Yours is a view that many, especially inside eBay share, as expressed by reponses lately from return problems that have caused me to call customer service at eBay.
I keep hearing "we are moving to the industry standard" from eBay reps. It's as if they feel that if they bang the drum loud enough, long enough that we will embrace it.
But let's review their claim of an "industry standard"
I don't think anyone will argue that Ebay started as an on-line auction company for new, used, pre-owned, vintage, antique, broken and liquadation items.
I have worked in the auction industry for 20 years and have never heard a single auctioneeer state that "purchases are warrantied" or can be returned. In fact, they use some form of "as is, where is, without remorse or guarentee" and buyers buy that way every day.
So. as long as eBay has a block for Sellers to mark on the listing form that says "No Return" option, they should stand behind that choice the same as they do "Free Returns" or "30 day Returns" and review all cases of "not as described" overrides, which is how buyers have learned to get around the no return policy. But eBay has kept the "no return" option, while electing to ignore it, as they push us all to give free or easy returns.
OK, it is true that the Walmarts, Targets and Home Depots have great and easy return policies, but eBay is not a store chain only selling New items, like the other big box stores.
eBay has had phenomenal growth and eBay may want to be in the same "industry" as Walmart, but they are not. They still have one hand in the Retail Big Box market, and the other in the small business, casual seller market. There is no "industry standard" to cover eBay, so the drum beats to create the one their new CEO feels will increase profits and shareholder dividents and it currentlly seems to be at the expense of small sellers.
Again, if eBay allows used, pre-owned or "parts/or repair" items to be listed, they have an obligation to protect Sellers from "parts harvesting", getting sent back swapped/damaged items or items intenionally damaged to allow the buyer to avoid shipping. That makes common sense.
In their push to increase sales, they have upset the balance between buyer rights and Seller Protection and as long as it is out of wack, the issues will continue to be in the minds of Sellers who ask "is eBay still for me?"
This is very evident watching YOUTUBE videos made by Sellers like Ralli Roots and Craigslist Hunter, who are mid-size and still have the same return issues we all do. They show that if you have a large social media presence (like they do) and put your issues with bad returns public, eBay calls them. The rest of us small sellers are on our own, since eBay seems intent on "Anchor Stores", Promoted Listings and Sponsored Listings, none of which are geared to really help the little guy.
Ebay should seriously consider splitting the Platform and creating "eBay Light", a place for small causual sellers and buyers who want to support the little guy, rather then China and the Anchor Stores. They did it with eBay Motors, so they obvioulsy know how.
Or. they should make their upper management Intern with small sellers for a few weeks, like they do in the TV series "Undercover Boss". How does upper management understand, if they can only relate to the owners of "Anchor Stores"
