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Any eBay coin sellers going to try to keep top rated seller status?
davewesen
Posts: 5,860 ✭✭✭✭✭
The 30 day free return policy is something easily abused. Free approval service will be free metal speculation, and probably already is free upgrade service on raw coins....
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For the 10% discount, they truly ask a lot of the remaining sellers.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to no returns with a statement returns accepted after 7 days in my description. I have been thinking long and hard about this. I have so few returns...I should just go with the flow.....BUT IT IS A MATTER OF PRINCILPE!
I've gone to a 20% restocking fee. Hate to do it but not for me otherwise.
bob
Bob, I tried that, but than the buyers will just file a SNAD to get around it and it also makes you pay for return shipping.
I was told flat out by eBay the other day, that a buyer who opens "not as described", is going to be able to send anything back. Might as well just take things back and be done with it.
I trade two million eyeballs for the ever-present threat of SNAD. I don't even worry about it any more. Que sera, sera.
Check out my current listings: https://ebay.com/sch/khunt/m.html?_ipg=200&_sop=12&_rdc=1
I’m losing mine this month anyway. Haven’t even sold 100 items in the last 12 months. I don’t even get lowball offers anymore.
My Ebay Store
They take mine (Top rated seller bennies) for months at a time, for the silliest things. I can hardly believe I'm still a shareholder. A little here, a little there.
I've had free 30 day returns for awhile now, and it doesn't seem to hurt business too bad.
I had a not as described at Wednesday noon in south Florida, sent on Monday from NW Washington. I was thinking, dang that's fast. I checked tracking and last seen in Seattle Monday night. I told buyer sure I would take it back if you provide pics you have received it. They send fuzzy moon pics but it looks like they messed with it or different coin. They filed SNAD, so eBay started chargeback from PAYPAL, which puts my balance with them negative, I'm thinking wow, not only free approval service, now eBay has become free upgrade service. Tracking reappears Wednesday midnight Miami, delivered Thursday. Buyer closes dispute saying, 'oops confused with other coin purchase'...
Well, ebay is putting the axe to that also. You will no longer be able to charge a restocking fee.
When Ebay started, the sellers would hold the buyers feedback hostage. I'm sure some of you remember those days. It was such a problem that now Ebay has swung the other way and the seller is the hostage.
Ebay sure has evolved.... I remember the early days... it was actually fun. I do not sell on ebay, but reading the stories here, I will not be inclined to do so. Cheers, RickO
I am keeping mine, no problems with returns.
Not me. Done with the games. Returns have seen a big uptick since they started doing this and will continue to increase as buyers gain the attitude that everything on eBay is sold on approval. This is Ebay’s grand strategy to try and beat Amazon - force sellers to accept free returns. Next they will require same day shipping for top rated. Bet on it.
...and it's actually only 10% of 10%, so a 1% discount!
The policy applies to bullion sales?
I let mine go . We lost power for 6 days in February from a storm and I was late on 4 shipments . Since they dropped the discount what is the point anyway? Serious question , the shipping discounts were reduced at some point and the supposed raised search standing was debatable . Even if they raised your standing they still bury you under 10,000 cheap chinese listings half the time
Does not apply to items in the "bullion" category. If your "coin" has any precious metal in it, you can always list it in the bullion category.
The enhanced shipping is still worth it to me. 4 ounce package - most single coins - is $2.66 vs. $3.50 at the post office. You also get a free $100 insurance on Priority compared to $50 without the enhancement.
And 10% of final value fees runs $75-$100 per month, so it does add up.
I still resent my "day" ending at midnight on the West Coast when I'm on the East Coast. It makes 1 day shipping difficult at times. But the returns issue is a non-factor. They can return now for free any time they want with a SNAD anyway. They can also issue a chargeback for up to 180 days on their credit cards now. People are just imagining new problems which aren't really there.
I don't mind the 30 day free returns, I've always done that. The killer for me was they changed from 90% to 95% shipping rate required by next day. I busted my buns to get orders out between around 90% to 92% for years. The 95% is impossible for me unless i devout my life to Ebay, which I do not intend to do.
So my seller fees went from a 20% discount to a 0% discount. It's like they're paddling me hard and I say, "Thank you sir, may i have another" as I keep selling on Ebay.
the reduced shipping i liked was overseas priority , the discounts were as much as 50% on some things . I only ship 2 or 3 things a month overseas now though so screw it
Just got back a silver eagle proof today. it was in the ogp (original government packaging) ... It didn't meet buyer's expectations. One less customer in the future.
Couple years ago a USPS flat rate overnight printed through Ebay was $12. Now you are buying the plane.
The shipping rates are the same regardless of whether you have a store, are top rated, or not. I have 2 accounts...one is top rated with the discounts and store subscription and the other is just a bare bones pay all the fees account. The shipping rates are the same for both accounts...and yes...$2.66 for up to 4 ounces and $100 insurance included on priority mail!
Edit to add the shipping rates are the same on paypal for everybody also!
Wondering if I should keep selling there with all the returns I have had in the last year.
Most of what I have left will go to Bullion listings soon I think.
That's what I'm doing.
The only thing I can think here is that if you say you offer no returns at all, but then specify in your listing a return can be had with a restocking fee, it might (might!) be legal. The way I read the policy would be clear only that if you offer a return through eBay (one of the 30 or 60 day options) you definitely cannot have a restocking fee.
I hear you on the midnight bit... it's bad for me and I live on the west coast.
My biggest fear is that the bad players will rise to the top. I've noticed an uptick in returns in general (often for stupid reasons--complaining about things clearly described in the listing--but that's a buyer's right) in recent years. Right now, I doubt anyone nefarious is scouring for a return policy they can take advantage of, and unreasonable SNADs do require someone to have a lacking conscience (maybe not hard to find, but I'd like to think some people won't abuse a return loophole if they're honest). When returns go to 30 days and free for everyone, anyone who wants to abuse it can do so easily and without having to search through nearly as many listings to find a good target. The SNAD aspect won't go away, but I do think this will open the door to more problem buyers if 30 days becomes the norm.
You know, the 20% stocking fee might just keep some riff raff away. It will encourage buyers to read and view the auction more carefully. Perhaps even asking a question or two, although I've not seen that happen as of yet.
bob
It's not true. The rate discount is the same for some packages. The insurance discount is not. Here is my not top-rated seller account with $99 insurance - notice, it isn't free. Down below, same service, the $99 is free and the Priority flat rate discount is different.
Please edit your comments to say I was right all along.
I guess you didn't comprehend my earlier reply to you. Ebay is not allowing a restocking fee when this change takes place. If you figure out a way to do it let me know!
I wil confess I haven's shipped priority mail yet with my common man's account!
I don't care if I lose it... my return policy is not going to change.
Good Luck!
I GIVE UP.
bob
It already did change. eBay will make you take anything back going forward. I actually have found I get more returns with "no returns allowed" than I do when I allow them. I think the buyers who see no returns know that eBay will make you take it back and you also have to pay the shipping both ways, and they exploit that.
eBay then says, block them. Well they just use another account and then whack you with a negative. You have to take returns going forward, no way around it, even if you think you don't.
had a few of these.
there are scammers, abusers and then people that simply make mistakes. i've made them shipping items and thankfully buyers were reasonable.
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I accept returns, but my policy will remain at 14 days, buyer pays shipping.
I currently have to use Ebay. I am a pharmacist and do my regular work mon-fri. I buy coins I think I can flip and make some money to buy others that I want to keep. I do it for some education and to make some spending money. I have no other avenue that I am aware of to get my coins in front of folks.
[Ebay Store - Come Visit]
Roosevelt Registry
transactions with cucamongacoin, FHC, mtinis, bigjpst, Rob41281, toyz4geo, erwindoc, add your name here!!!
And you can list it in bullion even if it's not bullion.
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Debt
+1
SNAD
SNAD bypasses all of that. And, frankly, if 30 days or 60 days or 120 days have gone by, they can still file a credit card chargeback.
It is what it is, there's no use pretending that it is something else.
I only average about 1 return per year so no big deal for me. The hardest part about trying to keep my top seller rating is getting the post office to scan the packages promptly. My local B/M told me he lost is TSR after having itfor 11 years because of USPS scanning delays.
How many dealers offer a 30 day return with free shipping both ways? There's a big difference between sticking buyers with coins and being forced to offer and advertise a ludicrous return policy.
30 days is excessive for TPG graded coins especially which is well over 90% of our eBay business. It's all on the seller with no buyer responsibility. Had so many requests to cancel within minutes to an hour after an auction closes. Oh made a mistake, though it was a 65, didn't mean to bid on this already have one etc. The uptick in cancellations and returns since December has been noticeable. Maybe we should publicize user names of those that cancel for no particular reason to those with unreasonable returns. I don't know. But the pendulum continues to swing further in the wrong direction with a balance of responsiblity between buyers and fairness among sellers.
Website-Americana Rare Coin Inc
Because most eBay auctions go for wholesale prices. Some dealers buy their stock from eBay auctions, and then they mark it up considerably. I have no problem with a return on fixed price (that I set) item, which is different than a high bidder beating out others and then saying I don't like it (I spent to much and can not get my margin wanted). The seller should just pay shipping both ways and auction it again?