eBay Goes Live with Advanced and Automated Return Options

eBay announced today that new initiatives outlined in the 2017 Fall Seller Update and introduced at eBay Open 2017 in Las Vegas are going live this month.

These two new programs will make returns easier to manage and should increase the efficiency of running your eBay Store.

However, both features also face a lot of blowback by sellers that feel eBay is forcing new policies upon them. And while voluntary, eBay’s search functions will likely improve ranking in results for sellers that accommodate these return functions.

In defense of eBay, the company is looking at the eCommerce landscape, and faster shipping and improved returns are much more significant factors now in converting sales.

Let’s dive into what eBay has added to the platform.

Automatic Acceptance of Returns When Buyer Pays Shipping

This new feature enables faster return processing when a buyer decided they no longer want the item. Typically this falls into the category of buyer’s remorse.

When a buyer makes the return request, the return is automatically accepted, and eBay will provide the buyer with a return shipping label. The buyer is entirely responsible for return shipping costs.

If your return policy enables buyers to return products on your dime, then you will receive three days to email the buyer a prepaid return label.

If you do not mail a return label in the allotted time, eBay will create one for you and send it to the buyer, but your account will be charged for the return shipping.

Obviously, this might be more expensive than you sending a return label to the buyer as most volume shippers will have negotiated shipping discounts.

The last function can also occur if a buyer claims that the item is not as described. This process is already part of the eBay system, so it isn’t particularly new.

eBay states that no return requests are automatically accepted for items that do not have a return policy. Do remember, that not as described claims are exempt from this policy.

Partial Refunds for Free Returns

To avoid needlessly sending products back and forth, eBay is also providing the option to offer a partial refund to a buyer if the item was listed with free returns. Buyers may provide up to 50% off the purchase price for a refund.

This function may be a limited use case as this would mostly make sense in a situation when there are missing parts, pieces, or cosmetic damage to the product that does not interfere with function.

New Refund and Replacement Rules Options

Not precisely spelled out by eBay in the announcement, but it appears eBay updated their refund rules to allow for providing automatic full refunds to purchase if the refund request meets specific criteria.

This could be an option for low-value products when the time and cost of the product to deal with a return is not worth the effort. Providing a full instant refund to buyers on low-value items may increase buyer satisfaction and avoid negative feedback.

And eBay also added a function to offer an automatic replacement in the new “Create advanced return rules” options screen.

Check out these new Advanced Return Rules to see if any of them work for you.

If you liked this article and would like to engage with other small business entrepreneurs selling on marketplaces, join our . You can also find us on , , , and or sign up for our newsletter below.