@postingid2017
For returns/refunds, if I ship the item for free and have to accept the return and provide a shipping label that would be double the cost of shipping and in the long run, I would be bankrupt if I went the free shipping route.
One more thing: if the online platforms want to appease/attract buyers with free shipping, let them pay for, and I would bet the farm that "free shipping" will stop ASAP 😉 (and I do have farmland).
I could not agree more, as well as with the title of the post. In fact this is one of the few topics in which I do disagree with Eb policies.
I used to ship free to appease Eb, until one time fairly recently when, due to Eb's own policies, I got a heavy return, from a person who "simply changed their mind", and ebay Automatically accepted it, because I simply checked that I accept returns (presumably under REASONABLE auspices) and I had no choice but to pay them back their FULL purchase price due to Uncle Eb's policies. I WOULD have simply told them to keep it and refunded the purchase price and been done with it (even if I had to eat the original shipping on top of the loss). As it was they had opened a new item which was now worthless to sell as new, and I got stuck paying for shipping it on top of it all.
Now I charge shipping on nearly every single sale. That way in the case of a return, you only have to refund the sale price minus the shipping. I have in fact noticed an increase in sales and prices paid, because I think people are willing to pay the shipping on top of the fair sale price when they SEE how much you are REALLY charging and how much it actually costs to ship (i.e. itemized rather than buried in a lump price.) Plus there is the appearance they they are getting a better price than competitors if they can't add :). It MAY be hurting a bit in highly competitive items, as far as ranking, but I tend to avoid those when possible anyway and sell to the long-tail market. I figure Eb will eventually realize the error of their ways and stop counting it against sellers. If they were truly smart, and decided they wanted EVERYONE to sale "free shipping", why not simply combine the two and show the total price+shipping. Except then they would have to explain to sellers why they are not getting a total refund in ALL cases... aw.. poor Eb, no one else to look like the bad guy.
Furthermore, especially with Eb now showing the "you could have bought this same item for 2/3 the price" list in OUR listings, I stongly believe it greatly reduces frivolous returns when they realize they are only going to get back a fair but reduced amount of their purchase, rather than a full refund, and then they can turn around and buy it cheaper from somewhere else (including Az if you're listening Eb) after the fact. They ordered it, maybe they made a mistake, maybe they had remorse, they should at least have to pay for the transportation. I have no problem with a 1 hour cooling off period before it is released to the buyer to ship, to correct any mistakes or change their mind. At least they don't have to drive to a store and stand in a store retuns line and get eyed up and down suspiciously by the customer service person, etc. I'm all for paying return shipping, and if necessary replacement shipping or original shipping when the mistake is the sellers or clearly NAD. If an item is properly, completely, photographed, and all detectable issues disclosed there should be no excuse to return an item. NEW items should never be returnable... they can always go to their local store and check one out on the shelf, and THEN come on here and get it for a fraction of the price. Maybe instead of freely granting returns Eb should consider offering the option instead to RESALE it for the buyer and then that way they can collect a SECOND Fee and maybe gain a new seller in the process, rather than having to refund the fee to the seller.
Overall, I think Eb greatly failed to think this strategy through beyond looking at how it impacts their OWN earnings and reputation as someplace buyers can take advantage of getting just about anything they want for free. Overall, like a free buffet, it may attract a lot more buyers that make the stats look better to shareholders and newbies, but it's the WRONG buyer audience which sellers don't want anyway.
M~
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Found: lost pixel, free to a good home.
