eBay: Fix your return label service

[mindmyownbusiness]

GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

There is no excuse for the ongoing confusion and inappropriate default service selections of USPS labels produced during the eBay return flow … except it doesn't affect eBay's bottom line when our returned merchandise is held up or lost!

The problem is that if the seller doesn't put the weight of the package on the selling form (which reasonably happens when the shipping will be by flat rate), and the item is returned, the return flow creates a First Class Parcel Return service label and there is no way to change it.

I've done my due diligence to search the eBay help pages and the community for response to this issue. All that I find is debate among eBay members about whether these labels work for Priority Mail -- as if the delineation between Priority and First Class magically disappears when I call it a return!  And repeated stories of the labels not working.

Never is there a clear answer from eBay "blue" regarding what can and cannot be sent using the First Class Return Service Label that the return flow generates by default or why there is a default at all.

I am absolutely certain that a call to CS is a waste, just as likely to result in incorrect information as in correct information.

If there must be a default, make the default whatever service was purchased by the seller when the item was first mailed!

 Sure, I can upload my own label, but only at a much greater cost - the retail cost of click and ship label for a small flat rate box with $100 insurance is about $11, compared to about $8 on eBay.

After reading it all I conclude that using the label MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT work. Such ambiguity unnecessarily increases the risk that the package will be lost.

Couple that with eBay policy that the one who pays for the label assumes responsibility for the value of the item lost, and the return flow becomes another way sellers suffer losses as a result of eBay policies that encourage false SNAD. Seller protection to pay $6 is hardly consolation compared to $100 merchandise loss.

I'm trying to create the label on USPS, ran into a "unexpected error," and now completely frustrated and disgusted.  Every return is a complete time wasting, gut wrenching, more-expensive-than-it-need-be process because neither buyers nor eBay are trustworthy business partners.

Just do your job eBay!

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

[southern*sweet*tea]

First Class RETURN SERVICE labels are good for the USPS maximum limit of 70 pounds.

The only difference between FC Return and Priority Return is the SPEED - Priority moves faster.

This is my understanding.

[corvettestainless]

Suppose to still only be for items under 1lb; and if the return is shipped in a Priority Box- seems like that would be even more of an issue.

From USPS Site:

First-Class Package Return® Service is a smarter way for high-volume shippers to quickly receive lightweight (under 1 lb) documents or merchandise. Insurance up to $5,000 against loss and damage is available for an additional fee.

[southern*sweet*tea]

Hmmm, I've always heard that they are priced per piece and number of labels scanned. All the billing (overages, underages, etc) goes back to the label issuer.

Kinda like how Mercari does their one price shipping labels.

[gwgw-73]

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@corvettestainless wrote:

Suppose to still only be for items under 1lb; and if the return is shipped in a Priority Box- seems like that would be even more of an issue.

From USPS Site:

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From the same USPS website:Under the first column (minimum 10,000 returns, which eBay easily qualifies), there are three methods of Postage Calculation:
1. Individual weight and rate
2. Average price
3. Postage due weight averaging

The checkmark for 2. Average price is your eBay "USPS Return Services" label for Priority, First-Class, and Ground.

This means that eBay is billed the same Average price for each Return Service label, whether the label weighs 1 ounce or 70 pounds. USPS divides the total postage by the total number of labels to calculate the Average price.

[iamonourside]

I appreciate your finding the chart.   BUT,  I am not comfortable shipping an expensive item based on a deduction about what arrangement eBay has made, I want eBay to tell me!

Has anyone ever seen an ebay return flow generated priority return label?

[disneyshopper]

Has anyone ever seen an ebay return flow generated priority return label?

Yes.  I had a return.  Ordered 2 robes which were listed as 5X.  They fit more like 2X, so I asked for a return and when I printed out the return label, it was for Priority.

[gwgw-73]

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@iamonourside wrote:

I appreciate your finding the chart.   BUT,  I am not comfortable shipping an expensive item based on a deduction about what arrangement eBay has made, I want eBay to tell me!

Has anyone ever seen an ebay return flow generated priority return label?

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