Can returns result in a suspension?

[walkingupwards]

Could returns "Item not as described OR I think item is phake" result in a suspension? Do you think a return quote of 1-2 % is a red flag?


EDIT:

I currently have a return quote of 2,20% (9 out of 400).


Should I be worried about this? Or is this quote still in the safe range?

[MrStyle]

yes they could.

return rate is one of the metrics ebay monitors. if the rate is high you trigger an investigation or suspension.

personally i dont know anyone that had this problem though.

2% is not high rate.

[nickopedia]

Absolutely.

The good news is that the return rate you would need to get suspended would likely be quite high (above 20%) assuming that other metrics on your account are in good standing, and no other "issues" aside from the returns.

[degsey69]

Your return rate is OK they like to see it about 1% but other categories such as shoes and clothing traditionally have a higher return rate as customers buy more than they want to try on and return what they do not want so they will have a much higher return rate.

Word of caution, if it is one listing that you are getting returned product from then eBay will take some form of action, starting at taking the listing down, to having restrictions placed on your account and could get the dreaded MC999 your account is suspended.

[walkingupwards]

Originally Posted by nickopedia

Absolutely.

The good news is that the return rate you would need to get suspended would likely be quite high (above 20%) assuming that other metrics on your account are in good standing, and no other "issues" aside from the returns.

I have never sold clothes, but don't you think such a category would have an average return rate of above 20%?

[phaz0rz]

Originally Posted by walkingupwards

I have never sold clothes, but don't you think such a category would have an average return rate of above 20%?

They've always been pretty flexible with clothing sellers because that's one category where high return rates are unavoidable even if the seller is 100% professional.

[walkingupwards]

Originally Posted by phaz0rz

They've always been pretty flexible with clothing sellers because that's one category where high return rates are unavoidable even if the seller is 100% professional.

So what do you think is a tolerable return rate in general?

[degsey69]

The 2% will not get the account suspended, they will message you first with a warning and ask that you attend to the problem.

[walkingupwards]

Originally Posted by degsey69

The 2% will not get the account suspended, they will message you first with a warning and ask that you attend to the problem.

You mean they will message me if the rate goes higher (say 8-10%). Or you talking 2%

[nickopedia]

The percentage is meaningless as there isn't a magic number that will trigger an adverse reaction by eBay.

Case in point is I had one establihed account that had a very high percentage for over a year and a half (think 20% (or 1/5) of sales. Nothing happened.

On another account I had, when the percentage hit just 4% I got hit with an MC011. All other metrics on that account were good, and was "above standard".

I think what matters more is the category you are selling in, age of the account, and a few other things.

[phaz0rz]

^^Agreed 100%

[rsot]

Originally Posted by walkingupwards

You mean they will message me if the rate goes higher (say 8-10%). Or you talking 2%

They will message you? 8-10%? Are you expecting more issues?

[walkingupwards]

Originally Posted by rsot

They will message you? 8-10%? Are you expecting more issues?

No issues at all. Just a return rate of 2-3 %. Jeese, I am now worried about the account getting toasted over this

[phaz0rz]

Originally Posted by walkingupwards

No issues at all. Just a return rate of 2-3 %. Jeese, I am now worried about the account getting toasted over this

It's seriously nothing at all to worry about unless you're just ignoring all your return requests. I've had accounts with 20+ returns open at once in the past and never had issues.

[walkingupwards]

I deal with all kind of cases immediately. What annoys me is that eBay has no guidelines whatsoever about the return rate, but yet you hear stories about suspensions based solely on that.

[phaz0rz]

Originally Posted by walkingupwards

but yet you hear stories about suspensions based solely on that.

There's probably more to the story 95% of the time. Most of the time if a seller is suspended over returns it's because they weren't handling their returns efficiently and too many buyers got pissed off.

Just my $.02.

[nickopedia]

Originally Posted by phaz0rz

There's probably more to the story 95% of the time. Most of the time if a seller is suspended over returns it's because they weren't handling their returns efficiently and too many buyers got pissed off.

Just my $.02.

This, and the fact the REASON for the returns is "Doesn't seem authentic" or "Not as described" most of the time. Either that, or the buyer had to escalate the return to a CASE which directly impacts DSR's.