Protecting yourself from unscrupulous sellers on eBay

[richardwillardcollection]

I used to offer free returns but now I don't. It is beyond eBay's control when competitive unscrupulous buyers purchase your item thus eliminating your listing as they are also trying to sell similar items, then they return the item thus tying up your merchandise in limbo, so I never use free shipping. I only suspect this, I have no proof and have reported this to them, but I understand why this is difficult for them to monitor. I recommend selling things and at least make the person pay for shipping, but they can still file a snad case, there is nothing iron clad against this, my question is, are there other honest sellers out there that also suspect this has happened to them, and what do they think about it and what do they think could be done about it?

[soh.maryl]

Not sure I understand your message.  Offering free returns or not, all a buyer has to do is open an item not as described case and eBay will be requiring you to send that buyer a prepaid return shipping label and to refund in total once you receive the item back.

How much difference do you think it makes to offer free shipping in terms of whether or not a buyer can return their purchase? One would assume that an experienced seller, when offering F/S, has built the shipping cost into the price of the item.

[richardwillardcollection]

Because if someone does that at least if you get your item back in good shape your not out the shipping money. This has happened to me lots of times, and it is frustrating. 

[soh.maryl]

Again, for example, let's say you listed an XX for $30 with free shipping.  I pay you $30.  You ship the item and you pay the shipping fee, let's say it was $5.  When I get it, I decide that it's not as described and I open an item not as described case.  You will be required, by eBay, to send me a prepaid shipping label, for which you will pay $5.  I use the label and return the item to you.  You will then refund me $30.  How are you "not out the shipping money"? It doesn't work any differently, regardless of whether or not the item was listed as free shipping.  

[richardwillardcollection]

lets say I sell you an electronic widjet for thirty dollars. The description says you get the item in the pictures and you get exactly what you see, that I dont accept returns, and the item is sold is non working, and being sold for scrap/parts, and you as the buyer agree to this. You pay the shipping, its 10 dollars. In the pictures, the item is shown from all angles. Now lets say I have less returns using this selling template, but I totally agree with you, it is not bullet proof or 100% effective, and it is a deterrent. In the philosophy that if some person wants what your selling bad enough, they will buy it under any conditions, items sell themselves so it should not matter if the seller does not offer returns, this appies to only some items. different items require different strategies.

[rcaspindle-4]

It does not always turn out that way, when I was selling on eBay, a guy bought a DVD from me, right away he starts complaining that it did not work, and wanted a refund. I emailed back and  also told eBay that I will not authorize a refund - unless the buyer "returns" the item. He did finally send "a DVD" - but Not the one he purchased from me - I then called eBay (eBay still had a easy way to call at that time) and I spoke to an eBay rep and said the customer did not send back the "correct" DVD and mentioned what he one he did send instead and then said that I will not authorize any refund. For some reason their decision on this went back and fourth a few times - but I got the final decision and won. So careful with returns - I  hope no one else has to deal the a buyer like the one that I just described.  Hope this helps - good luck to all sellers.

[richardwillardcollection]

Let us go further with my last reply; The 30 dollar widjet is some how sent back from a snad case and I have to provide a shipping label, it comes back to me in good condition, I then issue a refund for the item of 30 dollars, or what ever I have to pay, ebay refunds them. Then I am out nothing. If, some how I have to pay more and pay for all the shipping both ways I file an appeal or call eBay and they most likely side with me and I get the original fee's and cost of the shipping to the buyer refunded to me so I am not losing. I only lose the time the items was in limbo messing around with the buyer, tying up my goods, hopfully. I would like to think that eBay wants us sellers to be happy with the return experience. But meanwhile, while all that is going down, it ties up my item, and I cant sell it.