ebay sellers (and buyers!), ideas on accepting returns?

[gk90]

Trying to destash and listing items in the attic on ebay is one way to do it! So every time I list an item stating "no returns accepted" I get a "hint" message saying that 70% of customers say that a return policy is very important in their decision to buy.
So I finally caved and decided that I might as well say that I'll take a return within 7 days and the buyer must pay return shipping. I'm uneasy about it, though. I do much more buying than selling on ebay myself and have to say that I never really think about returns when I'm searching or bidding for an item? Apparently according to ebay's stats I'm not typical?
Any thoughts on the issue? Advice from experienced sellers and buyers would be appreciated!

 

[merekc]

I assume if I buy it on Ebay, I'm stuck with it.

The one time I tried to return something due to being listed incorrectly, I couldn't get the idiot seller to understand that his sizing description was incorrect. It wasn't worth the hassle in the long run.

 

[Lovin' Disney]

I think that once you say you'll accept returns, that's when the scammers come out of the woodwork. They'll pay for something, email you that they want to return it, say they sent it back (but actually keep it), and then when you say you didn't receive it back from them, they'll file to get their money back. And paypal will let them, so they will have both your item and their money. Ebay is filled with scammers nowadays, it seems, who know how to work the system. I personally do not accept returns for this reason.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

If you take paypal, then you take returns. Of course to sell on ebay you must take paypal so you are stuck.

If a buyer purchased something from you then they can send it back for any reason and as soon as they have proof of delivery they can get the money back out of your paypal account. If they file a claim with paypal they will recover the original purchase price and the original shipping back but won't be able to collect return shipping.

There are reports of scams all over the ebay discussion boards. Be extremely careful when selling anything expensive such as Ralph Lauren clothing, electronics, video games, etc... People will buy the item and then send back an empty envelope or something else and as soon as they have a delivery confirmation number they can get all of their money back from paypal and you can't do a thing about it.

Ebay is definitely "sellers beware" these days.

Good luck.

 

[PurplePinkleEater]

Whether it actually works, I say that I do no take returns unless something was grossly misrepresented or exaggerated.

Never had anyone ask to return.

 

[gk90]

If you take paypal, then you take returns. Of course to sell on ebay you must take paypal so you are stuck.

If a buyer purchased something from you then they can send it back for any reason and as soon as they have proof of delivery they can get the money back out of your paypal account. If they file a claim with paypal they will recover the original purchase price and the original shipping back but won't be able to collect return shipping.

There are reports of scams all over the ebay discussion boards. Be extremely careful when selling anything expensive such as Ralph Lauren clothing, electronics, video games, etc... People will buy the item and then send back an empty envelope or something else and as soon as they have a delivery confirmation number they can get all of their money back from paypal and you can't do a thing about it.

Ebay is definitely "sellers beware" these days.

Good luck.

Wow...I didn't know that! Scary stuff!
Maybe what I'll do is state "no returns" and do a return only if someone comes after me saying that since they paid with paypal theyre entitled to a return?

 

[Justsyd2]

I used to sell on Ebay. I did accept returns. I had very few. As a buyer, I won't buy if the person isn't willing to accept returns because it gives me the impression that they are shifty about something if they aren't willing to accept responsibility for something that they sell to me.

One of the reasons that Ebay implemented a policy for the buyer is because so many sellers listed items as "no refunds," and then refused to take an item back for any reason, therefor causing buyers to lose a lot of money. So, I personally am glad to see that the system is much more buyer friendly.

 

[luckofthedraw]

I'm one of those stuck buyers at the moment. DH found a weed eater he really wanted on eBay. It was $30 cheaper than he could get locally, and had free shipping. So I bought it for him. They sent him one with a smaller engine. Now they are saying they will only refund the amount of purchase plus the shipping. Bad part is that the return shipping is $28, which is almost 1/3 of what the stupid thing costs.

 

[minnie10]

I sell on Ebay quite a bit. I have the box marked no returns accepted. Should someone have a problem with a item I sell, I then make a decision after hearing about the problem if I want to accept a return. So far, no problem doing this.