I am having the same experience with returns. I almost never had any till after this Christmas.
In the past month alone, I had:
One because the buyer said it "smelled bad." It was a sealed perfume she opened. Who knows, maybe it had gone bad?? But this buyer loves to give negatives too....at least two red donuts on each page and a few neutrals too for her chosen sellers. I fully expect one as well, even though she got a full refund.
The second one was a heavy glass piece. The buyer said it did not fit in with her collection. She never returned it when she realized she would have to pay return shipping and a restocking fee. If it was a free return, I would have gotten it back to be sure.
The third return just started. It was a newer rhinestone bracelet with tags. The buyer asked a lot of questions about it before finally buying it. (I regret now I did not block her once the questions got picky.) This was sent new with tags. Reason for the return: the rhinestones catch on her clothing. She is paying return shipping but I am out the forward shipping and fees and the tag will probably be off the item now.
I am just a smaller seller and an older grandma. Right now I am trying to list as much as I can to get rid of things and phase out from this site. I can't imagine what it will be like when "free returns" is implemented. I know you do not have to offer free returns, but even if you don't, my guess is buyers will get more and more in the habit of returning things claiming not as described, so you will lose anyway.
I think sellers have the right to see how many returns a buyer has initiated and the right to block ones that return several items in a set period of time--just like we can for those who do not pay.
Just my thoughts.
