Why do buyers STILL have so long to ship a return package?

[gurlcat]

After over a year of no returns, I got a 1-2 punch earlier this month: 2 returns, both 'non-fault' ("Just didn't like it," and "Changed my mind") but I offer free returns so they already have the shipping labels, and the tracking numbers are sitting in 'Pre-shipment' on my USPS Informed Delivery page, day after day.  The total time for each of them, before I can request cancellation, is 3 weeks, including weekends (I suppose there's probably a 'business days' wording in the policy, just saying 3 weekends will also be attached/included).  

I have no beef with the 30 day return policy as far as FILING a return, but once a buyer has decided that's what they want to do, I don't understand why they have so long to simply tape the package back together, slap on the label and take it to the post office or have it picked up.  I have $330 on hold that I would like to either pay these people (with my items back) and have it behind me, or have my dadgum money, lol.  I know they raised the return time a bunch during the pandemic and I think they've lowered it again since, but not to pre-pandemic time unless I'm mistaken.  

Regardless, how was the time limit derived?  How did they determine which would be the "right" number of days that would be fair to both parties?  Like what if it was "only" a week - heck, 7 BUSINESS days.  -Would there really be buyers protesting that as unreasonable?  -Sigh, of course, a few, but I'd love to see their reasoning, LOL.   And bear in mind, THEY have the luxury of deciding when in those 30 days to start the clock, so it's not like they "have" to file on the day they're going out of town or whatever (not that a trip to the post office would even impede that).   

Also separate question: Does the USPS not have any kind of expiration date on return labels like they do on regular ones?  Is the date of printing the label a factor?  Just curious. 

[finewithfun123]

So let me get this right, it seems best to do a 30 day returns allowed?   What if they buyer goes thru the "guarantee ebay program".  I know this is a way for a buyer to avoid the return shipment (I had one buyer who actually said it wasn't the same item on a very unique item...like I have two???), but they still go thru the guarantee program and I had to refund everything and give her the shipping label.  I'd like to just allow the return so they pay the shipping.   If you allow this, do the buyers still have the option to go thru the "ebay guarantee program".   Thanks.   THis is confusion. 

[yeatersday]

Well, they should like sellers, they wouldn't have buyers if there were no sellers!

[broto_64]

I've had several packages where the buyer never shipped, every year too.

Means I get to keep the money, also if the label isn't used I don't pay.

That is so strange, the buyers must have forgotten so they should make shorter return windows as that puts a fire under the buyer's tail.

[dhbookds]

just for info

Have to return an installable light fixture to Lowe's.........purchased 2/6........have til April 27 to return.....

Electrician installed it, worked 7 days.....2 trips back for him to be sure it doesn't work......and to remove it...

[baantiques]

Yeah, and then when you get it back you have only a few to send a refund or you get a ding.  The one time Ebay stepped in they only gave me 6 hours after the return was delivered.

[az93]

Seller is not charged for the return label until it is used. And in my opinion, offering free returns just encourages returns.

[gurlcat]

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@az93 wrote:

 And in my opinion, offering free returns just encourages returns.

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That is what I expected too, but since I've done it I have way fewer returns.  And way more sales.    

[mayflowermarketinc]

This has happened to me as well.

I am pretty new to committing to really sell on ebay. I typically use the easier platforms mostly but have increased my listings on ebay just to see if I am going to be okay with their rules.

The first thing I noticed, and why I initially stopped listing on eBay, is that the amount of returns for simply not liking an item is very astounding compared to the other platforms. It’s about a 200% difference in return rate at eBay. 

Last week a customer did a return. Fortunately, it is only $30 and the only return I have right now.

however, reading your post that you have so much money in return refunds, pending, really makes me question if I want to continue listing a large amount of items on eBay when there are so many options that are friendlier for sellers.

To me, when we are allocated only a certain amount of days to ship an item to the customer, the customer should then also only have a certain amount of days to ship an item to us… And that should not be a month. To hold someone’s funds for a month so that Customer can wear out an outfit until they don’t want it anymore, or some other product, and your business funds pending all that time just really does not even seem close to reasonable.

[monster-deals]

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@luckythewinner wrote:

Requesting a pickup or stopping by the post office is not a big deal for many people, but it is for some.

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If putting a label on a box with tape is a hassle that person should stop shopping online.

[onefootflipper1]

Here is the thing, the long timeframe actually works in your favor.

If it had a 1 week timeframe or less, people would prioritize sending the return back and thus they would do it right away.

When you give someone a long time they are more likely to procrastinate, push the item to the side, decide not to return,  forget about it completely or otherwise never send it back. 

Almost every return I have ever had either shipped the item within a few days or not at all. With the exception of 1 very abusive buyer who was trying to force me to give him a $150 partial refund over a $5 part (camera lens, had wrong adapter with it, right adapter was $5), he waited until the last day.

[gurlcat]

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@onefootflipper1 wrote:

Almost every return I have ever had either shipped the item within a few days or not at all. With the exception of 1 very abusive buyer who was trying to force me to give him a $150 partial refund over a $5 part (camera lens, had wrong adapter with it, right adapter was $5), he waited until the last day.

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That has been some of my experiences too; they either ship right away because they're the kind of people who like to get things over with (and get their money back as ASAP) .... or they procrastinate and end up forgetting, then I keep the money.  Unfortunately there is also the type who procrastinate until the last minute, and I have had some of those, the WORST.  

Incidentally I did also have one identical to what you described there -even the partial refund amount of $150!!   It was a vintage (early 80's) drum machine still in the box with seals and all, never used, and the most infuriating part of it was -this guy wrote to me just minutes after I listed it, having ignored the fact that I didn't have 'Make Offer' enabled in the listing ... and guess what his offer was?  Yep, $150 less than my price.  I politely explained it was a brand new listing but I would lower the price over time, if needed.  Well, he knew my price was actually realistic and someone else would snatch it quick, so he bought it within an hour of listing.  -Then lo and behold, says it needs a repair that will cost $150 (no service estimate to prove it of course).  -By the way I'm leaving out lots of details, the insanity within the 19 emails he sent.  But just like your buyer, this one waited until day 29, filed a return .... and by that time I didn't HAVE the money to refund the full price ..... so I had no choice but to agree to his $150 demand, just to get him to cancel the return.  Also he was a professional electronic music seller, so he would know how to make the machine unusable with no visible damage, and I'm sure that is what he would have done if he had to ship it back.   I still fume when I think about that p.o.s.  He is the one and only scammer who successfully 'got' me, ever.  

[sallyma789]

This is eBay's fairness in simple terms - I don't understand why some good lawyers don't file a class action lawsuit over this. It's so lopsided and unfair, it's completely messed up.

Sellers:

- Ship item: 0-1 days or get lowered in rankings

- Respond to return: 2 days or eBay will force a refund or escalate depending on value of item

- Refund after delivery: 2 days, or forced refund / escalation. So if you get back an empty box or damaged item, clock's ticking to use eBay useless overseas customer service to get a resolution. Mostly the solution is - we'll send to "back-office" team and they'll get back to you in 7 days. Hint: They almost always never do.

Buyers:

- Returns open: 30 days from delivery, even for expensive items like laptops/desktops/watches. No questioning or making it reasonable on reason code. Buyers can disguise remorse as SNAD to avoid return label costs.

- Shipping of returns: 15 business days (and up to 35 if you use your label).  Amazing way to open a return on the 30th day and then keep the return for another 30. Nice way to try out tech products for free for 60 days and totally screw seller cash flow for 2 months. Also, the longer they keep it, the less likely you'll get it back in reasonable condition

To top it off, eBay's fake advertising business (which is basically a form of additional forced FVF) and increasing shipping costs can make net fees be 15-25% of the items retail cost.  eBay has never cared about sellers but recently has taken that notion to epic levels.  While it'll help their bottom line in the short run, eBay needs to realize in the long run they'll be left without any US sellers, overrun with Chinese sellers and have a user base they've empowered to do rampant fraud. Even Amazon and BestBuy have really tightened on return fraud and have outright refused refunds on tampered /fraudulent returns. Ebay's not a leader in anything, always a follower and always too late to the party.

If eBay showed buyers return % metrics to sellers, high risk orders could just be cancelled.  eBay has this data but will never share it. Returns cost them nothing. Return fraud costs them nothing (except for stolen credit card orders).  They'll continue to screw sellers out of every penny till the last seller leaves the platform.

[kh-shakhib]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.