Limiting Return Shipping Costs?

[prarie_nerd]

Is there a way to limit return shipping costs paid back to buyers? Like if we added it into the additional details would ebay let us do that?
I've only had 4 returns. 2 buyers offered to pay return shipping but 2 now have found a way to pay $40-$50+ that they want to be compensated for when I know it should have only cost around $10

[aubreyclay56]

Depending on the weight of the item makes all the difference on cost includeing tracking if its overseas everything is expensive.But if you sent it tracked it shouldnt cost the buyer much more than you pd ,unless they added signature which is only a buck er two,so if it cost you 10 bucks to send to us or canada it wont cost any more than 15 to send it back,overseas i wont even ship to only on rare occasions

[momcqueen]

Do you have absolutely proof that's what they paid for postage?

If it was an overseas return, it sounds about right for Tracked Packet. Not so much for Canada Post Expedited Parcel.

I'd call Customer Service. I recall reading somewhere that there are terms in the Returns agreement policy (Or maybe it's the Money Back Guarantee) that says a buyer can't use an unreasonable, unnecessary and overly costly method of shipping but it might be part of what you need to establish with the buyer when they open a Returns request. If I'm incorrect, another member will come along shortly to say so. http://pages.ebay.ca/sellerinformation/news/fallupdate2015/returns-updates.html#faq=faq-23

As much as I hate the idea of letting a buyer keep an item and handing over a refund, if it was a clear mistake on your part that led them to open the Request, it might be better in cases where overseas shipping must be refunded to let the buyer have both. And call it a learning experience. 

[pjcdn2005]

Where were the items being returned from and how do you know that it should have cost around $10?

if I am responsible for return shipping I figure out the best way to ship the item back and then let them know which method I would like them to use.  That way there are no surprises.  As far as I know eBay does nor have a limit on return shipping charges

[momcqueen]

It's possible the the $10 price tag for postage is for a service without tracking but a buyer really needs tracking for a return. 

[mr.elmwood]

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@mjwl2006 wrote:

It's possible the the $10 price tag for postage is for a service without tracking but a buyer really needs tracking for a return. 

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For a return, eBay requires tracking. Two reasons. One is to prove that it was mailed and arrived.

The second is that the cost and procedure is more than most buyers want to handle and they abandon the return. eBay's way of protecting us from a lot of the returns.

[reallynicestamps]

Yeah but....

Unless this is a Buyer Remorse return eBay holds the seller responsible for return shipping.

So we pay for tracked /Delivery Confirmed service to protect ourselves.

If I were sneaky, I'd be encouraging my unhappy buyer to open a PAYPAL dispute over an eBay one, if only because PP makes the buyer accept the cost of shipping.

But since the buyer can still leave feedback, that's not making her any happier, is it?

And then there is the question eBay is NOT addressing: How does the seller confidently pay for return shipping when buyer and seller are in different countries.

The USPS domestic return label, as I understand it, is good. If the recipient doesn't use the label, the sender is not charged for the label.

But if a Canadian wants to return something to Germany, the German seller has to Send Money through Paypal* and hope that it is used to buy postage and not a new hockey stick and box of Timbits.

Perhaps Paypal needs to open a new Service that would allow clients worldwide to buy foreign shipping labels.

(Huh. I just threw that out but there is a larger market too, from Canadians buying US shipping labels for new transactions. )

*There are other systems, but that one is simple.

[momcqueen]

"Perhaps Paypal needs to open a new Service that would allow clients worldwide to buy foreign shipping labels.
(Huh. I just threw that out but there is a larger market too, from Canadians buying US shipping labels for new transactions. )"


I wholeheartedly agree.

[i.am.vivian]

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@reallynicestamps wrote:

the question eBay is NOT addressing: How does the seller confidently pay for return shipping when buyer and seller are in different countries.

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I wish they would make this a priority. Too much effort and energy over sticky tape with eBay logo on it and they don't fix a problem for the world's sellers. A problem that is wrong with eBay's own policy.  

Since it only works in the States maybe that whole "seller pays return shipping" policy should only be applied within the States.  

[momcqueen]

Or for domestic transactions, period. I could use CPC online to buy a new shipping label for a Canadian buyer to use to return an item to me since I know the weight, dimensions and addresses of both parties. And email it to them as a pdf to print.

But you'd think it would be a paypal shipping feature made easy.

[prarie_nerd]

The item in question is a signed Batman photo from the new movie. The buyer bought it just before the movie came out & the value crashed so I'm pretty sure it's buyers remorse. They claim it didn't pass JSA but when they initially messaged me claiming that they said they had no paperwork to back that up. I said if they could provide a copy of the paperwork I'd refund thier shipping costs but didn't hear from them again until last week when they sent a message saying it was on it's way back.
And I know return shipping is only around $10 because I buy from the US all the time. I'll call ebay later & question the return shipping cost. That link doesn't say anything about that but I should probably be calling them anyways about this