Returns

[67bird67]

Had a new experience the other day.

A buyer purchased an item I had listed with a no return policy.  The buyer used the item a couple of weeks, decided he/she didn’t like it and started a return.

 I get a message of the return request from EBay informing me of the request, but I was not obligated to accept the return.  OK.

 I go to reject the return.  A new message from EBay comes “encouraging” me to accept the return in order to give my customer a good buying experience!

I’m sorry.... I don’t care about this guys buying experience....he’s NOT a good customer, certainly no one I want to buy from me again!

[buzzapparel]

This is a utter nonsense. The item was sold with no returns and because of this, commanded a lower selling price and much lower visibility. The buyer used the “no returns” to his advantage when he purchased the item but now wants all the benefits of retail. 

[inhawaii]

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@corvettestainless wrote:

It is a MAJOR benefit to the platform, in what is called 'customer retention'. If customers stay, sellers get sales. Customers shop elsewhere, sellers get no sales. Therefore, returns, a  "necessary evil" in this day & age, overall is helping sellers more than they realize. 

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So under your theory, ebay should make it mandatory that you can return anything, at any time for any reason, seller pays the return shipping. Imagine how happy that will make the customers. What a huge help to sellers that would be!

[mam98031]

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@buzzapparel wrote:

This is a utter nonsense. The item was sold with no returns and because of this, commanded a lower selling price and much lower visibility. The buyer used the “no returns” to his advantage when he purchased the item but now wants all the benefits of retail. 

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That isn't how it works on this site.  Maybe others, but not this one.  If the buyer is aware of the rules of Ebay they know that a seller can not enforce a No Return policy except if they file a proper Buyer's remorse return request.

As we all know Ebay offers an MBG to buyers.  All sellers have to meet or exceed that policy which is why all sellers, no matter their stated return policy must process an INAD.  Either by taking the return and refunding or refunding and allowing the buyer to keep the item.

This has been Ebay's policy for MANY years and shouldn't continue to take sellers by surprise.

I must say I was not aware that listings with a no return policy was negatively impacted in the search returns or that sellers need to price them lower than other sellers with different return policies.  Those facts are news to me.

Ebay allows for a return policy filter on the left side of the screen.  So buyers can use that if they want. But that isn't the same thing as you are describing.  Interesting.

[chapeau-noir]

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@inhawaii wrote:

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@corvettestainless wrote:

It is a MAJOR benefit to the platform, in what is called 'customer retention'. If customers stay, sellers get sales. Customers shop elsewhere, sellers get no sales. Therefore, returns, a  "necessary evil" in this day & age, overall is helping sellers more than they realize. 

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So under your theory, ebay should make it mandatory that you can return anything, at any time for any reason, seller pays the return shipping. Imagine how happy that will make the customers. What a huge help to sellers that would be!

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Yep - that has worked so well that stores and sites are starting to tighten up on their return policies because...guess what - they can't sustain the shrinkage from buyer abuse.

[2015mhfashions]

I wouldn't expect or demand to return an item clearly stated as no Returns and that i had already used for 2 weeks, bending over backwards is one thing accepting used items for return is not.

So no E bay's advice is not spot on.

Do i want an entitled buyer who thinks they can return anything / anytime / any condition / for any reason ? No. For once a seller has their Return policy adhered to and all the snowflakes are in meltdown.

Get over it !

[laurabeardsley]

I believe one of the problems is that Ebay gives the buyers way too long to decide if they want the item. Really, I would know within 1 day if I needed to return something because of condition, size, etc. So like on another site that gives the buyer 3 days to return something and the deal is closed, this prevents a lot of scamming and since the buyer knows this ahead of time there are no complaints. At least for me selling on this site has proven to be so much more enjoyable.

[chapeau-noir]

Jordan Sweetnam even discussed the problems with the 'one size fits all' return policies implemented here, and the need for flexibility depending on categories - particularly with the secondary market, collectibles, etc. I

[mammaroo2010]

Me too! Poof!

[mammaroo2010]

Just lost my pants on an item too! I took her offer and stopped an auction! I think she really wanted it- now she's decided she really couldn't afford it and wants to return; I do not understand returning after making an offer! I had plenty of pics, length and weight of bracelet- nothing left to chance- now I must return , realist and loose my fees- how is this fair to your selling community?

[lite-speed]

I completely agree. Ebay will always side with the buyer . eBay supports the buyer not the seller. The no returns button might as well be removed. It does no good. 

[herecometheplayas]

If I have used something for 2 weeks I wouldn't want to return it. 

And even for some other returns I certainly wouldn't expect a seller to have to pay for the return shipping. Do you ask Target, Kohl's, etc for your gas money for you to return an item?

[bacieabbracci]

This is exactly my issue with the length of the return policy. I don't think a buyer needs 30 days to figure out if something fits or doesn't fit (unless of course it is a gift and exceptions can always be made) - I sell mostly clothing and costume jewelry. The last thing a seller wants is to have is for someone purchase an item (Aug. 1st for example and then the buyer returns it Aug. 31st) -- clothing is seasonal and therefore might put you in a different time that the item would be ripe for selling. I would think that a 14 day policy would be reasonable, and honestly in the past, I have stated in my listings that the buyer had to let me know within 7 days of receiving if they wanted to return (but now they are removing those additional notes). I just think it is unfair to make a seller or this sort of product have to wait 30 days to know whether or not the buyer will be keeping it.

Just my 2 cents....

[farmalljr]

I can understand a return policy for something BRAND new. 30-60 days makes sense. 

But USED? I don't care where you go buy something used, IF you get ANY kind of return policy, it's not more than 7 DAYS. Walfart and other online retailers are NOT selling used items. Also, those returns are back charged to the supplier, if I am correct. 

So really, this is more of a UNIQUE situation with eBay. They are expecting sellers to warranty USED items, like a retailer would a NEW item. It's nonsensical. Used clothing, collectable, or what have you, are in fact USED. A term of NO MORE than 7 days should be very sufficient. 

And P.S. I don't blame the OP'er for denying the return. It was clearly a case of buyer remorse, and at least the buyer was one of the very FEW honest ones to say as such (rather than filing a fake INAD). 

Balance, it's what has been lacking on eBay for YEARS. I want the buyers to have a great experience. But I don't think that should come at the cost of a good seller's business. 

And yes, why wouldn't Returns Not Accepted drive you down in search? Best match criteria would logically favor returns accepted over not accepted. I doubt ANYONE would search for an item that had NO returns. 

[rock_crushers_unlimited]

Wrong As Always We need people to start boycotting. Wake ebay up a bit. Now your just blurting out nonsense without asking questions. It depends on the object selling. If you buy a shirt and there may be size differences or color variations yes I can see that. Take me for instance I sell gold. Gold is gold. As long as its real its gold and no reason for a 30 day return. It hurts me as a seller. I dont have a million dollars in the bank to hold on to peoples money for 30 days without spending it. Did you ever think of that ?? Say I sell a $2000 gold bar. I cant have the money?? I have to let it sit for 30 days just in case someone dont want it?? Thats utter stupidity. I hope your not one of these ebay elected moderators because your misinforming people without asking what their even selling. 

[rock_crushers_unlimited]

Your 100% right and stick to your guns. Anyone saying anything different are sheep just following the herd. When ebay started they were a power hitter because they hit on the appeal of common people taking their garage sale type stuff and selling it on here. Fantastic concept. But see that gone now. Their greed went to their head pushing and pushing wanting a piece of what other platforms were doing. Hello ebay wake up they were new product sellers on the most part. You were not. But no you weren't happy with that. $600 million a year is not enough. They want a piece of the 4 billion dollar a year market. Dont let any idiot tell you your chasing away customers. Its ebay chasing them away. Remeber the day when you typed a product in the search bar a thousand of the product came up. Now I type in bla bla type spark plug i get womans shoes I type in gold bar and they show everything but. THEY MADE THE SELLER EXPERIENCES **bleep** NOT YOU.