New 30 day return policy

[expressionsbyedith]

Subject: 30 day return policy

Does anyone feel strongly that this is very unfair to the seller.

I seel high priced items (jewelry).

It is unfair to keep an item off the market for such a long period of time,

Additionally it would be very easy for someone to wear the item for whatever occasion they want and then return for a full refund.

I think 14 days is ore than enough for someone to deide if they want to keep an item

[jonathankirkland]

Yes I think 30 days is extremely unreasonable for most ALL items being sold on ebay.

Ebay, at least for me and in my opinion, was always the "go to" place to find used stuff in good condition for great prices.

However, with all the new policy changes, it seems that ebay wants every small seller to act like a major brick and mortar or online store selling BRAND NEW items (just think of the other big companies and retailers that sell new merchandise).

It is totally unfair for the small seller and I am sure it will hurt many small sellers going forward. Only those who are able to adapt their business model to cover the cost of returns will be able to survive sadly. It seems ebay truly doesn't care about the little guy, only the mega-China sellers who can absorb these return issues easily.

[marilyn6122]

Personally I think 7 days is more than adequate for some categories such as yours. The first 3 days is time enough to determine if the item fits, matches, or otherwise suitable for what is was imagined. 3 days to inspect, 7 days to return.

[luckythewinner]

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Ebay, at least for me and in my opinion, was always the "go to" place to find used stuff in good condition for great prices

I think it still is the place to go, and that 30 day returns do not change that. 

Only those who are able to adapt their business model to cover the cost of returns will be able to survive sadly

I do not believe in one size fits all generalizations.

For instance, I think there are many seller for whom returns are simply not an issue - and they will not have to adjust their business model at all. 

I also think there are sellers for whom returns are an issue, but that extending this to 30 days will not really make it much worse. 

Lastly, I certainly see are plenty of sellers who do not offer returns, so the change from 14 days to 30 days simply will not change anything. 

[jklfindings]

30 days? That's nothing... Paypal is 180 days.  I'm a jewelry seller too, and yes 30 days is a bit long, but it's either 30 or no returns.  Even after that 30 day limit, if you're buyer really wants to return, they will go to paypal and still be able to return.  You have to work this into your business model.  That said, it's rare in my experience to get a return that far out.  Most of my returns get started 1 to 5 days from delivery, and I honestly can't remember the last time one was started 10 or more days after delivery.

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@jklfindings wrote:

30 days? That's nothing... Paypal is 180 days.

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^^This^^

If you sell online ANYWHERE, you better be prepared for refunds for six months.  If someone wants to get their money back, and they used Paypal or a credit/debit card, then they will get it back. That's a fact, and there is absolutely nothing the seller can do about it from the standpoint of the venue and the payment processor.  Why is there nothing the seller can do? Because there is nothing the venue or the payment processor can do. It's all in the hands of the credit card company.

Once that buyer goes to the credit card company, it's out of Ebay's hands and it's out of Paypal's hands, so it is up to YOU, the seller, to be prepared to cover your own losses.

[ebbyisme]

No matter what your return policy is eBay's MBG is 30 days, so the buyer still has 30 days to return something if they want to. And since eBay will now keep track of SNADs and punishing sellers for high rates, do you really want people filing more SNAD returns?

I just wish, to encourage the use of 30 (or more) free returns, eBay would not apply the SNAD rate to those who use it as a bonus. after all if a seller is paying for free returns that alone is punishment and deterrence for a high return rate. If it is too high the seller will be out of business.

Also, with the change of payment coming and ebay taking a more active role and becoming the merchant of record and they won't want a high charge back rate on credit cards so look for ebay to go to 180 day dispute system of some kind.

Lastly, no one said you must use the 30 day return policy. I use the standard: if it makes sense use it, if it doesn't don't.

[momofrhys]

14 Days is way more than enough to decide if you want to keep jewelry that you purchase.  I sell and consign jewelry as well- both costume and fine and am devastated by this new 30 day policy.  The 30 day return policy opens up a jewelry rental system for people who want to change their jewelry wardrobe every month. Jewelry is so easily scratched, damaged, rhinestones loosened, etc... After wearing a piece of jewelry multiple times for 29 days it is simply not in the same condition as the seller shipped it, so when we, the seller, get it back and have to relist the value has gone down with wear and tear by the 30 day renter.  Second, regarding fine gold and silver, with this policy change you can guarantee that gold speculators have already figured out how to take advantage of ebay sellers when the gold market dips.  This new policy kills the small business people trying to pay their monthly bills and trying to grow bigger.  eBay needs to include all jewelry in the other categories that they allowed to keep a 14 day return policy on--collectibles/art, camers & photo, medical.

I feel your pain...not sure where I am going to go from here

[momofrhys]

14 Days is way more than enough to decide if you want to keep jewelry that you purchase.  I sell and consign jewelry as well- both costume and fine and am devastated by this new 30 day policy.  The 30 day return policy opens up a jewelry rental system for people who want to change their jewelry wardrobe every month. Jewelry is so easily scratched, damaged, rhinestones loosened, etc... After wearing a piece of jewelry multiple times for 29 days it is simply not in the same condition as the seller shipped it, so when we, the seller, get it back and have to relist the value has gone down with wear and tear by the 30 day renter.  Second, regarding fine gold and silver, with this policy change you can guarantee that gold speculators have already figured out how to take advantage of ebay sellers when the gold market dips.  Sellers will get gold returned to them with less spot value than they shipped it.  This new policy kills the small business people trying to pay their monthly bills and trying to grow bigger.  eBay needs to include all jewelry in the other categories that they allowed to keep a 14 day return policy on--collectibles/art, camers & photo, medical.

I feel your pain...not sure where I am going to go from here...

[magicjohnsonsvariety]

As someone who sells antiques and collectables, I think 7 days is plenly of time for any used item. 

Ebay uses fuzzy data to state that 30 days is now the industry standard return policy..........

.....Clearly, NO ebay employee has ever walked into an Antique store. 

[mybeautifulbookstore17]

As a secondhand bookseller I find the new 30 day return policy problematic.  I believe it opens booksellers to be used as libraries. For businesses with a large customer base this is not so problematic, but as someone who is just starting to build a customer base it is not so easy. 

This policy seems particularly harsh for sellers of secondhand goods, because it is not as easy to identify whether an item has been used/read/worn before it was  returned.  If eBay would at least look at excluding used goods from this policy it would be helpful to sellers.

[directfashion]

My guess is that eBay just wants to match Amazon's return policy. We should be glad that they are not matching Target and Walmarts, because they are 90 days.

[merrittes]

A court recently decided that eBay, Etsy and other on line consignment marketplaces are responsible for collecting and remitting Sales Tax because they are the "seller" not the consignor or person listing.  

So it stands to reason that Ebay etc. also have to assume the risk for charge-backs; especially since eBay return policy is uneven and noncompetitive. Thanks for listening eBay!