Comments on: Boomerangs – Easy returns goes live on eBay

By: Lino

Lino — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:38:17 +0000

@36 “I have a reported a number of sellers who do not show business addresses including one that uses it websites in its photos. I have reported them at least 30 times and ebay still do nothing about it”

30 times? Why do you do this? Surely you could find something more constructive to do with your time?

By: FenLex

FenLex — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:23:20 +0000

Pete @ 38: I assume that’s what happens. Strictly speaking, it is the intent and not the amount that is relevant.

By: Pete

Pete — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:22:38 +0000

eBay rules only state that you must register as a business seller once you reach a certain level of sales or at least thats the only time eBay enforce it.

Maybe once they reach that level they drop the account and start another one.

By: paul platten

paul platten — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:36:27 +0000

I love the easy returns… I only get perhaps a couple of returns a week BUT you usually get an envelope with little details as to why, what and who from.

Easy returns makes it easy….

Slightly OT but why are Chinese sellers not ‘business sellers’? Anyone know? It seems incredible that there are now hundreds of ‘private’ sellers in China flooding the Beads catagory with FREE under 99p auction listings….

(They must be free as only about 5% sell… if that .)

By: Hereford United Fan

Hereford United Fan — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:38:18 +0000

I have a reported a number of sellers who do not show business addresses including one that uses it websites in its photos. I have reported them at least 30 times and ebay still do nothing about it.

By: Pete

Pete — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:06:36 +0000

I’ve lost count of the number of websites or eBay sellers who say they don’t refund wigs, hats etc due to hygiene reasons.

Not to mention the websites that don’t display a phone number and say that the reason is that “we can answer your questions quicker via email” …?!?

By: Sue Bailey

Sue Bailey — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:01:36 +0000

You are correct: the DSRs do say that a buyer’s right to return is not conditional on the seller being able to re-sell the item as new. They are very clear on that point:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2000/20002334.htm
paragraph 14.

By: Hereford United Fan

Hereford United Fan — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:53:25 +0000

#25

Sue I always exchange the item and make no issues. I have not met a customer yet who did not think it was reasonable to only refund the cost of the item. I always make sure customers are delighted.

If you follow DSR to the letter of the law they are allowed to actually use the item and then return without the box meaning it can not be resold. I would go bust if a large number of buyers did this.

By: Sue Bailey

Sue Bailey — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:40:02 +0000

Ryan, they kind-of do. .co.uk Returns Policy sections are headed

Most Buy It Now purchases are protected by the Distance Selling Regulations, which allow you to cancel the purchase within seven working days after the day you receive the item.

and anyone signed into the new Smart FAQs seems to have a much more detailed answer that boils down to the same thing.

If eBay took it any further, of course, they’d have to offer an easy buyer-initiated cancellation process (one-click cancellation before dispatch, like Amazon, maybe), which I suspect they’re avoiding because they’re scared people would use it to get around eBay fees.

And FWIW, this is a European issue, not just a UK one, as the UK DSRs are based on an EU directive and all member states have similar laws in place.

By: Pete

Pete — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:27:03 +0000

#30 There are lots of exceptions, it doesn’t apply to all products bought at distance or all buyers (business to business are excluded for example).

#29 Looks like you’re right. I thought you only had to make customers aware that their statutory rights are unaffected. We go beyond this anyway but most “webshops” are a very long way from being compliant.