eBay recently changed policy and is now Forcing Returns

[dhaste1066]

I've been selling on eBay for over 24 years, up until a few days ago I have listed and sold all items without returns (unless defective, not as described etc) - but now when I try to list in any category eBay won't permit my listing to go through unless I accept toggle on accepting returns. I know returns help get sales, but I've also experienced situations where buyers abuse this - so out of personal choice I've listed my policy as not accepting returns, until just the other day. I contacted ebay "customer service" and they told me that due to a high volume of issues with other sellers they have now blanket enforced accepting returns - has anyone else found this recently?

[papso22]

Never heard of that policy.

[four_mid_able]

https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Seller-Central/Global-shipping-has-dis/m-p/7587343#M665951

[tommystrezures]

Thats news to me too..... Are you able to provide a copy of the transcript or a link to the relevant part of policy which states this?

[four_mid_able]

"I've been selling on eBay for over 24 years"

Hope you have very deep pockets 🤐

[geosacha007]

Perhaps it is because you look like a business seller and business sellers have to accept returns.

[1902elder]

I totally agree. having looked at their listings, it appears that it is a business and not a private seller. Surprised that Ebay have not instructed them to change. Maybe forcing to accept returns is the first step.

[litp*records]

Noticed so many of these threads lately where a business seller masquerading as a private seller is complaining about something fairly trivial.  

Even if you had "no returns" on your listings, you'd still need to accept returns most of the time anyway as Ebay will usually side with the buyer.  It happened to a friend of mine who had an expensive item returned even though it was not deemed "significantly not as described", and they are a genuine private seller who've only ever sold a few things before. 

[dragon_things]

according to other buisness sellers, after you reach "the cap", this will happen.

No problem. If they damage it take it up with eBay or smelly old Courier 

[dhaste1066]

Exactly - and if you look at the text within eBay's Return Policy it still states that you have the choice to accept returns or not, but nevertheless now all my new listings won't list unless I choose to accept returns.

[dhaste1066]

I'm listed as an Individual Account not a Business.

[dhaste1066]

I'm not a business, I'm an individual that tries to list in a professional manner.

[papso22]

You do realise that individuals,  if they buy goods to sell, are businesses and need ebay business accounts to stay within the law?  

Not all businesses are limited companies.

[1902elder]

Yes, you are listed as a private seller, your decision, not Ebays, but all the evidence is that you are not, and should be trading as a business.

[mosya555]

Hi, I am facing exaclty the same situation where I am having to turn on my return policy in order to list an item. This changed only a few weeks ago. I am a Private seller as well (not Business), so I am wondering if you managed to get to the bottom of this? I was with eBay chat customer service for nearly 2 hours. They tried to solve this and couldn't. In the end, it was nearly 11pm, so the chat closed automatically and I didn't get to resolve it, but by the sound of the Customer Service team, this shouldn't be happening. They said that as a Private seller, we shouldn't be forced to turn the return policy on and that we should be able to continue selling as we have before. They even got me to clear my cache and browsing history if it helped, but it didn't. Has anyone faced this same issue? If so, how did you get it resolved? Thank you. I will be eagerly looking forwad to responses! 

[sml192]

Don't know why that is happening, however, you are definitely not a private seller.  Private sellers don't have multiple brand new items in multiple quantities.  Private accounts are for selling unwanted personal possessions.

You, therefore, need to upgrade to a business account and also accept returns in order to comply with UK law.