Free returns

[freedom2become]

Does free returns as a seller mean I have to reimburse initial shipping cost to buyer?

[lintbrush*]

Not if it's a remorse return.

I think this Free Return thing is going to see a lot of sellers dropping Free Shipping. 

[freedom2become]

At least that is good to know, if it is the wrong size we don't have to refund initial shipping! Thanks for the response 🙂

[thatsallfolks]

Free returns means you're refunding the full original payment, including shipping, AND paying for return shipping of the item.

[thatsallfolks]

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@lintbrush*wrote:

Not if it's a remorse return.

I think this Free Return thing is going to see a lot of sellers dropping Free Shipping. 

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I don't think you've understood the Seller Update. Returns that aren't "remorse" returns (i.e. they're SNAD) have always been free returns. The change is in free returns (seller pays return shipping) for remorse returns. But that's an opt-in thing.

[fern*wood]

The question was about the initial shipping cost, and I thought it was possible to not refund this even on free remorse returns.  

...but reading the update is really about as clear as mud so who knows.

[missjen831]

If you offer free shipping then you definitely have to refund the original shipping cost. Restocking fees are going away 

[fern*wood]

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@missjen831wrote:

If you offer free shipping then you definitely have to refund the original shipping cost. Restocking fees are going away 

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What if you charge shipping on the free return item?   Are we still able to refund minus that?

[lintbrush*]

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@thatsallfolkswrote:

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@lintbrush*wrote:

Not if it's a remorse return.

I think this Free Return thing is going to see a lot of sellers dropping Free Shipping. 

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I don't think you've understood the Seller Update. Returns that aren't "remorse" returns (i.e. they're SNAD) have always been free returns. The change is in free returns (seller pays return shipping) for remorse returns. But that's an opt-in thing.

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I absolutely understood the seller update regarding free returns, but was initially unsure (yesterday) about original shipping as it wasn't spelled out.  I asked about this in the SU discussion board yesterday pretty early on.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Simplified-Returns/If-we-offer-free-returns-will-we-still-be-able-to-n...

The answer was clear.  If we charged initial shipping, we will still have the ability to withhold it upon a [remorse] return.  Original shipping, if charged, is not any different than it is now even with the Free Returns.  The only thing going away is the Restocking Fee which sellers could use to recoup some of their losses if the item was Free Shipping to start with.

[fern*wood]

Thanks Lint---I thought I had read it somewhere, but the details in the update were woefully lacking and the answers to specific questions are spread from here to eternity.  I can't find anything now.  I need to write out notes as I go along.

[thatsallfolks]

Imagine the chaos, complaints, and negative feedback from buyers when their sellers pay for the return shipping, but withhold a refund of the original shipping.

From a business perspective, IMO, this is equivalent to shooting one's self in both feet.

[lintbrush*]

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@thatsallfolkswrote:

Imagine the chaos, complaints, and negative feedback from buyers when their sellers pay for the return shipping, but withhold a refund of the original shipping.

From a business perspective, IMO, this is equivalent to shooting one's self in both feet.

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I absolutely agree with you.  It seems one hand doesn't know what the other is doing.  Buyers like Free Shipping according to eBay but if requiring Free Returns is a TRSP requirement, then there are likely to be a lot of sellers who drop Free Shipping - thus the buyer's first impression will be shipping charges which they won't like, right?  lol

This is such a screwed up thing to think it'll work out they way they hoped.

I know they're saying all the major retailers are doing it, but I only know of small handful - and even they have caveats.  Many of the large ones do not offer free return shipping and some even charge original shipping.

Oops... I'm hijacking the thread  lol

[fern*wood]

This feels like nothing close to "Simplified Returns".   I call it playing whack a mole with return problems.  They think they address one problem but are really creating two (or more) others.

I think gutting the MBG on SNADS will anger even more buyers and add to the distrust.  Since sellers are now allowed to send a partial on a SNAD when they offer free returns, then dishonest ones will take advantage of this loophole.

[freedom2become]

Oh my goodness, what a nightmare!
So what will benefit us as seller the most is...initially charge for shipping, then if remorse return occurs only refund the buyer amount of actual item PLUS we have to pay for return shipping? But as always, if it is an "item as not described" we have to pay it all?

[missjen831]

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@freedom2becomewrote:
Oh my goodness, what a nightmare!
So what will benefit us as seller the most is...initially charge for shipping, then if remorse return occurs only refund the buyer amount of actual item PLUS we have to pay for return shipping? But as always, if it is an "item as not described" we have to pay it all?

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I am wondering if we will see sellers who offer free shipping & free returns start abusing the partial refund option? Because they won’t be able to charge a restocking fee anymore. If the buyer returns an item that is not in its original condition the seller can choose to issue a partial refund......it would not surprise me if some sellers abused this and used it to recoup the original shipping cost!