Do Sellers Have to Pay Shipping for Returns?

[teenytrinkets]

I sold a new $40 makeup item (a face mask) to a buyer in NL. Buyer says the item is "off" or "old" even though I just bought it, and it was unused. I apologize and tell him to return it and I'll refund him. Problem: he lives in a small town on the other end of the country! Shipping is over $30! I used a flat rate box ($18). Do sellers or buyers have to pay for shipping on returns?

[travis7s]

Because the item is considered faulty or not as described, I believe the seller is responsible for return shipping. Its unfortunate because its usually just not worth it on low value items like you are finding.

Buyers only pay when they have buyers remorse or change their mind, but its very easy to lie about it.

[nostalgicaftertaste]

Good call on the flat rate box. They come in handy at a time like this!

[reallynicestamps]

Those flat boxes are rare. There's only once place here in Victoria BC that has them.

Yes, if the buyer opens a Not As Described case, she will win and you can be required to send return postage if you want the item back before refunding.

But notice the IF.

You don't have to insist that the item be returned. You can just refund when the buyer opens a Dispute without requiring it.

But.

Notice the "when the buyer opens a Dispute " part. If you are sure that there was nothing wrong with the item you sent, you are well within your rights to get it back .  "To confirm any problems and  bring them up with my supplier."

If there is nothing wrong with the item, she'll want to keep it. If it is truly "off"  or expired, she will cooperate.

Was this the Dermalogica item?  The cheapest tracked services are Regular and Expedited. If you have a Small Business Solutions number they are both the same price. No need to go to ExpressPost. You're not in a hurry. I made some guesses on bulk and weight and chose L'Anse aux Meadows National Park as the postal code. There was nearly a $20 difference in cost (before SBS discount).

https://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/far/business/findARate?execution=e1s3

Do you want my usual rant about Cookie Jar Insurance?  I leave that open for now.

[travis7s]

At least here in SK , every post office I have been to has rolled out the flat rate boxes and poster ads in the last couple of weeks. CP seems to be making a big push to market them again.

I never really thought about it but, yeah, they would come in handy for really remote locations. The downside is you gotta write them out by hand and they won't be synced  to your account online.

Never really got the cookie jar insurance myself. Money lost is money lost, sugar coating it doesn't really help me. Good to keep track of your losses though, you may come to find that some markets are too risky or just not worth it on ebay.

[reallynicestamps]

The way insurance works is that in the long run (some longer than others) the pennies in the Cookie Jar are greater than the very few payouts.

Which is how every insurance company works actually.

And for sure about where the losses are happening. A poster once suggested looking at the shipinsure.com site (one off insurance providers) to see which destinations they would not accept, because they found them too "dangerous".

Good to know about the boxes. I'll keep asking about them at my Post Office.

Have you also seen them in postal outlets?

[travis7s]

Yes, I've seen flat rates at both my local PO and nearby gas station and grocery store outlets. I actually first heard about them because one of the outlets left their marketing instructions brochure out on the counter. It was kind of interesting, it talked about the best ways to display them and also the discounts the outlet would get depending on how many boxes they would order. 

[reallynicestamps]

Outlets too?

Hmmm- I live in a primarily residential area, so it may be there is not enough shipping demand in local businesses, which run to services for locals (pharmacy, pet food, liquor) (it's an elderly community too) so they don't see the point.

I wonder if this indication of a promotion means we will be able to buy the boxes in bulk from Small Business Solutions?

[teenytrinkets]

Doubt there'd be any online sales... these boxes are marketed to the general public and don't offer a small biz discount at the counter.

My tiny outlet in my suburban town has a hefty supply of them

I've already saved about $30 using them! I live in BC and I've had a few rural buyers from NL, NS and QC. I think I attract them because I offer free shipping! Can't imagine what those poor souls have to play most of the time!