Extended Christmas returns - U turn

soolin

Hold onto your hats- a miracle has occurred, eBay have done a U turn over the extended Christmas returns

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/uk/201410281133122.html

RFW

It is staggering that it was introduced and then that they announced going back on it.
I have a theory that a few years ago when they did some things that some sellers disagreed with (removing option for sellers to leave negs, DSRs et al) that they started to think every time they introduce something sellers will complain. They forgot that some are actually worth listening to. It's possibly too little too late but you never know.

charlies_mum

Are Ebay finally getting the message that they are alienating sellers with these daft policies

If they could ditch the whole stupid defect system, that really would be a miracle

soolin

There is a theory (and I do love a good theory!) that due to the wording of the U turn email, ebay realised that Christmas was going to look very bad to the buyers. Allegedly with only 5 days to go until the 90 day return policy was implemented they had very few sign ups, and sellers were even reporting being asked on the phone when they called CS if they were going to change their listings. Many responded by saying that they wouldn't offer 90 day returns and as that would mean no TRS discount they would change their listings to add back postage as a seperate item on some lines, extend dispatch times on many others and drop the fast delivery option and basically take it a bit easier over the next few months.

This would mean that ebay suddenly looked more like the old site, longer dispatch times, postage being charged as a separate item, no guaranteed 1 day delivery options, basically undoing all the things they forced us into to get TRS in the first place. This would mean they would look bad against Amazon.

I had already decided that I would offer 90 days on a selected few items, but basically on the others would extend all my dispatch times to 2 days to ease the pressure a bit.

mrs_sparrow

soolin wrote: »

Hold onto your hats- a miracle has occurred, eBay have done a U turn over the extended Christmas returns

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/uk/201410281133122.html

Ha ha, I signed up for that to get my TRS. I think I'll be doing a U-Turn too!!

mrs_sparrow

Oh, and also to add - I have always offered it on my items anyway. I had someone return something from August the other day as they had (apparently) been ill. It comes back to you, what you going to do? Ship it back to them? I just refunded it, less the postage amount.

It's just a few quid in fees for the sake of keeping a future potential customer in reality.

On my personal site, Christmas and Valentines day already have an extended returns period.

densol_2

charlies_mum wrote: »

Are Ebay finally getting the message that they are alienating sellers with these daft policies

If they could ditch the whole stupid defect system, that really would be a miracle

I agree - the DSR are like the smiling assassins - woke up this morning to 100% feedback but noticed my stars have been chipped at - so annoying ! The dashboard is way behind as usual so I can't get an up to date report and see the damage

I find this ebay thing very stressful :mad:

giantmutantbroccoli

So happy to see this! I did wonder who would actually go for the 90 day returns option - in my view, once someone's had something for 90 days it's secondhand, and as I don't sell secondhand goods I shouldn't have to accept them back as returns.
I'm happy enough to offer extended returns on my own website, as I can explain to customers there that the item being returned must be in new condition and that they won't get a full refund if it isn't. Unfortunately I don't see how eBay could offer this option to sellers, without it being abused.