mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999
Offering a No Return policy does nothing but hurt you as a seller. It is important for sellers to remember that there really is no such thing as a No Return policy on Ebay. All sellers [with very few exceptions] that offer a No Return policy are subject to the Money Back Guarantee Policy [MBG]. You can even see it clearly stated on seller's listings that offer no returns.
A seller's return policy must meet or exceed the MBG or Ebay will force you to meet it. All sellers [with few exceptions] offer 30 day return policies whether they state differently or not.
As others have said, I've done similar testing over the years too. And I've found the same thing they have, little if no increases in returns. So I'll stick with the 30 day return policy.
Now I do not like the Free Return policy that is starting now. It isn't the policy itself, I actually could live with that as it isn't that much different than what we had before. But I HATE the name. Most buyers it really would not affect. But I think there will be enough buyers out there that will see it as an opportunity that will cost sellers dearly in certain categories.
I have concerns over fashions, jewelry, make up and fragrances particularly. I'm sure there would be others. But in these I can see a buyer ordering something is several sizes and/or colors, receive them, try them on or compare colors, decide which one or one's they want to keep and then file for a return of the rest. In fragrances, OMG I can see someone ordering a few different fragrances, open all of them, try them all [no longer in sealed new condition anymore], decide what they like the best and then return the rest. I can't go for that nor will I risk it as it could very quickly cost me way too much money and Ebay will not protect us in these types of cases at all.
@carlmarxx wrote:
@mam98031 wrote:Offering a No Return policy does nothing but hurt you as a seller. It is important for sellers to remember that there really is no such thing as a No Return policy on Ebay. All sellers [with very few exceptions] that offer a No Return policy are subject to the Money Back Guarantee Policy [MBG]. You can even see it clearly stated on seller's listings that offer no returns.
A seller's return policy must meet or exceed the MBG or Ebay will force you to meet it. All sellers [with few exceptions] offer 30 day return policies whether they state differently or not.
As others have said, I've done similar testing over the years too. And I've found the same thing they have, little if no increases in returns. So I'll stick with the 30 day return policy.
Now I do not like the Free Return policy that is starting now. It isn't the policy itself, I actually could live with that as it isn't that much different than what we had before. But I HATE the name. Most buyers it really would not affect. But I think there will be enough buyers out there that will see it as an opportunity that will cost sellers dearly in certain categories.
I have concerns over fashions, jewelry, make up and fragrances particularly. I'm sure there would be others. But in these I can see a buyer ordering something is several sizes and/or colors, receive them, try them on or compare colors, decide which one or one's they want to keep and then file for a return of the rest. In fragrances, OMG I can see someone ordering a few different fragrances, open all of them, try them all [no longer in sealed new condition anymore], decide what they like the best and then return the rest. I can't go for that nor will I risk it as it could very quickly cost me way too much money and Ebay will not protect us in these types of cases at all.
Mam if you want the worthless TRS+ discount ,then you have to do Ebay's Phony Business standard Free return 30 or day policy. The Folks running ebay too time to check out the 15 question poll on what buyers are looking for on online shopping ! On bottom of list number 15 Free return shipping ! those people ask why , They said they aren't looking for it . What they care about is that seller gives 100% description about items they are selling .
I didn't talk at all about the Free Return program. But thank you, I'm aware that if you don't offer it as of June 1st, you can no longer get the FVF discount of 10% as a TR seller.
I have a no return policy and have had it for several years. I was a TRS and getting the discount
Are you sure about this? If you were getting the discount and had a No Return policy on the listings, then it was a glitch as it is against the TRS+ rules. So consider yourself lucky that it lasted as long as it did for you.
when I received a buyer remorse return request and I stupidly fought it and ended up dropping to above standard due to that 1 defect~~which ended up with the buyer keeping the item and getting a full refund.
When a seller has a No Return policy they fall under the rules of MBG. One of the exceptions under the MBG rules are you do NOT have to accept a BRR [buyer remorse return]. So if your buyer actually filed a BRR and NOT a SNAD, there would be no reason why you would lose the case.
As another note, sellers are NOT demoted over 1 defect. While you may not be aware of it, you had to of had more.
I called cs and asked how to protect myself from this in the future. They said to change to a no return policy which I did immediately.
Wait, I thought you said you had a No Return policy????
I didn't receive the 20% discount anymore BUT I was back up to TRS rating within 2 months of doing that.
OK so your opening statement was incorrect? I'm confused to be sure. You said in your first statement that you have a No Return policy and you WERE receiving the TRS discount. So that wasn't accurate?
So I think you were trying to say that you started off with a Return Policy and during that period of time you received a TRS discount. Then at some point you received a BRR [or was it a SNAD] decided to fight it, didn't like the outcome, so you changed your listings to a No Return policy. Is that correct?
It didn't hurt my sales and has protected me in several ways. When a buyer files a CLEARLY buyer remorse return request ebay gives me the option to "deny request"~~I just click on deny and the return is automatically closed.
Yes, while it isn't a "clearly BRR" it is actually that your buyer filed a BRR is why you have the ability to deny it. If your buyer is not honest and opens a SNAD even though they state a reason that is BR, you WILL have to honor the RFR [request for return].
I have a disclaimer in my listings for odor due to my items coming from other sources. If a buyer files a return request due to odor all I have to do is call ebay, point out my disclaimer and the return is closed in my favor. With my "no return" policy I don't have to accept returns for "no reason".
I'm glad you have been able to do this, but you've gotten lucky on this as this does not always hold true for others. Ebay will not change a SNAD to a BR under any circumstance that I've discovered. I even had this discussion a couple times on the Weekly Chat and the answer is always the same. Ebay won't change the type of claim filed even with CLEAR proof.
Having a no return policy has helped me many times and has helped me keep my TRS status~~I've remained a TRS ever since I gained it back after changing to my no return policy.
I'm very glad this has worked out for you. A no return policy can and does work for some sellers.
The IMPORTANT part is to remember that a no return policy does NOT mean you won't accept returns. If a buyer files a "not as described" case you will accept the return and you will pay return shipping whether you like it or not. The only time a "buyer pays return shipping" applies is if it is a clear buyer remorse return. Otherwise the seller always ends up having to pay return shipping.
Absolutely correct except it is NOT a "clear" BRR, they have to file a BRR. There is a difference.
You have to be aware of what battles you aren't going to win but you do have much better ebay seller protection if you do have a no return policy.
For you this has worked out well and that is a good thing. For some others it may work out as well for them as it has for you. And other sellers it won't work well for them. Not all sellers are alike, which is why a variety of policy options is a good thing. We are not a one size fits all group of people. We are diverse and it is important to remember that. We do not all have the same needs or desires for that matter.
It wasn't my intention to ruffle your feathers. I only went by what you posted as I noted. We all sometimes leave out details that are important, not on purpose, but because we forget that others don't know the details and it is simply an oversight, human error, nothing more.
#1 I know. I conseded that later in my posting. But from the opening statement you posted in that posting, which I reposted in it's entirety, that WASN'T what you said. I understand it was your intention to say you had a return policy, but the opening statement of your did NOT say that. Your exact words were "I have a no return policy and have had it for several years. I was a TRS and getting the discount" I understand now that this was NOT what you meant, but at the time it was what I responded to.
I'm sorry I upset you, it wasn't my intention. I'm glad things are working well for you now and hope it continues.
#8~~If a seller sells clothing and a buyer files a SNAD saying it "doesn't fit" the seller has to pay return shipping. A seller selling the same thing with a no return policy is protected from having to accept "doesn't fit" returns. Doesn't fit is seen as buyer remorse.
This changed a bit in October 2017. If a seller has a return policy stated that says the buyer pays return shipping and IF the buyer files a BRR, the seller [if they have separately stated shipping] can withhold that shipping from the refund upon the return of the item and the buyer will be REQUIRED to pay return shipping. This all is dependant upon the buyer filing a BRR and not a SNAD.
No matter how much proof you have that a SNAD is actually a BRR, Ebay will NOT change it. The category in which you are selling does not matter.
However it is important to note that if a buyer checks the box saying the item does not fit, that is NOT a SNAD it is a BRR. The difference is important in the Request for Return process. A SNAD and a BRR have different processes and rules.
And Yes, you are correct. For sellers with a No Return policy they MUST adhere to the MBG. One of the exceptions to the MBG is that a seller does not have to accept a BRR. However if your buyer isn't forthcoming in the reason for filing the RFR [request for return] and file a SNAD when in fact you have emails showing that the buyer was returning it for a remorse reason, you will be accepting the return, you are not protected by the MBG at all.
#6~~If the seller has a CLEAR disclaimer in their listing they have the option to call ebay and point that out and have a case ruled in their favor. I have done this several times and it does work.
I forgot to mention. In past years I've won claims for similar situations myself. There was a time when the title, ISBs and description mattered to some degree. However in recent memory this has not been applied.
#9~~The difference is in the type of items we sell.
There are very few exceptions to the rules and Ebay states them. For most categories the rules are the same to include fashions.
