will be able to pick and choose which listings you want to offer this Free Returns option on, and which listings you don't want this option given.. right?  It's not 100% one or the other.  So maybe it could be worth the gamble on items that are getting buried and that could use a boost in search placement.  Not worth it at all on items that already place well in search. 

Do you actually HAVE a lot of returns already?  Is there any reason to think this will open the floodgates for you? 

Just a lot to consider, and no rush at this time. 

I don't hardly ever get return requests with the merchandise I sell here anyway, so doubt this would suddenly turn on me. 

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That, in red, is the million dollar question.  As always.  It's so, so hard for any seller, small, large, or huge company, to determine whether changing or adding any new feature is truly worth it.

They (eBay) say 'it will boost your search placement', but they say that with regards to everything they roll out... free shipping, extended returns, quick shipping, TRS status, global shipping program, etc.  NEVER, are there any real statistics, nothing that can ever actually PROVE that anything makes a difference in placement at all.   

For all I know, search placement is determined by a random roll of the dice during a morning meeting while people drink their coffee.  I often wonder at what point I will stop changing/updating listings, and reaching for the invisible & unproven possibility of 'higher search placement' to help boost my sales 

[getitright1234]

So, if you are off on your room measurements and you really needed a 8x12 rug and my listing clearly said 10x10, why do I need to be out $60 for return shipping for an as described listing.    If sellers are forced into this "Free" return for any reason, they will find a product or products in their inventory to mark up to make up for that loss.   So, guess what, we are all now paying higher prices.  

[sharingtheland]

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@getitright1234 wrote:

So, if you are off on your room measurements and you really needed a 8x12 rug and my listing clearly said 10x10, why do I need to be out $60 for return shipping for an as described listing.    If sellers are forced into this "Free" return for any reason, they will find a product or products in their inventory to mark up to make up for that loss.   So, guess what, we are all now paying higher prices.  

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Ya know, that's not what I was saying.  Maybe I'm in the minority but I really do know the difference between 8 x 12 and 10 x 10 and wouldn't order the wrong size.  Not every buyer is out to scam a seller.

And, why should *I* be out $20 because a buyer used ebay's system that is set up to make me offer free return shipping, i.e., "does not work" = "defective."    She should have selected "does not fit" but, like almost everyone else, she thought that applied to clothing.  She picked "does not work" because my widget, literally, did not work with her machine and she admitted it was her error in purchasing it.

[tweetystwades]

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@mistwomandancing wrote:

First of all, you don't have to make a decision on this yet, so plenty of time to consider all the pros and cons.. and to see where there actually ARE many pros and cons.

So you'll be given better search placement?  HOW much better?  In front of all the other sellers who decide to try Free Returns?... or still down the page quite aways. 

Do you offer 30-day returns right now?  NO returns policy?  How is your current return policy working for your? 

AND, you do know that you will be able to pick and choose which listings you want to offer this Free Returns option on, and which listings you don't want this option given.. right?  It's not 100% one or the other.  So maybe it could be worth the gamble on items that are getting buried and that could use a boost in search placement.  Not worth it at all on items that already place well in search. 

Do you actually HAVE a lot of returns already?  Is there any reason to think this will open the floodgates for you? 

Just a lot to consider, and no rush at this time. 

I don't hardly ever get return requests with the merchandise I sell here anyway, so doubt this would suddenly turn on me. 

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I currently have a 30 day return policy, and I'm at 4.9% right now. Which is not extreme, considering I sell clothing. I do get a lot of buyers that return because they say they ordered the wrong size, if I offer free returns is that just encouraging negligence? 

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

Can anyone show me where ebay has actually said that this will impact organic search placement? There is NO question if you offer free return shipping you will appear in the free return FILTER, and if you don't, you won't. eBay is correct that that fact provides better search placement, but it is not within regular search itself. I believe ebay has indicated that if you offer free returns that might be highlighted in some way on the search results page itself, but that does not in and of itself impact search placement in regular search.

In my opinion, no one should choose free return shipping because they believe it will improve their organic search placement, or because they believe if they don't have it they will be pushed to the bottom. They should decide whether they want to offer it by looking at real factors, not that stuff.

[ittybitnot]

if I offer free returns is that just encouraging negligence? 

Actually, you are offering free returns anyway due to the MBG program.  Buyer complains via SNAD, and you don't fork over the postage in advance for the return, ebay is going to do it anyway, even if the buyer is a lying thief. 

They lying thief will no longer need to lie.  Streamlined process. Buyer gets to use the goods and return them,  buyer gets to buy your gold bracelet and return a rubber band.  Same old program, different day. 

[getitright1234]

Yes, you will absorb that expense even when your buyer is at fault.  How deep are your pockets?

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@tweetystwades wrote:

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@mistwomandancing wrote:

First of all, you don't have to make a decision on this yet, so plenty of time to consider all the pros and cons.. and to see where there actually ARE many pros and cons.

So you'll be given better search placement?  HOW much better?  In front of all the other sellers who decide to try Free Returns?... or still down the page quite aways. 

Do you offer 30-day returns right now?  NO returns policy?  How is your current return policy working for your? 

AND, you do know that you will be able to pick and choose which listings you want to offer this Free Returns option on, and which listings you don't want this option given.. right?  It's not 100% one or the other.  So maybe it could be worth the gamble on items that are getting buried and that could use a boost in search placement.  Not worth it at all on items that already place well in search. 

Do you actually HAVE a lot of returns already?  Is there any reason to think this will open the floodgates for you? 

Just a lot to consider, and no rush at this time. 

I don't hardly ever get return requests with the merchandise I sell here anyway, so doubt this would suddenly turn on me. 

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I currently have a 30 day return policy, and I'm at 4.9% right now. Which is not extreme, considering I sell clothing. I do get a lot of buyers that return because they say they ordered the wrong size, if I offer free returns is that just encouraging negligence? 

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[Anonymous]

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@hawgryders wrote:

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@tweetystwades wrote:

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@postingid2017 wrote:

I second your suggestion @victorjunkman55

In accordance with the update, it is what buyer's "expect"  so let eBay pay for free return shipping.

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I don't even think it's what buyers expect, I never expect free returns. Who does offer free returns? 

Does Amazone?  

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Amazon Prime gives free 2 day shipping, free return shipping, no-fault returns, and a host of on-line access (books, movies, music) --- all for a yearly fee

This has also forced Wal-Mart to offer free shipping & returns --- which is why eBay offers incentives to those who do the same here ...

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Just to clarify, I don't think Amazon Prime gives free return shipping on every product (for buyer's remorse returns).   For example, I recently bought a printer that I wanted to return, but there was a return shipping fee involved (about $30).  

[mistwomandancing]

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Exactly what I was getting at.  At least for myself, I don't think this is anything to get all up tight about at this time.  Personally, I'll probably wait and see how the *Johnny-on-the-spot* folks like the results they get with it. 

[getitright1234]

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@sharingtheland wrote:

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@getitright1234 wrote:

So, if you are off on your room measurements and you really needed a 8x12 rug and my listing clearly said 10x10, why do I need to be out $60 for return shipping for an as described listing.    If sellers are forced into this "Free" return for any reason, they will find a product or products in their inventory to mark up to make up for that loss.   So, guess what, we are all now paying higher prices.  

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Ya know, that's not what I was saying.  Maybe I'm in the minority but I really do know the difference between 8 x 12 and 10 x 10 and wouldn't order the wrong size.  Not every buyer is out to scam a seller.

And, why should *I* be out $20 because a buyer used ebay's system that is set up to make me offer free return shipping, i.e., "does not work" = "defective."    She should have selected "does not fit" but, like almost everyone else, she thought that applied to clothing.  She picked "does not work" because my widget, literally, did not work with her machine and she admitted it was her error in purchasing it.

I agree, not every buyer is out to scam a seller, they wouldn't need to with Free returns for any reasons, the seller is now scamming themselves.   Even when the buyer makes an innocent mistake, and puts in a request for a return.  it will cost them nothing. its the seller who will pay for the buyers' "innocent" error. 

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[missjen831]

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@buyselljack2016 wrote:

Knew a woman that had new clothes to wear every month.  Free return shipping kept her in style:)

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Not the same thing but I have a friend who regularly orders multiples of the same item from retailers that offer free returns and she sends back the ones don't fit. I'll shame myself here too--when I needed a nice dress for a special occasion back in March and could not find an appropriate style in navy blue locally, I did order 4 dresses from Amazon and Bloomingdales because of the free return shipping and I kept the one that I liked best and wore it to the event. But my friend on the other hand, does it regularly and only orders from retailers that offer free returns.