RETURNS are TAXING on the system....

[kelekt]

a conversation in a group I'm in (selling online in general...many venues) I had this response and thought I would share it here too:

the biggest gap in shopping at crappy mainstream malls and (mass produced) stores in person vs second hand shopping online is the whole return mentality. it's up to the venues to instill in the buyers that >> you buy it you own it. period. << this whole return thing is taxing on everyone and it needs to be crystal clear: ASK Questions PRIOR to purchase with the understanding that once you buy it that's it. it would save a billion dollars in our world to just put an end to frivolous returns. I would rather they/them/whoever NOT buy in the first place because that mentality (especially "hmm I can always return it" mentality) is wasteful and stressful on us and they system

[oaklandmaryland]

sadly Ebay encourages returns by immediately telling the buyer they can return items. have never understood why since Ebay will loose money except for the fact that lots of returns results  in higher Ebay seller fees

[stainlessenginecovers]

If ANY site did the 'you buy it, you own it'...in reality, NOT allowing returns;

Crooks, by the Boat Loads- would list/sell $20 bills for $10 and then ship a small rock. 

[kelekt]

@stainlessenginecovers  I totally get that way of thinking but it can be done. it can. Saying "NO returns and NO refunds ever" would help direct online selling and create rules and regulations that will back up NO RETURNS Period = customers would be more thoughtful and cautious about their purchases and less likely to choose an obvious scammer (lowest cost etc)

Look...Humans find ways to support and back any way of thinking so lets come up with supporting and backing up THAT way of thinking. it's taxing on our entire system to just be sloppy and buy with the idea you can just return it. It would change everything for all if customers were forced to take some responsibility in the process (for a million and one GOOD REASONS)

[gone.c-33]

That would never work for online sales. When buying in person, you can examine an item and buy it as is. There is no as is online.

[lakefor94]

As you describe, that is what CL and FMP are for. 

[dhbookds]

It's not the venues........it's the credit card companies that assure returns can be made for almost any reason......and who then charge the merchant.....  Some have returns of up to 6 months.......

[stainlessenginecovers]

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@kelekt wrote:

@stainlessenginecovers  I totally get that way of thinking but it can be done. it can. Saying "NO returns and NO refunds ever" would help direct online selling and create rules and regulations that will back up NO RETURNS Period = customers would be more thoughtful and cautious about their purchases and less likely to choose an obvious scammer (lowest cost etc)

Look...Humans find ways to support and back any way of thinking so lets come up with supporting and backing up THAT way of thinking. it's taxing on our entire system to just be sloppy and buy with the idea you can just return it. It would change everything for all if customers were forced to take some responsibility in the process (for a million and one GOOD REASONS)

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That is all VERY wishful thinking. You can 'say it' but again, there will be 100 scammers an hour joining and shipping rocks. Within 1 month this place would be a ghost town.

Therefore, it CAN'T be done. 

[kelekt]

sad that our world seems to be ruled by scammers, thieves and lawyers ...gross.

humans can do more than scam and ruin life...many are better than that. does anyone have faith in than anymore?

[theteamsetguy]

@kelekt ,

I would never buy something from a online or brick and mortar store if they didn't offer free returns. 

I offer free returns and don't have an issue with too many returns. Do I get some returns of course I would be lying if I said I didn't. Returns are just a cost of business. Most of the time when I get a return I can just turn around and relist it.  The discount off of my final value fees for being a TRS seller more than off set my costs of free returns.

[theteamsetguy]

@oaklandmaryland ,

How do they result in higher ebay fees? If you accept the return ebay refunds final value fees. I have it set up to automatically accept any return request and issue a return shipping label on mine dime.  Once, I get the item back I immediately issue a refund to the buyer and relist item or put it back into inventory.

Rinse, wash, and repeat for the the next return request I get.

[kelekt]

@theteamsetguy  good for you and your way of thinking. That is the standard mainstream way of thinking these days HOWEVER: I think returns are taxing our system (USPS, UPS etc + all the supplies needed to return things) and allowing returns promotes sloppy consumption. I'm asking for (& yep..I guess it's idealistic but very much attainable) >>>> dual responsibility (Seller AND Buyer) = conscious consumption.

[ladyindecadence]

My biggest problem about returns on ebay is that ebay service metrics penalize a sellers account out of the opinion of another person. An item not as described return can be started for any reason and the buyer is not responsible to backup their reason with any proof. If a seller is responsible for covering the cost of the shipping in both directions they should not be penalized for any reason as the buyer is not out any money.

Other wise returns don't bother me.

[lakefor94]

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@theteamsetguy wrote:

@oaklandmaryland ,

How do they result in higher ebay fees? If you accept the return ebay refunds final value fees. I have it set up to automatically accept any return request and issue a return shipping label on mine dime.  Once, I get the item back I immediately issue a refund to the buyer and relist item or put it back into inventory.

Rinse, wash, and repeat for the the next return request I get.

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@theteamsetguy 

Too many INAD returns coupled with any INR's can result in a 6% increase in FVF's if a seller has 10 or more and lands in the Very High category in Service Metrics. 

[kelekt]

@ladyindecadence totally agree re: seller should NOT be penalized if they cover all the bases. that should result in 100% neutralized situation. OR ...BOTH get penalized. one or the other. no more one sided responsibility. selling is a relationship and allowing BUYERS to have the upper hand is asking for trouble (and SCAMS. scamming works both ways folks...buyers are just as potentially scammy as sellers)

Returns DO bother me because of (as I've said many times in this post) the waste they cause: postal/shipping system + all the shipping materials + time = total waste.  

is it really too much to ask people to be thoughtful and conscientious when buying an item online? or at very very least accept some of the responsibility