This is why I stopped listing with free shipping

[usedgoodsforsale2021]

Buyer chooses return request reason : Doesn't match description or photos (note: this choice prevents buyer from having to pay shipping )

Reason for request : Doesn't work or defective (note: this choice prevents buyer from having to pay shipping)

Reason for request: Arrived damaged ((note: this choice prevents buyer from having to pay  shipping)

Reason for request: Doesn't match photos or descriptions (note: this choice prevents buyer from having to pay shipping)

I am not disputing the right for the buyer to return OR not pay shipping both ways, I am not going to willingly and freely, pay shipping both ways when a buyer makes an erroneous assumption about the item based on what is going on in their own heads, or based on the belief that if a coffee mug has a thin area of glaze where the white shows through, it becomes "used" . 

Note, I did not twist the buyers arm, nor put high pressure sales tactics on them to buy. In the case of the fixed price items, I do not even require immediate payment, and of course with auctions one has time to consider the purchase well before bidding. 

Glad to get this off of my chest, I started offering free returns last year for 4th quarter , now I have stopped putting it in my return policy. 

I don't sell enough to be able to take the hit on shippng both ways.

Not sure I ever could sell enough here to do that.

Okay, rant over, and if by some small chance you are reading this and happen to be the buyer of one of these, just take a look in the mirror and ask yourself  if just maybe...just maybe, you were at fault for purchasing something you did not understand. 

Peace out!

Have a good day! 🙂

[the_auntie_with_the_coke]

so why do you stop offering free shipping?

i read it all, but i couldn't find the answer to this question... 😉

[fern*wood]

It sounds like all of those filed under not as described, so that requires the seller to pay shipping both ways.  I know of no way around that.  If they file for a remorse reason, a seller can set their return policy for the buyer to pay.

The guy that won't drink out of a used mug must be a real joy to serve at a restaurant.

[ymeagainlord]

Presumably because they believe the buyers are claiming SNAD to avoid paying return shipping and as it was FS the OP is on the hook for shipping both ways?

Dunno

[ymeagainlord]

In all fairness - "like new" in the description doesn't equal the "New" in the condition box

[swenson8781]

I feel your pain, sorry.  Although it's important to know that even though many of the return reasons sound more like remorse than they do an actual 'not as described', that regardless of what type of shipping you offer, if the buyer files it as not as described you will be obligated to return all shipping anyways.

I had tossed around removing free shipping based on the same thing.  As too often, my returns come in with similar 'reasons', but like yours, they choose not as described.  No dispute against the buyers, as I'm confident they truly feel I didn't describe it correctly.   But I'm stuck refunding the same amount, whether it was free shipping or not.  I've debated adding a restocking fee also, to offset that, but if a return is not as described, the restocking fee is void.  No win there either.

There is no ultimate benefit, and you stand to possibly lose placement by starting to charge for shipping (note: I have no actual proof/statistics to back the losing placement comment up, just hear say). 

[usedgoodsforsale2021]

Just sick of not having a choice in paying shipping both ways for buyer mistakes, so stopped free shipping so that when a buyer does use a return request as changed their mind or mis-read the listing, I will have the choice in paying both ways, if I feel that's fair ,not being forced into it. 

Futile? probably 🙂

[usedgoodsforsale2021]

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@ymeagainlord wrote:
In all fairness - "like new" in the description doesn't equal the "New" in the condition box

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That's true

[usedgoodsforsale2021]

@swenson8781 I don't know how anyone knows what benefits sales here and what dosen't. 

I really do mind paying for shipping even though it is built into the sale  price. 

Those higher prices don't include international buyers, they sort of get stiffed on the price.

[spudcakes]

Never offer free shipping 
I Shipped an item for $21.77. The buyer said the pool cue had dings and wanted to return. My description stated clearly that the butt had a number of dings. Also my description graded the cue at 85-90%. Both of these condition statements should have turned the seller off or at least prompted questions before bidding. Long story short, Ebay required the buyer pay return shipping but I was still out my shipping of 21.77. The final explanation I got from Ebay is that free shipping is not part of the price of an item and a full refund is required, I cannot re-coup shipping from the buyer. Ebay advised that I should set up for shipping charges and abandon free shipping. That way only the actual price of the item has to be refunded but the shipping is not. So, it makes no sense to figure in shipping in the price of the item and use free shipping. It can come back to hurt sellers when they sell to a "Window Shopper" who wants to buy it and look at it then return it instead of reading the description. Ebay has no help to offer the Free Shippers in such a case. I tried real hard but nuthin' doin'. I had to talk to several customer support personnel to get the explanations and finally the advice and it took some prodding. Yes they are polite but they want to protect ebay's profits from free shipping. Shippers are not afforded a fair consideration. No justice for shippers.

[usedgoodsforsale2021]

@spudcakes sorry that happened to you, many items are not well suited for free shipping at the rates we have to pay for them. Be glad you didn't have to pay for the return , too, though. 🙂