Return Options...Can We Have Multiple Return Policies Depending on Category?

[moo*cow*corner]

@Anonymous

Hi there!

Here's some questions I haven't seen addressed or posted anywhere, but may have missed it...if anyone has any pertinent info, it will be greatly appreciated.

I currently list most of my items in a category that will continue to have a 14 day return option.

However, at times I do list things in categories that are supposed to be going to No Returns, 30 days, 60 days etc.

Do I need to set up a separate business policy to have available when I list items that won't qualify for my 14 day return policy?

Can I use a Final Sale (No Returns) on some items and other policies on others, depending on category? How about whatever other criteria I might choose?

Asking because I have always thought that only a single return policy was allowed across all of a seller's listings.

Look forward to getting some clarifications and thanks for all you do on the boards!

[percgrabbe-0]

Your return policy is basically just "window dressing" and only applies if a buyer doesnt file an INAD and almost all buyers know how to file an INAD now---and no other reason--- because ebay leads them down that route (so they can sell a postage return label).  

[moo*cow*corner]

I just want to know how to comply with the newest round of seller squeezes. If the listing form won't allow a 14 day return option, then what do I do?

Actually, according to my dashboard, my return rate is <0.5%. I don't get many return requests at all of any flavor (knock on wood). There's been a lull in the action lately, but I'm also sure my turn is coming...lol.

I also issue my own return labels, hehe.

[ymeagainlord]

@percgrabbe-0

You STILL haven't answered what "fees" you think eBay makes on return labels.

[moo*cow*corner]

When ebay first started issuing return labels, I let them. Convenience and all that...

When my invoice arrived, I compared what ebay charged me with what I could have paid by issuing my own labels. Some were the same, but some were invoiced at a higher amount. 

I griped a bit, but I paid. I use a 3rd party shipping program and can issue return labels very easily. Admittedly a small sample size, but I've been issuing my own ever since.

[penguins_dont_fly]

@moo*cow*corner

Hi moo!

Yes, you can have multiple return policies under Business Policies. (I just tried it)

So your collectibles can still be 14 day, buyer pays while everything else is 30 days (free or not) ... or however you want to do it.

But ... I don't know how that plays out as far as being TRS ... I assume  14 days won't qualify for the TRSP discount .... but how would it work against actual TRS qualifications of transaction numbers?

Note: None of the links to Business Policies are working from Seller Hub or from My eBay>>Account. ... it looks like they moved it over to https (and changed something else).

The working link can be found through the Help pages "Business Policies"

https://bizpolicy.eBay.com/businesspolicy/manage

@Anonymous brian@ebay

Can you answer the question of how multiple return policies affect TRS? And could you look into the broken links to Business Policies on SH and in My eBay?

[ymeagainlord]

14 days in selected cats still have to be "free' to meet the TRSPlus criteria (so won't be happening here).

So far I've managed to avoid using the Business Policies.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@penguins_dont_fly wrote:

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... I assume  14 days won't qualify for the TRSP discount .... but how would it work against actual TRS qualifications of transaction numbers?...

Return policies aren't part of TRS status at all; just TR-Plus.

[moo*cow*corner]

Thanks! Lots of good to know stuff right there!

I gave up on TRS+ a looong time ago. 10% of not very much turns out to be next to nothing, and I didn't have to stress anymore getting packages out. I decided my beauty sleep was worth what little amount I was losing.

Like I said above, I always thought I had to have one consistent return policy across all listings.

Being able to pick and choose which policy I want to use for each listing makes sense.

Although.... the other side of that coin is likely to result in some confusion to buyers who don't read listings completely. But we know those buyers are pretty rare, right?

[moo*cow*corner]

Re: Business policies-

I deliberately avoided them for a long time too.

But, I finally had to get away from offering Free Shipping (my packages are heavy), so I've been playing with shipping policies for about a month now....it's been an adventure for sure. The listing preview won't do zip code calcs, so the only way to find out if what I'm trying to do will work as intended is to send a listing live-- and then kill it or edit it as necessary. More busy work. Yay!

Too soon to tell what effect it will have on sales, which are dead, dead, dead mostly everywhere it seems....

[brian@ebay]

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@penguins_dont_fly wrote:

@moo*cow*corner

Hi moo!

Yes, you can have multiple return policies under Business Policies. (I just tried it)

So your collectibles can still be 14 day, buyer pays while everything else is 30 days (free or not) ... or however you want to do it.

But ... I don't know how that plays out as far as being TRS ... I assume  14 days won't qualify for the TRSP discount .... but how would it work against actual TRS qualifications of transaction numbers?

Note: None of the links to Business Policies are working from Seller Hub or from My eBay>>Account. ... it looks like they moved it over to https (and changed something else).

The working link can be found through the Help pages "Business Policies"

https://bizpolicy.eBay.com/businesspolicy/manage

@Anonymous brian@ebay

Can you answer the question of how multiple return policies affect TRS? And could you look into the broken links to Business Policies on SH and in My eBay?

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Hi @penguins_dont_fly, it's fine to have multiple business policies. Top Rated Plus is determined per item, meaning if an item meets the Top Rated Plus requirements, it will receive the discount. The collectibles category requires at least 14-day free returns to be eligible for the discount, while most other categories will require 30-day free returns. You'll find more details here.

I've clicked on the links to Business Policies in my Seller Hub and on m y Account page and found they are working for me. Are you receiving an error message when you clock on those links?

[lovtaco0]

brian@ebayWhere is the biz policies link in Seller Hub? I can find it on My Account (and it works) but can't find it in SH. I usually use my bookmark for policies. Is there a way to edit the links in the Selling tools header to add custom links?

By the way, there is a link to Markdown Manager in selling tools which is old and broken. That should be changed to Promotions Manager with the PM link.

@moo*cow*cornerI have different return policies and apply them successfully based on category. There are a few categories where I do not accept returns and others where I offer 30 day returns.

P.S. alan@ebay Thank you for getting the Listings link in business policies fixed! When I click on it now I see the listings affected by each policy instead of seeing all listings. It's a big help!

[brian@ebay]

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@lovtaco0 wrote:

brian@ebayWhere is the biz policies link in Seller Hub? I can find it on My Account (and it works) but can't find it in SH. I usually use my bookmark for policies. Is there a way to edit the links in the Selling tools header to add custom links?

By the way, there is a link to Markdown Manager in selling tools which is old and broken. That should be changed to Promotions Manager with the PM link.

@moo*cow*cornerI have different return policies and apply them successfully based on category. There are a few categories where I do not accept returns and others where I offer 30 day returns.

P.S. alan@ebay Thank you for getting the Listings link in business policies fixed! When I click on it now I see the listings affected by each policy instead of seeing all listings. It's a big help!

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Hi @lovtaco0, I have the Business Policies link in the 'Shortcuts' box. Looking closer at this, I see that these links are be completely customized. If there's a specific link you'd like on your Seller Hub then you can add it here.

It looks like the link to Markdown Manager in the 'Selling Tools' box is an old one. I'll get that reported right away. Thanks! 

[moo*cow*corner]

Thanks for stopping by to help brian@ebay!

The learning curve has been pretty steep for this old dog, but I think having the business policies set up and running is going to make things easier for me going forward. After all....nothing ventured, nothing gained!

[moo*cow*corner]

Good to know. @lovtaco0 Thanks for your help too! I will definitely be setting up different policies.

Sometimes Seller Hub still just makes my brain go TILT!! just like an old pinball machine. On those days, there's not enough coffee in the world....