topic Re: Mandatory 30 day returns in Selling

Mandatory 30 day returns

lupercal — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 16:58:28 GMT

Oh yeah, I forgot this new one (my items this week seemed to take three times as long to list, as I had to go through unchecking all these damn boxes)

Ebay sent me a note saying that I had to upgrade all of my auctions to 30 day returns, or they'd be taken down. Grudgingly I did this - but it struck me later: this 'returns' option is in regards to 'change of mind' reasons. They point out themselves that consumers are entitled to a refund under Australian law if the item is defective. So why would they insist on a minimum 30 day return period on a return policy which is optional in the first place?

I suppose I could ask them, but I'm worn out talking to them lately, and getting sense out of them is usually like getting blood from a stone.

Re: Mandatory 30 day returns

countessalmirena — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 18:49:16 GMT

eBay's policies are geared towards giving the buyer the greatest possible sense of security, thus encouraging more purchases, hence increasing eBay's profits.

For many sellers, offering returns is not really possible - that is, for change of mind returns, since you're quite right; Return Policy on eBay is solely for change of mind returns. For such sellers, I'd say "Don't offer returns". Untick the option.

Read through this thread: https://community.ebay.com.au/t5/Selling/Returns-policy/m-p/2186749#M175605

Re: Mandatory 30 day returns

the4masters2013 — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 19:06:50 GMT

Like many sellers. yhe 30 day return policy does my head in. I sell mainly books and as another seller stated we are not a lending library.
I am now in the process of making all my listings No Returns.
If there is a problem with what I have sold, I certainly will be told. I'll deal with that problem if/when it occurs.

Re: Mandatory 30 day returns

clarry100 — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 21:14:51 GMT

If you take away (untick) the returns option so you DO NOT accept returns then all you are saying is that you do not accept returns for any reason that amounts to a Change Of Mind (COM).

Under Australian Consumer Law (ACL) if there is something wrong with the item then the buyer has a legal right to request a return. The reason for such a return is INAD (Item Not As Described). In this case the ebay MBG (Money Back Guarantee) takes precedence over whatever your listing returns policy says.

If you have returns not accepted then ebay will not auto-accept a COM return, but you will still have an option to accept such a return if you wish. ie you can decline COM returns if your policy says no returns accepted.

But for INAD returns you do not have this option. You either have to accept it and pay the return postage by trackable means, OR fully refund the buyer with them keeping the item. If you choose to not provide either of these solutions then if the buyer escalates the INAD claim ebay will refund them from your money (they keep the item) and you will be given a seller defect.

Re: Mandatory 30 day returns

lupercal — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 06:11:57 GMT

Ditto: most of my sales are either paper products (magazines, books) or media (CD, DVD). The former can be read in 30 days; the latter can be digitally copied, and I'm always wary of someone wanting a rare CD just to burn and then send back (considering I've sold some CD's for $1,000+ each, I certainly wouldn't want to have granted a return for change of mind, let alone after a month. Those particular CDs were actually available on Itunes, so I assume the buyer just wanted the physical items, but there are still albums which aren't available to download)

But this is is an interesting point. Ebay's message was that my items with returns policies of under 30 days had to be upgraded to 30 days (when I talked to their rep on the phone he parroted some line about this "giving the customer a more authemntic retail experience" or some rubbish) - however, come to think of it, I don't think they ever stated that I had to have a returns policy at all.

So I might try just disabling it altogether rather than upgrading it to 30 days - see what happens.

Re: Mandatory 30 day returns

gumleaf_goodies — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 07:19:35 GMT

Definitely disable returns for your sort of products - read clarry's thread for a good explanation.

Re: Mandatory 30 day returns

chameleon54 — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 09:21:34 GMT

@the4masters2013 wrote:
Like many sellers. yhe 30 day return policy does my head in. I sell mainly books and as another seller stated we are not a lending library.
I am now in the process of making all my listings No Returns.
If there is a problem with what I have sold, I certainly will be told. I'll deal with that problem if/when it occurs.

I got the same message, so instead of accepting 14 day returns, I just made all of my listings no returns.......... Simple.......I,m sick of jumping through ebay hoops. Hasnt affected sales, with one of my better days in a little while today.

Some may not be aware you can bulk edit your listings and make them all " no returns " or 30 days returns in a few minutes.

From memory, 1) click on active listings. All of your listings should come up.

2) Check the square box at the very top left of your active listings. All of your listings should now have a tick next

to them.

3) Click edit button

4) Select "returns" and follow the prompts for your desired return policy duration or uncheck the returns box to disable returns on your listings.

5) Click submit or confirm and wait.......... It can take up to a minute

You can only do 500 listings at a time, but the prompts show 1-500, 501-1000 etc.

It took me around ten minutes to edit 1800 listings on 3 id,s.

Re: Mandatory 30 day returns

lupercal — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 15:11:08 GMT

Cheers; have just tried this. We'll see if I get a demand from ebay tomorrow.

NB I think this method only workls on the 'classic' site. Or more likely it works on the new version but I haven't bothered working out how, since I don't use it.

Re: Mandatory 30 day returns

the4masters2013 — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 04:55:10 GMT

I have had only 1 return in nearly 5 years of selling. The buyer made the mistake and so it was all good.
If there is a problem, I'll do the refund straight away.
The only problems I seem to get though, are buyers telling me the item hasn't turned up... refund given.

Re: Mandatory 30 day returns

the4masters2013 — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 05:19:02 GMT

I can't remember if I was told I had to upgrade to the 30 day returns. Like you, I sell CDs and vinyl (perhaps not on your level!). If I have misjudged something in the description, then I cop it sweet and do the refund (so far so good, no complaints!).
It just seems so time wasting to get something returned. If there is a problem with the item, why on earth would I want it back??

Re: Mandatory 30 day returns

lupercal — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 11:09:02 GMT

Very much the same here. The only really ridiculous experience I had with a buyer (other than them getting impatient if something doesn't turn up on time) was a nutjob in Florida - this was back in about 1999 or 2000 - I sold him a book about Padre Pio - an Italian priest who was supposed to display the Stigmata - this guy firstly argued that by asking him to pay first I was trying to embezzle him, and claimed to have reported me to the US postal fraud dept, The Supreme Court, and god knows what. I decided to be absurdly accomodating, and said I'd send him the book, and when it arrived he could pay me. The money never arrived, and he then claimed he'd sent it in an anvelope 'perfumed' so that the postal clerks couldn't 'smell the money'. This went on an on, and I decided never to sell anything with any religious associations again, since on this sample of one, it semed to attract nutters. I'm sure there are a few annoying experiences, but most of them have been with Ebay, not customers.

More on topic, after removing the return option on all of my auction i realised that ebay state that you have to explain your return policy in each auction, if you do this, so not sure how that will go.

I just found three more items they'd arbitrarily changed to 'best offer - despite a rep assuring me last week that it couldn't happen again.

Re: Mandatory 30 day returns

digital*ghost — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 11:49:58 GMT

@lupercal wrote:

I just found three more items they'd arbitrarily changed to 'best offer - despite a rep assuring me last week that it couldn't happen again.

This has been mentioned before, but ebay are now an authorised third party "app" on accounts (found under site preferences, down near the end). I have no idea what the middle one is for, but even if perfectly innocent and / or necessary, it never used to be there, and while the others specify what they're designed to do, that eBay inc is just sitting there, all piggy in the middle, and rouses my suspicions....

(I know other's have revoked authorisation, but I don't know what - if any - effect it has, and if it's just something normal, I daresay it would just reappear when undertaking specific actions, even just signing in).

Re: Mandatory 30 day returns

countessalmirena — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 13:02:10 GMT

I understand that if sellers revoke authority for those third-party eBay apps, the apps reappear with authority.

This is anecdotally from the US eBay sites, though; I've not seen it myself.

Re: Mandatory 30 day returns

lupercal — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 14:15:12 GMT

According to that list, I've 'authorised' eight different variations on Ebay to 'perform certain actions' - as well as 'Lithium Technologies, Inc', who I think power this board.

Re: Mandatory 30 day returns

ozstockman — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 10:23:28 GMT

I switched all items to no returns after eBay sent me this email. I am not a free lending event decorator and I do not want to be used by some unhonest buyers.

I am even thinking of putting a note in all my items that I used to have 3-7 days return but after being forced by eBay to make it 30 days minimum I had to stop accepting them. Then I want to put eBay support number and ask buyers to complain about this to eBay directly. They need to see how buyers are happy with their idea to force everybody to bend anyway ebay wants.

BTW, ebay just makes up things without even thinking a bit further. Who is going to pay for return for a change of mind and why sellers have to refund initial postage cost as well. I have not had much returns, may be 2-3 over 9 years but everytime it is a problem with initial and return postage. Customers what to get the full refund and for me to pay return postage.
I just ask the customer who wants to return my product whether they usually ask stores like BigW, KMart or Target to pay for their travel expenses when they want to come back and return something to these big sellers. Apparently they do not that so I only return the product cost and the customer loses on an initial postage and have to pay return postage.

Re: Mandatory 30 day returns

countessalmirena — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 10:43:10 GMT

ozstockman, you probably mean it tongue-in-cheek, but it's unlikely to be a good idea to put a note like that onto your listings.

Buyers tend to look at evidence of a seller being affronted or put out by eBay's policies as ... something of which they don't want to be aware. It 's a bit like a mediaeval comedy where one disgruntled peasant is egging on the rest of the disgruntled peasants. "Them up at the castle are taking a good fifth of our grain while our women and children starve; where's the fairness in that? I tell you, friends, we've got to fight them with pitchfork and shovel. Them with their silks and samite and spices from foreign places - what right have they got, then? Come on, let's show them what for!" Other peasants shout: "Yes!" "That's right!" "We'll not be downtrodden any more!" "Down with Lord Fatguts!" "Stand up for our rights!" "They're our carrots!" "Can't even buy a loaf of bread!" "My little 'uns are starving!" "Grrr!" ... and then along come the lord's retinus and guards: "What's going on here? Are you inciting unrest? Anyone dissatisfied?" ... A huge silence falls, and if the first peasant is unfortunate enough to rely upon his fellows, he will find himself the lone little voice.

Basically speaking, your buyers won't care about your (their seller's) issues; primariliy they just want a hassle-free transaction.

By all means you can switch to "no returns". I think for many sellers it's the only way to mitigate high risks with what they sell.

Re: Mandatory 30 day returns

egglesdtp — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 12:35:30 GMT

You do write such amusing posts. Thank you.