eBay Return Shipping Labels

[robbie31415]

I have used a different return shipping service provide because of eBay return labels were over priced.

I wish I could turn on automatic return labels but I have a few questions.

Now that eBay offers cubic, do eBay return labels benefit from such pricing?

Do eBay return labels still do priority?

If they do priority, what is the reason ? I believe there is no reason and all USPS labels should be GA and use cubic if the size is eligible.

EBay should use the cheapest label. Sellers are already taking a beating on return shipping so eBay needs to make sure we aren't paying extra unnecessarily.

Encouraging sellers to use eBay labels I'd beneficial to buyers. 1) they don't have to have a printer and 2) if automatic returns are on they get it right away and less sellers will have 'Require RMA' turned on so buyers can access their returns faster.

[rfmtm]

Since ebay no longer shows the return label cost upfront and complaints are pouring in about overpriced return labels, most sellers set the RMA requirement and purchase pay-on-use labels through PirateShip.  This allows the seller to select the return options and eliminates the risk of seriously overpaying for both the seller and the buyer.

[robbie31415]

Yes I pretty much implied all that.

I had migrated away from eBay return labels and used pirateship for awhile.

This was all before the USPS added GA, and eBay didn't have cubic.

I'm curious if anything has changed.

And if it hasnt I suggest ebay:

Add Cubic to return labels

Discontinue Priority return labels or make it opt in option.

Why should eBay make these changes?

Well it does help sellers, especially the ones who offer free returns from paying excessive return costs.

However, it also is beneficial to buyers. If eBay provided appropriate return labels, more sellers could use automatic labels that gets the label to the buyer faster. Also all pirateship labels require a printer. So getting more sellers to use eBay return labels then more buyers have easier access via QR code.

I would like to have automatic returns on, but I don't know if eBay has made changes since I stopped using them.

[wastingtime101]

There are problems that sellers like you and I will face with Return labels even if eBay eventually discontinues Priority (which is feedback I've submitted to them in recent months).

We purchase our OB (outbound) labels off eBay.

Sellers that purchase OB labels through eBay will be charged the same amount for return labels.

Sellers that do not purchase OB labels through eBay don't get the same deal on return label costs which is why I enable RMAs instead of automating the process.

I have accurate weight and dimensions on my listings, but eBay ignores that data and instead produces return labels based on item/category averages. I have found them to be consistently overpriced, even for Ground Advantage.

Because of this I buy most of my return labels off platform. The rare occasions I purchase return labels through eBay are when I am confident I will get the up-to-$6 return label credit on an abusive buyer return, and that discount makes the eBay return label less $ than purchasing the label elsewhere.

[robbie31415]

Yes they need all these changes.

Needs to use the data supplied on the listing.

I did not know the return labels ignored that data and used the category averages.

But think if eBay did these changes ? Utilized the weight/ dimensions and had cubic calculation for returns and discontinued over priced priority return labels. 

I and probably many other sellers could turn on automatic return labels if we felt the appropriate label was being generated.

Ebay, why push us to slow down the return process by enabling RMA so we can print labels off site?

Don't you want to have a better streamlined process for the customers ?

[wastingtime101]

Agreed. And if you want to learn about the fact that some sellers are currently forced into FedEx return labels and how bad that situation is, just let me know. I'll dig up the info for you next week.

[robbie31415]

Yeah im def curious.

I don't even know if I'm in that program since I haven't purchased a label on eBay in awhile.

I check randomly "Purchase eBay label" then next screen "estimated $15"

It's like hold up. I paid 8 dollars fo get there. Backup "Provide my own label".

I'm curious if someone is going to reply here later.

"You do know you aren't talking to eBay" 🤣

[fern*wood]

I bet ebay won't get into a hurry to help this situation, since I'm sure they would like us all to use ebay labels exclusively.  That's an incentive for us to use ebay initially to avoid being over charged on the return labels.

[rfmtm]

@wastingtime101  You said "Sellers that purchase OB labels through eBay will be charged the same amount for return labels."  Is that somewhere documented on ebay?  That would work ok for me.  However, in the past the return label use to often be actually less then I originally paid ebay for the OB label, even better.

Regardless, it would be more reassuring, if ebay would just show the cost in advance, not only when the seller is paying, but also for the buyer when the buyer is paying for the return. 

[robbie31415]

I don't get this.

You can see the estimated cost before proceeding with eBay label.

I check it all the time and cancel because eBay show me an estimated cost like $15 when I know I can buy a label elsewhere for like $8.

[rfmtm]

Where exactly are you seeing the return label cost before purchasing one?  I no longer see it and others are complaining they don't see it either, so something isn't right.

[robbie31415]

So when you get a return you get 3 options:

1) Use Ebay Label

2) Provide own Label

3) Send Refund.

If you select option 1) it doesn't finalize it.

The next screen will give you a review and an estimated return cost.

You can go back and change your selection if you aren't happy with eBays estimated return label cost.

This all off memory I don't have a screen shot right now.

[rfmtm]

@robbie31415    Well that's what I remember as a seller too, so that's interesting.  Wonder if seeing it depends on anything else for us sellers that don't see it?   Also wonder what a buyer sees when they are the ones paying for the label, as some buyers lately are complaining they don't see the cost upfront either to determine whether to print and use the ebay supplied return label or use their own.

[robbie31415]

I think what sellers aren't seeing things are one where eBay automatically processes the labels.

If you want manual options for all returns then in return settings RMA needs to be turned on. By default it's off.

I don't know what the buyer sees. Would be nice to know if someone could post some screen shots. I'm sure they get the option to choose between eBay label or ship on their own (For remorse only)

[wastingtime101]

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@rfmtm wrote:

However, in the past the return label use to often be actually less then I originally paid ebay for the OB label, even better.

---

That was in the past. It hasn't been that way for a while. The part on the policy page that says the cost is "typically less" refers to the eBay label compared to retail rates.

Here's what the policy page says:

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/return-shipping-sellers?id=4703

Return shipping costs when you use an eBay label

When the buyer is returning the item to you, the cost of the label will be charged to your account once it’s scanned by the carrier. We may ask you to accept a billing agreement to authorize payment for these kinds of charges. If the buyer doesn’t use the return shipping label, you are not charged for the cost of the label.

Any time you use an eBay return shipping label, eBay will automatically select the cheapest return option for your item.

In some instances, return shipping charges are estimated rather than based on the actual weight of the package. These charges are based on rates negotiated by eBay, and are typically less than what you would pay the carrier for the same item.

If the expected shipping charges exceed the expected refund or the refund value of a replacement or exchange, an eBay return shipping label won’t be available.