Returns are the nail in the coffin for trying to scratch out any kind of reasonable income from Ebay

[goldrushfinds]

So absolutely deflating. Your having a fairly good sales day going, then the new message pops up, "buyer requests return". They always seem to be one of the highest recent dollar sales, and in one fell swoop your good day of sales is wiped out and your starting at ground zero. Can't seem to get any reasonable traction as far as steady income. Returns on the upswing, while sales are not what they once were. This factor along with all the other costs and time sucks, I wonder how many make any kind of decent return. Seems like selling toilet paper would be the only item with likley few returns (although, nowadays you never know). 

[lakefor94]

Heading to Beverly Hills, swimmin' pools, movie stars.

[jujuj123]

@5am @kalanuineko Absolutely True

[goldrushfinds]

Hot diggity!

[az93]

Stop offering free returns.

[inhawaii]

If these are NAD (not as described) returns, the only way to improve that is to describe your items better.

I do understand that some of the claims may be false.

Everyone has to deal with false NAD returns now and then.

If these are remorse returns and you accept returns maybe you need to reconsider your return policy.

Good luck to you.

[chapeau-noir]

It's important to take the longer view. Yes, we're moving into the season where returns do tend to rise, but I've noticed that in the general financial scheme of things, it hasn't really mattered much to my profits.

One holiday season some years back on Etsy I had a 35% return rate - it was incredibly frustrating, but I still made a good profit because everything simply resold.  Fortunately, my return rate is usually about 4% or less.

[alibaymazon]

I love responses like this. Holier than thou attitudes. Thats why I never come here for any answers. Attitudes like this. 

[gloryglorygifts]

Returns are inevitable when you deal with customers, clothing, and mail orders. Just make sure to have a cushion of funds available should you get one. That takes the sting out of it a bit. 

[yuzuha]

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@alibaymazon wrote:

I love responses like this. Holier than thou attitudes. Thats why I never come here for any answers. Attitudes like this. 

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It's an extremely well-known fact in retail that clothing and shoes are the categories with the highest rate of returns. Anyone who sells online in those categories needs to be prepared to expect a certain percentage of returns no matter how many photos they take and how well they describe the items-- I work B&M retail and even there where people can actually try things on before they buy we probably get more clothing returns than all of our other categories put together. It's not the category you want to be selling in if you don't like having to deal with returns.

[Anonymous]

"Seems like selling toilet paper would be the only item with likley few returns (although, nowadays you never know)."

I see you sell LOTS of clothing. I personally would be iffy buying clothing online, unless I had identical clothing I know that fits well. You have a very generous return policy listed too...

"Returns: 60 days returns. Seller pays for return shipping."

I mean...it's no surprise people will return clothing. They do it ALL the time. Walmart and other stores can deal with it though because the profit margin is so huge on clothing, and even if someone returns their $10 Walmart tank top on the way out they'll buy $10 in toilet paper and Pepsi.

Personally, at this point I think only books are the surefire, all-around best item to sell on eBay. Easily/cheaply send via media mail. Target book sales around $5-10 max and even if buyer is scammy just block them and suck up the $5-10 loss. And do it in big volume. Books are exactly what they sound like. Treasure Island is Treasure Island. Everything else seems risky/uneven from a selling perspective.