@lou*sbloomin*garden* wrote:
Starting this month,the U.S has the No Hassles Refund system where eBay refunds after sending the buyer a postage label to post the item back to the seller,then they bill the seller for return postage at eBay rates.
Can hardly wait for THAT tin of worms
The managed returns thing has been around for a couple of years in the US and UK, it just has been optional until now (not sure if they are making it mandatory in the UK or not).
I think it's a decent idea, if you're grading eBay on a scale anyway (i.e. in comparison to the defect system etc). It gives buyers an official alternative to having to open a dispute (which isn't appropriate when it's a change of mind return) and helps streamline the whole process - the seller can choose who is responsible for return postage, so it's only if they choose to be responsible that the seller is billed, otherwise the buyer is. Except if the item is not as described or faulty, then the seller is automatically responsible for return postage (which is a good thing, IMO, in genuine cases of INAD etc).
The concern from sellers now, however, is that with everyone who accepts returns having to use the managed returns system, buyers will falsely claim INAD, faulty etc in order to avoid paying return postage costs. Technically, they already could, and some do, but I guess the fear is that this makes it easier. Particularly as it's all automated so the seller can't converse with the buyer about the problem and once a return is on the way, the seller is obliged to refund within a certain amount of time or I think it happens automatically if they don't.
It's been a while since I read up on all the details, so I can't recall what recourse a seller has if the item is returned in a different condition, or they receive a completely different item back.
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