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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,456 |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
So I have a question from the seller perspective of returns. I am not a fan of the ebay 14 day no questions asked returns, but I wouldnt mind allowing returns under certain circumstances. Can you list no returns and then put in the description that returns need to be authorized by you and have a restocking fee to cover the fees and costs a return costs you, or do you have to use the ebay return policy if you are going to offer them? |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Well, I will say a restocking fee is likely going to appear here in a complaint thread - people do not like restocking fees. In truth, I'm one of them. I've no idea why someone would have costs associated with getting a coin back. ebay's official take on restocking: Quote:
If you charge a restocking fee for returns, we recommend that you only ask for a reasonable amount.
You shouldn't charge restocking fees for items returned due to damage, defects, or not-as-described in the listing.
Being upfront about returns and restocking fees should encourage buyers to resolve potential issues before they become bigger problems. Frankly, I think that the quality of your description and images should influence the strictness of your return policy. The less you allow for misinterpretation of your offering, the stricter you can be. I've been selling on ebay since 1999, and my return policy hasn't changed: Return for any reason, you pay shipping, I refund your total paid at auction end. No restocking fee. That said, I've never had a return in 13 years so I don't know how good my policy is. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
I am a big believer that any restrictions on returns (no returns, restocking fees, etc.) comes out of your pocket on every sale you make as you will turn away bidders and realize lower final prices on your auctions. I don't bid on auctions with no returns, for example.
That's my opinion at least.
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Bedrock of the Community
 13014 Posts |
Im sure some people wouldnt like it, but itd just be to protect myself. I wouldnt even charge it under some circumstances but I've had some problem buyers in the past. I had one lady who tried to get me to return her initial shipping cost because the item was returned to me because she said it wasnt her job to go down to the post office to pick it up when they tried to drop it off and she wasnt there because I shouldnt have sent it registered mail so they would just leave it. I'm sure had I dont that she would have said it never arrived. In instances like that I would charge the fee. Basically I dont have a problem with returns unless someone is just returning it because they changed their mind. You do as a seller lose money on a return since ebay charges a fee for shipping, plus the item I have in mind has free shipping that will be 10-20 dollars with insurance and I dont really have any interest in losing 20 dollars because someone changed their mind. I understand things can happen ect and would be willing to take some returns if I felt it was a good reason which is why I was asking, but if I either have to accept any returns or no return at all I will have to pick no returns to protect myself. I'm just an individual who sells things for some extra money and not a store so eating costs for return business isn't an issue, and if I'm losing money it defeats the whole purpose Edited by basebal21
09/01/2012 5:45 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1812 Posts |
If I mailed a package registered (and I have done it many times) and the person receiving it refuses to pick it up at the Post Office, I also would not return the postage, and I would block them from bidding (if ebay still allows it as I stopped selling on ebay in 2006) on any future listings... |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
I did immediately block them. It was a whole debacle that took weeks to sort out as she tried to get it reversed through her credit card and thankfully ebay was actually on my side as I had the documents from the post office showing repeated deliver attempts. They actually didnt even return it to me till it had sat there for 30 days. Even then with the ebay and pay pal fees I had lost money on the item and this was back before tracking was free so I also lost money on the initial postage. Its situations like those that I would have liked to have had the option of charging a restocking fee and turned me off to the no questions asked return thing knowing there are just some nasty people out there that probably would try and demand a shipping refund with that. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2448 Posts |
I don't care for the 14 day window either.
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
I honestly feel bad for some companies. 14 days is more than enough time for someone to wear an outfit for an event or use something for a party and then return it
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5832 Posts |
One bad rotten apple is enough to spoil the whole system, and there are many rotten apples taking advantage of ebay honest sellers. I had made just 1 refund and 1 partial refund over my 10 years with ebay, although I don't sell much in coin related items, and ebay Paypal fees are high. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
I have actually been a member of ebay since 1997 and have been selling here and there around the same time SsuperDdave has (since 1999). I always allow returns for any reason and my policy is the same as SsuperDdaves, they pay to ship it back and I give them the price they paid back. I have never had any returns or negative feedback either so I can't really say I have ever had a problem with doing it this way. I refuse to buy from anyone that has a restokcing fee on something like a coin, I mean come on how much time could it take to put it back in the box or where ever you had it stored before you sold it or to throw it on the desk because you know you are going to relist the thing anyway. If someone was to charge a restocking fee for a coin I believe anything over 5¢ would be excessive |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Macmercury: agree. Unfortunately there are rotten apples out there and you never know if you were unlucky enough to encounter them until the sale has happened. Bryan: I mean you would have to charge more than that to cover the fees from ebay. If you had free shipping that cost 20 dollars ebay and paypal would take another 13% and youre already down 22.30 not counting the 50 cent initial listing fee for a buy it now and the 50 cent relist fee. Like I said though I'm not opposed to returns, just the idea of allowing anyone to return anything for any reason and giving them 2 weeks to make up their mind. If I was a store I wouldnt mind allowing that. If it was someone from CCF I wouldnt have a problem with a return if they werent happy and wouldnt charge a fee but ebay makes you have the same policies for everyone which is why I was wondering if I could do that to keep my options open. I believe in treating every situation individually which ebay doesn't let you do, and in the case of the buyer I mentioned above I had problems with because they wouldnt pick up their own package those are the cases where I would charge the fee as I dont feel I should lose out on a single penny because someone didnt feel the they were obligated to pick up their own mail |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote: I mean you would have to charge more than that to cover the fees from ebay. If that's your only worry - and I wouldn't blame you for it - ebay has a mechanism for official returns that credits you both the FVF and listing fees. You file an Unpaid Item dispute, and one of the reason choices is "mutually agreed not to complete." When the buyer confirms this, you are refunded the FVF. You then Relist the item - make sure you actually "Relist" it - and ebay will credit you the listing fee. Paypal will credit your fee on a refund, all but 30 Cents for a processing fee. |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
That definitely is one of my major concerns with it. I was unaware you could do that and that does actually ease some of my concerns about offering returns. Thank you for point that out
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2448 Posts |
Another question, how do sellers respond to criticisms for NOT allowing returns? Does their transaction immediately go to arbitration if the buyer is not satisfied? OK another, does this evade the return policy?  |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:
Another question, how do sellers respond to criticisms for NOT allowing returns Good question. It probably depends on the complaint. If the description was deceptive or you used fake pictures whether or not you allow returns the buyer protection policy forces you to accept returns when you were dishonest in the listing or sent the wrong item. If its just buyers remorse though your stuck with it. I doubt people would try arbitration since youd have to go through the federal system being cross states and open yourself up to a lawsuit to recover legal fees if you lose. I mean really what would you say if the listing was accurate, "i know it said no returns and I decided to buy it but I dont want it" |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,456 |
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Posted 09/01/2012 5:42 pm
