Possible merchandise exclusions to the new return policies ebay keeps trying to force on us ...

[pearlbaileyblue]

Like many of you, I keep getting these emails from Ebay that state the following:

"Some of your listings need to be updated in order to comply with eBay policies or security changes.
What do you need to do?
We’ve identified the listings that need to be changed to meet our updated standard:

- 5 of your listings have an unsupported return policy. Listings with unsupported return policy will not be automatically re-listed. Learn more about our new return policy guidance."

Basically, according to Ebay customer service reps, Ebay is trying to force EVERY seller to offer a 30-day no-hassle return policy, no matter the product. It's either a 30-day return policy, 60-day return policy, or NO RETURNS at all .... none of which does a seller like me any good. And these changes have to be instituted in order to maintain or retain TOP SELLER STATUS, and receive all the benefits and discounts given to Top-rated sellers.

I sell Vintage Guitars and other vintage musical instruments and gear. Some of the guitars I sell can be valued anywhere from $2,000 to as much as $50,000 or more. Every other dealer like myself offer only a 48-hour inspection period, where the customer has just 48 hours to check out the guitar, play it, and make sure everything is good with it before they decide to keep it. They don't need more than 48 hours to decide whether or not they wish to keep the guitar or piece of gear. And I can tell you with all honesty that in my 12 years as a seller of vintage musical instruments, I can count on one hand the number of returns I've ever had!!! It just doesn't happen with any frequency in our industry.

Currently, and for the last few years, everything I've sold thru Ebay has been listed with a 14-day return policy in order to qualify for and comply with Ebay's top-seller status. I enjoy the discounts of the program, and that's why I never really had a problem with offering a 14-day return policy. But now Ebay wants to be like Amazon and Walmart and force EVERY seller to offer a 30-day no-hassle return policy. And while that may be okay with some sellers and products (new products, mostly), I can't see how this can work for sellers that sell the type of products I do. Any seller of vintage musical instruments - or anything like a vintage musical instrument - has to feel the same way. I have no intention of sending someone a $5,000 guitar for them to handle, play, touch, and do whatever else they want with it, for 30 days and then decide to send it back because they don't like it, or for some other baseless or unjustified reason. This simply doesn't make any sense at all, and I'm appealing to the Ebay community for their thoughts about this new policy. I'm also appealing to Ebay management to reconsider this change, or at the very least make some exclusions to the rule. Because to force this change on EVERY seller, no matter what the product is, is just not right. It might make sense for some products, but it doesn't make any sense at all for sellers of vintage musical instruments and gear and other similar products.

I would love to know the thoughts of other sellers on this new policy. And as I stated above, I am also hopeful that Ebay management reads this and keeps a close eye on the comments to this post, because I firmly believe I'm not the only seller that feels this way.

Thanks in advance for your time and consideration. I look forward to reading your thoughts!

Regards,

Pearlbaileyblue, aka
Gabriel J. Hernandez
Blues Vintage Guitars, Inc.
Nashville,TN 37214

[juststuffisell]

It is eBays toy box and if you want to play in it, you have to play by eBays house rules.

It is a blanket policy that, in my opinion, is ill suited for many of the types of merchandise sold on eBay. Especially in the pre-owned vintage & collectibles areas (and I do have a small collection of Guitars that I consider collectibles). I have no issue with returns themselves.

I think what really bothers me as a seller is many items, as you properly note, don't require 2 weeks or 30 days to decide whether the item is as stated. If a claim is going to happen, it is normally going to be within the first 48 hours after receipt. Most of the balance will be remorse, people who just needed to borrow it, or people that damaged the item while fiddling with it. As you know with pre-owned vintage items, especially electronics, you simply don't know when or if something is going to stop working.

Meh.....I am not going to write a book tonight...lol

I'd love to have my control back of my store, but as I noted originally, it is eBays toy box and we have to play by their rules if we want to play at their house. As a seller, you have to figure out how best to adjust/adapt to these rules. It's a big market place with a lot of upside from a sales standpoint. You can always gather some ideas and shoot them off to the CEO of eBay. I know at the minimum his office received my registered letter addressed to him and addressed an issue created by some eBay employee(s). So, they do read the letters and do take action.

Cheers

[southern*sweet*tea]

TRS is a seller status. TRS PLUS is a listing status.  You can have no returns and still be a TRS - you just don't get the "badge" and the 1% discount for those listings.