Free Returns. Am I the only one?

[bghtrade]

Since free returns has been an option. I have had more returns. I'm a small seller with around 700 items. It started off ok but suddenly I have had seven in the last week with a total of around $100 in shipping labels having to be paid. I sell mostly clothing and I'm curious as if buyers are just wearing the items and then returning them when they are done at my cost. This doesn't seem fair that I have to turn this option off at the expense of my top rated status. Any opinions?

[bosmingfarg]

I'm sorry this happened to you. I have stopped selling on ebay for this very reason. No matter how carefully we word our descriptions about returns, condition, etc. the buyers know they can basically get away with anything. They can buy an expensive gown, wear it, send it back, and get a full refund. Paypal gives them a longer time to hang onto things, and decide they "don't like it" and send it back. The seller is basically "rent for free" and ends up wasting a whole lot of time and money. The items can come back broken, dirty, or switched. Ebay has entered the Twilight Zone, and doesn't care about the "small" sellers. They want corporate clones who are treated like employees rather than team members.

[lex-talon]

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@bghtrade wrote:

Since free returns has been an option. I have had more returns. I'm a small seller with around 700 items. It started off ok but suddenly I have had seven in the last week with a total of around $100 in shipping labels having to be paid. I sell mostly clothing and I'm curious as if buyers are just wearing the items and then returning them when they are done at my cost. This doesn't seem fair that I have to turn this option off at the expense of my top rated status. Any opinions?

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Clothing has a high return rate. That's to be expected. I've had zero returns since I opted in for free returns. 

[bghtrade]

But I've been selling clothing for almost two years and I have had returns but not at the rate that they are being returned now. And the cost is much much higher to me. When buyers knew that they would have to pay for return shipping they were much less apt to return an item.

[policequilts]

Clothing does have a high return rate.

I do think that having free returns, that it is a combination of some people "rent" and return, but I also think it's that they don't like how it fits or looks on them and figure since you offer free returns, it's easy for them to return the items at your expense.

I seldom have returns, but it is at their expense. I make sure everything is listed about the item including the measurements.

[fern*wood]

Looks like you took off free returns.  You don't have to offer them to be a TRS.

[bghtrade]

But you do have to offer free returns to have the top rated seller badge next to your name.

[fern*wood]

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@bghtrade wrote:
But you do have to offer free returns to have the top rated seller badge next to your name.

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Yes, I realize you must offer free returns to have a listing qualify for the tiny blue TRSplus ribbon, but I see no yellow badges on listings now and the that ribbon is hard to even see.

[animal-house-8]

Yes sorry to say that is ebay policy. A friend of mine who also use to sell on ebay sold prom dresses. Well you can of course imagined what happened, they would buy the dress wear it and return it. Nothing you can do it's written in stone.

[animal-house-8]

Well let me tell you another story. Want to do a wedding on a budget ? Wedding gown for the bride, Tux for the groom, 6 brides maid dresses, Returned after the wedding. Items not as described. Ebay is great to rent for free you just have to figure this in when set your prices. Sorry no buyer protection here unless it's like credit card fraud then they do a great job, which is more handled by Paypal which is soon to be history.

[mam98031]

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@bghtrade wrote:
But you do have to offer free returns to have the top rated seller badge next to your name.

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No you don't.  Don't confuse TRS with TRS+, they are NOT the same thing.

TRS is the seller LEVEL you can achieve if you meet the requirements of the program.  The TRS badge will show on your FB page.

TRS+ is a listing rating.  If you have met the requirements to be a TRS seller, have 0-1 day handling time and offer Free returns, you can have this badge on the listings that qualify for it.  That can be some of your listings or all your listing.  But it is by listing.  The ONLY benefit of TRS+ on your listing is that if it sells to a US buyer you will get a 10% discount on your FVFs.  NO OTHER benefit is involved.

All other benefits are achieved under your seller status of being TRS.

[modcall]

I believe hving the TRS+ badge on your listing will help you sell more.  I lets the buyer know you are top rated implying they can trust you.

[modcall]

I have been looking for a thread that addressed this issue.  I have been thinking about offering free returns but cannot afford what you are describing - I sell clothing too.  Plus after causing more returns, I believe ebay punishes you in search results for having more returns that your "peers" - is that correct?

Of course my sales have tanked - I guess since I don't offer the free returns.

[bghtrade]

My sales have suffered dramatically after offering free returns.  I've see since changed my policy but sales are still very slow. 

[mam98031]

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@modcall wrote:

I believe hving the TRS+ badge on your listing will help you sell more.  I lets the buyer know you are top rated implying they can trust you.

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Yes, I agree.  But the point is that buyers care if we are TRS, they could care less if we qualify for the discount on FVFs.  Ebay use to display the TRS badge on listings, but now it will only appear on the feedback page.  Unless the TRS seller's listings qualify for the discount [TRS+], no badge appears on the listing and we are STILL TRS.  Which is my point.