Cases to count against you, even if you refund.

soolin

I've been out working in my real life freelance job, and have had plenty of time to sit and ponder all this.

The 90 day returns over Christmas was worrying me, but it might suit me just to accept that for a period over Christmas I will lose my premium badge and discounts. I get very few returns really and my stuff isn't really Christmas present material so it might even be worth risking the 90 days on some items.

I have also considered playing the system, I can't see exactly how eBay can force a refund on that sort of time frame, so pondered on the possibility of actually refusing a refund and seeing what happened? At worse surely just a neg (although how this is possible after 90 days I am not sure) and a defect on my dashboard which I would get anyway as soon as buyer requested the return.

I have also contemplated offering my buyers, many of who keep coming back for more, a discount for direct buying. I already email them direct rather than through eBay to get an automatic 5* for communication. A simple 'thank you for buying , item will be dispatched .......and if you require more in the future please contact me direct on this email as I offer a 10% discount for direct sales.

Will ponder some more.

bxboards

soolin wrote: »

I get very few returns really and my stuff isn't really Christmas present material so it might even be worth risking the 90 days on some items.

The TRS discount isn't worth a huge amount and from my point of view there is no way I could countenance the idea of having someone have an item for 3 months, essentially getting 3 months free rental and then just return it for a few pennies saving on the fees.

My items are not really Christmas present type items (if anything December especially is a slow month) and I get very few returns, but my items are high value typically, and a few unexpected returns (after 3 months they also would have been used and devalued) would be unwelcome.

I honestly can't see why any seller would actively opt-in to a 90 days return period, that is far above and beyond reasonable expectations I think.

soolin

bxboards wrote: »

The TRS discount isn't worth a huge amount and from my point of view there is no way I could countenance the idea of having someone have an item for 3 months, essentially getting 3 months free rental and then just return it for a few pennies saving on the fees.

My items are not really Christmas present type items (if anything December especially is a slow month) and I get very few returns, but my items are high value typically, and a few unexpected returns (after 3 months they also would have been used and devalued) would be unwelcome.

I honestly can't see why any seller would actively opt-in to a 90 days return period, that is far above and beyond reasonable expectations I think.

It might have to be plan B then..either give up the discount for 3 months or risk refusing a refund.

bxboards

soolin wrote: »

It might have to be plan B then..either give up the discount for 3 months or risk refusing a refund.

I'd guess that once Ebay roll out 'managed returns' to everyone, refusal won't be an option.

I must admit I think that 'managed returns' and a 90 days return period, is a pretty invasive intrusion into a seller's business practices.

I've got to TRS by offering excellent personal service, and I really don't want to be absorbed into offering a anonymous automated 'retail-like' experience.

soolin

bxboards wrote: »

I'd guess that once Ebay roll out 'managed returns' to everyone, refusal won't be an option.

I must admit I think that 'managed returns' and a 90 days return period, is a pretty invasive intrusion into a seller's business practices.

I've got to TRS by offering excellent personal service, and I really don't want to be absorbed into offering a anonymous automated 'retail-like' experience.

Same here. I am currently 100% with a single neutral due to fall off in April and I am showing 5* in all 4 categories with no 1 or 2 * at all. However I do get the occasional question like 'will my item be here for Saturday' and it won't take many of those opened as an INR to lose my TRS in future.

The other thing I considered was to give up on TRS, add the costs into my listing and for some items go back to charging P and P separately. some of my items will remain free p and p as it seems to increase sales. If I do that I can then extend my despatch time to 2 days, still despatch same or next day but stop all the stupidity with eBay estimates showing next day delivery for 2nd class.

Decisions decisions

soolin

Another thing that has occured to me is the problem of doing a mutual to cancel a transaction. That would now appear to be a defect on the seller account!

The ebay rep has said that where buyer cancels an NPB must be done, but what about us business sellers who often get people buying the wrong quantity or the wrong one where it is easier to send a mutual and just send what they do want?

It looks like if the rules for businesses and private sellers are to be so different (unless these seller metrics will be bought in for private sellers as well) then we need to be very careful what advice we give on here as it will dpend on the account type.

Strapped

soolin wrote: »

How many cases though resolve in sellers favour? I can't think of more than a handful of SNAD claims I've heard of where a seller has won. Same with INR a seller can only win if they can track to delivery.

This is also being applied retrospectively, so all those cases we have been urging people to open so that eBay are aware of buyers who make repeat claims now count against those sellers.

^This is EXACTLY the point I was going to make.

I'm just over the 2% but should be able to recover by Aug (fingers crossed) but it will be a free-for-all for scammers again - sellers will refund rather than risk a case being opened. :doh:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Strapped wrote: »

^This is EXACTLY the point I was going to make.

I'm just over the 2% but should be able to recover by Aug (fingers crossed) but it will be a free-for-all for scammers again - sellers will refund rather than risk a case being opened. :doh:

And then eBay can say they've spent the last year monitoring abuse and as there's less cases they are protecting sellers.

We'll still be telling buyers to open a case, most of the dishonest claimers won't anyway.

Strapped

soolin wrote: »

Another thing that has occured to me is the problem of doing a mutual to cancel a transaction. That would now appear to be a defect on the seller account!

The ebay rep has said that where buyer cancels an NPB must be done, but what about us business sellers who often get people buying the wrong quantity or the wrong one where it is easier to send a mutual and just send what they do want?

It looks like if the rules for businesses and private sellers are to be so different (unless these seller metrics will be bought in for private sellers as well) then we need to be very careful what advice we give on here as it will dpend on the account type.

I believe that it will not be a defect if you do not select the reason that it has been sold elsewhere (or whatever the phrasing is).

ETA: It says "Transactions cancelled by you due to stock out or item sold to another buyer"

Strapped

The really annoying thing is that they haven't brought in the reporting tools yet for us to be able to check WHY our projected status is what it is. Guess I'll have to twiddle my thumbs until the 16th. I know that my only two low (1 to 2) stars drop off in May though.