How to stop buyers from returning items when I don't want the item back!

[xntryk1]

I'm getting a little tired of paying for return shipping on items that aren't worth enough to justify the loss of both the original shipping cost AND the return shipping. You used to be able to simply give the buyer a refund and tell them they could keep the item. With eBay now automatically approving returns, that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. Now, buyers are instantly presented with a return shipping label and more often than not, they use it before I'm able to contact them! Is there any way around this unnecessary waste of $$? The P.O. gets FAR too much of my money, already. 

[daw365]

Set your automated rules @xntryk1 to auto-refund up to your dollar limit. The RMA idea doesn't work because the return is accepted before you can issue the number.

Should we start a website of sellers giving their stuff away?

[xntryk1]

Hmm... I've never used any of the automated rules. I'm looking at that "Send a refund automatically" rule right now and the only criteria shown is the price. That doesn't take into account the shipping cost of various items. Some low cost items of mine cost a lot to ship (making them not worth paying for return shipping) and some are dirt-cheap to ship. I'm guessing that's my ONLY option, right?

[xntryk1]

Better idea: start a website where sellers give all their money to the post office. 🙂

[hyperrush]

I would not refuse the packages that went back!

[xntryk1]

No, I never refuse packages. Some things just aren't worth enough to cover original shipping AND return shipping. 

[tracdea1]

@daw365

" Should we start a website of sellers giving their stuff away?"

Yes, so that buyers are not given the impression that is how things work here.

[tracdea1 · Accepted solution]

Adding the RMA does help because it doesn't allow ebay to send a label before you are ready, since it gives you the prompt screen for the RMA and you can process a label from there (alternative selection are found here). When you have this option turned on, you should be able to refund from that prompt screen. In the "Message to Buyer" dialogue box, instruct the buyer to discard the item instead of returning the item.

[green-night]

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@daw365 wrote:

Set your automated rules @xntryk1 to auto-refund up to your dollar limit. The RMA idea doesn't work because the return is accepted before you can issue the number.

Should we start a website of sellers giving their stuff away?

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The RMA idea actually does work.   Even though  the return is automatically accepted , the return label would need to be manually issued by the OP at which point  they could just refund without return if they wanted to. 

[xntryk1]

Awesome! That RMA thing sounds like exactly what I need. Just some way to intercept that automatically-generated return mailing label. Thanks so much!