eBay "required" 90 day returns

Take your choice. List under Bullion, avoid the 90-day return, and see up to 2% lower final prices because your buyers aren't getting 2% eBay bucks back; or list under a Coins category, and either run the 90-day risk, or take the 20% FVF hit (which works out to, ta-daa, about 2%, assuming a 10% normal FVF).

I'm happy to keep buying there, but I can't for the life of me imagine why people keep selling there.

 

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I also can't imagine that whales like APMEX or MCM don't negotiate their own more-favorable terms.

 

EBay is obviously trying to make their site into more of a retail outlet for traditional items like clothes and household goods, and all of their policies are geared in that direction. Much of what they ask or require sellers to do doesn't make sense with coins, but they're not really thinking of us when they come up with these policies.

 

I think this is a really good point. They are trying to establish themselves as a mainstream retailer...not a world wide garage sale.

 

But basically that's what they are . If they want to be the latter they better clean their house of people selling Chinese made counterfeits . In a "real" store the store controls what is sold and how much it costs . How long would a top store last if they let counterfeit coins or knockoffs of anything with no warranties . I'll admit though I'm only looking at collectable coins .

 

But.....but......but.......isn't that what eBay actually is? A World Wide Garage Sale?

 

And, they'd better hire a professional numismatist or two to start addressing this stuff.

As it sits right now, they have a "Panel of Experts" that are basing their decisions on emotional and biased positions. Not numismatic fact.

 

Neither APMEX nor MCM are considered whales. A whale is a Fat Cat that has a lot of money which they aren't afraid of parting with. Buyers are Whales, not sellers.

 

I think they are trying to shake that perception. But, yes they are...that's what built them. I think policies like this are trying to turn them into a mainstream retailer like Amazon. Remember, at one time Amazon was an online bookstore.

 

It doesn't really make sense with clothing either since clothing received as a gift, along with the appropriate "gift receipt", is usually returned by the recipient and the last time I checked, recipients of gifts could not return something on ebay. The original buyer had two.

Of course, all of this points to the fact that with a mandatory 90 day return "option", completed deals will have to remain active and available for at least 90 days.

 

The 90 day policy will just drive more of the better sellers away . As a buyer who really doesn't buy much at all from ebay anymore I'd rather have more good sellers than something that will help me but drive them away .

 

What a ridiculous policy – there should be NO RETURNS for auctions, unless the item is not as described. I mean how many auction houses allow you to, in essence, back out of your high bid by returning an item you won?

I certainly will be selling less on eBay, if this policy takes affect and/or I’ll limit my return period. Can you imagine how 90 days could be abused – keep it for awhile, wear that bathing suit through summer or coat through winter, return it so it doesn’t hang in the closet the rest of the year, get another next year (and return it too), or abuse it, damage it, return it. Hey that’s an idea, I think I’ll see if I can live for free off of eBay!

Maybe eBay knows it’s a ridiculous policy that few will elect, so it’s their way of screwing most sellers out of the final value fee rebate.

Can’t wait for eBay to experience some real competition! Where are all you entrepreneurs?

 

Am I glad almost all of my collection came from elsewhere rather than from eBay. I do purchase other personal or household items off their site. From a selling stand point, I haven't sold one coin on eBay since I became a collector. Only shows, dealers and currency auctions are where I spend my time and effort. I have even trimmed back my purchasing of mint items; since they went to laser die etching rather than engraving.

 

first, i agree with your disgust of ebay. however, lets not kid ourselves; if you are still purchasing things through someone you are still feeding the beast.

 

yeah but try returning something to a garage sale host. not happening. if someone knocked on my door 87 days after i had a garage sale, i would answer the door with my shotgun.

 

Not if you sold that very same shotgun 87 days earlier. Then you would answer the door and he would have the shotgun.

 

just like my coins...i dont sell my shootahs

 

eBay is not an auction house. It is a venue for anyone to sell anything using an auction format. Often the descriptions are incomplete and the photos are terrible. How many auction houses are like that?

While I do think this policy is a little strict...I do think eBay's sales model requires some kind of return policy. That said, based on my understanding of it...this is an opt in clause with some benefits in return. It's not required.

 

There is a huge difference here though. At a garage sale, you get to pick up the item and look it over before handling it. eBay sellers often use bad descriptions and poor photos. They are smart to require a return policy of some kind.