Return policy

[Vinny]

To those that frequently sell on eBay, do you guys offer a return policy?

Is there a good reason to offer it or not to offer it?

[Roufuss]

To those that frequently sell on eBay, do you guys offer a return policy?

Is there a good reason to offer it or not to offer it?

You don't have a choice whether you offer one or not - if you use Paypal, your return policy is their return policy, which is 45 days, IIRC, since that's the maximum amount of time someone can file a dispute.

You can say "I only allow return's within two weeks" or "I don't allow returns at all" but as soon as someone files a dispute that you sold them a POS, Paypal doesn't care what your policies are.

[Vinny]

Hm... I didn't think about PayPal in all of this.

I wish eBay wasn't so evil as to not allow GCO. GCO is so much better than GayPal.

[62t]

ebay almost pull their ads from google so you probably wont see GCO on ebay for a while

[Kendro]

I always put a "sold as is" in the last paragraph of my auctions. I've only offered a return policy on a computer graphics card and an iPod because putting myself in the buyer's shoes, I would never bid on them with no return policy. I've noticed when people sell computer components or iPods, consumers usually assume that "as is" means they might be broken instead of taking it as, "I don't want to bother with returns so be sure you want my crap before you bid."

A good reason to offer a return policy is because it puts the buyer at ease and they feel safe bidding on your item. For example if I'm in the market for something a bit expensive, I would get nervous if they didn't have a return policy (meaning if two auctions were identical but one offered a return policy, I would definitely bid on that one). Though I specifically state in my auctions that I don't offer a return policy, I don't think it gets buyers worried because I have 100% feedback and I only sell the occasional $20 used game.

[Roufuss]

If you're using Paypal, it doesn't matter if you sell it "as is"... if a buyer doesn't like it and files a Paypal dispute, and if Paypal sides with the buyer, you're refunding. I found this out the hard way.

Offering any sort of return policy, or selling "as is", or anything else you think might cover you while you're using Paypal is just a waste.

I don't even check auctions for a return policy, because I use Paypal, and that *is* my return policy.

If you're taking money orders, checks, whatever, then yea, use a return policy, definitely, but it's a waste of time if you're using Paypal since they dictate what you're going to do, being an intermediary.

[Kendro]

If you're using Paypal, it doesn't matter if you sell it "as is"... if a buyer doesn't like it and files a Paypal dispute, and if Paypal sides with the buyer, you're refunding. I found this out the hard way.

Offering any sort of return policy, or selling "as is", or anything else you think might cover you while you're using Paypal is just a waste.

I don't even check auctions for a return policy, because I use Paypal, and that *is* my return policy.

If you're taking money orders, checks, whatever, then yea, use a return policy, definitely, but it's a waste of time if you're using Paypal since they dictate what you're going to do, being an intermediary.
Ha. As soon as I read your post, I knew everything I wrote was "obsolete" but after reading the OP, I already mapped out in my head what I was going to write so I decided to go through with it. :D That is valuable information for the buyer though.

[Roufuss]

I've been doing this for too long :cry:

Tomorrow is my last day forever though!

But that's another thread for tomorrow ;)

[YoshiFan1]

All sales are final, if someone did open a dispute I would have to accept a return since I have no choice but I don't mention there is a return policy. Why encourage returns?

[Vinny]

Well, it's not that I want to promote it but as Kendro said, it just seems like something that would put a buyer at ease.

I mean, I know the stuff I sell works so I'm thinking that saying I'll accept returns will make most buyers feel more comfortable to buy form me/spend more.

[Roufuss]

Well, it's not that I want to promote it but as Kendro said, it just seems like something that would put a buyer at ease.

I mean, I know the stuff I sell works so I'm thinking that saying I'll accept returns will make most buyers feel more comfortable to buy form me/spend more.

I never once mentioned it and never had a problem with sales. For every one buyer who may have put off by me not mentioning returns, 3 more were there to happily buy.

Once you got some positive feedback as a seller, that is far more important than a return policy. I think, in the end, all of my feedback's that were "super fast shipping, great item" went a long way.

Surpringsly, most buyers don't even bother to read the entire description!

[yukine]

I don't offer a return policy, I figure having one is just calling out to for people to abuse it. Yes, I technically do have one thanks to the fine people at PayPal :roll: but not everyone knows of that particular loophole.

[daroga]

Wehn you have one, it encouarges people to return an item because they're too dumb to use it as I'm going through. I'm taking my return policy off all future listings. If there's a real problem I'll deal with it on a case by case matter as I don't sell broken items or crap that doesn't work. PayPal can tell me what to do and that's fine, but why encourage it?

[magiic]

Unless it's something big I dont offer a return policy. I know full well paypal will force it on me so why bother encouraging it.

[Graystone]

A good reason to offer a return policy is because it puts the buyer at ease and they feel safe bidding on your item. For example if I'm in the market for something a bit expensive, I would get nervous if they didn't have a return policy (meaning if two auctions were identical but one offered a return policy, I would definitely bid on that one). Though I specifically state in my auctions that I don't offer a return policy, I don't think it gets buyers worried because I have 100% feedback and I only sell the occasional $20 used game.

I agree it makes the buyer feel at ease. But ebay is an auction house. Not wal-mart. At an auction house you buy it your stuck with it. I don't agree in offering returns. I listed the item as completely as possible, told you everything about it. I'm not taking it back cause you changed your mind.

Not to mention the process one has to go through on ebay to become a member, and find that certain item you were selling. You cater to a certain demographic(idiots who want to return everything) when you offer a liberal return policy.