PayPal's Free Returns Program - Sounds good! What are the downsides? (fine print)

[goldguy22k]

So saw someone mention a program Paypal has for free returns, apparently for remorse reasons.    You sign up, and PayPal pays for return shipping for you!   No need to state a reason, no need to abuse the NAD program.  

I looked at it and it appears one gets 30 free returns in a year!  Seems like a pretty good deal and buyers should sign up! 

 But hey, just wondering if anyone has read all of the fine print and legalese that usually goes with something like this.  Are there any down sides or particular criteria that need to be noted? 

[missjen831]

Admittedly, I haven’t read the fine print in awhile, I have read it several times but not recently so the terms may have changed. That said.....IMHO there’s no downside. What buyers need to be aware of is that if the site you purchased from offers free returns, you won’t be able to use PayPal’s program to be reimbursed. Also in the US, we get up to 12 returns per year, not 30. $30 is the maximum amount they will reimburse. The reimbursement amount varies by country (this program isn’t just a perk for US account holders). Some countries have a $45 reimbursement limit. When I have used this program, it took about 14 days for the claim to be processed and my reimbursement to be issued. 

[lv-deals-direct]

You now I have been using paypal for years and did not know that.

One time I purchased something electronically for $20 and was scammed. I wrote to the seller who would not answer me.

This was pure paypal and not ebay so I called paypal and they emailed me and I sent all my proof and they reimbursed me fully and quickly.

The other time I used them was when a customer purchased a $50 monitor from me on ebay and left me awesome fantastic feedback.  29 days later he opened a case with paypal saying he never received the item and that his credit card was compromised and the took the money from my account while it being disputed. I wrote to paypal and screenshotted the wonderful comments he left me and they reimbursed me after they investigated. He wrote to me telling me he would withdraw his paypal complaint because it was in error if I withdrew my comments and I refused.

In both instances paypal was fantastic!

I am going to read up on their free returns ----and I wonder what will happen now that they and ebay are separating.

[lv-deals-direct]

Interesting,

First you have to activate it ---it is not automatic.

https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/returns

I skimmed the terms

https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/returns/terms

you have 30 days from the date you returned your item by mail to request the refund

you cannot use if the buyer or someone else offers a similar service

not good for final sale items, gift cards etc...

It's a good deal and I opted in

[arun7500]

The fine print is the SNAD or the NAD as you called it. Yes, Paypal has run into the ebay dilemma of the all consistent SNAD, though not posted and heavily advertised as ebay has done. It's known well enough that a SNAD filed on Paypal results in free stuff. Paypal just hopes to head off this tide by appealing to the honest buyer, by offering this program.