eBay and Amazon Return Policies Put Strain on Sellers

by: Rexford

Article states " it's required in order to receive Top Rated Plus benefits, including TRS discounts)."

eBay just can't stay out of sellers' businesses.  I have a feeling that come springtime there will be a whole lot of sellers voluntarily giving up their TRS status because they no longer wish to jump through the ever increasing hoops and micro-management of their businesses.

The return postage costs (nothing like having to pay for return shipping for a liar buyer) is where they really stick it to the sellers and it is the ultimate slap in the face, and not a red dime comes out of eBay's pocket. I'm guessing that eBay actually make money on the return postage label.

Dying a death of 10,000 cuts.  

by: Orwellwasright

It always easy to be generous with another persons money

Therein lies the underlying basis as every ebay policy is cobbled together

I have been robbed over and over by fraudulent returns which would never happen outside the ebay closed shop environment

Since they have far more sellers then the buyer base can support, they can easily continuously enforce increasingly egrigous terms upon the beleaguered sellers KNOWING full well a percentage will simply leave, while the remainder simply suffer one more attack on their ever diminishing bottom line

I have said before and I will say it again , IMO the entire management has become so poisoned by their utter disdain for the vast majority of sellers , they are INCAPABLE much less willing, to respect their sellers as partners, as opposed to disposable annoyances

by: toolguy

Looks like I'll be offering a 30 day return policy. (free rentals anyone?)

But why fight it?

There's no winning being a seller on any venue if the customer does a credit card chargeback.

WOW, this hoop is a doozy but I think I can make it!

by: Ming the Merciless

It seems to me regarding ebafia's December 31 return policy that the point is that Devin Wenig either 'misled' or lied sellers when he stated at the ebafia love fest that sellers should offer a "generous" return policy this holiday season. He said NOTHING about imposing/coercing any kind return window.

by: RKTOYS

It's easily far more dangerous to sell online today than it ever was to buy online years ago.

by: iheartjacksparrow

toolguy writes: "There's no winning being a seller on any venue if the customer does a credit card chargeback."

Except the credit card companies are willing to examine evidence submitted by the Seller before making a decision. Unlike PayPal/eBay who instantaneously decide that the sweet, innocent Buyer couldn't possibly be telling anything but the absolute truth.

by: comments

Ebay posted somewhere (and I can't remember where) that if you opted into Holiday returns last year that you will not be opted in this year. In order to offer holiday returns ebay suggested you offer 60 day returns. If your items show in your dashboard that x number are holiday returns it will not impact your listings, or change your return policy. They only way you will be offering holiday returns is if you change your return policy THIS season.

by: alaska

EBay and Amazon need to rethink their bias toward buyers. The customer is not always right, and these days a great many are scammers. I just got a return request for a book I sold online. The buyer got the textbook over 5 weeks ago and now wants to return it because it has no CD, which was clearly stated in the listing. I also offered the book with the CD at a higher price at the same time, which they could have purchased if they really needed the CD. The buyer filed for a return due to the book missing parts (the CD). I expect that the online site will side with the buyer. I even shipped the heavy textbook by priority mail at $6 out-of-pocket expense. As sellers we try to do the right thing but not all buyers are honest.  

by: Ming the Merciless

@comments

"They only way you will be offering holiday returns is if you change your return policy THIS season."

I listed manually this evening nd the December 31 holiday returns was in the listing form.

I have NOT changed my return policy this year.  

by: Ming the Merciless

@alaska

If you receive a defect, call what bypasses for ebafia customer service and keep calling until until the defect is removed.

This is clear cut case if the facts of your listings are s you stated.

by: Marie

It must be something they are phasing in.  I created quite a few listings today and I did not see this yet.  It is probably coming, but has not yet arrived for me.

Ebay already announced the Holiday return policy for this year.  They are recommending 60 days.  However unlike last year, there are not offering any benefits or penalties for participating.

by: cillianred

I'm curious, did the seller mentioned in the article try clicking on the ''change your return policy'' link that's directly under the return policy? When I click on that link, the ''offer extended holiday returns'' shows up as a box to be checked or unchecked by the seller. Unchecked = no extended holiday returns.

by: zenbreeze

I get very few returns but, of those, about half the jewelry came back positively wreaking of perfume--clearly a "wear and return" situation. Or I get Halloween themed items returned after Halloween. I bet these people don't think of themselves as thieves but they are online shoplifters.  If the item has been worn or used then returned, it's the same as stealing.  It's not just online, though.  This guy at an office supply place was telling me how people buy cameras then return them after their vacation.

by: JUMP From eBay and Etsy

I offer 30 day returns on my websites, but the requirements are strict and they do not apply to all items. Items that are no returns are clearly stated in the TOS. Here is what I do with some apparel: Purchase neon security tags (from ebay seller)and place on apparel. On tag it has my company name and that item is not eligible for returns if removed or tampered with. Each tag has a serial number and the item is photographed with the s/n while packing it.

by: GotToGetOut

With Paypal now offering free returns for any reason other than not as described or defective, that means sellers will have to eat the cost of outgoing shipping for items. Sometimes shipping is more than the item, so even that is a big chunk out of any profits.

by: a_c_green

STOP.

Everybody, please stop for one minute here...

> A Top Rated eBay seller noticed over the weekend that when they
> are in the listing form, it's hardwired to read ''Accept holiday
> returns until December 31'' with no way for them to change it.

Except that it isn't hardwired. This whole article appears to be based on a lack of understanding of how to change one's return policy settings using that form.

Just below the portion of the form that appears in the screenshot accompanying the article, just one or two lines down (depending on whether you have added any Additional Return Policy Details), there is a blue link for ''Change your return policy.'' Click on that and you will get a popup form for adding, removing or changing settings relating to your Return policy. One checkbox there allows you to offer or decline the Extended Holiday Returns option. It is a user setting, not an eBay rule, and the complaining seller is free to turn it on or off as desired. At least for now, anyway.

Now returning us to our regularly-scheduled eBay bashing... ;-)

by: Ladmo

This holiday return policy may be fine for sellers who control their items, but it is patently unfair for sellers who DROPSHIP. Individual suppliers set their own return policies. In this case one size does NOT fit all.

Ina, eBay and Amazon, etc. should be reminded that NOT all sellers sell items from grandma's attic or their garage. A simple email to eBay sellers to determine IF they wish to participate in the 3 month holiday return program - based on their individual business model would suffice?

Please advise.

by: Marie

@ladmo

There is NO 90 day [three month] return policy available on Ebay.  That was last year.  This year if you CHOOSE to participate, you can have a 60 day return policy.  But it is completely the seller's choice.

by: Ina

eBay spokesperson Ryan Moore responded to our inquiry, telling me today that eBay would not have a special holiday returns policy this year.

Also see PayPal's new program, Return Shipping on Us, in today's issue.

by: cillianred

@a_c_green

You basically said the same thing I did in my earlier post. I agree with you, I think the seller simply didn't understand how to change his/her return policy settings.