eBay

kickin.assets · ‎09-20-2023

Several years ago eBays big thing was to ask sellers to offer free returns and in return those sellers would be protected from buyers who would leave crazy nonsensical negative feedback.

Recently I’ve heard that eBay is no longer protecting any sellers from this unwarranted type of feedback.

Has anyone else heard or experienced this?

Thank you!

Kiks

devon@ebay · ‎09-20-2023

@kickin.assets wrote:

Several years ago eBays big thing was to ask sellers to offer free returns and in return those sellers would be protected from buyers who would leave crazy nonsensical negative feedback.

Recently I’ve heard that eBay is no longer protecting any sellers from this unwarranted type of feedback.

Has anyone else heard or experienced this?

Thank you!

Kiks

Hey @kickin.assets! We recently has sellers have a similar discussion on this and wanted to share some insights that was discussed from this thread:

"There are certainly protections in place for sellers who are not TRS. If they offer Free 30 day (or longer) returns, and refund the buyer through the return process, protection will kick in.

That info can be found here.

Additionally, a Top Rated Seller has a slightly different protection where they need to offer 30 day (or longer) returns, but they do not need to offer these as FREE returns.
These can be found here.

So your statement of "If that seller process and INAD, sends the return label, the buyer returns the item, then the seller refunds the buyer within the proper time frame, then the buyer will not be able to leave Negative or Neutral FB." is mostly accurate, but it does require either 30 day returns or free 30 day returns, depending on the seller's standing.

One other tidbit for a little more clarification: some of the questions in this thread are "CAN they leave feedback" and others are "will it be automatically removed". The answer to this can vary, but in most circumstances, the buyer will be able to leave a feedback initially. So this is why I have focused my answers on feedback removal."

Devon,

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ckimodog · ‎09-20-2023

@kickin.assets

There is somewhat of seller protection for sellers if you offer free returns. eBay has a 30 day money back guarantee for all buyers and they don't need a reason. If they don't return the item, you are not out the item and the cash. However a buyer can make a cc/Paypal chargeback, so that's where the protection stops. It's tricky and it's something I hope eBay is working on to give sellers more peace of mind & protection from scammers.

Happy Selling!

kickin.assets · ‎09-20-2023

Thank you!

Taking your time to answer this question of mine, is greatly appreciated!!

coolections · ‎09-20-2023

No, it is not true. Offering free returns does not negate a person from leaving feedback. In fact having to return an item is a hassle so if a buyer choses they have a right to do so.

kickin.assets · ‎09-20-2023

I agree people have every right to return an item that, let’s say, doesn’t fit.

That is not what I was asking.

doc-holmes · ‎09-20-2023

How do we define "unwarranted negative feedback?" Just about every seller thinks every negative feedback is unwarranted. I've seen sellers on here admit to sending the wrong item say they took the return and refunded, so the negative was unwarranted.

devon@ebay · ‎09-20-2023

@kickin.assets wrote:

Several years ago eBays big thing was to ask sellers to offer free returns and in return those sellers would be protected from buyers who would leave crazy nonsensical negative feedback.

Recently I’ve heard that eBay is no longer protecting any sellers from this unwarranted type of feedback.

Has anyone else heard or experienced this?

Thank you!

Kiks

Hey @kickin.assets! We recently has sellers have a similar discussion on this and wanted to share some insights that was discussed from this thread:

"There are certainly protections in place for sellers who are not TRS. If they offer Free 30 day (or longer) returns, and refund the buyer through the return process, protection will kick in.

That info can be found here.

Additionally, a Top Rated Seller has a slightly different protection where they need to offer 30 day (or longer) returns, but they do not need to offer these as FREE returns.
These can be found here.

So your statement of "If that seller process and INAD, sends the return label, the buyer returns the item, then the seller refunds the buyer within the proper time frame, then the buyer will not be able to leave Negative or Neutral FB." is mostly accurate, but it does require either 30 day returns or free 30 day returns, depending on the seller's standing.

One other tidbit for a little more clarification: some of the questions in this thread are "CAN they leave feedback" and others are "will it be automatically removed". The answer to this can vary, but in most circumstances, the buyer will be able to leave a feedback initially. So this is why I have focused my answers on feedback removal."

Devon,

spreadlovelikefire · ‎09-20-2023

If you offer free returns you do have feedback protection, only if they actually open the return. Just offering it offers no protection from feedback at all. So if a buyer opens a return (you offer free returns) and they leave you a neutral or negative feedback, as soon as the return is closed the feedback is scrubbed. Just had one yesterday like this. Accept the buyer left a neutral for an item not fitting (even though measurements were given). I contacted the buyer and asked them to open a return if they were unhappy with their purchase and they did. I told her I would just refund her and she didn't need to ship it back because it wasn't a large amount, even though it was a remorse reason she opened the return as. About 2 minutes after the return was closed the neutral vanished.