Bologna Returns and Shipping Cost

[baydistributionllc]

As I am sure anyone who has sold on ebay lately knows, people abuse the return process. They use things and send them back. Open sealed packages and send them back. Leave out parts and send them back. Stealing accessories, instructions, AC Adapters. Ruining packages. Lying to get a free return. When ebay says "Its the cost of doing business." They are right. It shouldn't be. It is possible that it couldn't be. But it IS. It IS because they allow it to be. At the end of the day there are far many more good buyers than bad.

I have items that are big. Not FedEx oversize but too big for Priority Mail. For my example I will use a wall mounted tampon dispenser. I had a user order two of these dispensers. They are heavy, commercial, stainless steel, wall mount bathroom dispensers. Two of them to boot. The package was big and it was heavy. I offered FREE FedEx ground and NO OTHER SERVICE. Priority Mail was in no way offered on this listing and still isn't. It simply exceeds priority mail dimensions.

The buyer opens a return. I will credit them for being honest and using "doesn't fit". This is why I used this one as an example. There really wasn't any policy violations on the part of this buyer. Returning two big heavy commercial dispensers for "doesn't fit" speaks to an entitled attitude that I sure don't like but they were well within the rules and the policies offered in the listing. 

I received the items back today. In same condition shipped so that's good. I noticed it had a priority mail label. If I took that package in to the post office they would refuse to take it due to its size. If they did take it I would expect it to cost in the neighborhood of $100. If I lied on the dims and put it in the system for them to later find I would expect a HUGE cost adjustment.

Why was the buyer offered Priority Mail as a return option when Priority Mail wasn't offered in the listing? When I call CS to ask how much it was they tell me it was less than $20. $19 or $12 or something like that. CS expects me to believe that less than $20 was paid to ship this enormous box Priority Mail and I am just not buying it. I expect that label to be cost adjusted and who is going to pay the cost adjustment? I would think me because it must be impossible for them to cost adjust the buyer for a return label. Is it possible that two weeks from now USPS will cost adjust that shipping label and it flows through to the buyer resulting in an unknown $85 charge on whatever card they used?

This situation of Priority Mail return labels on enormous boxes that were sent FedEx is not a single occurrence. I have had maybe five or ten like this.

Do you really think USPS is delivering these huge packages that exceed their max dims for a fraction of what it would typically cost? Do you think they are getting cost adjusted somewhere? Who is paying the cost adjustment?

Does anyone know where I can see what I paid for a return label on a return?

I also had a user return something in a box that was four times too big. It had a bunch of extra empty boxes in it. It was as if he was trying to artificially inflate the shipping cost as if he know I am the one paying for it. What does he know that I don't?

[fern*wood]

The return shipping service has different rules.   

[donsdetour]

You assume your purchaser know how to pack an item...

You are correct about the size:

Hope the USPS did not catch it.

On that you might get lucky.

Other wise as you say: you will pay.

[caldreamer]

Searched HELP and found this info (may NOT apply now that EBAY switched to MANAGED PAYMENTS).

When the buyer is returning the item to you, the cost of the label will be charged to your PayPal account once it’s scanned by the carrier. We may ask you to accept a billing agreement to authorize payment for these kinds of charges.

Any time you use an eBay return shipping label, returns are shipped by either USPS First-Class or Priority Mail, depending on the item’s cost, package weight, and delivery time.

In some instances, return shipping charges are estimated rather than based on the actual weight of the package. These charges are based on rates eBay negotiated with USPS and are typically less than what you would pay at the post office for the same item.

If the expected shipping charges exceed the expected refund or the refund value of a replacement or exchange, an eBay return shipping label won’t be available.

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@baydistributionllc   You may be billed on your monthly eBay invoice for the full Priority return shipping fee. 

What you need to do is set up your return policy to require an RMA #

https://www.ebay.com/rtn/Return/SellerRules?returnId=0&rmvHdr=false&action=showSellerRulesList

Provide your own pre-paid label
If you’d rather the buyer use your preferred shipping carrier for return shipping, or if an eBay label isn’t available, you can provide your own return label.

When using your own carrier, make sure to upload the label and tracking details to the buyer’s return request. For items that have a total cost of $750 or more, signature confirmation is required. 

Here’s how to send your own label from the View return details section:

Select Upload a shipping label and then the upload image icon.
Choose the label you want to send to your buyer.
Select your carrier and enter the tracking number

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/handling-return-requests/setting-return-p...

[pjcdn2005]

I believe that return labels are billed on your next ebay invoice.   But since the buyer used the 'doesn't fit' reason for return, wouldn't they have paid for the return as you only have free returns on a few listings?

When you are paying for returns and you want to have the option of choosing which service the buyer will use for the return. you can require a RMA.  That way you have a short time to provide your own label before one is automatically provided.  

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@baydistributionllc   I didn't give this link before...

This where the info I copied before about providing your own return shipping label came from.   

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/return-shipping-sellers?id=4703&st=12&pos...

The board was giving me fits and I had to paste when I posted before into notepad to strip the HTML  

[caldreamer]

Know one has ever asked question before...what amount are we SELLERS charged for RETURN SHIPMENTS.

I did a lot of digging under MANAGED PAYMENTS (there reports are impossible to figure out).  

I use GoDaddy for my bookkeeping and finally found transaction for RETURN COSTS.   Return costs were exactly the same as "discounted EBAY shipping rates" that SELLER paid to ship item originally.  Interestingly, enough...these charges didn't show up until 2 MONTHS after package was returned.

I use GoDaddy which has been a blessing because their reports are easy to understand.  You just linked EBAY MANAGED PAYMENTS and BANK ACCOUNT and complete breakdowns of  daily deposits and withdrawals.   A real time saver when tax time rolls around!

[ra_201044]

If the expected shipping charges exceed the expected refund or the refund value of a replacement or exchange, an eBay return shipping label won’t be available.

That should always be up to the seller, unless ebay wants to refund the buyer themselves.

What if you have a great large item that went for much less at auction than you expected, and ebay 'decides' that the postage is too much, so they tell the buyer they can keep it and refund from the sellers account? That would be similar to an online auction house deciding to reject your high bid because the shipping might be higher than [ what they think ] the item is worth? Maybe everyone missed something that you know? I've gotten plenty of deals that way. Yes - I may have paid high shipping, but that is already figured in when I decide my highest bid - that and the buyers premium. There are times I've paid 80 bucks to have something shipped that I paid 50 for. But I sell it locally and triple what I've paid for it in total. Also helps to buy a few smaller items where you can easily double or triple your money, and it's not much extra - if any - to add it to your box.

[southern*sweet*tea]

If the buyer chose  "doesn't fit" as a reason, the return is paid for by them. That would be considered buyer's remorse, which the buyer always pays for unless a seller offers free returns.

[ra_201044]

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@southern*sweet*tea wrote:

If the buyer chose  "doesn't fit" as a reason, the return is paid for by them. That would be considered buyer's remorse, which the buyer always pays for unless a seller offers free returns.

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Well, it's a bologna return, so maybe they expected Oscar Mayer and got the deli brand? 😀

[xpertcarpet74]

Looking at everyone of your response to negative feedback, you need to work on those customer service skills. Calling someone a Karen? SMH

[disneyshopper]

--General reply--

AFAIK, if the label states FIRST-CLASS PKG RTN SVC, that package can weigh up to 70 pounds, and the postal service should accept it under the return package service conditions that ebay signed.

[veronicabooksandart]

Have to options available to resolve a return request changed under MP?
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I know I go from rags to riches.

[lac358232]

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@baydistributionllc wrote:

It was as if he was trying to artificially inflate the shipping cost as if he know I am the one paying for it. What does he know that I don't?

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When eBay applied for the Return Services permit @baydistributionllc it established an average price that USPS bills eBay, the same for every return label, whether it weighs 1 ounce or 70 pounds, as long as eBay can maintain the promised volume of returns every year. Here is a piece of the packaging which the bologna came wrapped in.

Then eBay charges buyers and sellers for every return label, for any price eBay chooses, and pockets the profit, if any.