Offering Free Returns To Get Top Rated?

[kellysmisc2]

I sell makeup which averages $10-$14 total per sale and my other metrics on both my shops seem to qualify for Top Rated status or right at it so I've been considering offering free returns in the near future but I'm wondering if it would be worth it for me or if it would even increase my sales significantly enough to be worth it? Also I've read that you DO AND that you DONT have to offer free returns to get Top Rated? Someone on Reddit said they're Top Rated and they don't offer free returns on any of their listings? I've literally had to figure out EVERYTHING up to this point all on my own through trial and error, but I've had pretty good success for the last 6-8 months and everything I can find says I'm on track, even my evals, to being able to OBTAIN Top Rated Plus so I guess what I'm really asking is HELP? Lol Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer any advice/insight on this and I hope you all have a truly Terrific day!

[tobaccocardyahoo]

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@kensgiftshop wrote:

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One thing I've realized over the years, TRS and TRS+ doesn't make a reliable seller.

It just means you sell enough items to be a TRS.

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Neither does 100% positive feedback. So that leaves only luck or divine guidance.

[bgt_masters_of_tiki_d]

If you tend to get a good amount of remorse returns no its not worth it. If you rarely get returns, then sure, go for it. I would go broke with a return policy like that. Others thrive with it. Its all in what you sell. 

[tobaccocardyahoo]

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@12345jamesstamps wrote:

'Oh? How?'......to what? ....Can you explain more in detail?

Top Rated Plus...and you have 26 feedbacks from sales in a month...I only have 92 .

Not sure what you mean. I don't even have Top Rated.

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I have a similar amounts of FB each month and am Top Rated.

TRS is not based on FB ratio or the number of FB. It is based on number of sales and objective measures.

[femmefan1946]

Here's the Global Top Rated Seller Program from eBay Canada.

It is different for Germany and UK
https://www.ebay.ca/help/policies/selling-policies/global-seller-performance-policy?id=4351

There doesn't seem to be any mention of Feedback.
Nor anything here.

https://www.ebay.ca/help/policies/selling-policies/international-selling-policy?id=4689

[mam98031]

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@tarotfindsandmore wrote:

It's not a requirement, that's just the list that came up with Google's AI. It appears Google's AI is about as good as eBay's. 

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Why say that?  Ebay states exactly what the requirements to be TRS.  The AI is incorrect.

[fbusoni]

@kellysmisc2 

I read your reply to one of the negative feedbacks that you received.

You certainly have the right attitude to transform your listings into TR-plus.

As @nobody*s_perfect notes, you need to determine if TRS-plus is a model that you can afford and have the time for.   

There are a lot of advantages to TR-plus, although I am unsure how those would manifest in a saturated category like the one you sell in. 

[pickapaper]

You are selling inexpensive cosmetics items.  Because of this, now, if there is a problem with a purchase such as damage, I have a feeling you will be giving a refund without the return of the item.   In your case, I'm not sure how free returns would be beneficial.  Some sellers say free returns instill confidence in a buyer and that is true if you are buying more expensive items but I would be afraid your buyers would buy items and return them, maybe "tested" or maybe not, for any reason and you would be out of pocket for the return.  

Personally, I would not worry about TRS status (and don't believe everything you read on the internet).

BTY, you have a listing for some Revlon foundation in which the photo shows the bottles with 50% off stickers attached, which in itself could be confusing to a buyer - they might think they should get a better price than they already are.  I might also suggest that in your photos, only show what a buyer is actually buying.   If a listing is for one bottle or item, only show one bottle or item in the photo but then you can show the quantity available in your listing.  If you show three, a buyer might think they will get three bottles as many buyers don't read descriptions.  

[tarotfindsandmore]

Look at the other comments, there is no 98% feedback rating requirement on the eBay site.  As I stated in my previous post, the list I posted for the OP was from Google, not eBay, and specifically said "AI result".  The other posters are correct, and the Google AI was not.  That is exactly what I am saying in the comment you felt a need to comment on.  I'm sorry if you are having trouble understanding my response.

[chapeau-noir]

The 98% FB was the criteria for the old and now defunct Power Seller program.

[brightlightbookseller]

Speaking on behalf of a company that made the decision to make our listings qualify for Top Rated Plus, we do get returns (definitely more recently in fact), but the 10% reduction in our Final Value Fees pays for those easily.  It depends on your volume and your return rate, if you're going to get a high return rate it might not pay off for you, but for us it definitely worked out in our favor!

[chapeau-noir]

You're already offering free shipping on budget cosmetics. If you go the free returns route, I would get rid of the free ship - I sold in health and beauty for a while and it can be a twitchy market. At your current price point, the resulting tiny 10% discount on FVF needs to be weighed against a boost in a crowded market. If you offer to give the farm away with free ship, free returns, well you may find yourself giving away the farm. I would do one or the other first.

I.e., charge shipping, adjust your price down a tad, then try the free returns.

[tarotfindsandmore]

One other point worth considering, eBay has a money back guarantee even if you don't.  If someone wants to return an item, you will have to accept it, regardless of whether you want to or not.  There is no policy in place requiring eBay sellers to accept returns for "changed my mind", but seasoned buyers know this and will just use one of the other options (which will result in a defect for you) such as INAD, damaged, or item not received which you are required to accept.  Paying the return shipping will amount to a few bucks out of pocket for you, which again, you can deduct from the refund if you are TRS+.  

Honestly, I'm not sure what the hubbub is all about.  Not offering returns, or fighting them, just makes your life harder while offering them does have clear benefits.  Returns are a part of doing business, and even if you somehow lose out in the short term, it sounds like you're wanting to become a legit business, so you'll be able to write off losses when you do your taxes.   There will be no tsunami of returns on the kind of items you sell as long as you describe them accurately with lots of pics.  They're inexpensive, cheap to ship, and more hassle than most folks will be willing to endure to return (as a buyer, would you shlep to the post office for a 10 dollar item that you know you might only get five bucks back for??).

I don't do anywhere near the volume of the big sellers here, but I have found that 10% discount on final value fees has made a difference on my piddly little 5-6K in sales per month. 

[mam98031]

General Note:

The return policies options are as follows.

1. No Returns
2. 30 day returns w/ buyer pays shipping
3. 60 day returns w/ buyer pays shipping
4. 30 day returns w/ seller pays shipping, AKA Free Returns
5. 60 day returns w/ seller pays shipping. AKA Free Returns
6. 14 Day returns in certain categories

With option number 1, No Returns the seller can completely deny taking a return for a Buyer's Remorse Return Request.  Or if they want to, they can accept the return and have the buyer pay the return shipping.  If the seller so chooses, they can withhold the original shipping if it was separately stated on the listing [not free shipping] when it is time to refund the buyer.

On options 2 & 3 the buyer is responsible for the return shipping on a Buyer's Remorse Return.  Plus, if the seller so chooses, they can withhold the original shipping if it was separately stated on the listing [not free shipping] when it is time to refund the buyer. As of October 1st 2019, sellers that are TRS have some additional protections as well as they can issue partial refunds if they use options 4 or 5 as their return policy.

On options 4 & 5 above, they are also known as Free Returns.  If a seller that has either of those policies, they will pay the return shipping even on a buyer's remorse return.  A seller can withhold the original shipping value from the refund if the shipping was separately stated in the listing [not free shipping].  Also, Seller’s offering options 4 or 5 have the ability to do partial refunds in certain cases if the item arrives back damaged, missing something or in a condition less than what it was sent to the buyer in, see the policy for more details, the link is below.  In the cases where a deduction in the refund is taken due to damage or other authorized reasons for a partial refund, Ebay will protect the seller from negative or neutral feedback.

ALL OPTIONS [1, 2, 3, 4 and 5] are required to process SNAD claims without exception.  Even if they are improperly filed and should have been a Buyer’s Remorse claim.

All return policies by sellers must meet or exceed what is stated in the Money Back Guarantee Policy!

14 day return policies are allowed in certain categories: Jewelry & Watches, Collectibles & Art, Cameras & Photo and Medical, Mobility & Disability Equipment.

For those with Free Return and/or TRS members with 30 day return policies, there are some added protection benefits, one of which is the ability to do a discounted refund under certain conditions.

[ewsupply]

If you're in the Vintage item market niche, there may be instances of it. Have had some in the past (not specifically moId) but customers complained of broken items upon receipt. I too throughly check before sending and put  bubble wrap, paper stuffing etc for very fragile items. To let go start by lookin at their feedback (to make sure they are a legit customer), empathize w/ them, then you can simply just give a full refund and ask for other feedback, then try to improve for future sales based on those transactions. Good Luck!

[pickapaper]

@ewsupply 

Your response sounds like it should have been posted on the "Letting Go" thread instead of this one?