No, you do not have to offer returns on your listings. When you're enrolled in eBay hassle-free returns, you can still control which listings you'd like to offer returns for. This means you may offer hassle-free returns on all of your listings, just a few listings, or none of your listings. It's totally up to you.
Starting in November 2013, any brand new selling accounts opened on eBay.com will be automatically enrolled in the eBay hassle-free returns process.
eBay wants to help new sellers build a strong reputation with buyers, sell successfully, and make money right away. By offering hassle-free returns, new sellers can instill confidence with eBay shoppers while saving time managing manual returns. Plus, as a new seller, you'll enjoy added seller protections available only to sellers enrolled in hassle-free returns.
Yes, you may opt out at any time. Simply go to your selling account in My eBay, scroll down to your return policy, and change your preferences.
When you opt out of hassle-free returns, any of your listings which offer returns will revert to the manual, non-automated return process. Those listings will continue to show buyers that you offer a return policy, but you and your buyer will no longer benefit from the simple, automated process and protection of eBay hassle-free returns.
Yes, you can change your preferences in your my eBay selling account at any time. Simply scroll down to your return preferences and change your settings. Your listings that offer returns will be updated to reflect the hassle-free returns process. After opting back in, all future returns will be processed through eBay's simple, automated, hassle-free returns process.
For complete information on the benefits of using eBay hassle-free returns, visit https://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/return-process.html.
Buyer Protection Policy Update FAQs
We've simplified the policy language for resolution of item not as described cases to clarify that we carefully weigh all the information provided in cases where a buyer claims that an item that is delivered is not as described in the listing. If we can't determine from the information we have that the item matches or doesn't match the listing description, we will ask the buyer to return the item to the seller and will ask the seller to refund the buyer.
In addition, we have updated the policy to reflect that if you choose not to engage with the eBay Buyer Protection process as a seller to resolve an issue for an item not as described case, we may seek to carry out a reimbursement from you without asking the buyer to return the item to you. This will mainly be for lower value items and for sellers who have chosen not to engage with the eBay Buyer Protection process on multiple occasions.
Case Window Extension: The policy has been updated to reflect that eBay reserves the right to extend the period that buyers are eligible to open an eBay Buyer Protection case under special circumstances, e.g. national emergency, national holidays and governmental acts. When applicable this will be communicated via the announcements section of eBay.com, and eBay reserves the right to determine the exact details of the extension.
Upcoming timeline changes for opening a case: In addition, we will be updating the timeline for opening a case from 45 days from date of payment to 30 days from the estimated delivery date to allow more time for transactions with longer delivery times. We calculate the estimated delivery date based on the shipping service used and the shipping address. In the absence of information about shipping service, we will estimate delivery date based on average delivery times for each location. We will notify buyers and sellers when this change goes into effect by posting an announcement on eBay.com.
No. Sellers still have 3 business days to respond to a case as soon as it is opened and before it can be escalated to eBay for resolution.
All updates to the eBay Buyer Protection policy will go into effect on October 26, 2013 with the exception of the changes to the timeline for opening a case. We will notify buyers and sellers when this change goes into effect along with the all details through an announcement on eBay.com.