Can we define 'free' returns yet?
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on โ08-06-2017 06:27 PM
With the changes to return policy I am considering taking the tradeoff of more visibility and offering free returns. But I don't want to screw myself over, obviously...
Does 'free' returns refer only to seller-paid return postage? Will charging a restocking fee be considered not a free return?
With free returns for change of mind, am I also forced to refund original postage or will I at least only be paying the return and not refunding the original?
I saw the option to return for merchandise credit, does anyone actually do this? I''ve not yet done a return with this enabled, will it just give me the option to issue credit rather than refund in the dispute manager? If so, that would make this thing a lot easier to swallow, I pay almost nothing for my stock, so essentially giving away an item or two, and thus recouping the original postage cost, would be quite alright for me...
Can we define 'free' returns yet?
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on โ08-06-2017 08:13 PM
There's no mention of restocking fees in the announcement, so unfortunately it's hard to say. I think some changes to the return process may be implemented (this is from the US update, so we may wait a little longer for it, if they introduce the same options here), but they only really address what happens when you provide a free return and the item doesn't come back in the same condition: "Starting this fall, sellers who offer free returns can decide if they want to offer less than a full refund in cases where an item is returned that is not in the same condition that it was in when you shipped it (e.g., a damaged item or an open-box return)."
I take that to mean you can offer free returns, have no restocking fee enabled, but still deduct money from a COM return if the item comes back damaged, while still qualifying to be found under the free returns filter they'll add. That would mean, without a restocking fee, you'd still be out postage costs, though.
I'm guessing they expect sellers will add a little on to all item prices to cover paying for the returns that happen - the illusion of free, AKA the benefit of getting other people to contribute the cost for 1 person to have the illusion of free.

