Ebay please add "customer error" for return reason choice.

[gumby625]

Hello eBay .... As a seller it would make sense for eBay to add "buyer error" as a reason for requesting a return. That type of circumstance does happen. Currently the buyer has only the option to give an erroneous reason for a return. Being given an accurate reason for a return would be fair to both the buyer and the seller.

I currently have a request for a return, stating "doesn't fit" as the reason for a return request. That return request was sent to me prior to the customer even receiving the item. I contacted the customer to actually find out that they ordered the part in error.

Free shipping was offered to the buyer when they purchased the product. When "buyer error" happens to be the reason, I feel the buyer should reimburse the seller for the shipping cost that the seller paid to ship the item. That reimbursement for shipping cost should take place when the refund is given. Currently there is not anyway in the return process for a seller to get that cost back. My loss for this buyer's error will be around $4.00, plus the loss of time dealing with this return.

Please consider adding "Buyer Error" or "Changed Mind" or "Found Cheaper" for reasons for starting a return.

Thanks

[rebell45]

These are the current reasons for returns. Changed mind and Ordered by Mistake are already there. Be aware that Doesn't fit is a buyer remorse return and the seller has options as to whether or not to accept the return and how much to refund. Read up on Returns and Refunds for Sellers in the Help & Support pages.

Any reason list above Doesn't work or Defective are all Buyer Remorse returns.

[no_zero369]

OK, let me play devils advocate here....

Not sure I understand what is to be gained here?  Are you suggesting that "buyer error" would result in the refund being refused?  The buyer having to pay for return shipping?  Some kind of restocking fee?

I believe "Changed Mind" or "Found Cheaper" are currently reasons permitted - see attached.

But buyers are more savvy and know how to exploit the system and get free returns with the NAD cases, nothing one can do about that, sadly.

I am guessing you are a seller that is dealing with returns.  Hey I get it you are not alone, many sellers deal with returns.  Shoot I was a mess when I first started selling, fought returns, got run over by the MBG. 

I eventually came to accept that rightly or wrongly, returns are just part of retail selling.  After I accepted this I also figured out that when a return 'happens' that the seller was going to lose money and how much money I lost depended on what actions I take or didn't take.  So this became a 'business problem', something to solve.  It also meant I had to change my thinking and not take returns personally - just a problem looking for a solution.
 
So eventually I was able to get a plan in place, thanks to the posters here.  This did a few things for me - took away the shock of returns as now I had a plan in place and knew what to do - just work the plan!  Next I learned to have financial backing so that the 'economic shock' of returns was eliminated.  So here is what I came up with as a plan for returns.

• Acceptance of the fact that rightly or wrongly returns are part of retail selling
• Fixed my listings- Write descriptions like there were no pictures & Photograph as if there was no description
• Read the MBG to understand my responsibilities as a seller on eBay for when returns happen
• Tax each sale by 5% and set aside the funds as a self insurance fund - when returns happen I had money to pay
• Never assume any money from a sale is "mine" to spend until 31-days after delivery scan - allows for MBG protections to expire.
• Learn techniques to use to head off scams if they appear to be happening
• Understand what to do when fraud happens, techniques that often get me made whole.

Hope some of this helps as you go forward! best wishes

[ronsam-197]

That's interesting. Your screenshot shows it, rebel's doesn't. Is ordered by mistake under the learn more section?

Anyway, we all know buyers don't make mistakes.

[no_zero369]

@ronsam-197 

Oh that doesn't surprise me.  As the old saying goes there is more than one way to skin a cat and in eBay-land, you can file a return through Order History or The Resolution Center.  Also typical of eBay land is the fact that often these differences crop up and never get fixed.  So it depends where you look and what residual stuff is left behind by eBay.